Revelation 17

1 One of the seven angels with the seven bowls came and talked with me. “Come here,” he said, “and I will show you the judgment of the infamous prostitute that sits beside many waters.

And there came one of the seven angels, that had the seven vials, and talked with me and said, Come hither, and I will shew thee the judgement of the great harlot, that sitteth upon many waters:

2 The kings of the earth have committed adultery with her, and those who live on the earth became drunk on the wine of her immorality.”

with whom the kings of the earth have committed whoredom, and the inhabitants of the earth have been made drunk with the wine of her whoredom.

3 Then he carried me off in the Spirit to a deserted place, and I saw a woman sitting on a scarlet beast that had seven heads and ten horns and was covered in blasphemous names.

And he transported me in spirit into the wilderness, and I saw a woman sitting on a scarlet-coloured beast, full of blasphemous names, having seven heads and ten horns.

4 The woman was clothed in purple and scarlet, and wore jewelry made of gold and gems and pearls. She held in her hand a golden cup full of obscene things and her disgusting immorality.

And the woman was arrayed in purple and scarlet, and adorned with gold and precious stones and pearls, having a golden cup in her hand, full of the stench and filth of her whoredom.

5 A name of mystery was written on her forehead: Babylon the Great, the Mother of Prostitutes and of the World's Obscene Things.

And upon her forehead was a name written, "Mystery, Babylon the great, the mother of harlots, and of the abominations of the earth."

6 I saw that the woman was drunk on the blood of believers, and on the blood of martyrs who had died for Jesus. When I saw her, I was totally amazed.

And I saw the woman drunk with the blood of the saints, and with the blood of the martyrs of Jesus: and when I saw her, I wondered with great amazement.

7 The angel asked me, “Why were you amazed? I will explain to you the mystery of the woman and the beast she rode which has seven heads and ten horns.

And the angel said unto me, Why dost thou wonder? I will tell thee the mystery of the woman and of the beast that carrieth her, which hath the seven heads and ten horns.

8 The beast you saw once was, but is not, will soon come up again out of the Abyss, and will then be completely destroyed. Those that live on the earth who don't have their names written in the book of life will be amazed when they see the beast that once was but is not, and yet shall return. (Abyssos g12)

The beast, which thou sawest, was, and is not; but will rise out of the abyss, and go into perdition: and they that dwell on the earth (whose names are not written on the book of life from the foundation of the world) shall wonder, when they behold the beast that was, and is not, and yet is to be. (Abyssos g12)

9 A mind that has understanding is needed here. The seven heads are seven hills where the woman sits,

To this the mind that hath wisdom will attend: for the seven heads are seven hills, on which the woman sitteth.

10 they are seven kings. Five have already fallen, one is reigning now, and the last is still to come—and his reign will be short.

And there are seven kings: five are fallen, one is, and another is not yet come; and when he cometh, he is to continue but a little while.

11 The beast that was, and is not, is also an eighth king and belongs to the seven. He too will be completely destroyed.

And the beast that was, and is not, he is the eighth, and is as one of the seven, and goeth into perdition.

12 The ten horns that you saw are ten kings who have not begun to reign yet. However, they will be given authority to reign as kings together with the beast for one hour.

And the ten horns, which thou sawest, are ten kings, who have not yet received a kingdom, but shall receive power as kings for a limited time with the beast.

13 They have one agreed purpose: to give their power and authority to the beast.

These are of one mind, and will give their power and authority to the beast.

14 They will make war on the Lamb, and the Lamb will defeat them for he is Lord of lords and King of kings. His followers are called and chosen, and they trust in him.”

These will make war with the Lamb, and the Lamb shall overcome them: for He is Lord of lords, and King of kings: and those that are with Him are called, and chosen, and faithful.

15 The angel went on to explain to me, “The waters that you saw where the harlot was sitting represent peoples, crowds of people, nations, and languages.

And he said unto me, The waters which thou sawest, whereon the harlot sitteth, are people, and multitudes, and nations, and tongues.

16 The ten horns that you saw and the beast will detest the prostitute, and will take away everything she has and strip her naked, eat her flesh and burn her to ashes.

And the ten horns which thou sawest upon the beast, these shall hate the whore, and shall make her desolate and naked, and shall devour her flesh, and burn her with fire.

17 For God put into their minds to do what he wanted, to have one agreed purpose: to give their kingdom to the beast—and so God's words will be fulfilled.

For God hath put it into their hearts to do according to his mind, and to perform one and the same purpose, even to give their kingdoms to the beast, till the words of God be accomplished.

18 The woman you saw is the great city which rules over the kings of the earth.”

And the woman which thou sawest is that great city, which beareth rule over the kings of the earth.