And the angelsaidto me, "Whydo you wonder?I will tellyou the mysteryof the womanand of the beastthat carriesher, which hasthe sevenheadsand the tenhorns.
For the mysteryof lawlessnessis alreadyat work;onlyhe who nowrestrains[will do so] untilhe is takenout of the way.
"As for the mysteryof the sevenstarswhichyou sawin My right hand,and the sevengoldenlampstands:the sevenstarsare the angelsof the sevenchurches,and the sevenlampstandsare the sevenchurches.
Thenanothersignappearedin heaven:and behold,a greatreddragonhavingsevenheadsand tenhorns,and on his heads[were] sevendiadems.
"The beastthat you sawwas, and is not, and is aboutto comeup out of the abyssand goto destruction.And thosewho dwellon the earth,whosenamehas not been writtenin the bookof lifefrom the foundationof the world,will wonderwhen they seethe beast,that he was and is not and will come.
Afterthese thingsI sawanotherangelcoming downfrom heaven,havinggreatauthority,and the earthwas illuminedwith his glory.
