1. One of the seven angels who had emptied the bowls came over and said to me, “Come on! I will show you how God will punish that shameless prostitute who sits on many oceans.
2. Every king on earth has slept with her, and her shameless ways are like wine that has made everyone on earth drunk.”
3. With the help of the Spirit, the angel took me into the desert, where I saw a woman sitting on a red beast. The beast was covered with names that were an insult to God, and it had seven heads and ten horns.
4. The woman was dressed in purple and scarlet robes, and she wore jewellery made of gold, precious stones, and pearls. In her hand she held a gold cup filled with the filthy and nasty things she had done.
5. On her forehead a mysterious name was written:I AM THE GREAT CITY OF BABYLON,THE MOTHER OF EVERY IMMORALAND FILTHY THING ON EARTH.
6. I could tell that the woman was drunk on the blood of God's people who had given their lives for Jesus. This surprising sight amazed me,
7. and the angel said:Why are you so amazed? I will explain the mystery about this woman and about the beast she is sitting on, with its seven heads and ten horns.
8. The beast you saw is one that used to be and no longer is. It will come back from the deep pit, but only to be destroyed. Everyone on earth whose names were not written in the book of life before the time of creation will be amazed. They will see this beast that used to be and no longer is, but will be once more.