Revelation 17:7-18 - The Meaning Of The Woman And Of The Beast

⁷ And the angel said to me: Why did you wonder? I will tell you the mystery of the woman, and of the beast that carries her, that has seven heads and ten horns. ⁸ The beast that you saw, was, and is not, and will come out of the abyss, and go to perdition; and those who dwell on the earth, whose names were not written in the book of life from the foundation of the world, will wonder, when they see the beast that was, and is not, though he is yet present.

⁹ Here is the mind that has wisdom: the seven heads are seven mountains, on which the woman sits. ¹⁰ And there are seven kings: five have fallen, one is, and the other has not yet come; and when he comes, he must remain but a little while. ¹¹ And the beast that was, and is not, even he is the eighth, and is of the seven, and goes to perdition. ¹² And the ten horns which you saw are ten kings, who have received no kingdom as yet, but receive authority as kings at the same time with the beast. ¹³ These have one mind, and will give their power and authority to the beast. ¹⁴ These will make war with the Lamb, and the Lamb will overcome them, for he is Lord of lords, and King of kings: and those with him are called and chosen and faithful.

¹⁵ And he said to me: The waters which you saw, where the harlot sits, are peoples and multitudes and nations and tongues. ¹⁶ And the ten horns that you saw, and the beast, these will hate the harlot, and will make her desolate and naked, and will eat her flesh, and burn her up with fire. ¹⁷ For God has put into their hearts to fulfill his will, and to agree, and to give their kingdom to the beast, till the words of God be accomplished. ¹⁸ And the woman that you saw is that great city, which reigns over the kings of the earth.