1 The Doom of Babylon Then one of the seven angels who had the seven bowls came and spoke with me, saying, “Come here, I will show you the judgmentanddoom of the greatSome have thought that the prostitute symbolizes a corrupt, apostate religious system.prostitute who is seatedFor the meaning of the waters in this prophetic context, see v 15.on many waters [influencing nations],
2 shewith whom the kings of the earth haveThis may be a figurative reference to cult worship practices and idolatry.committedacts ofimmorality, and the inhabitants of the earth have become intoxicated with the wine of her immorality.”
3 And the angel carried me away in the Spirit into a wilderness; and I saw a woman sitting on a scarlet beast that wasLit full of.entirely covered with blasphemous names, having seven heads and ten horns.
4 The woman was dressed in purple and scarlet, and adorned with gold, precious stones and pearls, [and she was] holding in her hand a gold cup full of the abominations and the filth of her [sexual] immorality.
5 And on her forehead a name was written, a mystery: “BABYLON THE GREAT, THE MOTHER OF PROSTITUTES (false religions, heresies) AND OF THE ABOMINATIONS OF THE EARTH.”
6 I saw that the woman was drunk with the blood of the saints (God’s people), and with the blood of the witnesses of Jesus [who were martyred]. When I saw her, I wondered in amazement.
7 But the angel said to me, “Why do you wonder? I will explain to you the mystery of the woman and of the beast that carries her, which has the seven heads and ten horns.
8 “The beast that you saw was [once], but [now] is not, and he is about to come up out of the abyss (the bottomless pit, the dwelling place of demons) and go to destruction (perdition). And the inhabitants of the earth, whose names have not been written in the Book of Life from the foundation of the world, will be astonished when they see the beast, because he was and is not and is yet to come [to earth].
9 Here is the mind which has wisdom [and this is what it knows about the vision]. The seven heads are seven hills on which the woman sits;
10 and they are seven kings: five of whom have fallen, one existsandis reigning; the other [the seventh] has not yet come, and when he does come, he must remain a little while.
11 And the beast that [once] was but is not, is himself also an eighthkingand is one of the seven, and he goes to destruction (perdition).
12 The ten horns that you saw are ten kings who have not yet received a kingdom, but [together] they receive authority as kings for a single hour [for a common purpose] along with the beast.
13 These [kings] have one purpose [one mind, one common goal], and they give their power and authority to the beast.
14 Victory for the Lamb They will wage war against the Lamb (Christ), and the Lamb will triumphandconquer them, because He is Lord of lords and King of kings, and those who are with Himandon His side are the called and chosen (elect) and faithful.”
15 Then the angel said to me, “The waters which you saw, where the prostitute is seated, are peoples and multitudes and nations and languages.
16 And the ten horns which you saw, and theThe Antichrist, the final world ruler.beast, these will hate the prostitute and will make her desolate and naked [stripped of her power and influence], and will eat her flesh and completely consume her with fire.
17 For God has put it in their hearts to carry out His purpose byOr having a common purpose.agreeing together to surrender their kingdom to the beast, until the [prophetic] words of God will be fulfilled.
18 The woman whom you saw is theScholars have differing opinions on the “great city.” Some believe the context (18:2, 10, 21) suggests Babylon, others Rome, and still others believe it refers to many cities.great city, which reigns overanddominatesandcontrols the kingsandthe political leaders of the earth.”