CHAPTER 17
Then
one
of
the
seven
angels
with
the
seven
bowls
came
and
told
me,
“Come,
I will show
you
the
punishment
of the
great
prostitute,
who
sits
on
many
waters.
The
kings
of the
earth
were sexually immoral
with
her,
and
those who
dwell
on the
earth
were intoxicated
with
the
wine
of
her
immorality.”
And
the angel carried me away
in
the Spirit
into
a wilderness,
where
I saw
a woman
sitting
on
a scarlet
beast
that was covered with
blasphemous
names
and had
seven
heads
and
ten
horns.
And
the
woman
was
dressed in
purple
and
scarlet,
and
adorned
with gold
and
precious
stones
and
pearls.
She held
in
her
hand
a golden
cup
full
of abominations
and
the
impurities
of
her
sexual immorality.
On
her
forehead
a mysterious
name
was written:
Babylon
the
Great,
the
mother
of prostitutes
and
of the
abominations
of the
earth.
I could see that
the
woman was
drunk
with
the
blood
of the
saints
and
of the
witnesses
for Jesus.
And
I was greatly astonished
at the sight
of her.
“Why
are you astonished?”
said
the
angel.
“I
will tell
you
the
mystery
of the
woman
and
of the
beast
that
carries
her,
which
has
the
seven
heads
and
ten
horns.
The
beast
that
you saw—
it was,
and now
is
no more,
but
is about
to come up
out of
the
Abyss
and
go
to its
destruction.
And
those who
dwell
on
the
earth
whose
names
were not written
in
the
book
of life
from
the foundation
of the world
will be astonished
when they see
the
beast
that
was,
and
is
not,
and yet
will be.
This calls for
a mind
that
has
wisdom.
The
seven
heads
are
seven
mountains
on
which
the
woman
sits.
There are
also
seven
kings.
Five
are fallen,
one
is,
and the
other
has not yet
come;
but
when
he does come,
he
must
remain
for only a little while.
The
beast
that
was,
and now
is
not,
is
himself
an eighth king.
He belongs to
the other
seven
and
is going
into
destruction.
The
ten
horns
you saw
are
ten
kings
who
have not yet
received
a kingdom,
but
will receive
one
hour
of authority
as
kings,
along with
the
beast.
They
will make war
against
the
Lamb,
and
the
Lamb
will triumph over
them,
because
He is
Lord
of lords
and
King
of kings;
and
He will be accompanied by
His
called
and
chosen
and
faithful ones."
Then
the angel said
to me,
“The
waters
where
you saw
the
prostitute
seated
are
peoples
and
multitudes
and
nations
and
tongues.
And
the
ten
horns
and
the
beast
that
you saw
will hate
the
prostitute.
They
will leave
her
desolate
and
naked,
and
will eat
her
flesh
and
burn
her
with
fire.
For
God
has put it
into
their
hearts
to carry out
His
purpose
by
uniting
to give
their
kingdom
to the
beast,
until
the
words
of God
are fulfilled.