17:1 Then 1 one of the seven angels who had the seven bowls came and spoke to me. 2 “Come,” he said, “I will show you the condemnation and punishment 3 of the great prostitute who sits on many waters, 17:2 with whom the kings of the earth committed sexual immorality and the earth’s inhabitants got drunk with the wine of her immorality.” 4 17:3 So 5 he carried me away in the Spirit 6 to a wilderness, 7 and there 8 I saw a woman sitting on a scarlet beast that was full of blasphemous names and had seven heads and ten horns. 17:4 Now 9 the woman was dressed in purple and scarlet clothing, 10 and adorned with gold, 11 precious stones, and pearls. She held 12 in her hand a golden cup filled with detestable things and unclean things from her sexual immorality. 13 17:5 On 14 her forehead was written a name, a mystery: 15 “Babylon the Great, the Mother of prostitutes and of the detestable things of the earth.” 17:6 I saw that the woman was drunk with the blood of the saints and the blood of those who testified to Jesus. 16 I 17 was greatly astounded 18 when I saw her. 17:7 But 19 the angel said to me, “Why are you astounded? I will interpret 20 for you the mystery of the woman and of the beast with the seven heads and ten horns that carries her. 17:8 The beast you saw was, and is not, but is about to come up from the abyss 21 and then go to destruction. The 22 inhabitants of the earth – all those whose names have not been written in the book of life since the foundation of the world – will be astounded when they see that 23 the beast was, and is not, but is to come. 17:9 (This requires 24 a mind that has wisdom.) The seven heads are seven mountains 25 the woman sits on. They are also seven kings: 17:10 five have fallen; one is, 26 and the other has not yet come, but whenever he does come, he must remain for only a brief time. 17:11 The 27 beast that was, and is not, is himself an eighth king and yet is one of the seven, and is going to destruction. 17:12 The 28 ten horns that you saw are ten kings who have not yet received a kingdom, but will receive ruling authority 29 as kings with the beast for one hour. 17:13 These kings 30 have a single intent, and they will give their power and authority to the beast.