1 ¶ Then one of the seven angels who had the seven vials, came and spoke to me, saying, Come with me; I will show you the judgment of the great whore who sits on many waters:

2 The kings of the earth have committed fornication with her, and the inhabitants of the earth have been made drunk with the wine of her immorality.

3 So he carried me away in the spirit into the desert: and I saw a woman sitting on a scarlet colored beast, that had seven heads and ten horns, and was covered with blasphemous names.

4 And the woman was dressed in purple and scarlet, and adorned with gold and precious stones and pearls, having in her hand a gold cup full of abominations and the filth of her immorality:

5 And a name was written on her forehead, MYSTERY, BABYLON THE GREAT, THE MOTHER OF HARLOTS AND ABOMINATIONS OF THE EARTH.

6 And I saw that the woman was drunk with the blood of the saints, and with the blood of the martyrs of Jesus: and when I saw her, I was amazed and astounded.

7 ¶ And the angel said to me, Why were you amazed? I will explain to you the mystery of the woman, and the beast that carries her, which has the seven heads and ten horns.

8 The beast that you saw was, and is not; and will ascend out of the bottomless pit, and is going to his destruction: and those who dwell on the earth, whose names have not been written in the book of life from the foundation of the world, will be astonished when they behold the beast that was, and is not, and yet is.

9 And this requires a mind that has wisdom. The seven heads are seven mountains, on which the woman sits.

10 They are also seven kings: five have fallen, and one is, and the other has not yet come; and when he comes, he must remain for a little while.

11 And the beast that was, and is not, is the eighth king, and he comes from the seven, and is going to perdition.

12 And the ten horns that you saw are ten kings, who have not yet received a kingdom; but with the beast receive authority as kings for one hour.

13 These have one purpose, and will give their power and authority to the beast.

14 ¶ These shall wage war with the Lamb, but the Lamb will conquer them: because he is Lord of lords, and King of kings: and those who are with him are called, and chosen, and faithful.

15 Then the angel said to me, The waters that you saw, where the whore sits, are peoples, and multitudes, and nations, and language groups.

16 And the ten horns that you saw on the beast, will hate the whore, and will make her desolate and naked, and shall eat her flesh, and burn her with fire.

17 For God has put it in their hearts to carry out his will, by agreeing to give their kingdom to the beast, until what God has said is accomplished.

18 And the woman that you saw is that great city, which reigns over the kings of the earth.