The Famous Prostitute
1 Then one of the seven angels who had the seven bowls came to me and said, “Come, and I will show you how the famous prostitute is to be punished, that great city that is built near many rivers. 2 The kings of the earth practiced sexual immorality with her, and the people of the world became drunk from drinking the wine of her immorality.”
3 The Spirit took control of me, and the angel carried me to a desert. There I saw a woman sitting on a red beast that had names insulting to God written all over it; the beast had seven heads and ten horns. 4 The woman was dressed in purple and scarlet, and covered with gold ornaments, precious stones, and pearls. In her hand she held a gold cup full of obscene and filthy things, the result of her immorality. 5 On her forehead was written a name that has a secret meaning: “Great Babylon, the mother of all prostitutes and perverts in the world.” 6 And I saw that the woman was drunk with the blood of God's people and the blood of those who were killed because they had been loyal to Jesus.
When I saw her, I was completely amazed. 7 “Why are you amazed?” the angel asked me. “I will tell you the secret meaning of the woman and of the beast that carries her, the beast with seven heads and ten horns. 8 That beast was once alive, but lives no longer; it is about to come up from the abyss and will go off to be destroyed. The people living on earth whose names have not been written before the creation of the world in the book of the living, will all be amazed as they look at the beast. It was once alive; now it no longer lives, but it will reappear.
9 “This calls for wisdom and understanding. The seven heads are seven hills, on which the woman sits. They are also seven kings: 10 five of them have fallen, one still rules, and the other one has not yet come; when he comes, he must rule only a little while. 11 And the beast that was once alive, but lives no longer, is itself an eighth king who is one of the seven and is going off to be destroyed.
12 “The ten horns you saw are ten kings who have not yet begun to rule, but who will be given authority to rule as kings for one hour with the beast. 13 These ten all have the same purpose, and they give their power and authority to the beast. 14 They will fight against the Lamb; but the Lamb, together with his called, chosen, and faithful followers, will defeat them, because he is Lord of lords and King of kings.”
15 The angel also said to me, “The waters you saw, on which the prostitute sits, are nations, peoples, races, and languages. 16 The ten horns you saw and the beast will hate the prostitute; they will take away everything she has and leave her naked; they will eat her flesh and destroy her with fire. 17 For God has placed in their hearts the will to carry out his purpose by acting together and giving to the beast their power to rule until God's words come true.
18 “The woman you saw is the great city that rules over the kings of the 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."
