Read & explore together
The Mystery Explained
In this part of Revelation, an angel begins to explain a mystery John has seen. The passage stays in the language of vision, using symbols such as a woman, a beast, heads and horns, while also giving some interpretation.
Understanding the passage
The setting of this message
John has just seen a woman who is drunk with the blood of saints and martyrs of Jesus, and he is greatly amazed. The angel responds by promising to explain the mystery of the woman and the beast that carries her, especially its heads and horns.
Revelation 17:6–13Main takeaway
This vision explains that the beast’s power looks impressive and united for a time, yet it is marked by opposition to God’s people and moves towards destruction.
Explore the message
Open a card to explore the full explanation and its Bible references.
01John’s amazement and the angel’s promiseJohn sees the woman as “drunken with the blood of the saints” and “the martyrs of Jesus”, showing a shocking picture of violence against God’s people.
Explanation
John sees the woman as “drunken with the blood of the saints” and “the martyrs of Jesus”, showing a shocking picture of violence against God’s people. He responds with great amazement. The angel then addresses John’s wonder and says he will explain the mystery of both the woman and the beast with seven heads and ten horns.
02The beast’s puzzling descriptionThe angel describes the beast as one that “was, and is not”, and is about to come up from the abyss and go into destruction.
Explanation
The angel describes the beast as one that “was, and is not”, and is about to come up from the abyss and go into destruction. People whose names are not written in the book of life will marvel at it. The wording presents the beast as astonishing in appearance, yet still heading towards destruction.
03Seven heads: mountains and kingsThe angel calls for “the mind that has wisdom”, signalling that this part needs careful thought.
Explanation
The angel calls for “the mind that has wisdom”, signalling that this part needs careful thought. The seven heads are explained in two ways within the vision: they are seven mountains where the woman sits, and they are seven kings. Five have fallen, one is present, and another is still to come for only a short time.
04The eighth and the ten hornsThe beast is also called an eighth and yet “of the seven”, again keeping the vision’s mysterious style.
Explanation
The beast is also called an eighth and yet “of the seven”, again keeping the vision’s mysterious style. Like the beast in verse 8, it goes to destruction. The ten horns are ten kings who do not yet have a kingdom, but for one hour they receive authority with the beast and act with one mind by giving their power to it.
Questions to explore
Pause, look back at the verses and talk together.
01What two things does the angel promise to explain to John?
Look closely at the angel’s own words about “the mystery of the woman and of the beast that carries her”.
02What repeated outcome is stated for the beast despite its alarming appearance?
Notice that both the description of the beast and the later explanation end with the same direction: it goes to destruction.
03How are the seven heads and ten horns interpreted in this passage?
The angel gives direct explanations for the heads and horns, so gather each meaning from the verses rather than guessing beyond them.
Read the Bible passage
World English Bible ClassicScripture quotation · Public domain
Revelation 17:6–13
6I saw the woman drunken with the blood of the saints and with the blood of the martyrs of Jesus. When I saw her, I wondered with great amazement.
7The angel said to me, “Why do you wonder? I will tell you the mystery of the woman and of the beast that carries her, which has the seven heads and the ten horns.
8The beast that you saw was, and is not; and is about to come up out of the abyss and to go into destruction. Those who dwell on the earth and whose names have not been written in the book of life from the foundation of the world will marvel when they see that the beast was, and is not, and shall be present.
9Here is the mind that has wisdom. The seven heads are seven mountains on which the woman sits.
10They are seven kings. Five have fallen, the one is, and the other has not yet come. When he comes, he must continue a little while.
11The beast that was, and is not, is himself also an eighth, and is of the seven; and he goes to destruction.
12The ten horns that you saw are ten kings who have received no kingdom as yet, but they receive authority as kings with the beast for one hour.
13These have one mind, and they give their power and authority to the beast.