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

⁷ And the angel said to me, Wherefore didst thou wonder? I will tell thee the mystery of the woman, and of the beast that carrieth her, which hath the seven heads, and the ten horns. ⁸ The beast which thou sawest, was, and is not, and is to come up out of the abyss, and goeth into perdition; and they that dwell on the earth, whose names have not been written in the book of life from the foundation of the world, will wonder, when they see the beast, that he was, and is not, and yet will come.

⁹ Here is the mind that hath wisdom. The seven heads are seven mountains, on which the woman sitteth. ¹⁰ And they are seven kings; five of them are fallen, one is; the other is not yet come, and when he hath come, he must remain a short time. ¹¹ And the beast that was, and is not, he is an eighth, and is of the seven, and goeth into perdition. ¹² And the ten horns which thou sawest are ten kings, who have received no kingdom as yet, but receive authority as kings one hour with the beast. ¹³ These have one mind, and give their power and authority to the beast. ¹⁴ These will make war with the Lamb; and the Lamb will overcome them, because he is Lord of lords, and King of kings: and they who are with him are called, and chosen, and faithful.

¹⁵ And he saith to me, The waters which thou sawest, where the harlot sitteth, are peoples, and multitudes, and nations, and tongues. ¹⁶ And the ten horns which thou sawest, and the beast, these will hate the harlot, and will make her desolate and naked, and will eat her flesh, and will burn her up with fire. ¹⁷ For God hath put in their hearts to do his will, and to form one purpose, and to give their kingdom to the beast, until the words of God shall be fulfilled. ¹⁸ And the woman which thou sawest is the great city, which reigneth over the kings of the earth.