Scene in Heaven

After (A)these things I looked, and behold, (B)a door standing open in heaven, and the first voice which I had heard, (C)like the sound of a trumpet speaking with me, said, “(D)Come up here, and I will (E)show you what must take place after these things.” Immediately I was (F)in the [a]Spirit; and behold, (G)a throne was standing in heaven, and (H)someone was sitting on the throne. And He who was sitting was like a (I)jasper stone and a (J)sardius in appearance; and there was a [b](K)rainbow around the throne, like an (L)emerald in appearance. (M)Around the throne were (N)twenty-four thrones; and upon the thrones I saw (O)twenty-four elders (P)sitting, clothed in (Q)white garments, and (R)golden crowns on their heads.

The Throne and Worship of the Creator

Out from the throne *came (S)flashes of lightning and sounds and peals of thunder. And there were (T)seven lamps of fire burning before the throne, which are [c](U)the seven spirits of God; and before the throne there was something like a (V)sea of glass, like crystal; and in the [d]center and (W)around the throne, (X)four living creatures (Y)full of eyes in front and behind. (Z)The first living creature was like a lion, the second creature like a calf, the third creature had a face like that of a man, and the fourth creature was like a flying eagle. And the (AA)four living creatures, each one of them having (AB)six wings, are (AC)full of eyes around and within; and (AD)day and night [e]they do not cease to say,

(AE)Holy, holy, holy is the (AF)Lord God, the Almighty, (AG)who was and who is and who [f]is to come.”

And when the living creatures give glory, honor, and thanks to Him who (AH)sits on the throne, to (AI)Him who lives forever and ever, 10 the (AJ)twenty-four elders will (AK)fall down before Him who (AL)sits on the throne, and they will worship (AM)Him who lives forever and ever, and will cast their (AN)crowns before the throne, saying,

11 (AO)Worthy are You, our Lord and our God, to receive glory and honor and power; for You (AP)created all things, and because of Your will they [g]existed, and were created.”

The Scroll with Seven Seals

I saw [h]in the right hand of Him who (AQ)sat on the throne a [i](AR)scroll written inside and on the back, (AS)sealed up with seven seals. And I saw a (AT)strong angel proclaiming with a loud voice, “Who is worthy to open the scroll and to break its seals?” And no one (AU)in heaven or on the earth or under the earth was able to open the scroll or to look into it. Then I began to weep greatly because no one was found worthy to open the scroll or to look into it. And one of the elders *said to me, “Stop weeping; behold, the (AV)Lion that is (AW)from the tribe of Judah, the (AX)Root of David, has overcome so as to be able to open the scroll and its seven seals.”

And I saw [j]between the throne (with the four living creatures) and (AY)the elders a (AZ)Lamb standing, as if (BA)slaughtered, having seven (BB)horns and (BC)seven eyes, which are [k](BD)the seven spirits of God sent out into all the earth. And He came and took (BE)the scroll out of the right hand of Him who (BF)sat on the throne. When He had taken the scroll, the (BG)four living creatures and the (BH)twenty-four elders (BI)fell down before the (BJ)Lamb, each one holding a (BK)harp and (BL)golden bowls full of incense, which are the (BM)prayers of the [l]saints. And they *sang a (BN)new song, saying,

(BO)Worthy are You to take the scroll and to break its seals; for You were (BP)slaughtered, and You (BQ)purchased people for God with Your blood from (BR)every tribe, language, people, and nation.

10 You have made them into a (BS)kingdom and (BT)priests to our God, and they will (BU)reign upon the earth.”

Angels Exalt the Lamb

11 Then I looked, and I heard the voices of many angels (BV)around the throne and the (BW)living creatures and the (BX)elders; and the number of them was [m](BY)myriads of myriads, and thousands of thousands, 12 saying with a loud voice,

(BZ)Worthy is the (CA)Lamb that was (CB)slaughtered to receive power, wealth, wisdom, might, honor, glory, and blessing.”

13 And I heard (CC)every created thing which is in heaven, or on the earth, or under the earth, or on the sea, and all the things in them, saying,

“To Him who (CD)sits on the throne and to the (CE)Lamb (CF)be the blessing, the honor, the glory, and the dominion forever and ever.”

14 And the (CG)four living creatures were saying, “(CH)Amen.” And the (CI)elders (CJ)fell down and worshiped.

The First Seal: Conqueror on a White Horse

Then I saw when the (CK)Lamb broke one of the (CL)seven seals, and I heard one of the (CM)four living creatures saying as with a (CN)voice of thunder, “Come[n]!” I looked, and behold, a (CO)white horse, and the one who sat on it had a bow; and (CP)a crown was given to him, and he went out (CQ)conquering and to conquer.

The Second Seal: War

When He broke the second seal, I heard the (CR)second living creature saying, “Come[o]!” And another, (CS)a red horse, went out; and to him who sat on it, it was granted to (CT)take peace from the earth, and that people would kill one another; and a large sword was given to him.

The Third Seal: Famine

When He broke the third seal, I heard the (CU)third living creature saying, “Come[p]!” I looked, and behold, a (CV)black horse, and the one who sat on it had a (CW)pair of scales in his hand. And I heard something like a voice in the center of the (CX)four living creatures saying, “A [q]quart of wheat for a [r]denarius, and three [s]quarts of barley for a [t]denarius; and (CY)do not damage the oil and the wine.”

The Fourth Seal: Death

When the Lamb broke the fourth seal, I heard the voice of the (CZ)fourth living creature saying, “Come[u]!” I looked, and behold, [v]an (DA)ashen horse; and the one who sat on it had the name (DB)Death, and (DC)Hades was following with him. Authority was given to them over a fourth of the earth, (DD)to kill with sword, and famine, and [w]plague, and by the wild animals of the earth.

The Fifth Seal: Martyrs

When the Lamb broke the fifth seal, I saw (DE)underneath the (DF)altar the (DG)souls of those who had been killed (DH)because of the word of God, and because of the (DI)testimony which they had maintained; 10 and they cried out with a loud voice, saying, “(DJ)How long, O [x](DK)Lord, (DL)holy and true, [y]will You refrain from (DM)judging and avenging our blood on (DN)those who live on the earth?” 11 And a (DO)white robe was given to each of them; and they were told that they were to (DP)rest for a little while longer, (DQ)until the number of their fellow servants and their brothers and sisters who were to be killed even as they had been, was (DR)completed also.

The Sixth Seal: Terror

12 And I looked when He broke the sixth seal, and there was a great (DS)earthquake; and the (DT)sun became as black as (DU)sackcloth made of hair, and the whole moon became like blood; 13 and (DV)the stars of the sky fell to the earth, (DW)as a fig tree drops its unripe figs when shaken by a great wind. 14 (DX)The sky was split apart like a scroll when it is rolled up, and (DY)every mountain and island was removed from its place. 15 Then (DZ)the kings of the earth and the eminent people, and the commanders and the wealthy and the strong, and every slave and free person hid themselves in the caves and among the rocks of the mountains; 16 and they *(EA)said to the mountains and the rocks, “Fall on us and hide us from the [z]sight of Him (EB)who sits on the throne, and from the (EC)wrath of the Lamb; 17 for (ED)the great day of Their wrath has come, and (EE)who is able to stand?”

An Interlude

After this I saw (EF)four angels standing at the (EG)four corners of the earth, holding back (EH)the four winds of the earth (EI)so that no wind would blow on the earth, or on the sea, or on any tree. And I saw another angel ascending (EJ)from the rising of the sun, holding the (EK)seal of (EL)the living God; and he called out with a loud voice to the (EM)four angels to whom it was granted to harm the earth and the sea, saying, “(EN)Do not harm the earth, or the sea, or the trees until we have (EO)sealed the bond-servants of our God on their (EP)foreheads.”

The 144,000

And I heard the (EQ)number of those who were sealed: (ER)144,000, sealed from every tribe of the sons of Israel:

from the tribe of Judah, twelve thousand were sealed, from the tribe of Reuben twelve thousand, from the tribe of Gad twelve thousand, from the tribe of Asher twelve thousand, from the tribe of Naphtali twelve thousand, from the tribe of Manasseh twelve thousand, from the tribe of Simeon twelve thousand, from the tribe of Levi twelve thousand, from the tribe of Issachar twelve thousand, from the tribe of Zebulun twelve thousand, from the tribe of Joseph twelve thousand, and from the tribe of Benjamin, twelve thousand were sealed.

A Multitude from the Tribulation

After these things I looked, and behold, a great multitude which no one could count, from (ES)every nation and all the tribes, peoples, and languages, standing (ET)before the throne and (EU)before the Lamb, clothed in (EV)white robes, and (EW)palm branches were in their hands; 10 and they *cried out with a loud voice, saying,

(EX)Salvation belongs to our God (EY)who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb.”

11 And all the angels were standing (EZ)around the throne and around (FA)the elders and the (FB)four living creatures; and they (FC)fell on their faces before the throne and worshiped God, 12 saying,

(FD)Amen, (FE)blessing, glory, wisdom, thanksgiving, honor, power, and might belong to our God forever and ever. (FF)Amen.”

13 Then one of the elders (FG)responded, saying to me, “These who are clothed in the (FH)white robes, who are they, and where have they come from?” 14 I [aa]said to him, “My lord, you know.” And he said to me, “These are the ones who come out of the (FI)great tribulation, and they have (FJ)washed their robes and made them (FK)white in the (FL)blood of the Lamb. 15 For this reason they are (FM)before the throne of God, and they (FN)serve Him day and night in His [ab](FO)temple; and (FP)He who sits on the throne will spread His (FQ)tabernacle over them. 16 (FR)They will no longer hunger nor thirst, nor will the sun [ac]beat down on them, nor any scorching heat; 17 for the Lamb in the center of the throne will be their (FS)shepherd, and will guide them to springs of the [ad](FT)water of life; and (FU)God will wipe every tear from their eyes.”

The Seventh Seal: Trumpets

When the Lamb broke the (FV)seventh seal, there was silence in heaven for about half an hour. And I saw (FW)the seven angels who stand before God, and seven (FX)trumpets were given to them.

(FY)Another angel came and stood at the (FZ)altar, holding a (GA)golden censer; and much (GB)incense was given to him, so that he might [ae]add it to the (GC)prayers of all the [af]saints on the (GD)golden altar which was before the throne. And (GE)the smoke of the incense ascended from the angel’s hand with the prayers of the [ag]saints before God. Then the angel [ah]took the [ai]censer and (GF)filled it with the fire of the altar, and (GG)hurled it to the earth; and there were (GH)peals of thunder and sounds, and flashes of lightning and an (GI)earthquake.

(GJ)And the seven angels who had the seven trumpets prepared themselves to sound them.

The first sounded, and there was (GK)hail and fire mixed with blood, and it was hurled to the earth; and (GL)a third of the earth was burned up, and (GM)a third of the (GN)trees were burned up, and all the green (GO)grass was burned up.

The second angel sounded, and something like a great (GP)mountain burning with fire was hurled into the sea; and (GQ)a third of the (GR)sea became blood, and (GS)a third of the creatures which were in the sea [aj]and had life, died; and a third of the (GT)ships were destroyed.

10 The third angel sounded, and a great star (GU)fell from heaven, burning like a torch, and it fell on a (GV)third of the rivers and on the (GW)springs of waters. 11 The star is named Wormwood; and a (GX)third of the waters became (GY)wormwood, and many people died from the waters because they were made bitter.

12 The fourth angel sounded, and a (GZ)third of the (HA)sun, a third of the (HB)moon, and a (HC)third of the (HD)stars were struck, so that a (HE)third of them would be darkened and the day would not shine for a (HF)third of it, and the night in the same way.

13 Then I looked, and I heard [ak]an eagle flying in (HG)midheaven, saying with a loud voice, “(HH)Woe, woe, woe to (HI)those who live on the earth, because of the remaining blasts of the trumpet of the (HJ)three angels who are about to sound!”

The Fifth Trumpet: Shaft of the Abyss

Then the (HK)fifth angel sounded, and I saw a (HL)star from heaven which had fallen to the earth; and the (HM)key to the (HN)shaft of the abyss was given to him. He opened the shaft of the abyss, and (HO)smoke ascended out of the shaft like the smoke of a great furnace; and (HP)the sun and the air were darkened from the smoke of the shaft. Then out of the smoke came (HQ)locusts [al]upon the earth, and power was given them, as the (HR)scorpions of the earth have power. They were told not to (HS)hurt the (HT)grass of the earth, nor any green thing, nor any tree, but only the people who do not have the (HU)seal of God on their foreheads. And [am]they were not permitted to kill [an]anyone, but to torment for (HV)five months; and their torment was like the torment of a (HW)scorpion when it [ao]stings a person. And in those days (HX)people will seek death and will not find it; they will long to die, and death [ap]will flee from them!

The [aq](HY)appearance of the locusts was like horses prepared for battle; and on their heads appeared to be crowns like gold, and their faces were like human faces. They had hair like the hair of women, and their (HZ)teeth were like the teeth of lions. They had breastplates like breastplates of iron; and the (IA)sound of their wings was like the sound of chariots, of many horses rushing to battle. 10 They have tails like (IB)scorpions, and stings; and in their (IC)tails is their power to hurt people for (ID)five months. 11 They have as king over them, the angel of the (IE)abyss; his name in (IF)Hebrew is [ar](IG)Abaddon, and in the Greek he has the name [as]Apollyon.

12 (IH)The first woe has passed; behold, two woes are still coming after these things.

The Sixth Trumpet: Army from the East

13 Then the sixth angel sounded, and I heard [at]a voice from the [au]four (II)horns of the (IJ)golden altar which is before God, 14 saying to the sixth angel who had the trumpet, “Release the (IK)four angels who are bound at the (IL)great river Euphrates.” 15 And the four angels, who had been prepared for the hour and day and month and year, were (IM)released, so that they would kill a (IN)third of mankind. 16 The number of the armies of the horsemen was (IO)two hundred million; (IP)I heard the number of them. 17 And this is how I saw (IQ)in my vision the horses and those who sat on them: the riders had breastplates the color of fire, of hyacinth, and of [av](IR)brimstone; and the heads of the horses are like the heads of lions; and (IS)out of their mouths *came fire and smoke and [aw](IT)brimstone. 18 A (IU)third of mankind was killed by these three plagues, by the (IV)fire, the smoke, and the [ax]brimstone which came out of their mouths. 19 For the power of the horses is in their mouths and in their tails; for their tails are like serpents and have heads, and with them they do harm.

20 The rest of mankind, who were not killed by these plagues, (IW)did not repent of (IX)the works of their hands so as not to (IY)worship demons and (IZ)the idols of gold, silver, brass, stone, and wood, which can neither see nor hear nor walk; 21 and they (JA)did not repent of their murders, nor of their (JB)witchcraft, nor of their (JC)sexual immorality, nor of their thefts.

The Angel and the Little Scroll

10 I saw another (JD)strong angel (JE)coming down from heaven, clothed with a cloud; and the (JF)rainbow was on his head, and (JG)his face was like the sun, and his (JH)feet like pillars of fire; and he had in his hand a (JI)little scroll, which was open. He placed (JJ)his right foot on the sea and his left on the land; and he cried out with a loud voice, (JK)as when a lion roars; and when he had cried out, the (JL)seven peals of thunder [ay]uttered their voices. When the seven peals of thunder had spoken, (JM)I was about to write; and I (JN)heard a voice from heaven, saying, “(JO)Seal up the things which the seven peals of thunder have spoken, and do not write them.” Then the angel whom I saw standing on the sea and on the land (JP)raised his right hand to heaven, (JQ)and swore by (JR)Him who lives forever and ever, (JS)who created heaven and the things in it, and the earth and the things in it, and the sea and the things in it, that (JT)there will no longer be a delay, but in the days of the voice of the (JU)seventh angel, when he is about to sound, then (JV)the mystery of God is finished, as He announced to His servants the prophets.

Then (JW)the voice which I heard from heaven, I heard again speaking with me, and saying, “Go, take (JX)the scroll which is open in the hand of the angel who (JY)stands on the sea and on the land.” And I went to the angel, telling him to give me the little scroll. And he *said to me, “(JZ)Take it and eat it; it will make your stomach bitter, but in your mouth it will be sweet as honey.” 10 I took the little scroll from the angel’s hand and ate it, and in my mouth it was sweet as honey; and when I had eaten it, my stomach was made bitter. 11 And (KA)they *said to me, “You must (KB)prophesy again concerning (KC)many peoples, nations, languages, and (KD)kings.”

The Two Witnesses

11 Then there was given to me a [az](KE)measuring rod like a staff; [ba]and (KF)someone said, “Get up and measure the [bb]temple of God and the altar, and those who worship in it. [bc]Leave out the (KG)courtyard which is outside the [bd]temple and do not measure it, because (KH)it has been given to the nations; and they will (KI)trample (KJ)the holy city for (KK)forty-two months. And I will grant authority to my two (KL)witnesses, and they will prophesy for (KM)1,260 days, clothed in (KN)sackcloth.” These are the (KO)two olive trees and the two lampstands that stand before the Lord of the earth. And if anyone wants to harm them, (KP)fire flows out of their mouth and devours their enemies; and so if anyone wants to harm them, (KQ)he must be killed in this way. These have the power to (KR)shut up the sky, so that rain will not fall during (KS)the days of their prophesying; and they have power over the waters to (KT)turn them into blood, and (KU)to strike the earth with every plague, as often as they desire.

When they have finished their testimony, (KV)the beast that comes up out of the (KW)abyss will (KX)make war with them, and overcome them and kill them. And their dead bodies will lie on the street of the (KY)great city which [be]spiritually is called (KZ)Sodom and (LA)Egypt, where also their Lord was crucified. Those from (LB)the peoples, tribes, languages, and nations will look at their dead [bf]bodies for three and a half days, and [bg](LC)will not allow their dead bodies to be laid in a tomb. 10 And (LD)those who live on the earth will rejoice over them and celebrate; and they will (LE)send gifts to one another, because these two prophets tormented (LF)those who live on the earth.

11 And after the three and a half days, (LG)the breath of life from God came into them, and they stood on their feet; and great fear fell upon those who were watching them. 12 And they heard a loud voice from heaven saying to them, “(LH)Come up here.” And they (LI)went up into heaven in the cloud, and their enemies watched them. 13 And [bh]at that time there was a great (LJ)earthquake, and a tenth of the city fell; [bi]seven thousand people were killed in the earthquake, and the rest were terrified and (LK)gave glory to the (LL)God of heaven.

14 The second (LM)woe has passed; behold, the third woe is coming quickly.

The Seventh Trumpet: Christ’s Reign Foreseen

15 Then the (LN)seventh angel sounded; and there were (LO)loud voices in heaven, saying,

(LP)The kingdom of the world has become the kingdom of our Lord and of (LQ)His [bj]Christ; and (LR)He will reign forever and ever.” 16 And the twenty-four elders, who (LS)sit on their thrones before God, (LT)fell on their faces and worshiped God, 17 saying,

“We give You thanks, (LU)Lord God, the Almighty, the One who is and who was, because You have taken Your great power and have begun to (LV)reign. 18 And (LW)the nations were enraged, and (LX)Your wrath came, and (LY)the time came for the dead to be judged, and the time to [bk]reward Your (LZ)bond-servants the prophets and the [bl]saints and those who fear Your name, (MA)the small and the great, and to destroy those who destroy the earth.”

19 And (MB)the [bm]temple of God which is in heaven was opened; and (MC)the ark of His covenant appeared in His [bn]temple, and there were flashes of (MD)lightning and sounds and peals of thunder, and an earthquake, and a (ME)great [bo]hailstorm.

The Woman, Israel

12 A great (MF)sign appeared (MG)in heaven: (MH)a woman (MI)clothed with the sun, and the moon under her feet, and on her head a crown of twelve stars; and she was pregnant and she *(MJ)cried out, being in labor and in pain to give birth.

The Red Dragon, Satan

Then (MK)another sign appeared in heaven: and behold, a great red (ML)dragon having (MM)seven heads and (MN)ten horns, and on his heads were (MO)seven crowns. And his tail *swept away a (MP)third of the stars of heaven and (MQ)hurled them to the earth. And the (MR)dragon stood before the woman who was about to give birth, so that when she gave birth (MS)he might devour her Child.

The Male Child, Christ

And (MT)she gave birth to a Son, a male, who is going to [bp](MU)rule all the [bq]nations with a rod of iron; and her Child was (MV)caught up to God and to His throne. Then the woman fled into the wilderness where she *had a place prepared by God, so that there [br]she would be nourished for (MW)1,260 days.

The Angel, Michael

And there was war in heaven, (MX)Michael and his angels waging war with the (MY)dragon. The dragon and (MZ)his angels waged war, and they did not prevail, and there was no longer a place found for them in heaven. And the great (NA)dragon was thrown down, the (NB)serpent of old who is called the devil and (NC)Satan, who (ND)deceives the whole [bs]world; he was (NE)thrown down to the earth, and his angels were thrown down with him. 10 Then I heard (NF)a loud voice in heaven, saying,

“Now the (NG)salvation, and the power, and the (NH)kingdom of our God and the authority of His Christ have come, for the (NI)accuser of our brothers and sisters has been thrown down, the one who accuses them before our God day and night. 11 And they (NJ)overcame him because of (NK)the blood of the Lamb and because of (NL)the word of their testimony, and they (NM)did not love their life even [bt]when faced with death. 12 For this reason, (NN)rejoice, you heavens and (NO)you who dwell in them. (NP)Woe to the earth and the sea, because (NQ)the devil has come down to you with great wrath, knowing that he has only (NR)a short time.”

13 And when the (NS)dragon saw that he was thrown down to the earth, he persecuted (NT)the woman who gave birth to the male Child. 14 But the (NU)two wings of the great eagle were given to the woman, so that she could fly (NV)into the wilderness to her place, where she *was nourished for (NW)a time, times, and half a time, away from the presence of the serpent. 15 And the (NX)serpent hurled water like a river out of his mouth after the woman, so that he might cause her to be swept away with the flood. 16 [bu]But the earth helped the woman, and the earth opened its mouth and drank up the river which the dragon had hurled out of his mouth. 17 So the dragon was enraged with the woman, and went off to (NY)make war with the rest of her [bv](NZ)children, who (OA)keep the commandments of God and (OB)hold to the testimony of Jesus.

The Beast from the Sea

13 And the dragon stood on the sand of the [bw]seashore.

Then I saw a (OC)beast coming up out of the sea, having (OD)ten horns and (OE)seven heads, and on his horns were (OF)ten crowns, and on his heads were (OG)blasphemous names. And the beast that I saw was (OH)like a leopard, and his feet were like those of (OI)a bear, and his mouth like the mouth of (OJ)a lion. And the (OK)dragon gave him his power and his (OL)throne, and great authority. I saw one of his heads as if it had been [bx]fatally wounded, and his (OM)fatal wound was healed. And the whole earth (ON)was amazed and followed after the beast; they worshiped the (OO)dragon because he (OP)gave his authority to the beast; and they worshiped the beast, saying, “(OQ)Who is like the beast, and who is able to wage war with him?” A mouth was given to him (OR)speaking [by]arrogant words and blasphemies, and authority to act for (OS)forty-two months was given to him. And he opened his mouth in blasphemies against God, to blaspheme His name and His tabernacle, that is, (OT)those who dwell in heaven.

It was also given to him to (OU)make war with the [bz]saints and to overcome them, and authority was given to him over (OV)every tribe, people, language, and nation. All who (OW)live on the earth will worship him, everyone (OX)whose name has not been [ca]written (OY)since the foundation of the world in the (OZ)book of life of (PA)the Lamb who has been slaughtered. (PB)If anyone has an ear, let him hear. 10 (PC)If anyone [cb]is destined for captivity, to captivity he goes; (PD)if anyone kills with the sword, with the sword he must be killed. Here is (PE)the [cc]perseverance and the faith of the [cd]saints.

The Beast from the Earth

11 Then (PF)I saw another beast coming up out of the earth; and he had (PG)two horns like a lamb, and he spoke as a (PH)dragon. 12 He (PI)exercises all the authority of the first beast [ce](PJ)in his presence. And he makes (PK)the earth and those who live on it (PL)worship the first beast, whose (PM)fatal wound was healed. 13 He (PN)performs great signs, so that he even makes (PO)fire come down out of the sky to the earth in the presence of people. 14 And he (PP)deceives (PQ)those who live on the earth because of (PR)the signs which it was given him to perform [cf](PS)in the presence of the beast, telling those who live on the earth to make an image to the beast who *had the (PT)wound of the sword and has come to life. 15 And it was given to him to give breath to the image of the beast, so that the image of the beast would even [cg]speak and cause (PU)all who do not (PV)worship the image of the beast to be killed. 16 And he causes all, (PW)the small and the great, the rich and the poor, and the free and the slaves, [ch]to be given a (PX)mark on their right hands or on their foreheads, 17 and he decrees that no one will be able to buy or to sell, except the one who has the (PY)mark, either (PZ)the name of the beast or (QA)the number of his name. 18 (QB)Here is wisdom. Let him who has understanding calculate the number of the beast, for the number is that (QC)of a [ci]man; and his number is [cj]six hundred and sixty-six.

The Lamb and the 144,000 on Mount Zion

14 Then I looked, and behold, (QD)the Lamb was standing on (QE)Mount Zion, and with Him (QF)144,000 who had (QG)His name and the (QH)name of His Father written (QI)on their foreheads. And I heard a voice from heaven, like (QJ)the sound of many waters and like the (QK)sound of loud thunder, and the voice which I heard was like the sound of (QL)harpists playing on their harps. And they *sang [ck](QM)a new song before the throne and before the (QN)four living creatures and the (QO)elders; and (QP)no one was able to learn the song except the (QQ)144,000 who had been (QR)purchased from the earth. (QS)These are the ones who have not defiled themselves with women, for they are celibate. These are the ones who (QT)follow the Lamb wherever He goes. These have been (QU)purchased from mankind (QV)as first fruits to God and to the Lamb. And (QW)no lie was found in their mouths; they are (QX)blameless.

Vision of the Angel with the Gospel

And I saw another angel flying in (QY)midheaven with (QZ)an eternal gospel to preach to (RA)those who [cl]live on the earth, and to (RB)every nation, tribe, language, and people; and he said with a loud voice, “(RC)Fear God and (RD)give Him glory, because the hour of His judgment has come; worship Him who (RE)made the heaven and the earth, and sea and (RF)springs of waters.”

And another angel, a second one, followed, saying, “[cm](RG)Fallen, fallen is (RH)Babylon the great, she who has (RI)made all the nations drink of the (RJ)wine of the [cn]passion of her sexual immorality.”

Doom for Worshipers of the Beast

Then another angel, a third one, followed them, saying with a loud voice, “If anyone (RK)worships the beast and his (RL)image, and receives a (RM)mark on his forehead or on his hand, 10 he also will drink of the (RN)wine of the wrath of God, which is mixed [co]in full strength (RO)in the cup of His anger; and he will be tormented with (RP)fire and [cp]brimstone in the presence of the (RQ)holy angels and in the presence of the Lamb. 11 And the (RR)smoke of their torment ascends forever and ever; (RS)they have no rest day and night, those who (RT)worship the beast and his (RU)image, and [cq]whoever receives the (RV)mark of his name.” 12 Here is (RW)the [cr]perseverance of the [cs]saints who (RX)keep the commandments of God and [ct](RY)their faith in Jesus.

13 And I heard a voice from heaven, saying, “Write: ‘(RZ)Blessed are the dead who (SA)die in the Lord from now on!’” “Yes,” (SB)says the Spirit, “so that they may (SC)rest from their labors, for their (SD)deeds follow with them.”

The Harvest

14 Then I looked, and behold, a (SE)white cloud, and sitting on the cloud was one (SF)like [cu]a son of man, with a golden (SG)crown on His head and a sharp sickle in His hand. 15 And another angel (SH)came out of the [cv]temple, calling out with a loud voice to Him who sat on the cloud, “[cw](SI)Put in your sickle and reap, for the hour to reap has come, because the (SJ)harvest of the earth [cx]is ripe.” 16 Then He who sat on the cloud [cy]swung His sickle over the earth, and the earth was reaped.

17 And another angel (SK)came out of the [cz]temple which is in heaven, and he also had a sharp sickle. 18 Then another angel, (SL)the one who has power over fire, came out from (SM)the altar; and he called with a loud voice to him who had the sharp sickle, saying, “[da](SN)Put in your sharp sickle and gather the clusters [db]from the vine of the earth, (SO)because her grapes are ripe.” 19 So the angel [dc]swung his sickle to the earth and gathered the clusters from the vine of the earth, and threw them into (SP)the great wine press of the wrath of God. 20 And (SQ)the wine press was trampled (SR)outside the city, and (SS)blood came out from the wine press, up to the horses’ bridles, [dd]for a distance of [de]1,600 stadia.

A Scene of Heaven

15 Then I saw (ST)another sign in heaven, great and marvelous, (SU)seven angels who had (SV)seven plagues, which are (SW)the last, because in them the wrath of God is finished.

And I saw something like a (SX)sea of glass mixed with fire, and those who (SY)were victorious [df]over the (SZ)beast and (TA)his image and the (TB)number of his name, standing on the (TC)sea of glass, holding (TD)harps of God. And they *sang the (TE)song of Moses, (TF)the bond-servant of God, and the (TG)song of the Lamb, saying,

(TH)Great and marvelous are Your works,
(TI)Lord God, the Almighty;
Righteous and true are Your ways,
(TJ)King of the [dg]nations!
(TK)Who will not fear You, Lord, and glorify Your name?
For You alone are holy;
For (TL)all the nations will come and worship before You,
For Your [dh](TM)righteous acts have been revealed.”

After these things I looked, and (TN)the [di]temple of the (TO)tabernacle of testimony in heaven was opened, and the (TP)seven angels who had the seven plagues (TQ)came out of the [dj]temple, clothed in [dk]linen, clean and bright, and (TR)their chests wrapped with golden sashes. And one of the (TS)four living creatures gave the (TT)seven angels seven (TU)golden bowls full of the (TV)wrath of God, who (TW)lives forever and ever. And the [dl]temple was filled with (TX)smoke from the glory of God and from His power; and no one was able to enter the [dm]temple until the seven plagues of the seven angels were finished.

The Bowls of Wrath

16 Then I heard a loud voice from (TY)the [dn]temple, saying to the (TZ)seven angels, “Go and (UA)pour out on the earth the seven bowls of the wrath of God.”

So the first angel went and poured out his bowl (UB)on the earth; and a harmful and painful (UC)sore [do]afflicted the people (UD)who had the mark of the beast and who worshiped his image.

The second angel poured out his bowl (UE)into the sea, and it became blood like that of a dead man; and every living [dp]thing in the sea died.

Then the third angel poured out his bowl into the (UF)rivers and the springs of waters; and they (UG)became blood. And I heard the angel of the waters saying, “(UH)Righteous are You, (UI)the One who is and who was, O (UJ)Holy One, because You (UK)judged these things; for they poured out (UL)the blood of saints and prophets, and You have given them (UM)blood to drink. They [dq]deserve it.” And I heard (UN)the altar saying, “Yes, (UO)Lord God, the Almighty, (UP)true and righteous are Your judgments.”

And the fourth angel poured out his bowl upon (UQ)the sun, (UR)and it was given power to scorch people with fire. And the people were scorched with [dr]fierce heat; and they (US)blasphemed the name of God who has the power over these plagues, and they (UT)did not repent so as to (UU)give Him glory.

10 And the fifth angel poured out his bowl on the (UV)throne of the beast, and his kingdom became (UW)darkened; and they gnawed their tongues because of pain, 11 and they (UX)blasphemed the (UY)God of heaven because of their pain and their (UZ)sores; and they (VA)did not repent of their deeds.

12 The sixth angel poured out his bowl on the (VB)great river, the Euphrates; and (VC)its water was dried up, so that (VD)the way would be prepared for the kings (VE)from the [ds]east.

Har-Magedon (Armageddon)

13 And I saw coming out of the mouth of the (VF)dragon, and out of the mouth of the (VG)beast, and out of the mouth of the (VH)false prophet, three (VI)unclean spirits like (VJ)frogs; 14 for they are (VK)spirits of demons, (VL)performing signs, which go out to the kings of the (VM)entire [dt]world, to (VN)gather them together for the war of the (VO)great day of God, the Almighty. 15 (“Behold, (VP)I am coming like a thief. (VQ)Blessed is the one who stays awake and keeps his clothes, (VR)so that he will not walk about naked and people will not see his shame.”) 16 And they (VS)gathered them together to the place which (VT)in Hebrew is called (VU)Har-Magedon.

The Seventh Bowl of Wrath

17 Then the seventh angel poured out his bowl upon (VV)the air, and a (VW)loud voice came out of the [du](VX)temple from the throne, saying, “(VY)It is done.” 18 And there were flashes of (VZ)lightning and sounds and peals of thunder; and there was (WA)a great earthquake, (WB)such as there had not been since mankind came to be upon the earth, so great an earthquake was it, and so mighty. 19 (WC)The great city [dv]was split into three parts, and the cities of the [dw]nations fell. (WD)Babylon the great was (WE)remembered in the sight of God, to give her (WF)the cup of the wine of [dx]His fierce wrath. 20 And (WG)every island fled, and no mountains were found. 21 And (WH)huge [dy]hailstones, weighing about [dz]a talent each, *came down from heaven upon people; and people (WI)blasphemed God because of the (WJ)plague of the hail, because [ea]the hailstone plague *was extremely [eb]severe.

The Doom of Babylon

17 (WK)Then one of the (WL)seven angels who had the (WM)seven bowls came and spoke with me, saying, “Come here, I will show you (WN)the judgment of the (WO)great prostitute who (WP)sits on many waters, with whom (WQ)the kings of the earth committed acts of sexual immorality, and (WR)those who live on the earth (WS)became drunk with the wine of her sexual immorality.” And (WT)he carried me away [ec](WU)in the Spirit (WV)into a wilderness; and I saw a woman sitting on a (WW)scarlet beast, full of (WX)blasphemous names, having (WY)seven heads and ten horns. The woman (WZ)was clothed in purple and scarlet, and [ed]adorned with gold, precious [ee]stones, and pearls, holding in her hand (XA)a gold cup full of abominations and of the unclean things of her sexual immorality, and on her forehead a name was written, [ef]a (XB)mystery: “(XC)BABYLON THE GREAT, THE MOTHER OF PROSTITUTES AND OF (XD)THE ABOMINATIONS OF THE EARTH.” And I saw the woman drunk with (XE)the blood of the [eg]saints, and with the blood of the witnesses of Jesus. When I saw her, I wondered [eh]greatly. And the angel said to me, “Why [ei]do you wonder? I will tell you the (XF)mystery of the woman and of the beast that carries her, which has the (XG)seven heads and the ten horns.

(XH)The beast that you saw (XI)was, and is not, and is about to (XJ)come up out of the (XK)abyss and [ej](XL)go to destruction. And (XM)those who live on the earth, (XN)whose names have not been written in the book of life (XO)from the foundation of the world, will (XP)wonder when they see the beast, that he was, and is not, and will [ek]come. (XQ)Here is the mind which has wisdom. The (XR)seven heads are seven mountains upon which the woman sits, 10 and they are seven (XS)kings; five have fallen, one is, the other has not yet come; and when he comes, he must remain a little while. 11 The beast which (XT)was, and is not, is himself also an eighth and is one of the seven, and he (XU)goes to destruction. 12 The (XV)ten horns which you saw are ten kings who have not yet received a kingdom, but they receive authority as kings with the beast (XW)for one hour. 13 These have (XX)one [el]purpose, and they give their power and authority to the beast.

Victory for the Lamb

14 These will wage (XY)war against the Lamb, and the Lamb will (XZ)overcome them because He is (YA)Lord of lords and (YB)King of kings; and (YC)those who are with Him are the (YD)called and chosen and faithful.”

15 And he *said to me, “The (YE)waters which you saw where the prostitute sits are (YF)peoples and multitudes, and nations and languages. 16 And the (YG)ten horns which you saw, and the beast, these will hate the prostitute and will make her (YH)desolate and (YI)naked, and will (YJ)eat her flesh and will (YK)burn her up with fire. 17 For (YL)God has put it in their hearts to execute His [em]purpose [en]by (YM)having a common purpose, and by giving their kingdom to the beast, until the (YN)words of God will be fulfilled. 18 The woman whom you saw is (YO)the great city, which [eo]reigns over the kings of the earth.”

Babylon Is Fallen

18 After these things I saw another (YP)angel (YQ)coming down from heaven, having great authority, and the earth was (YR)illuminated from his glory. And he cried out with a mighty voice, saying, “[ep](YS)Fallen, fallen is Babylon the great! She (YT)has become a dwelling place of demons and a [eq]prison of every (YU)unclean spirit, and a [er]prison of every unclean and hateful bird. For all the nations have fallen because of the (YV)wine of the passion of her sexual immorality, and (YW)the kings of the earth have committed acts of sexual immorality with her, and the (YX)merchants of the earth have become rich from the [es]excessive wealth of her [et](YY)luxury.”

I heard another voice from heaven, saying, “(YZ)Come out of her, my people, so that you will not participate in her sins and receive any of her plagues; for her sins have [eu](ZA)piled up as high as heaven, and God has (ZB)remembered her offenses. (ZC)Pay her back even as she has paid, and [ev]give back to her double according to her deeds; in the (ZD)cup which she has mixed, mix twice as much for her. (ZE)To the extent that she glorified herself and (ZF)lived luxuriously, to the same extent give her torment and mourning; for she says in her heart, ‘(ZG)I sit as a queen and I am not a widow, and will never see mourning.’ For this reason (ZH)in one day her plagues will come, [ew]plague and mourning and famine, and she will be (ZI)burned up with fire; for the Lord God who judges her (ZJ)is strong.

Grief over Babylon

“And (ZK)the kings of the earth, who committed acts of sexual immorality and (ZL)lived luxuriously with her, will (ZM)weep and mourn over her when they (ZN)see the smoke of her burning, 10 (ZO)standing at a distance because of the fear of her torment, saying, ‘(ZP)Woe, woe, (ZQ)the great city, Babylon, the strong city! For in (ZR)one hour your judgment has come.’

11 “And the (ZS)merchants of the earth (ZT)weep and mourn over her, because no one buys their cargo any more— 12 cargo of (ZU)gold, silver, precious [ex]stones, and pearls; fine linen, purple, silk, and scarlet; every kind of citron wood, every article of ivory, and every article made from very valuable wood, [ey]bronze, iron, and marble; 13 cinnamon, [ez]spice, incense, perfume, frankincense, wine, olive oil, fine flour, wheat, cattle, sheep, and cargo of horses, carriages, [fa]slaves, and (ZV)human lives. 14 The fruit [fb]you long for has left you, and all things that were luxurious and splendid have passed away from you and people will no longer find them. 15 The (ZW)merchants of (ZX)these things, who became rich from her, will (ZY)stand at a distance because of the fear of her torment, weeping and mourning, 16 saying, ‘(ZZ)Woe, woe, (AAA)the great city, she who (AAB)was clothed in fine linen and purple and scarlet, and [fc]adorned with gold, precious [fd]stones, and pearls; 17 for in (AAC)one hour such great wealth has been laid (AAD)waste!’ And (AAE)every shipmaster and every [fe]passenger and sailor, and all who [ff]make their living by the sea, (AAF)stood at a distance, 18 and were (AAG)crying out as they (AAH)saw the smoke of her burning, saying, ‘(AAI)What city is like (AAJ)the great city?’ 19 And they threw (AAK)dust on their heads and were crying out, weeping and mourning, saying, ‘(AAL)Woe, woe, the great city, in which all who had ships at sea (AAM)became rich from her prosperity, for in (AAN)one hour she has been laid (AAO)waste!’ 20 (AAP)Rejoice over her, O heaven, and you [fg]saints and (AAQ)apostles and prophets, because (AAR)God has [fh]pronounced judgment for you against her.”

21 Then [fi]a (AAS)strong angel (AAT)picked up a stone like a great millstone and threw it into the sea, saying, “So will Babylon, (AAU)the great city, be thrown down with violence, and (AAV)will never be found again. 22 And (AAW)the sound of harpists, musicians, flute players, and trumpeters will never be heard in you again; and no craftsman of any craft will ever be found in you again; and the (AAX)sound of a mill will never be heard in you again; 23 and the light of a lamp will never shine in you again; and the (AAY)voice of the groom and bride will never be heard in you again; for your (AAZ)merchants were the powerful people of the earth, because all the nations were deceived (ABA)by your witchcraft. 24 And in her was found the (ABB)blood of prophets and of [fj]saints, and of (ABC)all who have been slaughtered on the earth.”

The Fourfold Hallelujah

19 After these things I heard something like a (ABD)loud voice of a great multitude in heaven, saying,

(ABE)Hallelujah! (ABF)Salvation, (ABG)glory, and power belong to our God, (ABH)because His (ABI)judgments are (ABJ)true and righteous; for He has judged the (ABK)great prostitute who was corrupting the earth with her sexual immorality, and He has (ABL)avenged the blood of His bond-servants [fk]on her.” And a second time they said, “(ABM)Hallelujah! (ABN)Her smoke rises forever and ever.” And the (ABO)twenty-four elders and the (ABP)four living creatures (ABQ)fell down and worshiped God who sits on the throne, saying, “(ABR)Amen. (ABS)Hallelujah!” And a voice came from the throne, saying,

(ABT)Give praise to our God, all you His bond-servants, (ABU)you who fear Him, the small and the great.” Then I heard something like (ABV)the voice of a great multitude and like (ABW)the sound of many waters, and like the (ABX)sound of mighty peals of thunder, saying,

(ABY)Hallelujah! For the (ABZ)Lord our God, the Almighty, reigns.

Marriage of the Lamb

Let’s rejoice and be glad and (ACA)give the glory to Him, because (ACB)the marriage of the Lamb has come, and His [fl](ACC)bride has prepared herself.” It was given to her to clothe herself in (ACD)fine linen, bright and clean; for the fine linen is the (ACE)righteous acts of the [fm]saints.

Then (ACF)he *said to me, “(ACG)Write: ‘(ACH)Blessed are those who are invited to the wedding feast of the Lamb.’” And he *said to me, “(ACI)These are the true words of God.” 10 Then (ACJ)I fell at his feet to worship him. (ACK)But he *said to me, “[fn]Do not do that; I am a (ACL)fellow servant of yours and your brothers and sisters who (ACM)hold the testimony of Jesus; worship God! For the testimony of Jesus is the spirit of prophecy.”

The Coming of Christ

11 And I saw (ACN)heaven opened, and behold, a (ACO)white horse, and He who sat on it is called (ACP)Faithful and True, and in (ACQ)righteousness He judges and wages war. 12 His (ACR)eyes are a flame of fire, and on His head are many (ACS)crowns; and He has a (ACT)name written on Him which no one knows except Himself. 13 He is clothed with a (ACU)robe dipped in blood, and His name is called (ACV)The Word of God. 14 And the armies which are in heaven, clothed in (ACW)fine linen, (ACX)white and clean, were following Him on white horses. 15 (ACY)From His mouth comes a sharp sword, so that (ACZ)with it He may strike down the nations, and He will [fo](ADA)rule them with a rod of iron; and (ADB)He treads the [fp]wine press of the fierce wrath of God, the Almighty. 16 And on His robe and on His thigh He has (ADC)a name written: “(ADD)KING OF KINGS, AND LORD OF LORDS.”

17 Then I saw [fq]an angel standing in the sun, and he cried out with a loud voice, saying to (ADE)all the birds that fly in (ADF)midheaven, “(ADG)Come, assemble for the great feast of God, 18 so that you may (ADH)eat the flesh of kings and the flesh of commanders, the flesh of mighty men, the flesh of horses and of those who sit on them, and the flesh of all people, (ADI)both free and slaves, and (ADJ)small and great.”

19 And I saw (ADK)the beast and (ADL)the kings of the earth and their armies, assembled to make war against Him who (ADM)sat on the horse, and against His army.

Doom of the Beast and False Prophet

20 And the beast was seized, and with him the (ADN)false prophet who (ADO)performed the signs [fr](ADP)in his presence, by which he (ADQ)deceived those who had received the (ADR)mark of the beast and those who (ADS)worshiped his image; these two were thrown alive into the (ADT)lake of (ADU)fire, which burns with [fs]brimstone. 21 And the rest were killed with the sword which (ADV)came from the mouth of Him who (ADW)sat on the horse, and (ADX)all the birds were filled with their flesh.

Satan Bound

20 Then I saw (ADY)an angel coming down from heaven, holding the (ADZ)key of the abyss and a great chain [ft]in his hand. And he took hold of the (AEA)dragon, the serpent of old, who is the devil and Satan, and (AEB)bound him for a thousand years; and he threw him into the (AEC)abyss and shut it and (AED)sealed it over him, so that he would (AEE)not deceive the nations any longer, until the thousand years were completed; after these things he must be released for a short time.

Then I saw (AEF)thrones, and (AEG)they sat on them, and (AEH)judgment was given to them. And I saw (AEI)the souls of those who had been beheaded because of [fu]their (AEJ)testimony of Jesus and because of the word of God, and those who had not (AEK)worshiped the beast or his image, and had not received the (AEL)mark on their foreheads and on their hands; and they (AEM)came to life and (AEN)reigned with Christ for a thousand years. The rest of the dead did not come to life until the thousand years were completed. (AEO)This is the first resurrection. (AEP)Blessed and holy is the one who has a part in the first resurrection; over these the (AEQ)second death has no power, but they will be (AER)priests of God and of Christ, and will (AES)reign with Him for a thousand years.

Satan Freed and Doomed

When the thousand years are completed, Satan will be (AET)released from his prison, and will come out to (AEU)deceive the nations which are at the (AEV)four corners of the earth, (AEW)Gog and Magog, to (AEX)gather them together for the war; the number of them is like the (AEY)sand of the [fv]seashore. And they (AEZ)came up on the [fw]broad plain of the earth and surrounded the (AFA)camp of the [fx]saints and the (AFB)beloved city, and (AFC)fire came down from heaven and devoured them. 10 And (AFD)the devil who (AFE)deceived them was thrown into the (AFF)lake of fire and [fy]brimstone, where the (AFG)beast and the (AFH)false prophet are also; and they will be (AFI)tormented day and night forever and ever.

Judgment at the Throne of God

11 Then I saw a great white (AFJ)throne and Him who sat upon it, from whose [fz]presence (AFK)earth and heaven fled, and (AFL)no place was found for them. 12 And I saw the dead, the (AFM)great and the small, standing before the throne, and [ga](AFN)books were opened; and another [gb]book was opened, which is (AFO)the book of life; and the dead (AFP)were judged from the things which were written in the [gc]books, (AFQ)according to their deeds. 13 And the sea gave up the dead who were in it, and (AFR)Death and Hades (AFS)gave up the dead who were in them; and they were judged, each one of them (AFT)according to their deeds. 14 Then (AFU)Death and Hades were thrown into (AFV)the lake of fire. This is the (AFW)second death, the lake of fire. 15 And if [gd]anyone’s name was not found written in (AFX)the book of life, he was thrown into the lake of fire.

The New Heaven and Earth

21 Then I saw (AFY)a new heaven and a new earth; for (AFZ)the first heaven and the first earth passed away, and there is no longer any sea. And I saw (AGA)the holy city, (AGB)new Jerusalem, (AGC)coming down out of heaven from God, (AGD)prepared as a bride adorned for her husband. And I heard a loud voice from the throne, saying, “Behold, (AGE)the tabernacle of God is among the people, and He will (AGF)dwell among them, and they shall be His [ge]people, and God Himself will be among them[gf], and He will (AGG)wipe away every tear from their eyes; and (AGH)there will no longer be any death; (AGI)there will no longer be any mourning, or crying, or pain; (AGJ)the first things have passed away.”

And (AGK)He who sits on the throne said, “Behold, I am (AGL)making all things new.” And He *said, “Write, for (AGM)these words are faithful and true.” Then He said to me, “[gg](AGN)It is done. I am the (AGO)Alpha and the Omega, the beginning and the end. (AGP)I will give water to the one who thirsts from the spring of the (AGQ)water of life, without cost. (AGR)The one who overcomes will inherit these things, and (AGS)I will be his God and he will be My son. (AGT)But for the cowardly, and [gh]unbelieving, and abominable, and murderers, and sexually immoral persons, and sorcerers, and idolaters, and all liars, their part will be in (AGU)the lake that burns with fire and [gi]brimstone, which is the (AGV)second death.”

(AGW)Then one of the seven angels who had the (AGX)seven bowls, [gj]full of the (AGY)seven last plagues, came and spoke with me, saying, “(AGZ)Come here, I will show you the (AHA)bride, the wife of the Lamb.”

The New Jerusalem

10 And (AHB)he carried me away [gk](AHC)in the Spirit to a great and high mountain, and showed me (AHD)the holy city, Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, 11 having (AHE)the glory of God. Her [gl]brilliance was like a very valuable stone, like a (AHF)stone of (AHG)crystal-clear jasper. 12 [gm]It had a great and high wall, [gn](AHH)with twelve (AHI)gates, and at the gates twelve angels; and names were written on the gates, which are the names of the twelve tribes of the sons of Israel. 13 There were three gates on the east, three gates on the north, three gates on the south, and three gates on the west. 14 And the wall of the city had (AHJ)twelve foundation stones, and on them were the twelve names of the (AHK)twelve apostles of the Lamb.

15 The one who spoke with me had a [go]gold measuring (AHL)rod to measure the city, its (AHM)gates, and its wall. 16 The city is laid out as a square, and its length is as great as the width; and he measured the city with the [gp]rod, [gq]twelve thousand stadia; its length, width, and height are equal. 17 And he measured its wall, [gr]144 cubits, by (AHN)human [gs]measurements, which are also (AHO)angelic measurements. 18 The material of the wall was (AHP)jasper; and the city was (AHQ)pure gold, like [gt]clear (AHR)glass. 19 (AHS)The foundation stones of the city wall were decorated with every kind of precious stone. The first foundation stone was (AHT)jasper; the second, sapphire; the third, chalcedony; the fourth, (AHU)emerald; 20 the fifth, sardonyx; the sixth, (AHV)sardius; the seventh, chrysolite; the eighth, beryl; the ninth, topaz; the tenth, chrysoprase; the eleventh, jacinth; the twelfth, amethyst. 21 And the twelve (AHW)gates were twelve (AHX)pearls; each one of the gates was a single pearl. And the street of the city was (AHY)pure gold, like transparent (AHZ)glass.

22 I saw (AIA)no [gu]temple in it, for the (AIB)Lord God the Almighty and the (AIC)Lamb are its [gv]temple. 23 And the city (AID)has no need of the sun or of the moon to shine on it, for (AIE)the glory of God has illuminated it, and its lamp is the (AIF)Lamb. 24 (AIG)The nations will walk by its light, and the (AIH)kings of the earth [gw]will bring their glory into it. 25 In the daytime (for (AII)there will be no night there) (AIJ)its gates (AIK)will never be closed; 26 and (AIL)they will bring the glory and the honor of the nations into it; 27 and (AIM)nothing unclean, and no one who practices abomination and lying, shall ever come into it, but only those [gx]whose names are (AIN)written in the Lamb’s book of life.

The River and the Tree of Life

22 And (AIO)he showed me a (AIP)river of the (AIQ)water of life, [gy]clear (AIR)as crystal, coming from the throne of God and of [gz]the Lamb, in the middle of (AIS)its street. (AIT)On either side of the river was (AIU)the tree of life, bearing twelve [ha]kinds of fruit, yielding its fruit every month; and the leaves of the tree were for the healing of the nations. (AIV)There will no longer be any curse; and (AIW)the throne of God and of the Lamb will be in it, and His bond-servants will (AIX)serve Him; they will (AIY)see His face, and His (AIZ)name will be on their (AJA)foreheads. And (AJB)there will no longer be any night; and they [hb]will not have need (AJC)of the light of a lamp nor the light of the sun, because the Lord God will illuminate them; and they will (AJD)reign forever and ever.

And (AJE)he said to me, “(AJF)These words are faithful and true”; and the Lord, the (AJG)God of the spirits of the prophets, (AJH)sent His angel to show His bond-servants the things which must soon take place.

“And behold, (AJI)I am coming quickly. (AJJ)Blessed is the one who [hc]keeps (AJK)the words of the prophecy of this book.”

(AJL)I, John, am the one who heard and saw these things. And when I heard and saw them, (AJM)I fell down to worship at the feet of the angel who showed me these things. And (AJN)he *said to me, “[hd]Do not do that; I am a (AJO)fellow servant of yours and of your brothers the prophets, and of those who [he]keep the words of (AJP)this book. Worship God!”

The Final Message

10 And he *said to me, “(AJQ)Do not seal up (AJR)the words of the prophecy of this book, (AJS)for the time is near. 11 (AJT)Let the one who does wrong still do wrong, and the one who is filthy still be filthy; and let the one who is righteous still practice righteousness, and the one who is holy still keep himself holy.”

12 “Behold, (AJU)I am coming quickly, and My (AJV)reward is with Me, (AJW)to reward each one as his work [hf]deserves. 13 I am the (AJX)Alpha and the Omega, (AJY)the first and the last, (AJZ)the beginning and the end.”

14 Blessed are those who (AKA)wash their robes, so that they will have the right to (AKB)the tree of life, and may (AKC)enter the city by the (AKD)gates. 15 (AKE)Outside are the (AKF)dogs, the sorcerers, the sexually immoral persons, the murderers, the idolaters, and everyone who loves and practices lying.

16 (AKG)I, Jesus, have sent (AKH)My angel to testify to you of these things [hg](AKI)for the churches. I am (AKJ)the root and the (AKK)descendant of David, the bright (AKL)morning star.”

17 The (AKM)Spirit and the (AKN)bride say, “Come.” And let the one who hears say, “Come.” And (AKO)let the one who is thirsty come; let the one who desires, take the (AKP)water of life without cost.

18 I testify to everyone who hears (AKQ)the words of the prophecy of this book: if anyone (AKR)adds to them, God will add to him (AKS)the plagues that are written in (AKT)this book; 19 and if anyone (AKU)takes away from the (AKV)words of the book of this prophecy, God will take away his part from (AKW)the tree of life and [hh]from the holy city, (AKX)which are written in this book.

20 He who (AKY)testifies to these things says, “Yes, (AKZ)I am coming quickly.” Amen. (ALA)Come, Lord Jesus.

21 (ALB)The grace of the Lord Jesus be with [hi]all. Amen.

Footnotes

  1. Revelation 4:2 Or spirit
  2. Revelation 4:3 Or halo
  3. Revelation 4:5 Possibly a symbolic reference to the Holy Spirit in His fullness, or to seven key angels
  4. Revelation 4:6 Lit middle of the throne and around
  5. Revelation 4:8 Lit they have no rest, saying,
  6. Revelation 4:8 Or is coming
  7. Revelation 4:11 Lit were
  8. Revelation 5:1 Lit upon
  9. Revelation 5:1 Or book, and so throughout the ch
  10. Revelation 5:6 Lit in the middle of the throne and of the four living creatures, and in the middle of the elders
  11. Revelation 5:6 Possibly a symbolic reference to the Holy Spirit in His fullness, or to seven key angels
  12. Revelation 5:8 Lit holy ones; i.e., God’s people
  13. Revelation 5:11 Gr for 10,000s of 10,000s
  14. Revelation 6:1 One early ms and see
  15. Revelation 6:3 One early ms and see
  16. Revelation 6:5 One early ms and see
  17. Revelation 6:6 Gr choenix; i.e., a dry measure almost equal to a qt.
  18. Revelation 6:6 The denarius was a day’s wages for a laborer
  19. Revelation 6:6 Gr choenix; i.e., a dry measure almost equal to a qt.
  20. Revelation 6:6 The denarius was a day’s wages for a laborer
  21. Revelation 6:7 One early ms and see
  22. Revelation 6:8 Or a sickly pale green
  23. Revelation 6:8 Lit death; i.e., a particular kind of death
  24. Revelation 6:10 Or Master
  25. Revelation 6:10 Lit do You not judge and avenge
  26. Revelation 6:16 Lit face
  27. Revelation 7:14 Lit have said
  28. Revelation 7:15 Or sanctuary
  29. Revelation 7:16 Lit fall
  30. Revelation 7:17 Lit waters
  31. Revelation 8:3 Lit give
  32. Revelation 8:3 Lit holy ones; i.e., God’s people
  33. Revelation 8:4 See note 2 v 3
  34. Revelation 8:5 Lit has taken
  35. Revelation 8:5 I.e., container to burn incense
  36. Revelation 8:9 Lit the ones having
  37. Revelation 8:13 Lit one eagle
  38. Revelation 9:3 Lit into
  39. Revelation 9:5 Lit it was given to them
  40. Revelation 9:5 Lit them
  41. Revelation 9:5 Lit strikes
  42. Revelation 9:6 Lit flees (intensive expression)
  43. Revelation 9:7 Lit likenesses
  44. Revelation 9:11 I.e., destruction
  45. Revelation 9:11 I.e., destroyer
  46. Revelation 9:13 Lit one voice
  47. Revelation 9:13 Two early mss do not contain four
  48. Revelation 9:17 I.e., burning sulfur
  49. Revelation 9:17 I.e., burning sulfur
  50. Revelation 9:18 I.e., burning sulfur
  51. Revelation 10:3 Or spoke
  52. Revelation 11:1 Lit reed
  53. Revelation 11:1 Lit saying
  54. Revelation 11:1 Or sanctuary
  55. Revelation 11:2 Lit Throw out
  56. Revelation 11:2 Or sanctuary
  57. Revelation 11:8 I.e., from the viewpoint of the Holy Spirit
  58. Revelation 11:9 Lit body
  59. Revelation 11:9 Lit do not permit
  60. Revelation 11:13 Or in that hour
  61. Revelation 11:13 Lit names of people, seven thousand
  62. Revelation 11:15 I.e., Messiah
  63. Revelation 11:18 Lit give the reward to
  64. Revelation 11:18 Lit holy ones; i.e., God’s people
  65. Revelation 11:19 Or sanctuary
  66. Revelation 11:19 Or sanctuary
  67. Revelation 11:19 Lit hail
  68. Revelation 12:5 Or shepherd
  69. Revelation 12:5 Or Gentiles
  70. Revelation 12:6 Lit they would nourish her for
  71. Revelation 12:9 Lit inhabited earth
  72. Revelation 12:11 Lit to the point of death
  73. Revelation 12:16 Lit And
  74. Revelation 12:17 Lit seed
  75. Revelation 13:1 Lit sea
  76. Revelation 13:3 Lit slaughtered to death
  77. Revelation 13:5 Lit great things
  78. Revelation 13:7 Lit holy ones; i.e., God’s people
  79. Revelation 13:8 Or written in the book...slain from the foundation of the world
  80. Revelation 13:10 Or leads into captivity
  81. Revelation 13:10 Or steadfastness
  82. Revelation 13:10 See note v 7
  83. Revelation 13:12 Or by his authority
  84. Revelation 13:14 Or by the authority of
  85. Revelation 13:15 One early ms speak, and he will cause
  86. Revelation 13:16 Lit so that they give them a mark
  87. Revelation 13:18 Or human
  88. Revelation 13:18 I.e., spelled out in Gr as 600 + 60 + 6; one early ms has the letters for 616
  89. Revelation 14:3 One early ms something like a new song
  90. Revelation 14:6 Lit sit
  91. Revelation 14:8 Lit Babylon...fell, fell, she who
  92. Revelation 14:8 Or wrath (incurred from God)
  93. Revelation 14:10 Lit unmixed; in ancient times wine was usually diluted with water
  94. Revelation 14:10 I.e., burning sulfur
  95. Revelation 14:11 Lit if anyone
  96. Revelation 14:12 Or steadfastness
  97. Revelation 14:12 Lit holy ones; i.e., God’s people
  98. Revelation 14:12 Lit the faith of
  99. Revelation 14:14 Or the Son of Man
  100. Revelation 14:15 Or sanctuary
  101. Revelation 14:15 Lit Send forth
  102. Revelation 14:15 Lit has become dry
  103. Revelation 14:16 Lit cast
  104. Revelation 14:17 Or sanctuary
  105. Revelation 14:18 Lit Send forth
  106. Revelation 14:18 Lit of
  107. Revelation 14:19 Lit cast
  108. Revelation 14:20 Lit from
  109. Revelation 14:20 Possibly about 184 miles or 296 km; a Roman stadion perhaps averaged 607 ft. or 185 m
  110. Revelation 15:2 Lit from
  111. Revelation 15:3 Two early mss ages
  112. Revelation 15:4 Or judgments
  113. Revelation 15:5 Or sanctuary
  114. Revelation 15:6 Or sanctuary
  115. Revelation 15:6 One early ms stone
  116. Revelation 15:8 Or sanctuary
  117. Revelation 15:8 Or sanctuary
  118. Revelation 16:1 Or sanctuary
  119. Revelation 16:2 Lit came upon
  120. Revelation 16:3 Lit soul
  121. Revelation 16:6 Lit are worthy
  122. Revelation 16:9 Lit great
  123. Revelation 16:12 Lit rising of the sun
  124. Revelation 16:14 Lit inhabited earth
  125. Revelation 16:17 Or sanctuary
  126. Revelation 16:19 Lit became three
  127. Revelation 16:19 Or Gentiles
  128. Revelation 16:19 Lit wrath of His anger
  129. Revelation 16:21 Lit hail
  130. Revelation 16:21 I.e., as a measure of weight about 100 lb. or 45 kg
  131. Revelation 16:21 Lit its plague
  132. Revelation 16:21 Lit great
  133. Revelation 17:3 Or in spirit
  134. Revelation 17:4 Lit gilded
  135. Revelation 17:4 Lit stone
  136. Revelation 17:5 Or “MYSTERY...”
  137. Revelation 17:6 Lit holy ones; i.e., God’s people
  138. Revelation 17:6 Lit with great wonder
  139. Revelation 17:7 Lit have you wondered
  140. Revelation 17:8 One early ms is going
  141. Revelation 17:8 Lit be present
  142. Revelation 17:13 Or mind
  143. Revelation 17:17 Or mind
  144. Revelation 17:17 Lit even to do one mind and to give
  145. Revelation 17:18 Lit has a kingdom
  146. Revelation 18:2 Lit Babylon...fell, fell
  147. Revelation 18:2 Or haunt
  148. Revelation 18:2 Or haunt
  149. Revelation 18:3 Lit power
  150. Revelation 18:3 Or sensuality
  151. Revelation 18:5 Lit joined together
  152. Revelation 18:6 Lit double to her
  153. Revelation 18:8 Lit death; i.e., a particular kind of death
  154. Revelation 18:12 Lit stone
  155. Revelation 18:12 Or brass
  156. Revelation 18:13 Gr amomon, an Indian spice plant
  157. Revelation 18:13 Lit bodies
  158. Revelation 18:14 Lit of your soul’s desire
  159. Revelation 18:16 Lit gilded
  160. Revelation 18:16 Lit stone and pearl
  161. Revelation 18:17 Lit one who sails to a place
  162. Revelation 18:17 Lit work the sea
  163. Revelation 18:20 Lit holy ones; i.e., God’s people
  164. Revelation 18:20 Lit judged your judgment of her
  165. Revelation 18:21 Lit one
  166. Revelation 18:24 Lit holy ones; i.e., God’s people
  167. Revelation 19:2 Lit from her hand
  168. Revelation 19:7 Lit wife
  169. Revelation 19:8 Lit holy ones; i.e., God’s people
  170. Revelation 19:10 Lit See that you do not
  171. Revelation 19:15 Or shepherd
  172. Revelation 19:15 Lit wine press of the wine of the wrath of God’s anger
  173. Revelation 19:17 Lit one
  174. Revelation 19:20 Or by his authority
  175. Revelation 19:20 I.e., burning sulfur
  176. Revelation 20:1 Lit upon
  177. Revelation 20:4 Lit the
  178. Revelation 20:8 Lit sea
  179. Revelation 20:9 Lit breadth of the earth
  180. Revelation 20:9 Lit holy ones; i.e., God’s people
  181. Revelation 20:10 I.e., burning sulfur
  182. Revelation 20:11 Lit face
  183. Revelation 20:12 Or scrolls
  184. Revelation 20:12 Or scroll
  185. Revelation 20:12 Or scrolls
  186. Revelation 20:15 Lit anyone was not
  187. Revelation 21:3 Lit peoples
  188. Revelation 21:3 One early ms adds, as their God
  189. Revelation 21:6 Lit They are
  190. Revelation 21:8 Or untrustworthy
  191. Revelation 21:8 I.e., burning sulfur
  192. Revelation 21:9 Lit who were full; i.e., (previously) loaded with
  193. Revelation 21:10 Or in spirit
  194. Revelation 21:11 Or radiance
  195. Revelation 21:12 Lit having
  196. Revelation 21:12 Lit having
  197. Revelation 21:15 Lit measure, a gold reed
  198. Revelation 21:16 Lit reed
  199. Revelation 21:16 Possibly about 1,380 miles or 2,220 km; a Roman stadion perhaps averaged 607 ft. or 185 m
  200. Revelation 21:17 Possibly about 216 ft. or 65 m; a cubit is about 18 in. or 45 cm
  201. Revelation 21:17 Lit measure
  202. Revelation 21:18 Lit pure
  203. Revelation 21:22 Or sanctuary
  204. Revelation 21:22 Or sanctuary
  205. Revelation 21:24 Lit bring
  206. Revelation 21:27 Lit who have been written
  207. Revelation 22:1 Lit bright
  208. Revelation 22:1 Or the Lamb. In the middle of its street, and on either side of the river, was
  209. Revelation 22:2 Or crops of fruit
  210. Revelation 22:5 Lit do not have
  211. Revelation 22:7 Or follows
  212. Revelation 22:9 Lit See that you do not
  213. Revelation 22:9 Or follows
  214. Revelation 22:12 Lit is
  215. Revelation 22:16 Or concerning
  216. Revelation 22:19 Lit out of
  217. Revelation 22:21 One early ms the saints

The Throne in Heaven

After this I looked, and there before me was a door standing open(A) in heaven. And the voice I had first heard speaking to me like a trumpet(B) said, “Come up here,(C) and I will show you what must take place after this.”(D) At once I was in the Spirit,(E) and there before me was a throne in heaven(F) with someone sitting on it. And the one who sat there had the appearance of jasper(G) and ruby.(H) A rainbow(I) that shone like an emerald(J) encircled the throne. Surrounding the throne were twenty-four other thrones, and seated on them were twenty-four elders.(K) They were dressed in white(L) and had crowns of gold on their heads. From the throne came flashes of lightning, rumblings and peals of thunder.(M) In front of the throne, seven lamps(N) were blazing. These are the seven spirits[a](O) of God. Also in front of the throne there was what looked like a sea of glass,(P) clear as crystal.

In the center, around the throne, were four living creatures,(Q) and they were covered with eyes, in front and in back.(R) The first living creature was like a lion, the second was like an ox, the third had a face like a man, the fourth was like a flying eagle.(S) Each of the four living creatures(T) had six wings(U) and was covered with eyes all around,(V) even under its wings. Day and night(W) they never stop saying:

“‘Holy, holy, holy

is the Lord God Almighty,’[b](X)

who was, and is, and is to come.”(Y)

Whenever the living creatures give glory, honor and thanks to him who sits on the throne(Z) and who lives for ever and ever,(AA) 10 the twenty-four elders(AB) fall down before him(AC) who sits on the throne(AD) and worship him who lives for ever and ever. They lay their crowns before the throne and say:

11 “You are worthy, our Lord and God,
    to receive glory and honor and power,(AE)
for you created all things,
    and by your will they were created
    and have their being.”(AF)

The Scroll and the Lamb

Then I saw in the right hand of him who sat on the throne(AG) a scroll with writing on both sides(AH) and sealed(AI) with seven seals. And I saw a mighty angel(AJ) proclaiming in a loud voice, “Who is worthy to break the seals and open the scroll?” But no one in heaven or on earth or under the earth could open the scroll or even look inside it. I wept and wept because no one was found who was worthy to open the scroll or look inside. Then one of the elders said to me, “Do not weep! See, the Lion(AK) of the tribe of Judah,(AL) the Root of David,(AM) has triumphed. He is able to open the scroll and its seven seals.”

Then I saw a Lamb,(AN) looking as if it had been slain, standing at the center of the throne, encircled by the four living creatures(AO) and the elders.(AP) The Lamb had seven horns and seven eyes,(AQ) which are the seven spirits[c](AR) of God sent out into all the earth. He went and took the scroll from the right hand of him who sat on the throne.(AS) And when he had taken it, the four living creatures(AT) and the twenty-four elders(AU) fell down before the Lamb. Each one had a harp(AV) and they were holding golden bowls full of incense, which are the prayers(AW) of God’s people. And they sang a new song, saying:(AX)

“You are worthy(AY) to take the scroll
    and to open its seals,
because you were slain,
    and with your blood(AZ) you purchased(BA) for God
    persons from every tribe and language and people and nation.(BB)
10 You have made them to be a kingdom and priests(BC) to serve our God,
    and they will reign[d] on the earth.”(BD)

11 Then I looked and heard the voice of many angels, numbering thousands upon thousands, and ten thousand times ten thousand.(BE) They encircled the throne and the living creatures(BF) and the elders.(BG) 12 In a loud voice they were saying:

“Worthy is the Lamb,(BH) who was slain,(BI)
    to receive power and wealth and wisdom and strength
    and honor and glory and praise!”(BJ)

13 Then I heard every creature in heaven and on earth and under the earth(BK) and on the sea, and all that is in them, saying:

“To him who sits on the throne(BL) and to the Lamb(BM)
    be praise and honor and glory and power,
for ever and ever!”(BN)

14 The four living creatures(BO) said, “Amen,”(BP) and the elders(BQ) fell down and worshiped.(BR)

The Seals

I watched as the Lamb(BS) opened the first of the seven seals.(BT) Then I heard one of the four living creatures(BU) say in a voice like thunder,(BV) “Come!” I looked, and there before me was a white horse!(BW) Its rider held a bow, and he was given a crown,(BX) and he rode out as a conqueror bent on conquest.(BY)

When the Lamb opened the second seal, I heard the second living creature(BZ) say, “Come!” Then another horse came out, a fiery red one.(CA) Its rider was given power to take peace from the earth(CB) and to make people kill each other. To him was given a large sword.

When the Lamb opened the third seal, I heard the third living creature(CC) say, “Come!” I looked, and there before me was a black horse!(CD) Its rider was holding a pair of scales in his hand. Then I heard what sounded like a voice among the four living creatures,(CE) saying, “Two pounds[e] of wheat for a day’s wages,[f] and six pounds[g] of barley for a day’s wages,[h](CF) and do not damage(CG) the oil and the wine!”

When the Lamb opened the fourth seal, I heard the voice of the fourth living creature(CH) say, “Come!” I looked, and there before me was a pale horse!(CI) Its rider was named Death, and Hades(CJ) was following close behind him. They were given power over a fourth of the earth to kill by sword, famine and plague, and by the wild beasts of the earth.(CK)

When he opened the fifth seal, I saw under(CL) the altar(CM) the souls of those who had been slain(CN) because of the word of God(CO) and the testimony they had maintained. 10 They called out in a loud voice, “How long,(CP) Sovereign Lord,(CQ) holy and true,(CR) until you judge the inhabitants of the earth(CS) and avenge our blood?”(CT) 11 Then each of them was given a white robe,(CU) and they were told to wait a little longer, until the full number of their fellow servants, their brothers and sisters,[i] were killed just as they had been.(CV)

12 I watched as he opened the sixth seal. There was a great earthquake.(CW) The sun turned black(CX) like sackcloth(CY) made of goat hair, the whole moon turned blood red, 13 and the stars in the sky fell to earth,(CZ) as figs drop from a fig tree(DA) when shaken by a strong wind. 14 The heavens receded like a scroll being rolled up,(DB) and every mountain and island was removed from its place.(DC)

15 Then the kings of the earth, the princes, the generals, the rich, the mighty, and everyone else, both slave and free,(DD) hid in caves and among the rocks of the mountains.(DE) 16 They called to the mountains and the rocks, “Fall on us(DF) and hide us[j] from the face of him who sits on the throne(DG) and from the wrath of the Lamb! 17 For the great day(DH) of their[k] wrath has come, and who can withstand it?”(DI)

144,000 Sealed

After this I saw four angels standing at the four corners(DJ) of the earth, holding back the four winds(DK) of the earth to prevent(DL) any wind from blowing on the land or on the sea or on any tree. Then I saw another angel coming up from the east, having the seal(DM) of the living God.(DN) He called out in a loud voice to the four angels who had been given power to harm the land and the sea:(DO) “Do not harm(DP) the land or the sea or the trees until we put a seal on the foreheads(DQ) of the servants of our God.” Then I heard the number(DR) of those who were sealed: 144,000(DS) from all the tribes of Israel.

From the tribe of Judah 12,000 were sealed,

from the tribe of Reuben 12,000,

from the tribe of Gad 12,000,

from the tribe of Asher 12,000,

from the tribe of Naphtali 12,000,

from the tribe of Manasseh 12,000,

from the tribe of Simeon 12,000,

from the tribe of Levi 12,000,

from the tribe of Issachar 12,000,

from the tribe of Zebulun 12,000,

from the tribe of Joseph 12,000,

from the tribe of Benjamin 12,000.

The Great Multitude in White Robes

After this I looked, and there before me was a great multitude that no one could count, from every nation, tribe, people and language,(DT) standing before the throne(DU) and before the Lamb. They were wearing white robes(DV) and were holding palm branches in their hands. 10 And they cried out in a loud voice:

“Salvation belongs to our God,(DW)
who sits on the throne,(DX)
and to the Lamb.”

11 All the angels were standing around the throne and around the elders(DY) and the four living creatures.(DZ) They fell down on their faces(EA) before the throne and worshiped God, 12 saying:

“Amen!
Praise and glory
and wisdom and thanks and honor
and power and strength
be to our God for ever and ever.
Amen!”(EB)

13 Then one of the elders asked me, “These in white robes(EC)—who are they, and where did they come from?”

14 I answered, “Sir, you know.”

And he said, “These are they who have come out of the great tribulation; they have washed their robes(ED) and made them white in the blood of the Lamb.(EE) 15 Therefore,

“they are before the throne of God(EF)
    and serve him(EG) day and night in his temple;(EH)
and he who sits on the throne(EI)
    will shelter them with his presence.(EJ)
16 ‘Never again will they hunger;
    never again will they thirst.(EK)
The sun will not beat down on them,’[l]
    nor any scorching heat.(EL)
17 For the Lamb at the center of the throne
    will be their shepherd;(EM)
‘he will lead them to springs of living water.’[m](EN)
    ‘And God will wipe away every tear from their eyes.’[n](EO)

The Seventh Seal and the Golden Censer

When he opened the seventh seal,(EP) there was silence in heaven for about half an hour.

And I saw the seven angels(EQ) who stand before God, and seven trumpets were given to them.(ER)

Another angel,(ES) who had a golden censer, came and stood at the altar. He was given much incense to offer, with the prayers of all God’s people,(ET) on the golden altar(EU) in front of the throne. The smoke of the incense, together with the prayers of God’s people, went up before God(EV) from the angel’s hand. Then the angel took the censer, filled it with fire from the altar,(EW) and hurled it on the earth; and there came peals of thunder,(EX) rumblings, flashes of lightning and an earthquake.(EY)

The Trumpets

Then the seven angels who had the seven trumpets(EZ) prepared to sound them.

The first angel(FA) sounded his trumpet, and there came hail and fire(FB) mixed with blood, and it was hurled down on the earth. A third(FC) of the earth was burned up, a third of the trees were burned up, and all the green grass was burned up.(FD)

The second angel sounded his trumpet, and something like a huge mountain,(FE) all ablaze, was thrown into the sea. A third(FF) of the sea turned into blood,(FG) a third(FH) of the living creatures in the sea died, and a third of the ships were destroyed.

10 The third angel sounded his trumpet, and a great star, blazing like a torch, fell from the sky(FI) on a third of the rivers and on the springs of water(FJ) 11 the name of the star is Wormwood.[o] A third(FK) of the waters turned bitter, and many people died from the waters that had become bitter.(FL)

12 The fourth angel sounded his trumpet, and a third of the sun was struck, a third of the moon, and a third of the stars, so that a third(FM) of them turned dark.(FN) A third of the day was without light, and also a third of the night.(FO)

13 As I watched, I heard an eagle that was flying in midair(FP) call out in a loud voice: “Woe! Woe! Woe(FQ) to the inhabitants of the earth,(FR) because of the trumpet blasts about to be sounded by the other three angels!”

The fifth angel sounded his trumpet, and I saw a star that had fallen from the sky to the earth.(FS) The star was given the key(FT) to the shaft of the Abyss.(FU) When he opened the Abyss, smoke rose from it like the smoke from a gigantic furnace.(FV) The sun and sky were darkened(FW) by the smoke from the Abyss.(FX) And out of the smoke locusts(FY) came down on the earth and were given power like that of scorpions(FZ) of the earth. They were told not to harm(GA) the grass of the earth or any plant or tree,(GB) but only those people who did not have the seal of God on their foreheads.(GC) They were not allowed to kill them but only to torture them for five months.(GD) And the agony they suffered was like that of the sting of a scorpion(GE) when it strikes. During those days people will seek death but will not find it; they will long to die, but death will elude them.(GF)

The locusts looked like horses prepared for battle.(GG) On their heads they wore something like crowns of gold, and their faces resembled human faces.(GH) Their hair was like women’s hair, and their teeth were like lions’ teeth.(GI) They had breastplates like breastplates of iron, and the sound of their wings was like the thundering of many horses and chariots rushing into battle.(GJ) 10 They had tails with stingers, like scorpions, and in their tails they had power to torment people for five months.(GK) 11 They had as king over them the angel of the Abyss,(GL) whose name in Hebrew(GM) is Abaddon(GN) and in Greek is Apollyon (that is, Destroyer).

12 The first woe is past; two other woes are yet to come.(GO)

13 The sixth angel sounded his trumpet, and I heard a voice coming from the four horns(GP) of the golden altar that is before God.(GQ) 14 It said to the sixth angel who had the trumpet, “Release the four angels(GR) who are bound at the great river Euphrates.”(GS) 15 And the four angels who had been kept ready for this very hour and day and month and year were released(GT) to kill a third(GU) of mankind.(GV) 16 The number of the mounted troops was twice ten thousand times ten thousand. I heard their number.(GW)

17 The horses and riders I saw in my vision looked like this: Their breastplates were fiery red, dark blue, and yellow as sulfur. The heads of the horses resembled the heads of lions, and out of their mouths(GX) came fire, smoke and sulfur.(GY) 18 A third(GZ) of mankind was killed(HA) by the three plagues of fire, smoke and sulfur(HB) that came out of their mouths. 19 The power of the horses was in their mouths and in their tails; for their tails were like snakes, having heads with which they inflict injury.

20 The rest of mankind who were not killed by these plagues still did not repent(HC) of the work of their hands;(HD) they did not stop worshiping demons,(HE) and idols of gold, silver, bronze, stone and wood—idols that cannot see or hear or walk.(HF) 21 Nor did they repent(HG) of their murders, their magic arts,(HH) their sexual immorality(HI) or their thefts.

The Angel and the Little Scroll

10 Then I saw another mighty angel(HJ) coming down from heaven.(HK) He was robed in a cloud, with a rainbow(HL) above his head; his face was like the sun,(HM) and his legs were like fiery pillars.(HN) He was holding a little scroll,(HO) which lay open in his hand. He planted his right foot on the sea and his left foot on the land,(HP) and he gave a loud shout like the roar of a lion.(HQ) When he shouted, the voices of the seven thunders(HR) spoke. And when the seven thunders spoke, I was about to write;(HS) but I heard a voice from heaven(HT) say, “Seal up what the seven thunders have said and do not write it down.”(HU)

Then the angel I had seen standing on the sea and on the land(HV) raised his right hand to heaven.(HW) And he swore(HX) by him who lives for ever and ever,(HY) who created the heavens and all that is in them, the earth and all that is in it, and the sea and all that is in it,(HZ) and said, “There will be no more delay!(IA) But in the days when the seventh angel is about to sound his trumpet,(IB) the mystery(IC) of God will be accomplished, just as he announced to his servants the prophets.”(ID)

Then the voice that I had heard from heaven(IE) spoke to me once more: “Go, take the scroll(IF) that lies open in the hand of the angel who is standing on the sea and on the land.”

So I went to the angel and asked him to give me the little scroll. He said to me, “Take it and eat it. It will turn your stomach sour, but ‘in your mouth it will be as sweet as honey.’[p](IG) 10 I took the little scroll from the angel’s hand and ate it. It tasted as sweet as honey in my mouth,(IH) but when I had eaten it, my stomach turned sour. 11 Then I was told, “You must prophesy(II) again about many peoples, nations, languages and kings.”(IJ)

The Two Witnesses

11 I was given a reed like a measuring rod(IK) and was told, “Go and measure the temple of God and the altar, with its worshipers. But exclude the outer court;(IL) do not measure it, because it has been given to the Gentiles.(IM) They will trample on the holy city(IN) for 42 months.(IO) And I will appoint my two witnesses,(IP) and they will prophesy for 1,260 days,(IQ) clothed in sackcloth.”(IR) They are “the two olive trees”(IS) and the two lampstands, and “they stand before the Lord of the earth.”[q](IT) If anyone tries to harm them, fire comes from their mouths and devours their enemies.(IU) This is how anyone who wants to harm them must die.(IV) They have power to shut up the heavens(IW) so that it will not rain during the time they are prophesying;(IX) and they have power to turn the waters into blood(IY) and to strike the earth with every kind of plague as often as they want.

Now when they have finished their testimony, the beast(IZ) that comes up from the Abyss(JA) will attack them,(JB) and overpower and kill them. Their bodies will lie in the public square of the great city(JC)—which is figuratively called Sodom(JD) and Egypt—where also their Lord was crucified.(JE) For three and a half days some from every people, tribe, language and nation(JF) will gaze on their bodies and refuse them burial.(JG) 10 The inhabitants of the earth(JH) will gloat over them and will celebrate by sending each other gifts,(JI) because these two prophets had tormented those who live on the earth.

11 But after the three and a half days(JJ) the breath[r] of life from God entered them,(JK) and they stood on their feet, and terror struck those who saw them. 12 Then they heard a loud voice from heaven saying to them, “Come up here.”(JL) And they went up to heaven in a cloud,(JM) while their enemies looked on.

13 At that very hour there was a severe earthquake(JN) and a tenth of the city collapsed. Seven thousand people were killed in the earthquake, and the survivors were terrified and gave glory(JO) to the God of heaven.(JP)

14 The second woe has passed; the third woe is coming soon.(JQ)

The Seventh Trumpet

15 The seventh angel sounded his trumpet,(JR) and there were loud voices(JS) in heaven, which said:

“The kingdom of the world has become
    the kingdom of our Lord and of his Messiah,(JT)
    and he will reign for ever and ever.”(JU)

16 And the twenty-four elders,(JV) who were seated on their thrones before God, fell on their faces(JW) and worshiped God, 17 saying:

“We give thanks(JX) to you, Lord God Almighty,(JY)
    the One who is and who was,(JZ)
because you have taken your great power
    and have begun to reign.(KA)
18 The nations were angry,(KB)
    and your wrath has come.
The time has come for judging the dead,(KC)
    and for rewarding your servants the prophets(KD)
and your people who revere your name,
    both great and small(KE)
and for destroying those who destroy the earth.”

19 Then God’s temple(KF) in heaven was opened, and within his temple was seen the ark of his covenant.(KG) And there came flashes of lightning, rumblings, peals of thunder,(KH) an earthquake and a severe hailstorm.(KI)

The Woman and the Dragon

12 A great sign(KJ) appeared in heaven:(KK) a woman clothed with the sun, with the moon under her feet and a crown of twelve stars(KL) on her head. She was pregnant and cried out in pain(KM) as she was about to give birth. Then another sign appeared in heaven:(KN) an enormous red dragon(KO) with seven heads(KP) and ten horns(KQ) and seven crowns(KR) on its heads. Its tail swept a third(KS) of the stars out of the sky and flung them to the earth.(KT) The dragon stood in front of the woman who was about to give birth, so that it might devour her child(KU) the moment he was born. She gave birth to a son, a male child, who “will rule all the nations with an iron scepter.”[s](KV) And her child was snatched up(KW) to God and to his throne. The woman fled into the wilderness to a place prepared for her by God, where she might be taken care of for 1,260 days.(KX)

Then war broke out in heaven. Michael(KY) and his angels fought against the dragon,(KZ) and the dragon and his angels(LA) fought back. But he was not strong enough, and they lost their place in heaven. The great dragon was hurled down—that ancient serpent(LB) called the devil,(LC) or Satan,(LD) who leads the whole world astray.(LE) He was hurled to the earth,(LF) and his angels with him.

10 Then I heard a loud voice in heaven(LG) say:

“Now have come the salvation(LH) and the power
    and the kingdom of our God,
    and the authority of his Messiah.
For the accuser of our brothers and sisters,(LI)
    who accuses them before our God day and night,
    has been hurled down.
11 They triumphed over(LJ) him
    by the blood of the Lamb(LK)
    and by the word of their testimony;(LL)
they did not love their lives so much
    as to shrink from death.(LM)
12 Therefore rejoice, you heavens(LN)
    and you who dwell in them!
But woe(LO) to the earth and the sea,(LP)
    because the devil has gone down to you!
He is filled with fury,
    because he knows that his time is short.”

13 When the dragon(LQ) saw that he had been hurled to the earth, he pursued the woman who had given birth to the male child.(LR) 14 The woman was given the two wings of a great eagle,(LS) so that she might fly to the place prepared for her in the wilderness, where she would be taken care of for a time, times and half a time,(LT) out of the serpent’s reach. 15 Then from his mouth the serpent(LU) spewed water like a river, to overtake the woman and sweep her away with the torrent. 16 But the earth helped the woman by opening its mouth and swallowing the river that the dragon had spewed out of his mouth. 17 Then the dragon was enraged at the woman and went off to wage war(LV) against the rest of her offspring(LW)—those who keep God’s commands(LX) and hold fast their testimony about Jesus.(LY)

The Beast out of the Sea

13 The dragon[t] stood on the shore of the sea. And I saw a beast coming out of the sea.(LZ) It had ten horns and seven heads,(MA) with ten crowns on its horns, and on each head a blasphemous name.(MB) The beast I saw resembled a leopard,(MC) but had feet like those of a bear(MD) and a mouth like that of a lion.(ME) The dragon gave the beast his power and his throne and great authority.(MF) One of the heads of the beast seemed to have had a fatal wound, but the fatal wound had been healed.(MG) The whole world was filled with wonder(MH) and followed the beast. People worshiped the dragon because he had given authority to the beast, and they also worshiped the beast and asked, “Who is like(MI) the beast? Who can wage war against it?”

The beast was given a mouth to utter proud words and blasphemies(MJ) and to exercise its authority for forty-two months.(MK) It opened its mouth to blaspheme God, and to slander his name and his dwelling place and those who live in heaven.(ML) It was given power to wage war(MM) against God’s holy people and to conquer them. And it was given authority over every tribe, people, language and nation.(MN) All inhabitants of the earth(MO) will worship the beast—all whose names have not been written in the Lamb’s book of life,(MP) the Lamb(MQ) who was slain from the creation of the world.[u](MR)

Whoever has ears, let them hear.(MS)

10 “If anyone is to go into captivity,
    into captivity they will go.
If anyone is to be killed[v] with the sword,
    with the sword they will be killed.”[w](MT)

This calls for patient endurance and faithfulness(MU) on the part of God’s people.(MV)

The Beast out of the Earth

11 Then I saw a second beast, coming out of the earth.(MW) It had two horns like a lamb, but it spoke like a dragon.(MX) 12 It exercised all the authority(MY) of the first beast on its behalf,(MZ) and made the earth and its inhabitants worship the first beast,(NA) whose fatal wound had been healed.(NB) 13 And it performed great signs,(NC) even causing fire to come down from heaven(ND) to the earth in full view of the people. 14 Because of the signs(NE) it was given power to perform on behalf of the first beast, it deceived(NF) the inhabitants of the earth.(NG) It ordered them to set up an image in honor of the beast who was wounded by the sword and yet lived.(NH) 15 The second beast was given power to give breath to the image of the first beast, so that the image could speak and cause all who refused to worship(NI) the image to be killed.(NJ) 16 It also forced all people, great and small,(NK) rich and poor, free and slave, to receive a mark on their right hands or on their foreheads,(NL) 17 so that they could not buy or sell unless they had the mark,(NM) which is the name of the beast or the number of its name.(NN)

18 This calls for wisdom.(NO) Let the person who has insight calculate the number of the beast, for it is the number of a man.[x](NP) That number is 666.

The Lamb and the 144,000

14 Then I looked, and there before me was the Lamb,(NQ) standing on Mount Zion,(NR) and with him 144,000(NS) who had his name and his Father’s name(NT) written on their foreheads.(NU) And I heard a sound from heaven like the roar of rushing waters(NV) and like a loud peal of thunder.(NW) The sound I heard was like that of harpists playing their harps.(NX) And they sang a new song(NY) before the throne and before the four living creatures(NZ) and the elders.(OA) No one could learn the song except the 144,000(OB) who had been redeemed from the earth. These are those who did not defile themselves with women, for they remained virgins.(OC) They follow the Lamb wherever he goes.(OD) They were purchased from among mankind(OE) and offered as firstfruits(OF) to God and the Lamb. No lie was found in their mouths;(OG) they are blameless.(OH)

The Three Angels

Then I saw another angel flying in midair,(OI) and he had the eternal gospel to proclaim to those who live on the earth(OJ)—to every nation, tribe, language and people.(OK) He said in a loud voice, “Fear God(OL) and give him glory,(OM) because the hour of his judgment has come. Worship him who made(ON) the heavens, the earth, the sea and the springs of water.”(OO)

A second angel followed and said, “‘Fallen! Fallen is Babylon the Great,’[y](OP) which made all the nations drink the maddening wine of her adulteries.”(OQ)

A third angel followed them and said in a loud voice: “If anyone worships the beast(OR) and its image(OS) and receives its mark on their forehead(OT) or on their hand, 10 they, too, will drink the wine of God’s fury,(OU) which has been poured full strength into the cup of his wrath.(OV) They will be tormented with burning sulfur(OW) in the presence of the holy angels and of the Lamb. 11 And the smoke of their torment will rise for ever and ever.(OX) There will be no rest day or night(OY) for those who worship the beast and its image,(OZ) or for anyone who receives the mark of its name.”(PA) 12 This calls for patient endurance(PB) on the part of the people of God(PC) who keep his commands(PD) and remain faithful to Jesus.

13 Then I heard a voice from heaven say, “Write this: Blessed are the dead who die in the Lord(PE) from now on.”

“Yes,” says the Spirit,(PF) “they will rest from their labor, for their deeds will follow them.”

Harvesting the Earth and Trampling the Winepress

14 I looked, and there before me was a white cloud,(PG) and seated on the cloud was one like a son of man[z](PH) with a crown(PI) of gold on his head and a sharp sickle in his hand. 15 Then another angel came out of the temple(PJ) and called in a loud voice to him who was sitting on the cloud, “Take your sickle(PK) and reap, because the time to reap has come, for the harvest(PL) of the earth is ripe.” 16 So he who was seated on the cloud swung his sickle over the earth, and the earth was harvested.

17 Another angel came out of the temple in heaven, and he too had a sharp sickle.(PM) 18 Still another angel, who had charge of the fire, came from the altar(PN) and called in a loud voice to him who had the sharp sickle, “Take your sharp sickle(PO) and gather the clusters of grapes from the earth’s vine, because its grapes are ripe.” 19 The angel swung his sickle on the earth, gathered its grapes and threw them into the great winepress of God’s wrath.(PP) 20 They were trampled in the winepress(PQ) outside the city,(PR) and blood(PS) flowed out of the press, rising as high as the horses’ bridles for a distance of 1,600 stadia.[aa]

Seven Angels With Seven Plagues

15 I saw in heaven another great and marvelous sign:(PT) seven angels(PU) with the seven last plagues(PV)—last, because with them God’s wrath is completed. And I saw what looked like a sea of glass(PW) glowing with fire and, standing beside the sea, those who had been victorious(PX) over the beast(PY) and its image(PZ) and over the number of its name.(QA) They held harps(QB) given them by God and sang the song of God’s servant(QC) Moses(QD) and of the Lamb:(QE)

“Great and marvelous are your deeds,(QF)
    Lord God Almighty.(QG)
Just and true are your ways,(QH)
    King of the nations.[ab]
Who will not fear you, Lord,(QI)
    and bring glory to your name?(QJ)
For you alone are holy.
All nations will come
    and worship before you,(QK)
for your righteous acts(QL) have been revealed.”[ac]

After this I looked, and I saw in heaven the temple(QM)—that is, the tabernacle of the covenant law(QN)—and it was opened.(QO) Out of the temple(QP) came the seven angels with the seven plagues.(QQ) They were dressed in clean, shining linen(QR) and wore golden sashes around their chests.(QS) Then one of the four living creatures(QT) gave to the seven angels(QU) seven golden bowls filled with the wrath of God, who lives for ever and ever.(QV) And the temple was filled with smoke(QW) from the glory of God and from his power, and no one could enter the temple(QX) until the seven plagues of the seven angels were completed.

The Seven Bowls of God’s Wrath

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

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

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.(RE)

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

“You are just in these judgments,(RH) O Holy One,(RI)
    you who are and who were;(RJ)
for they have shed the blood of your holy people and your prophets,(RK)
    and you have given them blood to drink(RL) as they deserve.”

And I heard the altar(RM) respond:

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

The fourth angel(RP) poured out his bowl on the sun,(RQ) and the sun was allowed to scorch people with fire.(RR) They were seared by the intense heat and they cursed the name of God,(RS) who had control over these plagues, but they refused to repent(RT) and glorify him.(RU)

10 The fifth angel poured out his bowl on the throne of the beast,(RV) and its kingdom was plunged into darkness.(RW) People gnawed their tongues in agony 11 and cursed(RX) the God of heaven(RY) because of their pains and their sores,(RZ) but they refused to repent of what they had done.(SA)

12 The sixth angel poured out his bowl on the great river Euphrates,(SB) and its water was dried up to prepare the way(SC) for the kings from the East.(SD) 13 Then I saw three impure spirits(SE) that looked like frogs;(SF) they came out of the mouth of the dragon,(SG) out of the mouth of the beast(SH) and out of the mouth of the false prophet.(SI) 14 They are demonic spirits(SJ) that perform signs,(SK) and they go out to the kings of the whole world,(SL) to gather them for the battle(SM) on the great day(SN) of God Almighty.

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

16 Then they gathered the kings together(SR) to the place that in Hebrew(SS) is called Armageddon.(ST)

17 The seventh angel poured out his bowl into the air,(SU) and out of the temple(SV) came a loud voice(SW) from the throne, saying, “It is done!”(SX) 18 Then there came flashes of lightning, rumblings, peals of thunder(SY) and a severe earthquake.(SZ) No earthquake like it has ever occurred since mankind has been on earth,(TA) so tremendous was the quake. 19 The great city(TB) split into three parts, and the cities of the nations collapsed. God remembered(TC) Babylon the Great(TD) and gave her the cup filled with the wine of the fury of his wrath.(TE) 20 Every island fled away and the mountains could not be found.(TF) 21 From the sky huge hailstones,(TG) each weighing about a hundred pounds,[ad] fell on people. And they cursed God(TH) on account of the plague of hail,(TI) because the plague was so terrible.

Babylon, the Prostitute on the Beast

17 One of the seven angels(TJ) who had the seven bowls(TK) came and said to me, “Come, I will show you the punishment(TL) of the great prostitute,(TM) who sits by many waters.(TN) With her the kings of the earth committed adultery, and the inhabitants of the earth were intoxicated with the wine of her adulteries.”(TO)

Then the angel carried me away in the Spirit(TP) into a wilderness.(TQ) There I saw a woman sitting on a scarlet(TR) beast that was covered with blasphemous names(TS) and had seven heads and ten horns.(TT) The woman was dressed in purple and scarlet, and was glittering with gold, precious stones and pearls.(TU) She held a golden cup(TV) in her hand, filled with abominable things and the filth of her adulteries.(TW) The name written on her forehead was a mystery:(TX)

babylon the great(TY)

the mother of prostitutes(TZ)

and of the abominations of the earth.

I saw that the woman was drunk with the blood of God’s holy people,(UA) 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(UB) of the woman and of the beast she rides, which has the seven heads and ten horns.(UC) The beast, which you saw, once was, now is not, and yet will come up out of the Abyss(UD) and go to its destruction.(UE) The inhabitants of the earth(UF) whose names have not been written in the book of life(UG) from the creation of the world will be astonished(UH) when they see the beast, because it once was, now is not, and yet will come.

“This calls for a mind with wisdom.(UI) The seven heads(UJ) 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,(UK) is an eighth king. He belongs to the seven and is going to his destruction.

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

15 Then the angel said to me, “The waters(US) you saw, where the prostitute sits, are peoples, multitudes, nations and languages.(UT) 16 The beast and the ten horns(UU) you saw will hate the prostitute.(UV) They will bring her to ruin(UW) and leave her naked;(UX) they will eat her flesh(UY) and burn her with fire.(UZ) 17 For God has put it into their hearts(VA) to accomplish his purpose by agreeing to hand over to the beast their royal authority,(VB) until God’s words are fulfilled.(VC) 18 The woman you saw is the great city(VD) that rules over the kings of the earth.”

Lament Over Fallen Babylon

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

“‘Fallen! Fallen is Babylon the Great!’[ae](VH)
    She has become a dwelling for demons
and a haunt for every impure spirit,(VI)
    a haunt for every unclean bird,
    a haunt for every unclean and detestable animal.(VJ)
For all the nations have drunk
    the maddening wine of her adulteries.(VK)
The kings of the earth committed adultery with her,(VL)
    and the merchants of the earth grew rich(VM) from her excessive luxuries.”(VN)

Warning to Escape Babylon’s Judgment

Then I heard another voice from heaven say:

“‘Come out of her, my people,’[af](VO)
    so that you will not share in her sins,
    so that you will not receive any of her plagues;(VP)
for her sins are piled up to heaven,(VQ)
    and God has remembered(VR) her crimes.
Give back to her as she has given;
    pay her back(VS) double(VT) for what she has done.
    Pour her a double portion from her own cup.(VU)
Give her as much torment and grief
    as the glory and luxury she gave herself.(VV)
In her heart she boasts,
    ‘I sit enthroned as queen.
I am not a widow;[ag]
    I will never mourn.’(VW)
Therefore in one day(VX) her plagues will overtake her:
    death, mourning and famine.
She will be consumed by fire,(VY)
    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(VZ) and shared her luxury(WA) see the smoke of her burning,(WB) they will weep and mourn over her.(WC) 10 Terrified at her torment, they will stand far off(WD) and cry:

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

11 “The merchants(WG) of the earth will weep and mourn(WH) over her because no one buys their cargoes anymore(WI) 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;(WJ) 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.(WK)

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(WL) will stand far off,(WM) terrified at her torment. They will weep and mourn(WN) 16 and cry out:

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

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

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

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

The Finality of Babylon’s Doom

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

“With such violence
    the great city(XF) 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.(XG)
No worker of any trade
    will ever be found in you again.
The sound of a millstone
    will never be heard in you again.(XH)
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.(XI)
Your merchants were the world’s important people.(XJ)
    By your magic spell(XK) all the nations were led astray.
24 In her was found the blood of prophets and of God’s holy people,(XL)
    of all who have been slaughtered on the earth.”(XM)

Threefold Hallelujah Over Babylon’s Fall

19 After this I heard what sounded like the roar of a great multitude(XN) in heaven shouting:

“Hallelujah!(XO)
Salvation(XP) and glory and power(XQ) belong to our God,

Footnotes

  1. Revelation 4:5 That is, the sevenfold Spirit
  2. Revelation 4:8 Isaiah 6:3
  3. Revelation 5:6 That is, the sevenfold Spirit
  4. Revelation 5:10 Some manuscripts they reign
  5. Revelation 6:6 Or about 1 kilogram
  6. Revelation 6:6 Greek a denarius
  7. Revelation 6:6 Or about 3 kilograms
  8. Revelation 6:6 Greek a denarius
  9. Revelation 6:11 The Greek word for brothers and sisters (adelphoi) refers here to believers, both men and women, as part of God’s family; also in 12:10; 19:10.
  10. Revelation 6:16 See Hosea 10:8.
  11. Revelation 6:17 Some manuscripts his
  12. Revelation 7:16 Isaiah 49:10
  13. Revelation 7:17 Isaiah 49:10
  14. Revelation 7:17 Isaiah 25:8
  15. Revelation 8:11 Wormwood is a bitter substance.
  16. Revelation 10:9 Ezek. 3:3
  17. Revelation 11:4 See Zech. 4:3,11,14.
  18. Revelation 11:11 Or Spirit (see Ezek. 37:5,14)
  19. Revelation 12:5 Psalm 2:9
  20. Revelation 13:1 Some manuscripts And I
  21. Revelation 13:8 Or written from the creation of the world in the book of life belonging to the Lamb who was slain
  22. Revelation 13:10 Some manuscripts anyone kills
  23. Revelation 13:10 Jer. 15:2
  24. Revelation 13:18 Or is humanity’s number
  25. Revelation 14:8 Isaiah 21:9
  26. Revelation 14:14 See Daniel 7:13.
  27. Revelation 14:20 That is, about 180 miles or about 300 kilometers
  28. Revelation 15:3 Some manuscripts ages
  29. Revelation 15:4 Phrases in this song are drawn from Psalm 111:2,3; Deut. 32:4; Jer. 10:7; Psalms 86:9; 98:2.
  30. Revelation 16:21 Or about 45 kilograms
  31. Revelation 18:2 Isaiah 21:9
  32. Revelation 18:4 Jer. 51:45
  33. Revelation 18:7 See Isaiah 47:7,8.