Revelation 17

The Scarlet Woman and the Scarlet Beast

1 Then *Rev. 1:1; 21:9one of the seven angels who had the seven bowls came and talked with me, saying to me, "Come, *Rev. 16:19I will show you the judgment of *Is. 1:21; Jer. 2:20; Nah. 3:4; Rev. 17:5, 15; 19:2the great harlot *Jer. 51:13; Rev. 17:15who sits on many waters, 2 *Rev. 2:22; 18:3, 9with whom the kings of the earth committed fornication, and *Jer. 51:7; Rev. 14:8the inhabitants of the earth were made drunk with the wine of her fornication."

3 So he carried me away in the Spirit *Rev. 12:6, 14; 21:10into the wilderness. And I saw a woman sitting *Rev. 12:3on a scarlet beast whichwas full of *Rev. 13:1names of blasphemy, having seven heads and ten horns. 4 The woman *Ezek. 28:13; Rev. 18:12, 16was arrayed in purple and scarlet, *Dan. 11:38and adorned with gold and precious stones and pearls, *Jer. 51:7; Rev. 18:6having in her hand a golden cup *Rev. 14:8full of abominations and the filthiness of her fornication. 5 And on her forehead a name was written:

*2 Thess. 2:7; Rev. 1:20; 17:7MYSTERY, BABYLON THE GREAT,

THE MOTHER OF HARLOTS

AND OF THE ABOMINATIONS

OF THE EARTH.

6 I saw *Rev. 18:24the woman, drunk *Rev. 13:15with the blood of the saints and with the blood of *Rev. 6:9, 10the 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 mystery 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 *Rev. 11:7will ascend out of the bottomless pit and *Rev. 13:10; 17:11go to perdition. And those who *Rev. 3:10dwell on the earth *Rev. 13:3will marvel, *Matt. 25:34; Rev. 13:8whose 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 yet is.

9 *Rev. 13:18"Here is the mind which has wisdom: *Rev. 13:1The 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 *Rev. 13:5continue a short time. 11 The *Rev. 13:3, 12, 14; 17:8beast that was, and is not, is himself also the eighth, and is of the seven, and is going to perdition.

12 *Dan. 7:20"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 *Rev. 16:14; 19:19These will make war with the Lamb, and the Lamb will *Rev. 19:20overcome them, *Deut. 10:17; 1 Tim. 6:15; Rev. 19:16for He is Lord of lords and King of kings; *Jer. 50:44and those whoare with Him are called, chosen, and faithful."

15 Then he said to me, *Is. 8:7; Jer. 47:2; Rev. 17:1"The waters which you saw, where the harlot sits, *Rev. 13:7are peoples, multitudes, nations, and tongues. 16 And the ten horns which you saw on the beast, *Jer. 50:41these will hate the harlot, make her *Rev. 18:17, 19desolate *Ezek. 16:37, 39and naked, eat her flesh and *Rev. 18:8burn her with fire. 17 *2 Thess. 2:11For God has put it into their hearts to fulfill His purpose, to be of one mind, and to give their kingdom to the beast, *Rev. 10:7until the words of God are fulfilled. 18 And the woman whom you saw *Rev. 11:8; 16:19is that great city *Rev. 12:4which reigns over the kings of the earth."