Revelation 17:1–18:21
The Scarlet Woman and the Scarlet Beast
17 Then aone of the seven angels who had the seven bowls came and talked with me, saying 1to me, “Come, bI will show you the judgment of cthe great harlot dwho sits on many waters, 2 ewith whom the kings of the earth committed fornication, and fthe inhabitants of the earth were made drunk with the wine of her fornication.”
3 So he carried me away in the Spirit ginto the wilderness. And I saw a woman sitting hon a scarlet beast which was full of inames of blasphemy, having seven heads and ten horns. 4 The woman jwas arrayed in purple and scarlet, kand adorned with gold and precious stones and pearls, lhaving in her hand a golden cup mfull of abominations and the filthiness of 2her fornication. 5 And on her forehead a name was written:
nMYSTERY,
BABYLON THE GREAT,
THE MOTHER OF HARLOTS AND OF THE ABOMINATIONS OF THE EARTH
6 I saw othe woman, drunk pwith the blood of the saints and with the blood of qthe martyrs of Jesus. And when I saw her, I marveled with great amazement.
The Meaning of the Woman and the Beast
7 But the angel said to me, “Why did you marvel? I will tell you the 3mystery of the woman and of the beast that carries her, which has the seven heads and the ten horns. 8 The beast that you saw was, and is not, and rwill ascend out of the bottomless pit and sgo to 4perdition. And those who tdwell on the earth uwill marvel, vwhose names are not written in the Book of Life from the foundation of the world, when they see the beast that was, and is not, and 5yet is.
9 w“Here is the mind which has wisdom: xThe seven heads are seven mountains on which the woman sits. 10 There are also seven kings. Five have fallen, one is, and the other has not yet come. And when he comes, he must ycontinue a short time. 11 The zbeast that was, and is not, is himself also the eighth, and is of the seven, and is going to 6perdition.
12 a“The ten horns which you saw are ten kings who have received no kingdom as yet, but they receive authority for one hour as kings with the beast. 13 These are of one mind, and they will give their power and authority to the beast. 14 bThese will make war with the Lamb, and the Lamb will covercome them, dfor He is Lord of lords and King of kings; eand those who are with Him are called, chosen, and faithful.”
15 Then he said to me, f“The waters which you saw, where the harlot sits, gare peoples, multitudes, nations, and tongues. 16 And the ten horns which you 7saw on the beast, hthese will hate the harlot, make her idesolate jand naked, eat her flesh and kburn her with fire. 17 lFor God has put it into their hearts to fulfill His purpose, to be of one mind, and to give their kingdom to the beast, muntil the words of God are fulfilled. 18 And the woman whom you saw nis that great city owhich reigns over the kings of the earth.”
18 After athese things I saw another angel coming down from heaven, having great authority, band the earth was illuminated with his glory. 2 And he cried 1mightily with a loud voice, saying, c“Babylon the great is fallen, is fallen, and dhas become a dwelling place of demons, a prison for every foul spirit, and ea cage for every unclean and hated bird! 3 For all the nations fhave drunk of the wine of the wrath of her fornication, the kings of the earth have committed fornication with her, gand the merchants of the earth have become rich through the 2abundance of her luxury.”
4 And I heard another voice from heaven saying, h“Come out of her, my people, lest you share in her sins, and lest you receive of her plagues. 5 iFor her sins 3have reached to heaven, and jGod has remembered her iniquities. 6 kRender to her just as she rendered 4to you, and repay her double according to her works; lin the cup which she has mixed, mmix double for her. 7 nIn the measure that she glorified herself and lived 5luxuriously, in the same measure give her torment and sorrow; for she says in her heart, ‘I sit as oqueen, and am no widow, and will not see sorrow.’ 8 Therefore her plagues will come pin one day—death and mourning and famine. And qshe will be utterly burned with fire, rfor strong is the Lord God who 6judges her.
The World Mourns Babylon’s Fall
9 s“The kings of the earth who committed fornication and lived luxuriously with her twill weep and lament for her, uwhen they see the smoke of her burning, 10 standing at a distance for fear of her torment, saying, v‘Alas, alas, that great city Babylon, that mighty city! wFor in one hour your judgment has come.’
11 “And xthe merchants of the earth will weep and mourn over her, for no one buys their merchandise anymore: 12 ymerchandise of gold and silver, precious stones and pearls, fine linen and purple, silk and scarlet, every kind of citron wood, every kind of object of ivory, every kind of object of most precious wood, bronze, iron, and marble; 13 and cinnamon and incense, fragrant oil and frankincense, wine and oil, fine flour and wheat, cattle and sheep, horses and chariots, and bodies and zsouls of men. 14 The fruit that your soul longed for has gone from you, and all the things which are rich and splendid have 7gone from you, and you shall find them no more at all. 15 The merchants of these things, who became rich by her, will stand at a distance for fear of her torment, weeping and wailing, 16 and saying, ‘Alas, alas, athat great city bthat was clothed in fine linen, purple, and scarlet, and adorned with gold and precious stones and pearls! 17 cFor in one hour such great riches 8came to nothing.’ dEvery shipmaster, all who travel by ship, sailors, and as many as trade on the sea, stood at a distance 18 eand cried out when they saw the smoke of her burning, saying, f‘What is like this great city?’
19 g“They threw dust on their heads and cried out, weeping and wailing, and saying, ‘Alas, alas, that great city, in which all who had ships on the sea became rich by her wealth! hFor in one hour she 9is made desolate.’
20 i“Rejoice over her, O heaven, and you 1holy apostles and prophets, for jGod has avenged you on her!”
21 Then a mighty angel took up a stone like a great millstone and threw it into the sea, saying, k“Thus with violence the great city Babylon shall be thrown down, and lshall not be found anymore.