17 Then one of the seven messengers holding the seven bowls came and spoke with me, saying, “Come, I’ll show you the judgement of the famous prostitute sitting on many waters,[ref] 2 that the rulers of the earth committed sexual immorality with, and those living on the earth were intoxicated from the wine of her sexual immorality.”[ref]

3 Then in the spirit I was carried away to a wilderness and I saw a woman sitting on a wild animal that was scarlet and had anti-God names written all over it. It had seven heads and ten horns.[ref] 4 The woman was dressed in purple and scarlet, and adorned with gold and precious stone and pearls. In her hand she was holding a golden cup full of abominations and the impurities of her sexual immorality,[ref] 5 and a name was written on her forehead. The name was a mystery: ‘Bavel (Babylon) the Great, the Mother of Prostitutes and the Abominations of the Earth.’ 6 I noticed that the woman was drunk from the blood of the believers and from the blood of the witnesses of Yeshua (Jesus; Grk. Yesus). and, having seen her, I wondered a great wonder.

When I saw her, I was incredibly amazed 7 but the messenger asked me, “Why are you astounded? I’ll tell you the mystery of the woman and of the wild animal with the seven heads and the ten horns that’s carrying her. 8 The wild animal that you saw used to be here and isn’t anymore but is about to come up from the abyss.[ref] Then it’s going to destruction, and the ones living on the earth whose names have not been written in the book of life[ref] from the creation of the world will wonder, seeing the creature that used to be here and isn’t anymore but will come back.

9 Here’s the mind understanding wisdom: The seven heads are seven hills that the woman is sitting on, and they’re seven rulers. 10 Five of the rulers have fallen and one is still there, but the other one hasn’t come yet, and when he does, it’ll be necessary for him to remain a while. 11 The wild animal that used to be here and isn’t anymore is itself also an eighth, but it’s from the seven and is heading towards destruction.

12 The ten horns that you saw are ten rulers[ref] who haven’t received a domain yet to rule, but they are receiving authority as rulers with the wild animal for one hour. 13 They’re all unified, and they give their power and authority to the wild animal. 14 They’ll go to battle against the lamb, but the lamb will conquer them because he is master of masters and king of kings and the ones with him are called and chosen and faithful.”

15 Then the messenger said to me, “The waters that you saw, where the prostitute sits, are peoples and multitudes and nations and languages. 16 The ten horns that you saw and the wild animal, they’ll hate the prostitute and will make her desolated and naked and they’ll eat her flesh and will burn her completely with fire, 17 because God has put it into their hearts to do his purpose and to do one purpose and to give their kingdom to the wild animal until God’s words turn into reality.

18 The woman that you saw is the famous city whose leaders rule over the rulers of the earth.”