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16 And I heard a great voice out of the [a]temple, saying to the seven angels, Go ye, and pour out the seven bowls of the wrath of God into the earth.

And the first went, and poured out his bowl into the earth; and [b]it became a noisome and grievous sore upon the men that had the mark of the beast, and that [c]worshipped his image.

And the second poured out his bowl into the sea; and [d]it became blood as of a dead man; and every [e]living soul died, even the things that were in the sea.

And the third poured out his bowl into the rivers and the fountains of the waters; [f]and [g]it became blood. And I heard the angel of the waters saying, Righteous art thou, who art and who wast, thou Holy One, because thou didst thus [h]judge: for they poured out the blood of saints and prophets, and blood hast thou given them to drink: they are worthy. And I heard the altar saying, Yea, O Lord God, the Almighty, true and righteous are thy judgments.

And the fourth poured out his bowl upon the sun; and it was given unto [i]it to scorch men with fire. And men were scorched with great heat: and they blasphemed the name of God who hath the power over these plagues; and they repented not to give him glory.

10 And the fifth poured out his bowl upon the throne of the beast; and his kingdom was darkened; and they gnawed their tongues for pain, 11 and they blasphemed the God of heaven because of their pains and their sores; and they repented not of their works.

12 And the sixth poured out his bowl upon the great river, the river Euphrates; and the water thereof was dried up, that the way might be made ready for the kings that come from the sunrising. 13 And I saw coming out of the mouth of the dragon, and out of the mouth of the beast, and out of the mouth of the false prophet, three unclean spirits, as it were frogs: 14 for they are spirits of demons, working signs; which go forth [j]unto the kings of the whole [k]world, to gather them together unto the war of the great day of God, the Almighty. 15 (Behold, I come as a thief. Blessed is he that watcheth, and keepeth his garments, lest he walk naked, and they see his shame.) 16 And they gathered them together into the place which is called in Hebrew [l]Har-Magedon.

17 And the seventh poured out his bowl upon the air; and there came forth a great voice out of the [m]temple, from the throne, saying, It is done: 18 and there were lightnings, and voices, and thunders; and there was a great earthquake, such as was not since [n]there were men upon the earth, so great an earthquake, so mighty. 19 And the great city was divided into three parts, and the cities of the [o]nations fell: and Babylon the great was remembered in the sight of God, to give unto her the cup of the wine of the fierceness of his wrath. 20 And every island fled away, and the mountains were not found. 21 And great hail, every stone about the weight of a talent, cometh down out of heaven upon men: and men blasphemed God because of the plague of the hail; for the plague thereof is exceeding great.

17 And there came one of the seven angels that had the seven bowls, and spake with me, saying, Come hither, I will show thee the judgment of the great harlot that sitteth upon many waters; with whom the kings of the earth committed fornication, and they that dwell in the earth were made drunken with the wine of her fornication. And he carried me away in the Spirit into a wilderness: and I saw a woman sitting upon a scarlet-colored beast, [p]full of names of blasphemy, having seven heads and ten horns. And the woman was arrayed in purple and scarlet, and [q]decked with gold and precious stone and pearls, having in her hand a golden cup full of abominations, [r]even the unclean things of her fornication, and upon her forehead a name written, [s]Mystery, Babylon the Great, the Mother of the Harlots and of the Abominations of the Earth. And I saw the woman drunken with the blood of the saints, and with the blood of the [t]martyrs of Jesus. And when I saw her, I wondered with a great wonder. And the angel said unto me, Wherefore didst thou wonder? I will tell thee the mystery of the woman, and of the beast that carrieth her, which hath the seven heads and the ten horns. The beast that thou sawest was, and is not; and is about to come up out of the abyss, [u]and to go into perdition. And they that dwell on the earth shall wonder, they whose name hath not been written [v]in the book of life from the foundation of the world, when they behold the beast, how that he was, and is not, and [w]shall come. Here is the [x]mind that hath wisdom. The seven heads are seven mountains, on which the woman sitteth: 10 and [y]they are seven kings; the five are fallen, the one is, the other is not yet come; and when he cometh, he must continue a little while. 11 And the beast that was, and is not, is himself also an eighth, and is of the seven; and he goeth into perdition. 12 And the ten horns that thou sawest are ten kings, who have received no kingdom as yet; but they receive authority as kings, with the beast, for one hour. 13 These have one mind, and they give their power and authority unto the beast. 14 These shall war against the Lamb, and the Lamb shall overcome them, for he is Lord of lords, and King of kings; and they also shall overcome that are with him, called and chosen and faithful. 15 And he saith unto me, The waters which thou sawest, where the harlot sitteth, are peoples, and multitudes, and nations, and tongues. 16 And the ten horns which thou sawest, and the beast, these shall hate the harlot, and shall make her desolate and naked, and shall eat her flesh, and shall burn her utterly with fire. 17 For God did put in their hearts to do his mind, and to come to one mind, and to give their kingdom unto the beast, until the words of God should be accomplished. 18 And the woman whom thou sawest is the great city, which [z]reigneth over the kings of the earth.

18 After these things I saw another angel coming down out of heaven, having great authority; and the earth was lightened with his glory. And he cried with a mighty voice, saying, Fallen, fallen is Babylon the great, and is become a habitation of demons, and a [aa]hold of every unclean spirit, and a [ab]hold of every unclean and hateful bird. For [ac]by [ad]the wine of the wrath of her fornication all the nations are fallen; and the kings of the earth committed fornication with her, and the merchants of the earth waxed rich by the power of her [ae]wantonness.

And I heard another voice from heaven, saying, Come forth, my people, out of her, that ye have no fellowship with her sins, and that ye receive not of her plagues: for her sins [af]have reached even unto heaven, and God hath remembered her iniquities. Render unto her even as she rendered, and double unto her the double according to her works: in the cup which she mingled, mingle unto her double. How much soever she glorified herself, and waxed [ag]wanton, so much give her of torment and mourning: for she saith in her heart, I sit a queen, and am no widow, and shall in no wise see mourning. Therefore in one day shall her plagues come, death, and mourning, and famine; and she shall be utterly burned with fire; for strong is [ah]the Lord God who judged her. And the kings of the earth, who committed fornication and lived [ai]wantonly with her, shall weep and wail over her, when they look upon the smoke of her burning, 10 standing afar off for the fear of her torment, saying, Woe, woe, the great city, Babylon, the strong city! for in one hour is thy judgment come. 11 And the merchants of the earth weep and mourn over her, for no man buyeth their [aj]merchandise any more; 12 [ak]merchandise of gold, and silver, and precious stone, and pearls, and fine linen, and purple, and silk, and scarlet; and all thyine wood, and every vessel of ivory, and every vessel made of most precious wood, and of brass, and iron, and marble; 13 and cinnamon, and [al]spice, and incense, and ointment, and frankincense, and wine, and oil, and fine flour, and wheat, and cattle, and sheep; and merchandise of horses and chariots and [am]slaves; and [an]souls of men. 14 And the fruits which thy soul lusted after are gone from thee, and all things that were dainty and sumptuous are perished from thee, and men shall find them no more at all. 15 The merchants of these things, who were made rich by her, shall stand afar off for the fear of her torment, weeping and mourning; 16 saying, Woe, woe, the great city, she that was arrayed in fine linen and purple and scarlet, and [ao]decked with gold and precious stone and pearl! 17 for in one hour so great riches is made desolate. And every shipmaster, and every one that saileth any whither, and mariners, and as many as [ap]gain their living by sea, stood afar off, 18 and cried out as they looked upon the smoke of her burning, saying, What city is like the great city? 19 And they cast dust on their heads, and cried, weeping and mourning, saying, Woe, woe, the great city, wherein all that had their ships in the sea were made rich by reason of her costliness! for in one hour is she made desolate. 20 Rejoice over her, thou heaven, and ye saints, and ye apostles, and ye prophets; for God hath judged your judgment on her.

21 And [aq]a strong angel took up a stone as it were a great millstone and cast it into the sea, saying, Thus with a mighty fall shall Babylon, the great city, be cast down, and shall be found no more at all. 22 And the voice of harpers and minstrels and flute-players and trumpeters shall be heard no more at all in thee; and no craftsman, [ar]of whatsoever craft, shall be found any more at all in thee; and the voice of a mill shall be heard no more at all in thee; 23 and the light of a lamp shall shine no more at all in thee; and the voice of the bridegroom and of the bride shall be heard no more at all in thee: for thy merchants were the princes of the earth; for with thy sorcery were all the nations deceived. 24 And in her was found the blood of prophets and of saints, and of all that have been slain upon the earth.

Footnotes

  1. Revelation 16:1 Or, sanctuary
  2. Revelation 16:2 Or, there came
  3. Revelation 16:2 See marginal note on 3:9.
  4. Revelation 16:3 Or, there came
  5. Revelation 16:3 Greek soul of life.
  6. Revelation 16:4 Some ancient authorities read and they became.
  7. Revelation 16:4 Or, there came
  8. Revelation 16:5 Or, judge. Because they . . . prophets, thou hast given them blood also to drink
  9. Revelation 16:8 Or, him
  10. Revelation 16:14 Or, upon
  11. Revelation 16:14 Greek inhabited earth.
  12. Revelation 16:16 Or, Ar-Magedon
  13. Revelation 16:17 Or, sanctuary
  14. Revelation 16:18 Some ancient authorities read there was a man.
  15. Revelation 16:19 Or, Gentiles
  16. Revelation 17:3 Or, names full of blasphemy
  17. Revelation 17:4 Greek gilded.
  18. Revelation 17:4 Or, and of the unclean things
  19. Revelation 17:5 Or, a mystery, Babylon the Great
  20. Revelation 17:6 Or, witnesses. See 2:13.
  21. Revelation 17:8 Some ancient authorities read and he goeth.
  22. Revelation 17:8 Greek on.
  23. Revelation 17:8 Greek shall be present.
  24. Revelation 17:9 Or, meaning
  25. Revelation 17:10 Or, there are
  26. Revelation 17:18 Greek hath a kingdom.
  27. Revelation 18:2 Or, prison
  28. Revelation 18:2 Or, prison
  29. Revelation 18:3 Some authorities read of the wine . . . have drunk.
  30. Revelation 18:3 Some ancient authorities omit the wine of.
  31. Revelation 18:3 Or, luxury
  32. Revelation 18:5 Or, clave together
  33. Revelation 18:7 Or, luxurious
  34. Revelation 18:8 Some ancient authorities omit the Lord.
  35. Revelation 18:9 Or, luxuriously
  36. Revelation 18:11 Greek cargo.
  37. Revelation 18:12 Greek cargo.
  38. Revelation 18:13 Greek amomum.
  39. Revelation 18:13 Greek bodies. Gen. 36:6 (Septuagint).
  40. Revelation 18:13 Or, lives
  41. Revelation 18:16 Greek gilded.
  42. Revelation 18:17 Greek work the sea.
  43. Revelation 18:21 Greek one.
  44. Revelation 18:22 Some ancient authorities omit of whatsoever craft.

The Seven Bowls of God’s Wrath

16 Then I heard a loud voice from the temple(A) saying to the seven angels,(B) “Go, pour out the seven bowls of God’s wrath on the earth.”(C)

The first angel went and poured out his bowl on the land,(D) and ugly, festering sores(E) broke out on the people who had the mark of the beast and worshiped its image.(F)

The second angel poured out his bowl on the sea, and it turned into blood like that of a dead person, and every living thing in the sea died.(G)

The third angel poured out his bowl on the rivers and springs of water,(H) and they became blood.(I) Then I heard the angel in charge of the waters say:

“You are just in these judgments,(J) O Holy One,(K)
    you who are and who were;(L)
for they have shed the blood of your holy people and your prophets,(M)
    and you have given them blood to drink(N) as they deserve.”

And I heard the altar(O) respond:

“Yes, Lord God Almighty,(P)
    true and just are your judgments.”(Q)

The fourth angel(R) poured out his bowl on the sun,(S) and the sun was allowed to scorch people with fire.(T) They were seared by the intense heat and they cursed the name of God,(U) who had control over these plagues, but they refused to repent(V) and glorify him.(W)

10 The fifth angel poured out his bowl on the throne of the beast,(X) and its kingdom was plunged into darkness.(Y) People gnawed their tongues in agony 11 and cursed(Z) the God of heaven(AA) because of their pains and their sores,(AB) but they refused to repent of what they had done.(AC)

12 The sixth angel poured out his bowl on the great river Euphrates,(AD) and its water was dried up to prepare the way(AE) for the kings from the East.(AF) 13 Then I saw three impure spirits(AG) that looked like frogs;(AH) they came out of the mouth of the dragon,(AI) out of the mouth of the beast(AJ) and out of the mouth of the false prophet.(AK) 14 They are demonic spirits(AL) that perform signs,(AM) and they go out to the kings of the whole world,(AN) to gather them for the battle(AO) on the great day(AP) of God Almighty.

15 “Look, I come like a thief!(AQ) Blessed is the one who stays awake(AR) and remains clothed, so as not to go naked and be shamefully exposed.”(AS)

16 Then they gathered the kings together(AT) to the place that in Hebrew(AU) is called Armageddon.(AV)

17 The seventh angel poured out his bowl into the air,(AW) and out of the temple(AX) came a loud voice(AY) from the throne, saying, “It is done!”(AZ) 18 Then there came flashes of lightning, rumblings, peals of thunder(BA) and a severe earthquake.(BB) No earthquake like it has ever occurred since mankind has been on earth,(BC) so tremendous was the quake. 19 The great city(BD) split into three parts, and the cities of the nations collapsed. God remembered(BE) Babylon the Great(BF) and gave her the cup filled with the wine of the fury of his wrath.(BG) 20 Every island fled away and the mountains could not be found.(BH) 21 From the sky huge hailstones,(BI) each weighing about a hundred pounds,[a] fell on people. And they cursed God(BJ) on account of the plague of hail,(BK) because the plague was so terrible.

Babylon, the Prostitute on the Beast

17 One of the seven angels(BL) who had the seven bowls(BM) came and said to me, “Come, I will show you the punishment(BN) of the great prostitute,(BO) who sits by many waters.(BP) With her the kings of the earth committed adultery, and the inhabitants of the earth were intoxicated with the wine of her adulteries.”(BQ)

Then the angel carried me away in the Spirit(BR) into a wilderness.(BS) There I saw a woman sitting on a scarlet(BT) beast that was covered with blasphemous names(BU) and had seven heads and ten horns.(BV) The woman was dressed in purple and scarlet, and was glittering with gold, precious stones and pearls.(BW) She held a golden cup(BX) in her hand, filled with abominable things and the filth of her adulteries.(BY) The name written on her forehead was a mystery:(BZ)

babylon the great(CA)

the mother of prostitutes(CB)

and of the abominations of the earth.

I saw that the woman was drunk with the blood of God’s holy people,(CC) the blood of those who bore testimony to Jesus.

When I saw her, I was greatly astonished. Then the angel said to me: “Why are you astonished? I will explain to you the mystery(CD) of the woman and of the beast she rides, which has the seven heads and ten horns.(CE) The beast, which you saw, once was, now is not, and yet will come up out of the Abyss(CF) and go to its destruction.(CG) The inhabitants of the earth(CH) whose names have not been written in the book of life(CI) from the creation of the world will be astonished(CJ) when they see the beast, because it once was, now is not, and yet will come.

“This calls for a mind with wisdom.(CK) The seven heads(CL) are seven hills on which the woman sits. 10 They are also seven kings. Five have fallen, one is, the other has not yet come; but when he does come, he must remain for only a little while. 11 The beast who once was, and now is not,(CM) is an eighth king. He belongs to the seven and is going to his destruction.

12 “The ten horns(CN) you saw are ten kings who have not yet received a kingdom, but who for one hour(CO) will receive authority as kings along with the beast. 13 They have one purpose and will give their power and authority to the beast.(CP) 14 They will wage war(CQ) against the Lamb, but the Lamb will triumph over(CR) them because he is Lord of lords and King of kings(CS)—and with him will be his called, chosen(CT) and faithful followers.”

15 Then the angel said to me, “The waters(CU) you saw, where the prostitute sits, are peoples, multitudes, nations and languages.(CV) 16 The beast and the ten horns(CW) you saw will hate the prostitute.(CX) They will bring her to ruin(CY) and leave her naked;(CZ) they will eat her flesh(DA) and burn her with fire.(DB) 17 For God has put it into their hearts(DC) to accomplish his purpose by agreeing to hand over to the beast their royal authority,(DD) until God’s words are fulfilled.(DE) 18 The woman you saw is the great city(DF) that rules over the kings of the earth.”

Lament Over Fallen Babylon

18 After this I saw another angel(DG) coming down from heaven.(DH) He had great authority, and the earth was illuminated by his splendor.(DI) With a mighty voice he shouted:

“‘Fallen! Fallen is Babylon the Great!’[b](DJ)
    She has become a dwelling for demons
and a haunt for every impure spirit,(DK)
    a haunt for every unclean bird,
    a haunt for every unclean and detestable animal.(DL)
For all the nations have drunk
    the maddening wine of her adulteries.(DM)
The kings of the earth committed adultery with her,(DN)
    and the merchants of the earth grew rich(DO) from her excessive luxuries.”(DP)

Warning to Escape Babylon’s Judgment

Then I heard another voice from heaven say:

“‘Come out of her, my people,’[c](DQ)
    so that you will not share in her sins,
    so that you will not receive any of her plagues;(DR)
for her sins are piled up to heaven,(DS)
    and God has remembered(DT) her crimes.
Give back to her as she has given;
    pay her back(DU) double(DV) for what she has done.
    Pour her a double portion from her own cup.(DW)
Give her as much torment and grief
    as the glory and luxury she gave herself.(DX)
In her heart she boasts,
    ‘I sit enthroned as queen.
I am not a widow;[d]
    I will never mourn.’(DY)
Therefore in one day(DZ) her plagues will overtake her:
    death, mourning and famine.
She will be consumed by fire,(EA)
    for mighty is the Lord God who judges her.

Threefold Woe Over Babylon’s Fall

“When the kings of the earth who committed adultery with her(EB) and shared her luxury(EC) see the smoke of her burning,(ED) they will weep and mourn over her.(EE) 10 Terrified at her torment, they will stand far off(EF) and cry:

“‘Woe! Woe to you, great city,(EG)
    you mighty city of Babylon!
In one hour(EH) your doom has come!’

11 “The merchants(EI) of the earth will weep and mourn(EJ) over her because no one buys their cargoes anymore(EK) 12 cargoes of gold, silver, precious stones and pearls; fine linen, purple, silk and scarlet cloth; every sort of citron wood, and articles of every kind made of ivory, costly wood, bronze, iron and marble;(EL) 13 cargoes of cinnamon and spice, of incense, myrrh and frankincense, of wine and olive oil, of fine flour and wheat; cattle and sheep; horses and carriages; and human beings sold as slaves.(EM)

14 “They will say, ‘The fruit you longed for is gone from you. All your luxury and splendor have vanished, never to be recovered.’ 15 The merchants who sold these things and gained their wealth from her(EN) will stand far off,(EO) terrified at her torment. They will weep and mourn(EP) 16 and cry out:

“‘Woe! Woe to you, great city,(EQ)
    dressed in fine linen, purple and scarlet,
    and glittering with gold, precious stones and pearls!(ER)
17 In one hour(ES) such great wealth has been brought to ruin!’(ET)

“Every sea captain, and all who travel by ship, the sailors, and all who earn their living from the sea,(EU) will stand far off.(EV) 18 When they see the smoke of her burning,(EW) they will exclaim, ‘Was there ever a city like this great city(EX)?’(EY) 19 They will throw dust on their heads,(EZ) and with weeping and mourning(FA) cry out:

“‘Woe! Woe to you, great city,(FB)
    where all who had ships on the sea
    became rich through her wealth!
In one hour she has been brought to ruin!’(FC)

20 “Rejoice over her, you heavens!(FD)
    Rejoice, you people of God!
    Rejoice, apostles and prophets!
For God has judged her
    with the judgment she imposed on you.”(FE)

The Finality of Babylon’s Doom

21 Then a mighty angel(FF) picked up a boulder the size of a large millstone and threw it into the sea,(FG) and said:

“With such violence
    the great city(FH) of Babylon will be thrown down,
    never to be found again.
22 The music of harpists and musicians, pipers and trumpeters,
    will never be heard in you again.(FI)
No worker of any trade
    will ever be found in you again.
The sound of a millstone
    will never be heard in you again.(FJ)
23 The light of a lamp
    will never shine in you again.
The voice of bridegroom and bride
    will never be heard in you again.(FK)
Your merchants were the world’s important people.(FL)
    By your magic spell(FM) all the nations were led astray.
24 In her was found the blood of prophets and of God’s holy people,(FN)
    of all who have been slaughtered on the earth.”(FO)

Footnotes

  1. Revelation 16:21 Or about 45 kilograms
  2. Revelation 18:2 Isaiah 21:9
  3. Revelation 18:4 Jer. 51:45
  4. Revelation 18:7 See Isaiah 47:7,8.