TOPICS for CHAPTER 17:
One of the angels with the SEVEN BOWLS invites John to see the judgment of the harlot. who is the great city, Babylon. She has committed acts of immorality with kings and people from all over the world. She sits on the blasphemous sea beast, and holds a gold cup full of abominations. Besides this she is drunk with the blood of the saints who have borne testimony to Jesus.
The angel explains for John the connections between the beast and the woman (the great city, the ruler of the kings of the earth.) The beast's seven heads and ten horns are federations of seven kings and ten kings. It is God's purpose to destroy the woman (the harlot, Babylon), and He executes this through the beast and the ten kings, who hate her and burn her up with fire.
One day the kings themselves will wage war against the Lamb, but He will overcome them because He is Lord of Lords and King of Kings.