The Woman on the Beast

1AND one of the seven angels who had the seven vases, came to me, and talked with me, saying to me, Come hither, I will shew thee the judgment of the great harlot, who sitteth upon many waters: 2with whom the kings of the earth have committed whoredom, and all the inhabitants of the world have intoxicated themselves with the wine of her whoredom. 3And he bore me away in spirit into the wilderness: and I saw a woman sitting on a scarlet beast, full of names of blasphemy, having seven heads, and ten horns. 4And the woman was clothed in purple and scarlet, and all over decked with gold, precious stones, and pearls, holding a golden cup in her hand, full of abominations and of the impurity of her whoredom. 5And upon her forehead was there a name written, Mystery, Babylon the great, the mother or harlots, and of the abominations of the earth.

The Mystery Explained

6And I saw the woman drunk with the blood of saints, and with the blood of the martyrs of Jesus: and when I saw her, I wondered with great amazement.

7And the angel said unto me, Wherefore dost thou wonder? I will tell thee the mystery of the woman, and of the beast which carrieth her, which hath seven heads and ten horns.

8The beast which thou seest was, and is not; and shall come up out of the abyss of hell, and shall go into perdition: and the dwellers upon earth will wonder, (whose names are not written in the book of life from the foundation of the world,) when they shall see the beast which was, and is not, though he is. 9Here is the mind that hath wisdom. The seven heads are seven mountains, where the woman is seated even upon them. 10And these are seven kings: five have fallen, and the one exists, the other is not yet come; and when he cometh, he must abide but a little while. 11And the beast which was, and is not, though he is himself the eighth, yet is of the seven, and shall go away into perdition. 12And the ten horns which thou sawest, are ten kings, who have not yet received their kingdoms; but will receive authority as kings for one hour with the beast. 13They hold one sentiment, and will give their own power and authority to the beast.

The Victory of the Lamb

14They shall make war against the Lamb, and the Lamb shall overcome them: because he is Lord of lords, and King of kings and they that are with him, are called, and elect, and faithful.

15And he saith to me, The waters which thou sawest, on which the whore sat, are people, and multitudes, and nations, and tongues. 16And the ten horns which thou sawest upon the beast, they shall hate the whore, and make her desolate and naked, and shall eat her flesh, and shall burn her up with fire. 17For God hath put it into their hearts to do his will, to perform one purpose, even to give their kingdom to the beast, until the words of God are fulfilled. 18And the woman which thou sawest is the great city, which holds dominion over the kings of the earth.