Revelation 17 (NMV)
1 Then one of the seven angels who had the seven bowls came and spoke with me: "Come, I will show you the judgment of the notorious prostitute who sits on many waters.
2 The kings of the earth committed sexual immorality with her, and those who live on the earth became drunk on the wine of her immorality."
3 Then he carried me away in the Spirit to a wilderness. I saw a woman sitting on a scarlet beast that was covered with blasphemous names [claims and titles that dishonor God] and had seven heads and ten horns.
4 The woman was dressed in purple and scarlet, adorned with gold, precious stones, and pearls. She held a golden cup in her hand filled with everything detestable and with the impurities of her immorality.
5 On her forehead was written a name, a mystery: BABYLON THE GREAT, THE MOTHER OF PROSTITUTES AND OF THE DETESTABLE THINGS OF THE EARTH.
6 Then I saw that the woman was drunk with the blood of the believers and with the blood of the witnesses of Jesus. When I saw her, I was utterly amazed.
7 Then the angel said to me, "Why are you amazed? I will explain to you the mystery of the woman and of the beast with seven heads and ten horns that carries her.
8 The beast that you saw was, and is not, and is about to come up from the abyss and go to destruction. The people who live on the earth, whose names were not written in the book of life from the foundation of the world, will be amazed when they see the beast that was, and is not, and is to come.
9 This calls for a mind with wisdom: The seven heads are seven mountains the woman sits on. They are also seven kings.
10 Five have fallen, one is, the other has not yet come. And when he comes, he must remain for only a short time.
11 The beast that was and is not, is itself an eighth king, but it belongs to the seven and goes to destruction.
12 The ten horns you saw are ten kings who have not yet received a kingdom, but they will receive authority as kings for one hour along with the beast.
13 These have one purpose, and they give their power and authority to the beast.
14 These will make war against the Lamb, but the Lamb will conquer them, because He is Lord of lords and King of kings. Those with Him are called, chosen, and faithful."
15 He also said to me, "The waters you saw, where the prostitute was seated, are peoples, multitudes, nations, and languages.
16 The ten horns you saw, and the beast, these will hate the prostitute. They will make her desolate and naked, devour her flesh, and burn her with fire.
17 For God has put it into their hearts to carry out His purpose by agreeing to give their kingdom to the beast until the words of God are fulfilled.
18 And the woman you saw is the great city that has royal power over the kings of the earth.