Revelation of John 17

1The Vision of Babylon the Great

Then one of the seven angels who held the seven bowls came and said to me, “Come, I will show you the judgment of the notorious prostitute who sits on many waters.Jer 51:13; Nah 3:4; Rev 16:19; 19:2; 21:9; 17:15
2The kings of the earth committed sexual immorality with her, and those living on earth became drunk with the wine of her immorality.”Jer 51:7; Rev 14:8; 18:3

3Then the angel
Lit. he
carried me away in the Spirit into a wilderness. I saw a woman sitting on a scarlet beast that was filled with blasphemous names. It had seven heads and ten horns.Rev 12:3, 6, 14
4The woman wore purple and scarlet clothes and was adorned with gold, gems, and pearls. In her hand she was holding a gold cup filled with detestable things and the impurities of her immorality.Jer 51:7; Dan 11:38; Rev 14:8 5On her forehead was written a secret name:2Thes 2:7; Rev 11:8; 14:8; 16:19; 19:2

BABYLON THE GREAT,

THE MOTHER OF PROSTITUTES

AND DETESTABLE THINGS OF THE EARTH.

6I saw that the woman was drunk with the blood of the saints and the blood of the witnesses to Jesus. I was very surprised when I saw her.Rev 6:9-10; 12:11; 13:15; 16:6; 18:24

7The angel said to me, “Why are you surprised? I will tell you the secret of the woman and the beast with the seven heads and the ten horns that carries her. 8The beast that you saw once was, is no longer, and is going to come from the bottomless pit and go to its destruction. Those living on earth, whose names were not written in the Book of Life from the foundation of the world, will be surprised when they see the beast because it was, is no longer, and will come again.Rev 11:7 9This calls for a mind that has wisdom. The seven heads are seven mountains on which the woman is sitting. They are also seven kings.Rev 13:1, 18 10Five of them have fallen, one is living, and the other has not yet come. When he comes, he must remain for a little while. 11The beast that was and is no longer is the eighth king,
The Gk. lacks king
but it belongs with the seven kings
The Gk. lacks kings
and goes to its destruction.Rev 17:8
12The ten horns that you saw are ten kings who have not yet received a kingdom. They will receive authority to rule
The Gk. lacks to rule
as kings with the beast for one hour.Dan 7:20; Zech 1:18-19, 21; Rev 13:1
13They have one purpose: to give their power and authority to the beast. 14They will wage war against the lamb, but the lamb will conquer them because he is Lord of lords and King of kings. Those who are called, chosen, and faithful are with him.”Deut 10:17; Jer 50:44-45; 1Tim 6:15; Rev 14:4; 16:14

15The angel
Lit. He
also said to me, “The waters you saw, on which the prostitute is sitting, are peoples, multitudes, nations, and languages.Isa 8:7; Rev 8:1; 13:7
16The ten horns and the beast you saw will hate the prostitute. They will leave her abandoned and naked. They will eat her flesh and burn her up with fire,Jer 50:41-42; Ezek 16:37-44; Rev 16:12 17for God has put it into their hearts to carry out his purpose. And so they will give their kingdom to the beast until God's words are fulfilled.2Thes 2:11; Rev 10:7 18The woman you saw is the great city that rules over the kings of the earth.”Rev 12:4; 16:19

Copyright information for ISV