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.”

The Fall of Babylon the Great

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.