The Woman on the Beast

1And there came one of the seven angels, that had the seven vials, and talked with me and said, Come hither, and I will shew thee the judgement of the great harlot, that sitteth upon many waters: 2with whom the kings of the earth have committed whoredom, and the inhabitants of the earth have been made drunk with the wine of her whoredom. 3And he transported me in spirit into the wilderness, and I saw a woman sitting on a scarlet-coloured beast, full of blasphemous names, having seven heads and ten horns. 4And the woman was arrayed in purple and scarlet, and adorned with gold and precious stones and pearls, having a golden cup in her hand, full of the stench and filth of her whoredom. 5And upon her forehead was a name written, "Mystery, Babylon the great, the mother of harlots, and of the abominations of the earth."

The Mystery Explained

6And I saw the woman drunk with the blood of the 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, Why dost thou wonder? I will tell thee the mystery of the woman and of the beast that carrieth her, which hath the seven heads and ten horns.

8The beast, which thou sawest, was, and is not; but will rise out of the abyss, and go into perdition: and they that dwell on the earth (whose names are not written on the book of life from the foundation of the world) shall wonder, when they behold the beast that was, and is not, and yet is to be. 9To this the mind that hath wisdom will attend: for the seven heads are seven hills, on which the woman sitteth. 10And there are seven kings: five are fallen, one is, and another is not yet come; and when he cometh, he is to continue but a little while. 11And the beast that was, and is not, he is the eighth, and is as one of the seven, and goeth into perdition. 12And the ten horns, which thou sawest, are ten kings, who have not yet received a kingdom, but shall receive power as kings for a limited time with the beast. 13These are of one mind, and will give their power and authority to the beast.

The Victory of the Lamb

14These will make war with the Lamb, and the Lamb shall overcome them: for He is Lord of lords, and King of kings: and those that are with Him are called, and chosen, and faithful.

15And he said unto me, The waters which thou sawest, whereon the harlot sitteth, are people, and multitudes, and nations, and tongues. 16And the ten horns which thou sawest upon the beast, these shall hate the whore, and shall make her desolate and naked, and shall devour her flesh, and burn her with fire. 17For God hath put it into their hearts to do according to his mind, and to perform one and the same purpose, even to give their kingdoms to the beast, till the words of God be accomplished. 18And the woman which thou sawest is that great city, which beareth rule over the kings of the earth.