And he saith unto me. As in Revelation 17:7, these words form the preface to a particular description. Having explained the mystery of the beast, to whom the woman looks for support, the angel now proceeds to unfold the mystery of the harlot herself.
The waters which thou sawest, where the whore sitteth; viz. those mentioned in Revelation 17:1. In Revelation 17:7 we are told that the beast carries the woman. Both statements are correct. The beast is the world power, which is found among the "peoples, multitudes, nations, and tongues."
Are peoples, and multitudes, and nations, and tongues. The fourfold description of the human race (cf. Revelation 5:9, etc.), which, as a whole, serves the beast (cf. Revelation 13:3, Revelation 13:8, Revelation 13:12, Revelation 13:16), and out of which are selected the redeemed (Revelation 5:9; Revelation 9:9).