Revelation 17:1-6

The Great Prostitute and the Beast

1 Then v one of the seven angels who had w the seven bowls came and said to me, "Come, I will show you the judgment of x the great prostitute y who is seated on many waters, 2 z with whom the kings of the earth have committed sexual immorality, and a with the wine of whose sexual immorality b the dwellers on earth have become drunk." 3 And c he carried me away in the Spirit d into a wilderness, and I saw a woman sitting on e a scarlet beast that was full of f blasphemous names, and g it had seven heads and ten horns. 4 The woman h was arrayed in purple and scarlet, and adorned i with gold and jewels and pearls, holding in her hand j a golden cup full of abominations and the impurities of her sexual immorality. 5 And on her forehead was written a name of k mystery: l "Babylon the great, mother of prostitutes and of earth's abominations."

6 And I saw the woman, drunk m with the blood of the saints, the blood of n the martyrs of Jesus. 1 When I saw her, I marveled greatly.

  1. Cross References
    Revelation 21:9
    Then came one of the seven angels who had the seven bowls full of the seven last plagues and spoke to me, saying, "Come, I will show you the Bride, the wife of the Lamb.
  2. Cross References
    Revelation 15:7
    And one of the four living creatures gave to the seven angels seven golden bowls full of the wrath of God who lives forever and ever.
  3. Cross References
    Revelation 19:2
    For his judgments are true and just; for he has judged the great prostitute who corrupted the earth with her immorality, and has avenged on her the blood of his servants.
    Nahum 3:4
    And all for the countless whorings of the prostitute, graceful and of deadly charms, who betrays nations with her whorings, and peoples with her charms.
    Isaiah 1:21
    How the faithful city has become a whore, she who was full of justice! Righteousness lodged in her, but now murderers.
    Jeremiah 2:20
    For long ago I broke your yoke and burst your bonds; but you said, 'I will not serve.' Yes, on every high hill and under every green tree you bowed down like a whore.
  4. Cross References
    Revelation 17:15
    And the angel said to me, "The waters that you saw, where the prostitute is seated, are peoples and multitudes and nations and languages.
    Jeremiah 51:13
    O you who dwell by many waters, rich in treasures, your end has come; the thread of your life is cut.
  5. Cross References
    Revelation 18:3
    For all nations have drunk the wine of the passion of her sexual immorality, and the kings of the earth have committed immorality with her, and the merchants of the earth have grown rich from the power of her luxurious living.
    Revelation 18:9
    And the kings of the earth, who committed sexual immorality and lived in luxury with her, will weep and wail over her when they see the smoke of her burning.
    Isaiah 23:17
    At the end of seventy years, the Lord will visit Tyre, and she will return to her wages and will prostitute herself with all the kingdoms of the world on the face of the earth.
  6. Cross References
    Revelation 14:8
    Another angel, a second, followed, saying, "Fallen, fallen is Babylon the great, she who made all nations drink the wine of the passion of her sexual immorality.
    Jeremiah 51:7
    Babylon was a golden cup in the Lord 's hand, making all the earth drunken; the nations drank of her wine; therefore the nations went mad.
  7. Cross References
    Revelation 3:10
    Because you have kept my word about patient endurance, I will keep you from the hour of trial that is coming on the whole world, to try those who dwell on the earth.
  8. Cross References
    Revelation 21:10
    And he carried me away in the Spirit to a great, high mountain, and showed me the holy city Jerusalem coming down out of heaven from God.
  9. Cross References
    Revelation 12:6
    And the woman fled into the wilderness, where she has a place prepared by God, in which she is to be nourished for 1,260 days.
    Revelation 12:14
    But the woman was given the two wings of the great eagle so that she might fly from the serpent into the wilderness, to the place where she is to be nourished for a time, and times, and half a time.
  10. Cross References
    Revelation 12:3
    And another sign appeared in heaven: behold, a great red dragon, with seven heads and ten horns, and on his heads seven diadems.
  11. Cross References
    Revelation 13:1
    And I saw a beast rising out of the sea, with ten horns and seven heads, with ten diadems on its horns and blasphemous names on its heads.
  12. Cross References
    Revelation 17:7
    But the angel said to me, "Why do you marvel? I will tell you the mystery of the woman, and of the beast with seven heads and ten horns that carries her.
    Revelation 17:9
    This calls for a mind with wisdom: the seven heads are seven mountains on which the woman is seated.
    Revelation 17:12
    And the ten horns that you saw are ten kings who have not yet received royal power, but they are to receive authority as kings for one hour, together with the beast.
  13. Cross References
    Revelation 18:16
    Alas, alas, for the great city that was clothed in fine linen, in purple and scarlet, adorned with gold, with jewels, and with pearls!
  14. Cross References
    Daniel 11:38
    He shall honor the god of fortresses instead of these. A god whom his fathers did not know he shall honor with gold and silver, with precious stones and costly gifts.
  15. Cross References
    Jeremiah 51:7
    Babylon was a golden cup in the Lord 's hand, making all the earth drunken; the nations drank of her wine; therefore the nations went mad.
    Revelation 18:6
    Pay her back as she herself has paid back others, and repay her double for her deeds; mix a double portion for her in the cup she mixed.
  16. Cross References
    Revelation 17:7
    But the angel said to me, "Why do you marvel? I will tell you the mystery of the woman, and of the beast with seven heads and ten horns that carries her.
    2 Thessalonians 2:7
    For the mystery of lawlessness is already at work. Only he who now restrains it will do so until he is out of the way.
  17. Cross References
    Revelation 14:8
    Another angel, a second, followed, saying, "Fallen, fallen is Babylon the great, she who made all nations drink the wine of the passion of her sexual immorality.
  18. Cross References
    Revelation 16:6
    For they have shed the blood of saints and prophets, and you have given them blood to drink. It is what they deserve!
    Revelation 13:15
    And it was allowed to give breath to the image of the beast, so that the image of the beast might even speak and might cause those who would not worship the image of the beast to be slain.
  19. Cross References
    Revelation 2:13
    'I know where you dwell, where Satan's throne is. Yet you hold fast my name, and you did not deny my faith even in the days of Antipas my faithful witness, who was killed among you, where Satan dwells.
English Standard Version (ESV) The Holy Bible, English Standard Version Copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a division of Good News Publishers.