Revelation 17:9–18

⁹“This calls for a mind with wisdom.^q The seven heads^r are seven hills on which the woman sits. ¹⁰They are also seven kings. Five have fallen, one is, the other has not yet come; but when he does come, he must remain for only a little while. ¹¹The beast who once was, and now is not,^s is an eighth king. He belongs to the seven and is going to his destruction.

¹²“The ten horns^t you saw are ten kings who have not yet received a kingdom, but who for one hour^u will receive authority as kings along with the beast. ¹³They have one purpose and will give their power and authority to the beast.^{v 14}They will wage war^w against the Lamb, but the Lamb will triumph over^x them because he is Lord of lords and King of kings^y—and with him will be his called, chosen^z and faithful followers.”

¹⁵Then the angel said to me, “The waters^a you saw, where the prostitute sits, are peoples, multitudes, nations and languages.^{b 16}The beast and the ten horns^c you saw will hate the prostitute.^d They will bring her to ruin^e and leave her naked;^f they will eat her flesh^g and burn her with fire.^{h 17}For God has put it into their heartsⁱ to accomplish his purpose by agreeing to hand over to the beast their royal authority,^j until God’s words are fulfilled.^{k 18}The woman you saw is the great city^l that rules over the kings of the earth.”