Revelation 17:4-14

4 The woman was dressed in purple and scarlet, adorned with gold, precious stones, and pearls. She had a gold cup in her hand filled with everything vile[a] and with the impurities of her[b] prostitution.
5 On her forehead a cryptic name[c] was written: BABYLON THE GREAT THE MOTHER OF PROSTITUTES AND OF THE VILE THINGS OF THE EARTH
6 Then I saw that the woman was drunk on the blood of the saints and on the blood of the witnesses to Jesus. When I saw her, I was utterly astounded.

The Meaning of the Woman and of the Beast

7 Then the angel said to me, "Why are you astounded? I will tell you the secret meaning[d] of the woman and of the beast, with the seven heads and the 10 horns, that carries her.
8 The beast that you saw was, and is not, and is about to come up from the abyss[e] and go to destruction.[f] Those who live on the earth whose names were not written in the book of life from the foundation of the world[g] will be astounded when they see the beast that was, and is not, and will be present [again].[h]
9 "Here is the mind with wisdom:[i] [j] the seven heads are seven mountains on which the woman is seated.
10 They are also seven kings:[k] five have fallen, one is, the other has not yet come, and when he comes, he must remain for a little while.
11 The beast that was and is not, is himself the eighth, yet is of the seven and goes to destruction.
12 The 10 horns you saw are 10 kings who have not yet received a kingdom, but they will receive authority as kings with the beast for one hour.
13 These have one purpose, and they give their power and authority to the beast.
14 These will make war against the Lamb, but the Lamb will conquer them because He is Lord of lords and King of kings.[l] Those with Him are called and elect and faithful."

Footnotes 12

  • [a]. Mt 24:15; Mk 13:14; Lk 16:15; Rv 21:27
  • [b]. Other mss read of earth's
  • [c]. Rv 14:1
  • [d]. Lit the mystery
  • [e]. Rv 11:7
  • [f]. Rv 1:18; 2:8
  • [g]. Ps 69:28; Isaiah 4:3; Rv 3:5
  • [h]. Rv 13:3,12,14
  • [i]. Or This calls for the mind with wisdom
  • [j]. Rv 13:18
  • [k]. Some editors or translators put They are also seven kings: in v. 9.
  • [l]. Dt 10:17; Ps 136:2-3; Dn 2:47
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