1 One of the seven angels {angelos: heavenly messenger} in possession of the seven bowls advanced and spoke to me: “Come closer; I will show you the judgment {krima: decisive verdict} of the great prostitute seated on many waters.”
2 With whom the kings {basileis: political rulers} of the earth had sexual immorality {porneia: idolatrous unfaithfulness}, and the inhabitants of the earth were made drunk from the wine of her sexual immorality.
3 And he carried me away in the Spirit {Pneuma, Revelatory Presence} into a wilderness, and I saw a woman sitting upon a scarlet beast, full of names of blasphemy, having seven heads and ten horns {kerata: ruling power}.
4 And the woman was clothed in purple and scarlet, and adorned with gold {chrysio: precious metal}, with precious stones and pearls, having in her hand a golden cup full of abominations {bdelygmaton: detestable things} and the impurities of her fornication.
5 And upon her forehead was a name written: “Mystery, Babylon the Great, the Mother of Prostitutes {porne: self-selling women} and of the Abominations {bdelygma: detestable things} of the earth.”
6 And I saw the woman being drunk with the blood of the saints {hagion: those set apart}, and with the blood of the martyrs of Jesus {Iesou, Worthy Of Testimony}; and when I saw her, I marveled greatly.
7 And the angel {angelos: Heavenly Messenger} said to me, “Why did you marvel? I will tell you the mystery {mysterion: secret plan} of the woman and of the beast that carries her, which has the seven heads and the ten horns.”
8 The beast that you saw was, and is not, and is about to ascend out of the abyss, and it goes into destruction. And those who dwell on the earth—whose name has not been written in the book of life {zoe: everlasting existence} from the foundation of the world—will marvel, seeing the beast, that it was, and is not, and will be present {parestai: anticipated arrival}.
9 Here is the mind {nous: Discerning Understanding} that has wisdom. The seven heads are seven mountains {ore: Imposing Terrain} on which the woman is seated.
10 And they are seven kings {basileis: ruling authorities}. The five have fallen, the one is, the other has not yet come; and whenever he comes, it is necessary for him to remain {meinai: stay in power} a little while.
11 And the beast {therion: hostile power} which was and is not, even it is an eighth, and is from the seven, and it is going into destruction {apoleian: utter ruin}.
12 And the ten horns which you saw are ten kings, who have not yet received a kingdom {basileian: sphere of royal rule}, but they receive authority {exousian: delegated governing power} as kings for one hour with the beast.
13 These have one mind {gnome: unified resolve}, and they give their power and authority to the beast {therion: oppressive power}.
14 These will make war with the Lamb {arnion, Victorious Messiah}, and the Lamb will conquer them, because He is Lord of lords {kyrios kyrion, Supreme Authority} and King of kings, and those with Him are called {kletoi: divinely summoned} and chosen and faithful.
15 And he {legei: ongoing speaker} said to me, “The waters which you saw, where the prostitute sits, are peoples and multitudes and nations and tongues {glossai: spoken languages}.”
16 And the ten horns that you saw, and the beast—these will hate the prostitute, and they will make her desolate {eremomenen: utterly ruined} and naked, and they will eat her flesh, and they will burn her up with fire {puri: consuming flame}.
17 For God {Theos, Sovereign Purpose-Maker} has put into their hearts to accomplish His intention and to be of one intent, and to give their kingdom to the beast, until the words {logoi: spoken declarations} of God are fulfilled.
18 And the woman {gyne: symbolic corporate figure} whom you saw is the great city {polis: organized world-system} that possesses sovereignty over the kings of the earth.