Revelation 17:8-18

English Standard Version

⁸ The beast that you saw ^(A)was, and is not, and ^(B)is about to rise from ^(C)the bottomless pit^[a] and ^(D)go to destruction. And ^(E)the dwellers on earth whose names have not been written in ^(F)the book of life from the foundation of the world will marvel to see the beast, because ^(G)it was and is not and is to come. ^9 (H)This calls for a mind with wisdom: the seven heads are seven mountains on which the woman is seated; ¹⁰ they are also seven kings, five of whom have fallen, one is, the other has not yet come, and when he does come he must remain only a little while. ¹¹ As for the beast ^(I)that was and is not, it is an eighth but it belongs to the seven, and it goes to destruction. ¹² And ^(J)the ten horns that you saw are ten kings who have not yet received royal power, but they are to receive authority as kings ^(K)for one hour, together with the beast. ¹³ These are of one mind, and they hand over their power and authority to the beast. ¹⁴ They ^(L)will make war on the Lamb, and ^(M)the Lamb will conquer them, for he is ^(N)Lord of lords and ^(O)King of kings, and those with him are ^(P)called and chosen and faithful.”

¹⁵ And the angel^[b] said to me, ^(Q)“The waters that you saw, where the prostitute is seated, are peoples and multitudes and nations and languages. ¹⁶ And ^(R)the ten horns that you saw, they and the beast ^(S)will hate the prostitute. They will make her ^(T)desolate and ^(U)naked, and ^(V)devour her flesh and ^(W)burn her up with fire, ¹⁷ for ^(X)God has put it into their hearts to carry out his purpose by being of one mind and ^(Y)handing over their royal power to the beast, until the words of God are fulfilled. ¹⁸ And the woman that you saw is ^(Z)the great city that has dominion over the kings of the earth.”