The Vision of the Great Prostitute
Study note
An angel invites John to see the judgment of the great prostitute who sits on many waters. In the wilderness, John sees a woman riding a scarlet beast covered with blasphemous names, having seven heads and ten horns. She is clothed in purple and scarlet, adorned with gold and jewels, and holds a golden cup full of abominations. Her forehead bears the name 'Mystery, Babylon the Great, Mother of Harlots.' She is drunk with the blood of the saints and martyrs.
1 One of the seven angels who had poured out the bowls came over and said to me, "Come with me. I will show you the judgment coming to the famous prostitute who sits over many waters." And there came one of the seven angels which had the seven vials, and talked with me, saying unto me, Come hither; I will shew unto thee the judgment of the great whore that sitteth upon many waters:
2 "The kings of the earth sinned with her. People everywhere got drunk on the wine of her wicked ways." With whom the kings of the earth have committed fornication, and the inhabitants of the earth have been made drunk with the wine of her fornication.
3 The angel carried me away in the Spirit to a wilderness. There I saw a woman sitting on a scarlet beast that was covered with names that insulted God. The beast had seven heads and ten horns. So he carried me away in the spirit into the wilderness: and I saw a woman sit upon a scarlet coloured beast, full of names of blasphemy, having seven heads and ten horns.
4 The woman was dressed in purple and scarlet and dripping with gold, precious gems, and pearls. She held a golden cup in her hand, but it was filled with disgusting things and the filth of her sexual sins. And the woman was arrayed in purple and scarlet colour, and decked with gold and precious stones and pearls, having a golden cup in her hand full of abominations and filthiness of her fornication:
5 A strange title was written on her forehead. It said: BABYLON THE GREAT. MOTHER OF ALL PROSTITUTES. MOTHER OF ALL THAT IS VILE ON EARTH. And upon her forehead was a name written, MYSTERY, BABYLON THE GREAT, THE MOTHER OF HARLOTS AND ABOMINATIONS OF THE EARTH.
6 I could see that the woman was drunk -- drunk on the blood of God's holy people and the blood of those who died for their faith in Jesus. When I saw her, I was completely shocked. And I saw the woman drunken with the blood of the saints, and with the blood of the martyrs of Jesus: and when I saw her, I wondered with great admiration.
The Mystery of the Beast Explained
Study note
The angel explains the mystery: the beast once was, now is not, and will come from the bottomless pit before going to destruction. The seven heads represent seven mountains and seven kings, five of whom have fallen. The ten horns are ten kings who will receive brief authority with the beast. They will make war against the Lamb, but the Lamb will overcome them because he is Lord of lords and King of kings, and those with him are called, chosen, and faithful.
7 The angel asked me, "Why are you so shocked? Let me explain the mystery of the woman and the beast she rides, the one with seven heads and ten horns." And the angel said unto me, Wherefore didst thou marvel? 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 used to exist but does not exist right now. It will come up from the bottomless pit and then be destroyed. People whose names were not written in the book of life since the world began will be shocked when they see this beast. It is the one that was, is not, and yet will show up again." The beast that thou sawest was, and is not; and shall ascend out of the bottomless pit, and go into perdition: and they that dwell on the earth shall wonder, whose names were not written in the book of life from the foundation of the world, when they behold the beast that was, and is not, and yet is.
9 "Understanding this requires wisdom. The seven heads stand for seven hills where the woman is seated." And here is the mind which hath wisdom. The seven heads are seven mountains, on which the woman sitteth.
10 "They also stand for seven kings. Five have already fallen, one is ruling now, and the last one has not arrived yet. When he does come, he will stay for only a short time." And there are seven kings: five are fallen, and one is, and the other is not yet come; and when he cometh, he must continue a short space.
11 "The beast that used to exist but does not right now -- he is an eighth king, but he belongs with the seven. He is heading for destruction." And the beast that was, and is not, even he is the eighth, and is of the seven, and goeth into perdition.
12 "The ten horns you saw are ten kings who have not started ruling yet. But they will receive royal authority for a brief time alongside the beast." And the ten horns which thou sawest are ten kings, which have received no kingdom as yet; but receive power as kings one hour with the beast.
13 "These kings share one goal: to give their power and authority to the beast." These have one mind, and shall give their power and strength unto the beast.
14 "They will go to war against the Lamb. But the Lamb will defeat them because he is Lord of lords and King of kings. Fighting alongside him are the ones he has called, chosen, and found faithful." These shall make war with the Lamb, and the Lamb shall overcome them: for he is Lord of lords, and King of kings: and they that are with him are called, and chosen, and faithful.
The Prostitute's Destruction
Study note
The angel reveals that the waters where the prostitute sits represent peoples, multitudes, nations, and languages. In a dramatic reversal, the ten horns that served the beast will turn on the prostitute, making her desolate, consuming her flesh, and burning her with fire. This happens because God has put it in their hearts to fulfill his purpose. The woman is identified as the great city that rules over the kings of the earth.
15 Then the angel told me, "The waters you saw are where the prostitute sits. They stand for huge crowds of people from many nations and languages." And he saith unto me, The waters which thou sawest, where the whore sitteth, are peoples, and multitudes, and nations, and tongues.
16 "The ten horns you saw on the beast -- they will eventually turn on the prostitute and hate her. They will strip her bare, eat her flesh, and burn what remains." And the ten horns which thou sawest upon the beast, these shall hate the whore, and shall make her desolate and naked, and shall eat her flesh, and burn her with fire.
17 "God put it in their minds to carry out his plan. They will agree to hand their royal authority to the beast, and this will continue until every word God has spoken comes true." For God hath put in their hearts to fulfil his will, and to agree, and give their kingdom unto the beast, until the words of God shall be fulfilled.
18 "The woman you saw represents the great city that rules over the kings of the earth." And the woman which thou sawest is that great city, which reigneth over the kings of the earth.