The Great Prostitute and the Beast
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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,
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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."
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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.
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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.
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And on her forehead was written a name of k mystery: l "Babylon the great, mother of prostitutes and of earth's abominations."
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And I saw the woman, drunk m with the blood of the saints, the blood of n the martyrs of Jesus. When I saw her, I marveled greatly.
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But the angel said to me, "Why do you marvel? I will tell you o the mystery of the woman, and of the beast with seven heads and ten horns that carries her.
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The beast that you saw p was, and is not, and q is about to rise from r the bottomless pit and s go to destruction. And t the dwellers on earth whose names have not been written in u the book of life from the foundation of the world will marvel to see the beast, because p it was and is not and is to come.
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v This calls for a mind with wisdom: the seven heads are seven mountains on which the woman is seated;
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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.
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As for the beast w that was and is not, it is an eighth but it belongs to the seven, and it goes to destruction.
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And x the ten horns that you saw are ten kings who have not yet received royal power, but they are to receive authority as kings y for one hour, together with the beast.
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These are of one mind, and they hand over their power and authority to the beast.
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They z will make war on the Lamb, and a the Lamb will conquer them, for he is b Lord of lords and b King of kings, and those with him are c called and chosen and faithful."
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And the angel said to me, d "The waters that you saw, where the prostitute is seated, are peoples and multitudes and nations and languages.
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And e the ten horns that you saw, they and the beast f will hate the prostitute. They will make her g desolate and h naked, and i devour her flesh and j burn her up with fire,
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for k God has put it into their hearts to carry out his purpose by being of one mind and l handing over their royal power to the beast, until the words of God are fulfilled.
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And the woman that you saw is m the great city that has dominion over the kings of the earth."
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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!
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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Cross References
Revelation 17:5
And on her forehead was written a name of mystery: "Babylon the great, mother of prostitutes and of earth's abominations.
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Cross References
Revelation 17:11
As for the beast that was and is not, it is an eighth but it belongs to the seven, and it goes to destruction.
Revelation 1:4
John to the seven churches that are in Asia: Grace to you and peace from him who is and who was and who is to come, and from the seven spirits who are before his throne.
Revelation 13:3
One of its heads seemed to have a mortal wound, but its mortal wound was healed, and the whole earth marveled as they followed the beast.
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Cross References
Revelation 17:11
As for the beast that was and is not, it is an eighth but it belongs to the seven, and it goes to destruction.
Revelation 1:4
John to the seven churches that are in Asia: Grace to you and peace from him who is and who was and who is to come, and from the seven spirits who are before his throne.
Revelation 13:3
One of its heads seemed to have a mortal wound, but its mortal wound was healed, and the whole earth marveled as they followed the beast.
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Cross References
Revelation 11:7
And when they have finished their testimony, the beast that rises from the bottomless pit will make war on them and conquer them and kill them.
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Cross References
Revelation 9:1
And the fifth angel blew his trumpet, and I saw a star fallen from heaven to earth, and he was given the key to the shaft of the bottomless pit.
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Cross References
Revelation 13:10
If anyone is to be taken captive, to captivity he goes; if anyone is to be slain with the sword, with the sword must he be slain. Here is a call for the endurance and faith of the saints.
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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.
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Cross References
Revelation 3:5
The one who conquers will be clothed thus in white garments, and I will never blot his name out of the book of life. I will confess his name before my Father and before his angels.
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Cross References
Revelation 13:18
This calls for wisdom: let the one who has understanding calculate the number of the beast, for it is the number of a man, and his number is 666.
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Cross References
Revelation 17:8
The beast that you saw was, and is not, and is about to rise from the bottomless pit and go to destruction. And the dwellers on earth whose names have not been written in the book of life from the foundation of the world will marvel to see the beast, because it was and is not and is to come.
Revelation 11:17
Saying, "We give thanks to you, Lord God Almighty, who is and who was, for you have taken your great power and begun to reign.
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Cross References
Revelation 17:16
And the ten horns that you saw, they and the beast will hate the prostitute. They will make her desolate and naked, and devour her flesh and burn her up with fire.
Daniel 7:24
As for the ten horns, out of this kingdom ten kings shall arise, and another shall arise after them; he shall be different from the former ones, and shall put down three kings.
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.
Zechariah 1:18 - 21
And I lifted my eyes and saw, and behold, four horns!
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Cross References
Revelation 18:10
They will stand far off, in fear of her torment, and say, "Alas! Alas! You great city, you mighty city, Babylon! For in a single hour your judgment has come.
Revelation 18:17
For in a single hour all this wealth has been laid waste." And all shipmasters and seafaring men, sailors and all whose trade is on the sea, stood far off
Revelation 18:19
And they threw dust on their heads as they wept and mourned, crying out, "Alas, alas, for the great city where all who had ships at sea grew rich by her wealth! For in a single hour she has been laid waste.
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Cross References
Revelation 16:14
For they are demonic spirits, performing signs, who go abroad to the kings of the whole world, to assemble them for battle on the great day of God the Almighty.
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Cross References
Revelation 3:21
The one who conquers, I will grant him to sit with me on my throne, as I also conquered and sat down with my Father on his throne.
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Cross References
Revelation 19:16
On his robe and on his thigh he has a name writ...
Deuteronomy 10:17
For the Lord your God is God of gods and Lord o...
Psalms 136:3
Give thanks to the Lord of lords, for his stead...
Daniel 2:47
The king answered and said to Daniel, "Truly, y...
1 Timothy 6:15
Which he will display at the proper time - he w...
Revelation 1:5
And from Jesus Christ the faithful witness, the...
Matthew 28:18
And Jesus came and said to them, "All authority...
Acts 10:36
As for the word that he sent to Israel, preachi...
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Cross References
Revelation 19:16
On his robe and on his thigh he has a name writ...
Deuteronomy 10:17
For the Lord your God is God of gods and Lord o...
Psalms 136:3
Give thanks to the Lord of lords, for his stead...
Daniel 2:47
The king answered and said to Daniel, "Truly, y...
1 Timothy 6:15
Which he will display at the proper time - he w...
Revelation 1:5
And from Jesus Christ the faithful witness, the...
Matthew 28:18
And Jesus came and said to them, "All authority...
Acts 10:36
As for the word that he sent to Israel, preachi...
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Cross References
Revelation 2:10
Do not fear what you are about to suffer. Behold, the devil is about to throw some of you into prison, that you may be tested, and for ten days you will have tribulation. Be faithful unto death, and I will give you the crown of life.
Luke 18:7
And will not God give justice to his elect, who cry to him day and night? Will he delay long over them?
Romans 1:6
Including you who are called to belong to Jesus Christ.
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Cross References
Revelation 17:1
Then one of the seven angels who had the seven bowls came and said to me, "Come, I will show you the judgment of the great prostitute who is seated on many waters.
Isaiah 8:7
Therefore, behold, the Lord is bringing up against them the waters of the River, mighty and many, the king of Assyria and all his glory. And it will rise over all its channels and go over all its banks.
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Cross References
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.
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Cross References
Jeremiah 50:41 - 42
Behold, a people comes from the north; a mighty nation and many kings are stirring from the farthest parts of the earth.
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Cross References
Revelation 18:17
For in a single hour all this wealth has been laid waste." And all shipmasters and seafaring men, sailors and all whose trade is on the sea, stood far off
Revelation 18:19
And they threw dust on their heads as they wept and mourned, crying out, "Alas, alas, for the great city where all who had ships at sea grew rich by her wealth! For in a single hour she has been laid waste.
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Cross References
Ezekiel 16:37
Therefore, behold, I will gather all your lovers with whom you took pleasure, all those you loved and all those you hated. I will gather them against you from every side and will uncover your nakedness to them, that they may see all your nakedness.
Ezekiel 16:39
And I will give you into their hands, and they shall throw down your vaulted chamber and break down your lofty places. They shall strip you of your clothes and take your beautiful jewels and leave you naked and bare.
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Cross References
Revelation 19:18
To eat the flesh of kings, the flesh of captains, the flesh of mighty men, the flesh of horses and their riders, and the flesh of all men, both free and slave, both small and great.
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Cross References
Revelation 18:8
For this reason her plagues will come in a single day, death and mourning and famine, and she will be burned up with fire; for mighty is the Lord God who has judged her.
Leviticus 21:9
And the daughter of any priest, if she profanes herself by whoring, profanes her father; she shall be burned with fire.
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Cross References
2 Corinthians 8:16
But thanks be to God, who put into the heart of Titus the same earnest care I have for you.
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Cross References
2 Thessalonians 2:11
Therefore God sends them a strong delusion, so that they may believe what is false.
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Cross References
Revelation 16:19
The great city was split into three parts, and the cities of the nations fell, and God remembered Babylon the great, to make her drain the cup of the wine of the fury of his wrath.
English Standard Version (ESV) The Holy Bible, English Standard Version Copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a division of Good News Publishers.