The beast you saw was, and is not, and is about to rise up from the abyss and go to destruction. Those who dwell on the earth whose names have not been written in the book of life from the foundation of the world will be astounded when they see the beast, because it was, and is not, and yet will come.
In context
6And I saw that the woman was drunk with the blood of the saints and the blood of the witnesses of Jesus. When I saw her, I was utterly astounded. 7Then the angel said to me, “Why are you so astounded? 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 you saw was, and is not, and is about to rise up from the abyss and go to destruction. Those who dwell on the earth whose names have not been written in the book of life from the foundation of the world will be astounded when they see the beast, because it was, and is not, and yet will come. 9This calls for a mind with wisdom: the seven heads are seven mountains, on which the woman is seated, 10and they are also seven kings. Five have fallen, one is, and the other has not yet come; and when he comes, he must remain only a little while.
