17:1 Then¹ one of the seven angels who had the seven bowls came and spoke with me. “Come,” he said, “I will show you the condemnation and punishment² of the great prostitute who sits on many waters, 17:2 with whom the kings of the earth committed sexual immorality and the earth’s inhabitants got drunk with the wine of her immorality.”³ 17:3 So⁴ he carried me away in the spirit to a wilderness,⁵ and there⁶ I saw a woman sitting on a scarlet beast that was full of blasphemous names and had seven heads and ten horns. 17:4 Now⁷ the woman was dressed in purple and scarlet clothing,⁸ and adorned with gold,⁹ precious stones, and pearls. She held¹⁰ in her hand a golden cup filled with detestable things and unclean things from her sexual immorality.¹¹ 17:5 On¹² her forehead was written a name, a mystery:¹³ “BABYLON THE GREAT, THE MOTHER OF PROSTITUTES AND OF THE DETESTABLE THINGS OF THE EARTH.” 17:6 I saw that the woman was drunk with the blood of the saints and the blood of those who testified to Jesus.¹⁴ I¹⁵ was greatly astounded¹⁶ when I saw her. 17:7 But¹⁷ the angel said to me, “Why are you astounded? I will interpret¹⁸ for you the mystery of the woman and of the beast with the seven heads and ten horns that carries her. 17:8 The beast you saw was, and is not, but is about to come up from the abyss¹⁹ and then go to destruction. The²⁰ inhabitants of the earth—all those whose names have not been written in the book of life since the foundation of the world—will be astounded when they see that²¹ the beast was, and is not, but is to come. 17:9 (This requires²² a mind that has wisdom.) The seven heads are seven mountains²³ the woman sits on. They are also seven kings: 17:10 five have fallen; one is,²⁴ and the other has not yet come, but whenever he does come, he must remain for only a brief time. 17:11 The²⁵ beast that was, and is not, is himself an eighth king but is one of the seven, and is going to destruction. 17:12 The²⁶ ten horns that you saw are ten kings who have not yet received a kingdom, but will receive ruling authority²⁷ as kings with the beast for one hour. 17:13 These kings²⁸ have a single intent, and they will give their power and authority to the beast. 17:14 They will make war with the Lamb, but the Lamb will conquer them, because he is Lord of lords and King of kings, and those accompanying²⁹ the Lamb are the called, chosen, and faithful.”

17:15 Then³⁰ the angel³¹ said to me, “The waters you saw (where the prostitute is seated) are peoples, throngs,³² nations, and languages. 17:16 The³³ ten horns that you saw, and the beast—these will hate the prostitute and make her desolate and naked. They³⁴ will consume her flesh and burn her up with fire.³⁵ 17:17 For God has put into their minds³⁶ to carry out his purpose³⁷ by making³⁸ a decision³⁹ to give their royal power⁴⁰ to the beast until the words of God are fulfilled.⁴¹ 17:18 As for⁴² the woman you saw, she is the great city that has sovereignty over the kings of the earth.”