The Prostitute and the Beast
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 a 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 jewelry 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 IMMORAL AND 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.
9 Anyone with wisdom can figure this out. The seven heads that the woman is sitting on stand for seven hills. These heads are also seven kings. 10 Five of the kings are dead. One is ruling now, and the other one has not yet come. But when he does, he will rule for only a little while.
11 You also saw a beast that used to be and no longer is. That beast is one of the seven kings who will return as the eighth king, but only to be destroyed.
12 The ten horns you saw are ten more kings, who have not yet come into power, and they will rule with the beast for only a short time. 13 They all think alike and will give their power and authority to the beast. 14 These kings will go to war against the Lamb. But he will defeat them, because he is Lord over all lords and King over all kings. His followers are chosen and special and faithful.
15 The oceans you saw the prostitute sitting on are crowds of people from all races and languages. 16 The ten horns and the beast will start hating the shameless woman. They will strip off her clothes and leave her naked. Then they will eat her flesh and throw the rest of her body into a fire. 17 God is the one who made these kings all think alike and decide to give their power to the beast. And they will do this until what God has said comes true.
18 The woman you saw is the great city that rules over all kings on earth.
1 Viens no tiem septiņiem eņģeļiem, kuriem bija septiņi kausi, nāca un sacīja man tā: "Nāc, es tev rādīšu, kādu sodu saņem lielā netikle, kas sēd pie lielajiem ūdeņiem. 2 Pasaules ķēniņi dzīvojuši ar viņu netiklībā, un zemes iedzīvotāji apreibinājušies ar viņas netiklības vīnu." 3 Un viņš garā aiznesa mani tuksnesī. Tur es redzēju sievu sēžam uz sarkana zvēra, kas bija pilns zaimu vārdu; tam bija septiņas galvas un desmit ragi. 4 Sieva bija tērpta purpurā un sarkanā audumā, greznojusies ar zeltu, dārgiem akmeņiem un pērlēm; tai rokā bija zelta kauss, pilns ar bezdievības negantībām un viņas netiklības netīrumiem. 5 Uz viņas pieres bija rakstīts noslēpumains vārds: lielā Bābele, visas zemes netikļu un negantību māte. 6 Es redzēju: sieva bija piedzērusies no svēto asinīm un no Jēzus liecinieku asinīm. Viņu redzēdams, es varen izbrīnījos. 7 Eņģelis man sacīja: "Kāpēc tu esi tā izbrīnījies? Es tev pateikšu, kas ir šis sievas noslēpums un zvēra ar septiņām galvām un desmit ragiem noslēpums, kas nes sievu. 8 Zvērs, ko tu redzēji, bija, tā tagad vairs nav; bet tas izkāps no bezdibeņa un ies bojā; tad zemes iedzīvotāji, kuru vārdi nav rakstīti dzīvības grāmatā no pasaules iesākuma, brīnīsies, redzēdami zvēru, kas bijis, bet kura tagad nav un kas atkal būs. 9 Šeit vajag gudrības, lai saprastu: septiņas galvas ir septiņi kalni, uz kuriem sēd sieva; 10 tās ir arī septiņi ķēniņi: pieci ir krituši, viens ir tagad, viens vēl nav atnācis; un, kad tas nāks, tam būs palikt tikai īsu brīdi. 11 Zvērs, kas bijis un kura tagad nav, tas pats ir astotais, tomēr viens no septiņiem, un aiziet bojā. 12 Un desmit ragi, ko tu redzēji, ir desmit ķēniņi, tie valdību vēl nav saņēmuši, bet tiem ir ķēniņa vara dota kopā ar zvēru vienu stundu. 13 Tie ir vienisprātis un nodod savu spēku un varu zvēram. 14 Tie karos ar Jēru, bet Jērs tos uzvarēs, jo Viņš ir kungu Kungs un ķēniņu Ķēniņš, un Viņa aicinātie, izredzētie un uzticīgie, kas ir līdz ar Viņu." 15 Tad viņš man saka: "Ūdeņi, ko tu redzēji, pie kuriem sēd netikle, ir tautas un ļaužu pulki, ciltis un valodas. 16 Un desmit ragi, ko tu redzēji, un zvērs - tie ienīdīs netikli, to atstās postam un izģērbs kailu, ēdīs viņas miesas un viņu pašu sadedzinās ar uguni. 17 Jo Dievs ir devis viņu sirdīs darīt Viņa gribu, darīt vienu nodomu un nodot savu valstību zvēram, kamēr piepildīsies Dieva vārdi. 18 Un sieva, ko tu redzēji, ir lielā pilsēta, kam pieder valdība pār visas zemes ķēniņiem."
