Revelation 17-18

New International Version

Babylon, the Prostitute on the Beast

17 One of the seven angels^(A) who had the seven bowls^(B) came and said to me, “Come, I will show you the punishment^(C) of the great prostitute,^(D) who sits by many waters.^(E) ²With her the kings of the earth committed adultery, and the inhabitants of the earth were intoxicated with the wine of her adulteries.”^(F)

³Then the angel carried me away in the Spirit^(G) into a wilderness.^(H) There I saw a woman sitting on a scarlet^(I) beast that was covered with blasphemous names^(J) and had seven heads and ten horns.^(K) ⁴The woman was dressed in purple and scarlet, and was glittering with gold, precious stones and pearls.^(L) She held a golden cup^(M) in her hand, filled with abominable things and the filth of her adulteries.^(N) ⁵The name written on her forehead was a mystery:^(O)

babylon the great^(P)

the mother of prostitutes^(Q)

and of the abominations of the earth.

⁶I saw that the woman was drunk with the blood of God’s holy people,^(R) the blood of those who bore testimony to Jesus.

When I saw her, I was greatly astonished. ⁷Then the angel said to me: “Why are you astonished? I will explain to you the mystery^(S) of the woman and of the beast she rides, which has the seven heads and ten horns.^(T) ⁸The beast, which you saw, once was, now is not, and yet will come up out of the Abyss^(U) and go to its destruction.^(V) The inhabitants of the earth^(W) whose names have not been written in the book of life^(X) from the creation of the world will be astonished^(Y) when they see the beast, because it once was, now is not, and yet will come.

⁹“This calls for a mind with wisdom.^(Z) The seven heads^(AA) are seven hills on which the woman sits. ¹⁰They are also seven kings. Five have fallen, one is, the other has not yet come; but when he does come, he must remain for only a little while. ¹¹The beast who once was, and now is not,^(AB) is an eighth king. He belongs to the seven and is going to his destruction.

¹²“The ten horns^(AC) you saw are ten kings who have not yet received a kingdom, but who for one hour^(AD) will receive authority as kings along with the beast. ¹³They have one purpose and will give their power and authority to the beast.^(AE) ¹⁴They will wage war^(AF) against the Lamb, but the Lamb will triumph over^(AG) them because he is Lord of lords and King of kings^(AH)—and with him will be his called, chosen^(AI) and faithful followers.”

¹⁵Then the angel said to me, “The waters^(AJ) you saw, where the prostitute sits, are peoples, multitudes, nations and languages.^(AK) ¹⁶The beast and the ten horns^(AL) you saw will hate the prostitute.^(AM) They will bring her to ruin^(AN) and leave her naked;^(AO) they will eat her flesh^(AP) and burn her with fire.^(AQ) ¹⁷For God has put it into their hearts^(AR) to accomplish his purpose by agreeing to hand over to the beast their royal authority,^(AS) until God’s words are fulfilled.^(AT) ¹⁸The woman you saw is the great city^(AU) that rules over the kings of the earth.”

Lament Over Fallen Babylon

18 After this I saw another angel^(AV) coming down from heaven.^(AW) He had great authority, and the earth was illuminated by his splendor.^(AX) ²With a mighty voice he shouted:

“‘Fallen! Fallen is Babylon the Great!’^[a]^(AY)
    She has become a dwelling for demons
and a haunt for every impure spirit,^(AZ)
    a haunt for every unclean bird,
    a haunt for every unclean and detestable animal.^(BA)
³For all the nations have drunk
    the maddening wine of her adulteries.^(BB)
The kings of the earth committed adultery with her,^(BC)
    and the merchants of the earth grew rich^(BD) from her excessive luxuries.”^(BE)

Warning to Escape Babylon’s Judgment

⁴Then I heard another voice from heaven say:

“‘Come out of her, my people,’^[b]^(BF)
    so that you will not share in her sins,
    so that you will not receive any of her plagues;^(BG)
⁵for her sins are piled up to heaven,^(BH)
    and God has remembered^(BI) her crimes.
⁶Give back to her as she has given;
    pay her back^(BJ) double^(BK) for what she has done.
    Pour her a double portion from her own cup.^(BL)
⁷Give her as much torment and grief
    as the glory and luxury she gave herself.^(BM)
In her heart she boasts,
    ‘I sit enthroned as queen.
I am not a widow;^[c]
    I will never mourn.’^(BN)
⁸Therefore in one day^(BO) her plagues will overtake her:
    death, mourning and famine.
She will be consumed by fire,^(BP)
    for mighty is the Lord God who judges her.

Threefold Woe Over Babylon’s Fall

⁹“When the kings of the earth who committed adultery with her^(BQ) and shared her luxury^(BR) see the smoke of her burning,^(BS) they will weep and mourn over her.^(BT) ¹⁰Terrified at her torment, they will stand far off^(BU) and cry:

“‘Woe! Woe to you, great city,^(BV)
you mighty city of Babylon!
In one hour^(BW) your doom has come!’

¹¹“The merchants^(BX) of the earth will weep and mourn^(BY) over her because no one buys their cargoes anymore^(BZ)— ¹²cargoes of gold, silver, precious stones and pearls; fine linen, purple, silk and scarlet cloth; every sort of citron wood, and articles of every kind made of ivory, costly wood, bronze, iron and marble;^(CA) ¹³cargoes of cinnamon and spice, of incense, myrrh and frankincense, of wine and olive oil, of fine flour and wheat; cattle and sheep; horses and carriages; and human beings sold as slaves.^(CB)

¹⁴“They will say, ‘The fruit you longed for is gone from you. All your luxury and splendor have vanished, never to be recovered.’ ¹⁵The merchants who sold these things and gained their wealth from her^(CC) will stand far off,^(CD) terrified at her torment. They will weep and mourn^(CE) ¹⁶and cry out:

“‘Woe! Woe to you, great city,^(CF)
dressed in fine linen, purple and scarlet,
and glittering with gold, precious stones and pearls!^(CG)
¹⁷In one hour^(CH) such great wealth has been brought to ruin!’^(CI)

“Every sea captain, and all who travel by ship, the sailors, and all who earn their living from the sea,^(CJ) will stand far off.^(CK) ¹⁸When they see the smoke of her burning,^(CL) they will exclaim, ‘Was there ever a city like this great city^(CM)?’^(CN) ¹⁹They will throw dust on their heads,^(CO) and with weeping and mourning^(CP) cry out:

“‘Woe! Woe to you, great city,^(CQ)
where all who had ships on the sea
became rich through her wealth!
In one hour she has been brought to ruin!’^(CR)

²⁰“Rejoice over her, you heavens!^(CS)
    Rejoice, you people of God!
    Rejoice, apostles and prophets!
For God has judged her
    with the judgment she imposed on you.”^(CT)

The Finality of Babylon’s Doom

²¹Then a mighty angel^(CU) picked up a boulder the size of a large millstone and threw it into the sea,^(CV) and said:

“With such violence
    the great city^(CW) of Babylon will be thrown down,
    never to be found again.
²²The music of harpists and musicians, pipers and trumpeters,
    will never be heard in you again.^(CX)
No worker of any trade
    will ever be found in you again.
The sound of a millstone
    will never be heard in you again.^(CY)
²³The light of a lamp
    will never shine in you again.
The voice of bridegroom and bride
    will never be heard in you again.^(CZ)
Your merchants were the world’s important people.^(DA)
    By your magic spell^(DB) all the nations were led astray.
²⁴In her was found the blood of prophets and of God’s holy people,^(DC)
    of all who have been slaughtered on the earth.”^(DD)