 1 Then one of the seven angels who had the seven vials came and talked with me. He said: Come here and I will show you the judgment of the great whore who sits on many waters. 2 Kings of the Earth have committed fornication with her and the inhabitants of the Earth have been made drunk with the wine of her fornication. 3 The angel then carried me away in the spirit into the wilderness. There, I saw a woman sitting on a scarlet colored beast with seven heads and ten horns and filled with blasphemous names. 4 The woman was arrayed in purple and scarlet color, and decked with gold and precious stones and pearls. She had a golden cup in her hand full of abominations and filth from her fornication. 5 The name written on her forehead was: Mystery Babylon the great, the mother of harlots and abominations of the Earth. 6 I saw that the woman was drunk with the blood of the saints and with the blood of Jesus' martyrs and I wondered with great amazement+. 7 The angel said to me: Why did you marvel? I will tell you the mystery~ of the woman and of the beast with seven heads and ten horns that carries her. 8 The beast that you saw was of one kind, is not now the same, but will again ascend from the bottomless pit and go into damnation+. Those who live on the Earth whose names were not written in the Book of Life from the foundation of the world will wonder when they behold the beast that was of one kind, is not now the same, and yet is. 9 Here, the mind must+ have understanding+: The seven heads are the seven mountains~ on which the woman sits. 10 There are seven kings. Five have fallen, one is still there, and the other has not yet come. When he comes, he must continue for a short time+. 11 The beast that was of one kind, and is not now the same, will also become an eighth~ after+ the seven, and then he will go into damnation+. 12 The ten horns that you saw are ten kings who have received no kingdom yet, but they have received authority+ as kings for one hour with the beast. 13 They are of one mind and therefore give their authority+ and strength to the beast. 14 These kings will make war with the Lamb, but the Lamb will overcome them. For He is Lord of lords and King of kings. Those who are with Him are called and chosen and faithful. 15 Then the angel said to me: The waters that you saw where the whore sits are peoples and multitudes and nations and tongues. 16 The ten horns that you saw on the beast will hate the whore and will make her desolate and naked and will eat her flesh and burn her with fire. 17 For God has put it in their hearts to fulfill His will and to agree to give their kingdoms to the beast until all of God's words are fulfilled. 18 The woman you saw is that great city that reigns over the kings of the Earth.
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