Revelation 17:9-18

9“In this situation a wise mind is needed. The seven heads are seven mountains on which the woman is sitting.

10They are also seven kings. Five of them have fallen, one is ruling now, and the other has not yet come. When he comes, he must remain for a little while.

11The beast that was and is no longer is the eighth king. It belongs with the seven kings and goes to its destruction.

12“The ten horns that you saw are ten kings who have not yet started to rule. They will receive authority to rule as kings with the beast for one hour.

13They have one purpose—to give their power and authority to the beast.

14They will go to war against the lamb. The lamb will conquer them because he is Lord of lords and King of kings. Those who are called, chosen, and faithful are with him.”

15The angel also said to me, “The waters you saw, on which the prostitute is sitting, are people, crowds, nations, and languages.

16The ten horns and the beast you saw will hate the prostitute. They will leave her abandoned and naked. They will eat her flesh and burn her up in a fire.

17God has made them do what he wants them to do. So they will give their kingdom to the beast until God’s words are carried out.

18The woman you saw is the important city which dominates the kings of the earth.”