Velika Bludnica
1Priđe mi jedan od sedmorice anđela koji su izlili sedam posuda i reče: “Dođi! Pokazat ću ti osudu koja će snaći veliku Bludnicu koja sjedi na mnogim vodama. 2S njome su zemaljski kraljevi bludničili a stanovnici zemlje se opijali vinom njezina bluda.”
3I anđeo me u duhu17:3 Ili: u Duhu. prenese u pustinju. Ondje ugledam ženu kako sjedi na skrletnoj Zvijeri sa sedam glava i s deset rogova, punoj bogohulnih imena. 4Žena je bila odjevena u grimiz i skrlet, sva u zlatu, dragome kamenju i biserju. U ruci je držala zlatnu čašu punu gnusobe i nečisti svojega bluda. 5Na čelu joj je pisalo tajnovito ime: “Veliki Babilon, majka svih bludnica i gadosti zemaljskih.” 6Vidio sam da je Žena pijana od krvi svetih ljudi i krvi Isusovih svjedoka. Silno sam se začudio.
7“Što se čudiš?” upita me anđeo. “Reći ću ti tajnu o toj ženi i o Zvijeri koja je nosi, sa sedam glava i s deset rogova.” 8Zvijer koju si vidio vladala je, ali više ne vlada. Uskoro će izići iz bezdana i otići u vječno prokletstvo. I stanovnici zemlje kojih imena nisu upisana u Knjigu života od postanka svijeta zaprepastit će se kad opet vide Zvijer koja je bila, i nije, i opet će biti.
9Da se ovo razumije, treba mudrosti: sedam Zvijerinih glava sedam su bregova na kojima žena sjedi. One također predstavljaju sedam kraljeva. 10Petorica su već pala, šesti vlada, a sedmi tek treba doći, ali njegova će vladavina kratko trajati. 11Skrletna Zvijer jest osmi kralj koji je prije vladao kao jedan od sedmorice. Nakon druge vladavine slijedi mu propast. 12Deset rogova deset su kraljeva koji još nisu došli na vlast. Oni će doći na vlast i samo nakratko17:12 U grčkome: samo jednu uru. vladati skupa sa Zvijeri. 13Složit će se da njoj predaju svoju silu i vlast. 14Zaratit će protiv Jaganjca, ali on će ih pobijediti skupa sa svojim vjernim izabranicima koje je pozvao jer je Gospodar gospodara i Kralj kraljeva.
15“Vode koje si vidio,” reče mi još anđeo, “na kojima Bludnica sjedi, mnoštvo su naroda i jezika. 16Skrletna Zvijer i njezinih deset rogova—desetorica kraljeva koji će skupa s njom vladati—zamrzit će Bludnicu. Opustošit će ju i ogoliti, najesti se njezina mesa a zatim ju spaliti. 17Jer Bog im je stavio u srca da izvrše njegov naum: da složno predaju vlast Zvijeri dok se ne ispune Božje riječi. 18Žena koju si vidio velik je grad koji vlada nad zemaljskim kraljevima.”
Babylon the Great Prostitute Sits on the Beast
1One of the seven angels who had the seven bowls came to me. He said, “Come. I will show you how the great prostitute will be punished. She is the one who sits by many waters. 2The kings of the earth took part in her evil ways. The people living on earth were drunk with the wine of her terrible sins.”
3Then in a vision the angel carried me away to a desert. There the Holy Spirit showed me a woman sitting on a bright red beast. It was covered with names that say evil things about God. It had seven heads and ten horns. 4The woman was dressed in purple and bright red. She was gleaming with gold, jewels and pearls. In her hand she held a golden cup filled with things that God hates. It was filled with her terrible, dirty sins. 5The name written on her forehead was a mystery. Here is what it said.
The Great City of Babylon
The Mother of Prostitutes
The Mother of Everything on Earth that God Hates
6I saw that the woman was drunk with the blood of God’s holy people. They are the ones who are witnesses about Jesus.
When I saw her, I was very amazed. 7Then the angel said to me, “Why are you amazed? I will explain to you the mystery of the woman. And I will explain the mystery of the beast she rides on. The beast is the one who has the seven heads and ten horns. 8The beast that you saw used to exist and now does not. Yet it will come up out of the Abyss and be destroyed. Some people on the earth will be amazed when they see the beast. Their names have not been written in the book of life from the time the world was created. They will be amazed at the beast. That’s because it will come again even though it used to exist and now does not.
9“Here is a problem that you have to be wise to understand. The seven heads are seven hills that the woman sits on. 10They are also seven kings. Five have fallen, one is ruling, and the other has still not come. When he does come, he must remain for only a little while. 11The beast who used to exist, and now does not, is an eighth king. He belongs to the other seven. He will be destroyed.
12“The ten horns you saw are ten kings. They have not yet received a kingdom. But for one hour they will receive authority to rule together with the beast. 13They have only one purpose. So they will give their power and authority to the beast. 14They will make war against the Lamb. But the Lamb will have victory over them. That’s because he is the most powerful Lord of all and the greatest King of all. His appointed, chosen and faithful followers will be with him.”
15Then the angel spoke to me. “You saw the waters the prostitute sits on,” he said. “They stand for all the nations of the world, no matter what their race or language is. 16The beast and the ten horns you saw will hate the prostitute. They will destroy her and leave her naked. They will eat her flesh and burn her with fire. 17God has put it into their hearts to carry out his purpose. So they agreed to give the beast their royal authority. They will give him this authority until God’s words come true. 18The woman you saw stands for the great city of Babylon. That city rules over the kings of the earth.”
