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, which has the seven heads and the ten horns. ⁸ The beast which you saw was, and is not, and is about to come up out of the abyss, and to go into perdition. And those who dwell on the earth shall wonder, whose names have not been written in the book of life from the founding of the world, when they behold the beast, that he was, and is not, and shall come.

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; the five fell, and the one is, the other did not yet come. And, when he comes, he must remain a little time. ¹¹ And the beast that was, and is not, even he is an eighth, and is of the seven, and goes into perdition. ¹² And the ten horns which you saw are ten kings, who, indeed, received no kingdom as yet; but they receive authority as kings, one hour with the beast. ¹³ These have one mind, and they 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 those with Him are called and chosen and faithful."

¹⁵ And he says to me, "The waters which you saw, where the harlot sits, are peoples, and multitudes, and nations, and tongues. ¹⁶ And the ten horns which 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 gave it into their hearts to do His will, even to execute one purpose, and to give their kingdom to the beast, until the words of God shall be accomplished. ¹⁸ And the woman whom you saw is the great city which has a kingdom over the kings of the earth.