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

⁷ And the angel said unto me, Why dost thou wonder? 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, which thou sawest, was, and is not; but will rise out of the abyss, and go into perdition: and they that dwell on the earth (whose names are not written on the book of life from the foundation of the world) shall wonder, when they behold the beast that was, and is not, and yet is to be.

⁹ To this the mind that hath wisdom will attend: for the seven heads are seven hills, on which the woman sitteth. ¹⁰ And there are seven kings: five are fallen, one is, and another is not yet come; and when he cometh, he is to continue but a little while. ¹¹ And the beast that was, and is not, he is the eighth, and is as one of the seven, and goeth into perdition. ¹² And the ten horns, which thou sawest, are ten kings, who have not yet received a kingdom, but shall receive power as kings for a limited time with the beast. ¹³ These are of one mind, and will give their power and authority to the beast. ¹⁴ These will make war with the Lamb, and the Lamb shall overcome them: for He is Lord of lords, and King of kings: and those that are with Him are called, and chosen, and faithful.

¹⁵ And he said unto me, The waters which thou sawest, whereon the harlot sitteth, are people, and multitudes, and nations, and tongues. ¹⁶ And the ten horns which thou sawest upon the beast, these shall hate the whore, and shall make her desolate and naked, and shall devour her flesh, and burn her with fire. ¹⁷ For God hath put it into their hearts to do according to his mind, and to perform one and the same purpose, even to give their kingdoms to the beast, till the words of God be accomplished. ¹⁸ And the woman which thou sawest is that great city, which beareth rule over the kings of the earth.