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启示录 1-15
Chinese Contemporary Bible (Simplified)
启示录 1-15
Chinese Contemporary Bible (Simplified)
1 以下是上帝赐给耶稣基督的启示，让祂把将来要发生的事指示祂的众奴仆。因此，祂差遣天使告诉祂的奴仆约翰。 2 约翰便为自己所看见的一切——上帝的道和耶稣基督做见证。 3 那位宣读这预言的人和那些听见并遵守其中内容的人有福了，因为日期近了。
问候七教会
4-5 我约翰写信给你们亚细亚的七间教会。愿昔在、今在、以后永在的上帝，祂宝座前的七灵[a]和耶稣基督赐给你们恩典和平安。耶稣基督是忠心的见证人，是首先从死里复活的，是世上君王的首领。祂爱我们，用自己的血救我们脱离罪恶， 6 使我们成为祭司的国度[b]来事奉祂的父上帝。愿祂得到一切荣耀和权柄，一直到永永远远。阿们！
7 看啊！祂要驾云降临，世人都要看见祂，包括曾经刺祂的人。地上的万族都必因祂而哀哭。这事必定实现。阿们！
8 主上帝说：“我是阿拉法，我是俄梅加[c]，我是昔在、今在、以后永在的全能者。”
基督的显现
9 我约翰是你们的弟兄，在耶稣里和你们患难与共、同享国度、一起忍耐。我因传扬上帝的道、为主耶稣做见证而到了拔摩海岛上。 10 主日，我被圣灵感动，听见身后有号角般响亮的声音说： 11 “把你所看见的写在书上，然后送给以弗所、士每拿、别迦摩、推雅推喇、撒狄、非拉铁非和老底嘉七间教会。”
12 我转身看究竟是谁在对我说话，我看见七个金灯台， 13 有一位好像人子耶稣的站在这些灯台中间。祂长袍垂脚，金带围胸， 14 头与发白如羊毛、洁白如雪，眼睛像火焰， 15 双脚像炉中冶炼过的铜一样光亮，声音如同洪涛之声。 16 祂右手拿着七颗星，口中吐出一把两刃的利剑，面貌如烈日放光。
17 我一看见祂，便扑倒在祂脚前，像死了一样。祂把右手按在我身上，说：“不要害怕！我是首先的，我是末后的， 18 我是永活者。我曾经死过，但看啊，我永永远远活着。我掌握死亡和阴间的钥匙。 19 所以，你要将所看见的一切——现在和将来要发生的事都记录下来。 20 你所看见在我右手中的七颗星和七个金灯台的奥秘是，七颗星代表七间教会的天使[d]，七个灯台代表七间教会。
给以弗所教会的信
2 “你要写信告诉以弗所教会的天使，那位右手拿着七颗星、往来于七个金灯台中间的主说，
2 ‘我知道你的行为、劳碌和坚忍，也知道你疾恶如仇，曾查验出那些假冒的使徒，揭穿他们的虚假。 3 你曾坚定不移地为我的名受苦，没有气馁。 4 但有一件事我要责备你，就是你把起初的爱心丢弃了。 5 因此，要回想你在哪里跌倒了，并且悔改，照起初所行的去行。否则，我就要到你那里，将你的灯台从原处拿走。 6 然而你还有一点可取之处，就是你跟我一样痛恨尼哥拉党人的行径。
7 ‘圣灵对各教会所说的话，凡有耳朵的都应当听。我必将上帝乐园中生命树上的果子赐给得胜者吃。’
给士每拿教会的信
8 “你要写信告诉士每拿教会的天使，那位首先的、末后的、死而复活的主说，
9 ‘我知道你遭受的苦难和贫穷，其实你是富足的。我也知道那些人对你的毁谤，他们自称为犹太人，其实不是，而是撒旦的同伙[e]。 10 你不要害怕将要遭受的苦难。魔鬼要将你们当中的一些人下在监里，试炼你们，你们必遭受十天的迫害。但你要至死忠心，我必赐给你生命的冠冕。
11 ‘圣灵对各教会所说的话，凡有耳朵的都应当听。得胜者必不被第二次死亡所害。’
给别迦摩教会的信
12 “你要写信告诉别迦摩教会的天使，那位有两刃利剑的主说，
13 ‘我知道你住在撒旦称王的地方。当我忠心的见证人安提帕在你们这撒旦盘踞之处殉道的时候，你仍然坚守我的名，仍然信靠我。 14 不过有几件事我要责备你，你那里有人随从巴兰的教导。这巴兰从前教巴勒在以色列人面前布下网罗，使他们吃祭过偶像的食物、犯淫乱的罪。 15 同样，你们当中也有人附从尼哥拉党的教导。 16 所以你要悔改，否则我必迅速到你那里，用我口中的剑攻击他们。
17 ‘圣灵对各教会所说的话，凡有耳朵的都应当听。我必将隐藏的吗哪赐给得胜者。我也要赐给他一块白石，石上刻着一个新名字，除了那领受的人以外，没有人认识。’
给推雅推喇教会的信
18 “你要写信告诉推雅推喇教会的天使，那位双目如火焰、双脚像闪亮精铜的上帝的儿子说，
19 ‘我知道你的行为、爱心、信心、事奉、坚忍，也知道你末后所做的善事比起初更多。 20 可是有一件事我要责备你，就是你容许那自称是先知的妇人耶洗别教导我的众奴仆，引诱他们淫乱、吃祭过偶像的食物。 21 我曾给她悔改的机会，她却不肯悔改、离弃自己的淫乱行为， 22 所以我必叫她卧病在床。那些与她有染的人若不悔改，也必遭受极大的苦难。 23 我要击杀她的爪牙[f]，使众教会都知道我洞察人的心思意念，我要照你们各人的行为对待你们。
24 ‘至于你们其余在推雅推喇的人，就是不听那邪说，没有学习所谓的撒旦玄学的人，我告诉你们，我不会将别的重担放在你们身上。 25 但你们要好好持守自己已经得到的，一直到我来。 26 至于那得胜又遵守我命令到底的人，我必赐给他统治列国的权柄， 27 正如我从我父得到的权柄。他必用铁杖管辖列国，将他们如同陶器一般打得粉碎。 28 我也要把晨星赐给他。
29 ‘圣灵对各教会所说的话，凡有耳朵的都应当听。’
给撒狄教会的信
3 “你要写信告诉撒狄教会的天使，有上帝的七灵又有七颗星的主说，
‘我知道你的行为，你名义上活着，实际上是死的。 2 你要警醒！把所剩无几、奄奄一息的生命振作起来，因为我发现你的行为在我的上帝面前不纯全。 3 因此，要回想你以前所领受、所听见的教导，遵守这些教导，并且悔改。你若不警醒，我必在你意想不到的时候像贼一样忽然来到。 4 不过在撒狄，你还有几个人未曾玷污自己的衣服，他们要穿白袍与我同行，因为他们配得这样。 5 得胜者必同样穿上白袍，我绝不会从生命册上抹去他的名字，我必在我父和众天使面前承认他的名。
6 ‘圣灵对各教会所说的话，凡有耳朵的都应当听。’
给非拉铁非教会的信
7 “你要写信告诉非拉铁非教会的天使，那位圣洁、真实、拿着大卫的钥匙、开了门无人能关、关了门无人能开的主说，
8 ‘我知道你的行为，你力量微小，却遵守了我的教导，没有背弃我的名。所以，看啊！我在你面前为你打开了一扇无人能关闭的门。 9 看啊！我要使撒旦的同伙，就是那些假冒犹太人的说谎者，在你面前俯伏下拜，让他们知道你是我所疼爱的。 10 因为你遵守我有关坚忍的教导，所以当将来的试炼临到全人类的时候，我必使你免受磨难。 11 我很快就要来了！你要持守你所拥有的，免得有人夺去你的冠冕。 12 我要使得胜者在我上帝的殿中作栋梁，永不离开。我要将我上帝的名号和我上帝圣城的名号，就是从天上我上帝那里降下来的新耶路撒冷和我自己的新名号，都刻在他上面。
13 ‘圣灵对各教会所说的话，凡有耳朵的都应当听。’
给老底嘉教会的信
14 “你要写信告诉老底嘉教会的天使，那位实实在在[g]、诚信无伪的见证人，就是上帝所造万物的元首说，
15 ‘我知道你的行为，你不冷也不热。我情愿你或冷或热， 16 可是现在你却像温水一样不冷不热，我必将你从我口中吐出去！ 17 你说，我很富有，已经发了财，什么都不缺。你却不知道自己困苦、可怜、贫穷、瞎眼、赤身露体。 18 我劝你向我买精炼的金子，使你真正富有。你也要向我买白袍穿在身上，好遮盖你赤身露体的羞辱。你也要向我买眼药抹眼睛，使你能看见。 19 凡我所爱的，我都会责备、管教。因此，你要热心起来，也要悔改。 20 看啊！我站在门外敲门，若有谁闻声开门，我必进去，我与他，他与我，一同坐席吃饭。 21 得胜者可以和我一同坐在我的宝座上，正如我得胜后与我父一同坐在祂的宝座上一样。
22 ‘圣灵对各教会所说的话，凡有耳朵的都应当听。’”
天上的敬拜
4 此后，我再观看，见天上有一扇门开了，又听见刚才那个像号角般响亮的声音对我说：“你上这里来，我要把以后必发生的事指示给你看。” 2 我便立刻被圣灵感动，看见天上安设着一个宝座，有一位坐在宝座上， 3 闪耀着碧玉和红宝石般的光彩。有一道翡翠般的彩虹围绕着宝座。 4 宝座的周围设有二十四个座位，有二十四位长老坐在上面，他们身穿白袍，头戴金冠。 5 从宝座中有闪电、响声、雷鸣发出，宝座前面燃烧着七把火炬，代表[h]上帝的七灵。 6 宝座前还有一个水晶般的玻璃海，宝座的四周有四个活物，他们前后都长满了眼睛。 7 第一个活物像狮子，第二个像牛犊，第三个有人的面孔，第四个像飞鹰。 8 这四个活物各有三对翅膀，翅膀内外都长满眼睛。他们昼夜不停地说：
“圣哉！圣哉！圣哉！
主上帝是昔在、今在、
以后永在的全能者。”
9 每逢这些活物将荣耀、尊贵、感谢献给坐在宝座上、活到永永远远的那位时， 10 二十四位长老就俯伏在坐宝座的那位面前，敬拜那位永活者，又摘下他们头上的冠冕，放在宝座前，说：
11 “我们的主，我们的上帝，
你配得荣耀、尊贵和权能，
因你创造了万物，
万物都因你的旨意被创造而存在。”
羔羊与封印的书卷
5 接着，我看见坐在宝座上的那位右手拿着一卷内外写着字、用七个印封住的书。 2 有一位大力天使高声问道：“谁有资格揭开那七个封印，打开那卷书？” 3 可是，天上、地上、甚至地底下都没有人有资格揭开并阅读那卷书。 4 我见无人有资格揭开并阅读那卷书，便放声大哭。 5 有一位长老对我说：“不要哭。你看，犹大支派的狮子、大卫的根已经得胜了！祂能揭开那七个封印，打开那卷书。”
6 我又看到宝座、四个活物和众长老之间站着一只好像是被宰杀过的羔羊。祂身上的七只角和七只眼睛代表奉差遣到普天下去的上帝的七灵。 7 那羔羊走上前去，从坐在宝座上的那位右手中接过书卷。 8 祂拿过书卷后，四个活物和二十四位长老就俯伏在羔羊面前，各拿着竖琴和盛满了香的金香炉。那些香就是众圣徒的祈祷。 9 他们唱着一首新歌：
“你配拿书卷并揭开封印，
因你曾被杀，
用你的血从各部落、各语言族群、各民族、各国家，
将人买赎回来归给上帝。
10 你又使他们成为上帝的国度和祭司，
他们要在地上执掌王权。”
11 我看见宝座、四个活物和众长老的周围有千千万万的天使，又听见他们高声呼喊： 12 “那被杀的羔羊配得权柄、财富、智慧、能力、尊贵、荣耀和颂赞！”
13 我又听到天上、地上、地底下和海洋中一切被造之物同声说：“愿颂赞、尊贵、荣耀和权柄都归于坐在宝座上的那位和羔羊，直到永永远远！” 14 四个活物就说：“阿们！”众长老也俯伏敬拜。
羔羊揭开前六印
6 然后，我看见羔羊揭开七印中的第一印，那时我听见四个活物中的一个用如雷的声音说：“来！” 2 我便观看，见有一匹白马，马上的骑士拿着弓，他接受了赏赐给他的冠冕后，便四处征战，战无不胜。
3 羔羊揭开第二印时，我听见第二个活物说：“来！” 4 这次出现了一匹红马，马上的骑士获得权柄和一把大刀，要夺取地上的和平，使人类互相厮杀。
5 揭开第三印的时候，我听见第三个活物说：“来！”我便看见一匹黑马，马上的骑士手里拿着天平。 6 我又听见四个活物中好像有声音说：“一升小麦值一个银币[i]，三升大麦也同价，油和酒都不要糟蹋。”
7 羔羊揭开第四印的时候，我听到第四个活物说：“来！” 8 这次我看到一匹浅灰色的马，马上骑士的名字叫死亡，阴府紧跟在他后面。他们得到权力可以用刀剑、饥荒、瘟疫和野兽消灭全人类的四分之一。
9 羔羊揭开第五印的时候，我看到一个祭坛，祭坛下有许多灵魂，都是为传扬上帝的道、为祂做见证而被杀的。 10 他们大声喊着说：“圣洁真实的主宰啊，还要等多久呢？为什么你还不审判地上那些屠杀我们的人，为我们申冤呢？” 11 这时有白袍赐给他们，有声音告诉他们要再稍候片刻，直到和他们同做奴仆的弟兄被杀害的数目满了为止。
12 羔羊揭开第六印的时候，我看见大地震发生了，太阳变得像黑毛布一样黑，整个月亮变成血红色， 13 天上的星辰都坠落，好像未成熟的无花果被狂风吹落一般。 14 天空也像书卷被卷起来，所有的山岭和海岛都被挪离原位。 15 地上的君王、显贵、将领、富豪、有势力的、一切奴隶和自由人都躲藏在山洞里和岩穴间。 16 他们哀求群山和岩石，说：“倒下来遮盖我们，将我们藏起来吧！我们不敢面对宝座上的那位和羔羊的烈怒啊！ 17 因为祂们发烈怒的大日子到了，谁能站得住呢？”
为上帝的仆人盖印
7 这些事情之后，我看见四位天使分别站在地的四个角落控制着四面的风，使风不再吹向地面、海洋和树木。 2 我又看见一位天使从东方日出之地上来，手里拿着永活上帝的印。他对那领受权柄能伤害地和海的四位天使大声说： 3 “我们还没在上帝的奴仆额上盖印之前，你们不可伤害地、海和树木。” 4 我听见以色列各支派中盖了印的共有十四万四千人： 5 犹大支派有一万二千，吕便支派有一万二千，迦得支派有一万二千， 6 亚设支派有一万二千，拿弗他利支派有一万二千，玛拿西支派有一万二千， 7 西缅支派有一万二千，利未支派有一万二千，以萨迦支派有一万二千， 8 西布伦支派有一万二千，约瑟支派有一万二千，便雅悯支派有一万二千。
劫后余生的上帝子民
9 后来我又看见一大群人，多得不可胜数。他们来自各国家、各部落、各民族、各语言族群，身穿白袍，手拿棕树枝，站在宝座和羔羊面前， 10 大声呼喊说：“救恩来自我们坐在宝座上的上帝，也来自羔羊！” 11 众天使都站在宝座、众长老和四个活物的周围，在宝座前俯伏敬拜上帝，说： 12 “阿们！愿颂赞、荣耀、智慧、感谢、尊贵、权柄、能力都归给我们的上帝，直到永永远远。阿们！”
13 长老中有一位问我：“这些身穿白袍的人是谁？他们从哪里来？”
14 我回答说：“先生，你知道答案。”
他便说：“这些都是经过大灾难的人，他们用羔羊的血将衣裳洗得纯净洁白。 15 因此，他们在宝座前，在圣殿中不分昼夜地事奉上帝。坐在宝座上的那位要庇护他们。 16 他们不会再受饥饿和干渴的折磨，也不会再受太阳和酷热的煎熬， 17 因为在宝座中央的羔羊要做他们的牧人，引导他们到生命之泉那里，上帝要擦干他们所有的眼泪。”
揭开第七印
8 羔羊揭开第七印时，天上寂静无声，约半小时。 2 然后，我看见站在上帝面前的七位天使领受了七支号角。
3 另一位天使手里拿着金香炉上前来，站在祭坛旁边。他接过了许多香，把香和众圣徒的祈祷一起献在宝座前的金坛上。 4 这香发出的烟，连同众圣徒的祷告从那天使的手中向上升，直达上帝面前。 5 天使又拿着香炉，盛满祭坛的火，将它倒在地上，于是有雷鸣、巨响、闪电和地震。
天使吹号
6 这时，那七位拿着号角的天使也预备要吹号。
7 第一位天使吹响号角的时候，冰雹和火搀杂着血从天上倾盆而下。地的三分之一、树木的三分之一和一切的青草都被烧毁了。
8 第二位天使吹号的时候，一座好像燃烧的大山被丢进海里。海洋的三分之一变成了血， 9 海中的活物死了三分之一，船只也被毁了三分之一。
10 第三位天使吹号的时候，有一颗好像火炬般燃烧着的巨星从天上坠落在三分之一的江河溪流和水泉里。 11 这颗星名叫“苦艾”，它使三分之一的水都变苦了，许多人因为喝了这种苦水而死去。
12 第四位天使吹号的时候，太阳、月亮和星辰的三分之一都受到重击，以致失去了光辉，于是日间的三分之一暗淡无光，夜间也是如此。 13 我又看见有一只鹰在半空中飞翔，听见它大声宣告：“有祸了！有祸了！世上的居民有祸了！还有三位天使要吹响号角。”
9 第五位天使吹号的时候，我见有一颗星从天上坠落到地上，有无底坑的钥匙赐给它。 2 它打开无底坑时，浓烟从坑里冒出来，好像大火炉的烟一样，太阳和天空都变得昏暗了。 3 有蝗虫从烟里飞出来，落到地上，有地上蝎子的能力赐给它们。 4 它们得到命令，不得毁坏地上的青草、树木和其他植物，只伤害额上没有上帝印记的人， 5 但不可杀死他们，只折磨他们五个月。那种折磨就像被蝎子蛰到一样。 6 那时候，人求死，却求不到；想死，死却躲避他们。
7 那些蝗虫好像预备出征的战马一样，头上好像戴了金冠，面孔好像人脸， 8 毛发好像女人的头发，牙齿好像狮子的牙， 9 胸前有甲，如同铁甲，鼓动翅膀时声音如同千军万马奔赴战场。 10 它们像蝎子一样尾巴上有毒钩，可以折磨人五个月。 11 它们的王是无底坑的天使，希伯来文名叫亚巴顿，希腊文名叫亚玻伦，意思是“毁灭者”。
12 第一样灾祸过去了，另外两样接踵而来。
13 第六位天使吹号的时候，我听见有一个声音从上帝面前的金祭坛的四个角发出来， 14 对刚才吹号的第六位天使说：“将那捆绑在幼发拉底河的四个天使放出来！” 15 那四个天使就被释放了，他们为了此年、此月、此日、此刻已经预备好了，要杀掉人类的三分之一。 16 我听见他们共有二亿兵马。 17 我在异象中看见了马和骑士。骑士胸甲的颜色像火焰、紫玛瑙和硫磺。马的头像狮子的头，口中喷出火、烟和硫磺。 18 马口中喷出的这三样灾害杀死了世上三分之一的人口。 19 这些马的杀伤力不只在口，也在尾巴。它们的尾巴像蛇，有头能咬伤人。
20 其余没有被这些灾害所杀的人仍不肯悔改、停止手中的恶行，还是去拜魔鬼和那些用金、银、铜、石、木所造，不能看、不能听、不能行走的偶像。 21 他们不肯为自己所犯的凶杀、邪术、淫乱和偷盗悔改。
天使与小书卷
10 我看见另一位大力天使从天而降。他身披云霞，头顶彩虹，脸如太阳，双腿如火柱， 2 手中拿着一卷打开了的小书卷，右脚踏在海中，左脚踏在地上。 3 他大喊的时候，声如狮吼，之后有七声雷鸣。 4 我正要将雷鸣的意思记录下来，就听见天上有声音说：“你要封住七声雷鸣所说的事，别写下来。”
5 我刚才所见的那位脚踏海洋和陆地的天使向天举起右手， 6 凭着活到永永远远、创造天地海洋和其中一切的上帝起誓说：“必不再耽延了。 7 等第七位天使吹响号角时，上帝奥秘的计划就实现了，正如上帝向祂的奴仆——众先知所宣告的。”
8 先前从天上对我说话的声音又吩咐我：“你去，从那位脚踏海洋陆地的天使手中把展开的小书卷拿来。”
9 于是，我走到那天使面前，请他将小书卷给我。他对我说：“拿去，把它吃了。你的腹中会感到苦涩，可是你口中会觉得甘甜如蜜。” 10 我就从天使手中接过小书卷，将它吃了，我口中果然甘甜如蜜，之后腹中觉得苦涩。 11 那天使又对我说：“你必要再对许多民族、国家、语言族群、君王说预言。”
两位见证人
11 有一根杆子赐给我当量尺，同时有声音吩咐我说：“起来，量一量上帝的殿和祭坛，并数点在殿里敬拜的人。 2 你不用量圣殿的外院，因为这部分已经给了外族人，他们要践踏圣城四十二个月。 3 我要赐权柄给我的两个见证人，他们将身穿麻衣，传道一千二百六十天。”
4 这两位见证人就是竖立在世界之主面前的那两棵橄榄树和两座灯台。 5 若有人要伤害他们，他们便从口中喷出火焰，烧灭敌人；若有人企图加害他们，必定会这样被杀。 6 他们拥有权能，在传道期间可以关闭天空使雨不降在地上，又有权使水变成血，并随时用各样的灾祸击打世界。
7 当他们做完见证以后，从无底坑上来的兽要和他们交战，并战胜他们，把他们杀掉。 8 他们便陈尸在大城的街上，这大城按寓意名叫所多玛，又名埃及，是他们的主被钉在十字架上的地方。 9 三天半之久，他们的尸体不得埋葬，各民族、各部落、各语言族群、各国家的人都观看他们的尸体。 10 地上万民便兴高采烈，互相送礼道贺，因为这两位先知曾使地上的人受苦。
11 三天半过后，上帝的生命之气进入二人里面，他们便站立起来。看见的人都害怕极了！ 12 接着天上有大声音呼唤他们说：“上这里来！”他们就在敌人的注视下驾云升上天去。 13 就在那一刻，发生了强烈的地震，那座城的十分之一倒塌了，因地震死亡的共七千人，生还者都在恐惧中将荣耀归给天上的上帝。
14 第二样灾难过去了，第三样灾难又接踵而来！
第七位天使吹号
15 第七位天使吹响号角的时候，天上有大声音说：“世上的国度现在已经属于我们的主和祂所立的基督了。祂要做王，直到永永远远。” 16 在上帝面前，坐在自己座位上的二十四位长老都一同俯伏敬拜上帝，说：
17 “主啊！昔在、今在的全能上帝啊！
我们感谢你，
因你已施展大能做王了。
18 世上的列国曾向你发怒，
现在是你向他们发烈怒的日子了。
时候已到，你要审判死人，
你要赏赐你的奴仆、先知、圣徒
和一切不论尊卑敬畏你名的人，
你要毁灭那些毁坏世界的人。”
19 那时，天上上帝的圣殿敞开了，殿内的约柜清晰可见，又有闪电、巨响、雷鸣、地震和大冰雹。
妇人与巨龙
12 在天上出现了一个奇异的景象：有一个妇人，身披太阳，脚踏月亮，头戴有十二颗星的冠冕。 2 她怀了孕，正因产痛而呼叫。
3 这时天上出现了另一个奇异的景象：有一条红色巨龙出现，它有七头十角，每个头上都戴着冠冕。 4 它的尾巴将天上三分之一的星扫落到地上。巨龙站在那正要生产的妇人面前，等着要吃掉她生下来的婴孩。 5 妇人生下一个男婴，就是将来要用铁杖治理列国的。那男婴被提到了上帝的宝座那里， 6 妇人则逃到旷野，在上帝为她预备的地方安度一千二百六十天。
7 天上起了战争，米迦勒和他的天使出战巨龙。巨龙和它的天使极力抵抗， 8 那巨龙败下阵来，天上再没有它们的立足之地， 9 它和它的天使都一同从天上被摔到地上。巨龙就是那古蛇，又名魔鬼或撒旦，也就是那迷惑全人类的。
10 我听见天上有大响声说：“我们上帝的救赎、权能、国度和祂所立的基督的权柄现在来临了。因为那昼夜不停地在我们上帝面前控告我们弟兄的，已经被摔到地上了。 11 弟兄们是靠着羔羊的血和自己所见证的道战胜了它，他们甘愿牺牲，视死如归。 12 因此，诸天和其中的居民都要欢欣雀跃！但大地和海洋有祸了，因为魔鬼知道它的时日不多了，就怒气冲冲地下到你们那里。”
13 巨龙见自己被摔到地上，就迫害那先前产下男婴的妇人。 14 但那妇人得到一对巨鹰的翅膀，使她能飞到旷野，去上帝为她预备的地方避难，在那里被照顾三年半。 15 巨龙紧追不舍，张口吐出大量的水，如同江河一般，要冲走那妇人， 16 大地却帮助她，张口吞了巨龙口中吐出来的大水。 17 巨龙大怒，转而攻击她的其他儿女，就是那些坚守上帝的诫命、为耶稣做见证的人。 18 那时巨龙站在海边的沙地上。
两只怪兽
13 我又看见一只怪兽从海中上来，有七头十角，每只角上都戴着一个冠冕，每个头上都写着亵渎上帝的名号。 2 它看起来像豹，却有熊的脚和狮子的口。巨龙将自己的能力、王位和大权柄都交给了怪兽。 3 我看见怪兽的一个头似乎受了致命伤，这伤却复原了。全世界的人都惊奇地跟从了它。 4 他们拜巨龙，因为巨龙将自己的权力给了怪兽。他们又拜怪兽，说：“有谁比得上这兽呢？谁能与它对抗呢？” 5 巨龙又使怪兽说狂妄、亵渎的话，并给它权柄，可以任意妄为四十二个月。 6 怪兽开口亵渎上帝的名、上帝的居所和一切居住在天上的。 7 它又获准去攻打圣徒，征服他们，并得到权柄制服各民族、各部落、各语言族群、各国家。 8 凡住在地上的人，就是从创世以来名字没有记在被杀羔羊的生命册上的，都会崇拜怪兽。
9 凡有耳朵的都应当听。
10 该被掳的人必被掳，
该被刀杀的必被刀杀。
因此，圣徒需要坚忍和信心。
11 我又看见另一只怪兽从地里窜出来，它的两只角像羔羊的角，说话却像龙， 12 在头一只怪兽面前行使头一只怪兽的一切权柄。它命令世上的人拜曾受了致命伤但已复原的头一只怪兽， 13 又行大奇迹，当众叫火从天降到地上。 14 它在头一只怪兽面前获准行奇迹，欺骗了普世的人，并吩咐他们为受了刀伤却仍然活着的头一只怪兽塑像。 15 它又获准给怪兽的塑像生命气息，使它不但能说话，还能使所有不敬拜那像的人遭害。 16 它又强迫所有的人，不论老少、尊卑、贫富、自由人或奴隶，都在右手或额上接受印记。 17 凡没有盖上怪兽印记的，就是没有怪兽的名字或代号的，都不能做买卖。 18 这里藏有玄机，聪明的人可以计算那怪兽的代号，因为那是一个人的代号，是“六百六十六”。
天上的新歌
14 我看到羔羊站在锡安山上，与祂在一起的有十四万四千人，他们额上都有祂和祂父的名字。 2 我听见有声音从天上传来，像江河澎湃，像雷霆万钧，又像竖琴合奏的声音。 3 他们在宝座前，在四个活物和二十四位长老面前唱一首新歌。除了从地上被赎出来的十四万四千人以外，没有人能学得会这歌。 4 这些人从未沾染过妇女，都是童身。无论羔羊往哪里去，他们都紧随其后。他们是从世人中被赎出来的，作为初熟的果实献给上帝和羔羊。 5 他们从未说谎，纯洁无瑕。
三位天使的信息
6 我看见另一位天使在空中飞翔，要将永远的福音传给地上的各国家、各部落、各语言族群、各民族。 7 他大声说：“当敬畏上帝，归荣耀给祂，因为祂审判的时候到了。要敬拜造天、地、海和一切水源的那位。”
8 接着又一位天使说：“巴比伦大城倒塌了！倒塌了！她曾引诱万民喝她那淫乱的烈酒。”
9 之后，第三位天使高喊：“一切敬拜怪兽和它的像、在手或额上接受兽印的， 10 都要喝上帝震怒的烈酒，就是祂怒杯里毫无掺杂的烈酒。他们要在圣天使和羔羊面前，在火和硫磺中受煎熬。 11 他们受煎熬所发出的烟不断上升，永无休止。那些拜兽、兽像和接受了兽名印记的人昼夜不得安宁。” 12 但持守上帝诫命和耶稣真道的圣徒们需要坚忍。
13 我听见天上有声音说：“你将下面的话写下来，从今以后，那些为主而死的人有福了！”
圣灵说：“是的！他们将得享安息，不再劳苦。他们工作的成果必随着他们。”
地上的收割
14 我再观看，见有一朵白云，上面坐着的好像是人子，祂头戴金冠，手拿锋利的镰刀。 15 有一位天使从殿中出来，扬声向坐在云上的那位说：“挥动你的镰刀收割吧！地上的庄稼已经熟透了，可以收割了。” 16 于是，坐在云上的那位便向大地挥动镰刀，把地上的庄稼都收割了。
17 另一位天使手里也拿着锋利的镰刀从天上的殿中出来。 18 又有一位掌管烈火的天使从祭坛那里出来，对手拿镰刀的天使高喊：“挥动你锋利的镰刀，收取地上葡萄树的果实吧！它们已经熟透了。” 19 于是，那天使挥动镰刀，收取了地上的葡萄，抛到上帝烈怒的大榨酒池中。 20 葡萄在城外的榨酒池中被踩踏，血从榨酒池中涌出，高至马的嚼环，流了三百公里[j]远。
摩西的歌和羔羊的歌
15 我看见天上又有一个宏大奇异的景象，有七位天使掌管着最后的七种灾祸，上帝要借这些灾祸发尽祂的烈怒。
Footnotes
- 1:4-5 “七灵”指的就是圣灵，数字七代表完全，不是说有七个灵。
- 1:6 “成为祭司的国度”或译“成为国度，做祭司”。
- 1:8 “阿拉法”和“俄梅加”分别是希腊文第一个和最后一个字母，故此句意即“我是始，我是终”。
- 1:20 “天使”或译“信使”或“使者”，下同，可能指教会的守护天使，或者是教会的领袖。
- 2:9 “撒旦的同伙”希腊文是“撒旦的会众”，用以表达与“耶和华的会众”对立。
- 2:23 “爪牙”希腊文是“儿女”。
- 3:14 “那位实实在在”希腊文是“那位阿们的”。
- 4:5 “代表”希腊文是“就是”。
- 6:6 一个银币相当于一天的工钱。
- 14:20 “三百公里”希腊文是“一千六百司他町”。
Revelation 1-15
New International Version
Revelation 1-15
New International Version
Prologue
1 The revelation from Jesus Christ, which God gave(A) him to show his servants what must soon take place.(B) He made it known by sending his angel(C) to his servant John,(D) 2 who testifies to everything he saw—that is, the word of God(E) and the testimony of Jesus Christ.(F) 3 Blessed is the one who reads aloud the words of this prophecy, and blessed are those who hear it and take to heart what is written in it,(G) because the time is near.(H)
Greetings and Doxology
4 John,
To the seven churches(I) in the province of Asia:
Grace and peace to you(J) from him who is, and who was, and who is to come,(K) and from the seven spirits[a](L) before his throne, 5 and from Jesus Christ, who is the faithful witness,(M) the firstborn from the dead,(N) and the ruler of the kings of the earth.(O)
To him who loves us(P) and has freed us from our sins by his blood,(Q) 6 and has made us to be a kingdom and priests(R) to serve his God and Father(S)—to him be glory and power for ever and ever! Amen.(T)
7 “Look, he is coming with the clouds,”[b](U)
and “every eye will see him,
even those who pierced him”;(V)
and all peoples on earth “will mourn(W) because of him.”[c]
So shall it be! Amen.
8 “I am the Alpha and the Omega,”(X) says the Lord God, “who is, and who was, and who is to come,(Y) the Almighty.”(Z)
John’s Vision of Christ
9 I, John,(AA) your brother and companion in the suffering(AB) and kingdom(AC) and patient endurance(AD) that are ours in Jesus, was on the island of Patmos because of the word of God(AE) and the testimony of Jesus.(AF) 10 On the Lord’s Day(AG) I was in the Spirit,(AH) and I heard behind me a loud voice like a trumpet,(AI) 11 which said: “Write on a scroll what you see(AJ) and send it to the seven churches:(AK) to Ephesus,(AL) Smyrna,(AM) Pergamum,(AN) Thyatira,(AO) Sardis,(AP) Philadelphia(AQ) and Laodicea.”(AR)
12 I turned around to see the voice that was speaking to me. And when I turned I saw seven golden lampstands,(AS) 13 and among the lampstands(AT) was someone like a son of man,[d](AU) dressed in a robe reaching down to his feet(AV) and with a golden sash around his chest.(AW) 14 The hair on his head was white like wool, as white as snow, and his eyes were like blazing fire.(AX) 15 His feet were like bronze glowing in a furnace,(AY) and his voice was like the sound of rushing waters.(AZ) 16 In his right hand he held seven stars,(BA) and coming out of his mouth was a sharp, double-edged sword.(BB) His face was like the sun(BC) shining in all its brilliance.
17 When I saw him, I fell at his feet(BD) as though dead. Then he placed his right hand on me(BE) and said: “Do not be afraid.(BF) I am the First and the Last.(BG) 18 I am the Living One; I was dead,(BH) and now look, I am alive for ever and ever!(BI) And I hold the keys of death and Hades.(BJ)
19 “Write, therefore, what you have seen,(BK) what is now and what will take place later. 20 The mystery of the seven stars that you saw in my right hand(BL) and of the seven golden lampstands(BM) is this: The seven stars are the angels[e] of the seven churches,(BN) and the seven lampstands are the seven churches.(BO)
To the Church in Ephesus
2 “To the angel[f] of the church in Ephesus(BP) write:
These are the words of him who holds the seven stars in his right hand(BQ) and walks among the seven golden lampstands.(BR) 2 I know your deeds,(BS) your hard work and your perseverance. I know that you cannot tolerate wicked people, that you have tested(BT) those who claim to be apostles but are not, and have found them false.(BU) 3 You have persevered and have endured hardships for my name,(BV) and have not grown weary.
4 Yet I hold this against you: You have forsaken the love you had at first.(BW) 5 Consider how far you have fallen! Repent(BX) and do the things you did at first. If you do not repent, I will come to you and remove your lampstand(BY) from its place. 6 But you have this in your favor: You hate the practices of the Nicolaitans,(BZ) which I also hate.
7 Whoever has ears, let them hear(CA) what the Spirit says to the churches. To the one who is victorious,(CB) I will give the right to eat from the tree of life,(CC) which is in the paradise(CD) of God.
To the Church in Smyrna
8 “To the angel of the church in Smyrna(CE) write:
These are the words of him who is the First and the Last,(CF) who died and came to life again.(CG) 9 I know your afflictions and your poverty—yet you are rich!(CH) I know about the slander of those who say they are Jews and are not,(CI) but are a synagogue of Satan.(CJ) 10 Do not be afraid of what you are about to suffer. I tell you, the devil will put some of you in prison to test you,(CK) and you will suffer persecution for ten days.(CL) Be faithful,(CM) even to the point of death, and I will give you life as your victor’s crown.(CN)
11 Whoever has ears, let them hear(CO) what the Spirit says to the churches. The one who is victorious will not be hurt at all by the second death.(CP)
To the Church in Pergamum
12 “To the angel of the church in Pergamum(CQ) write:
These are the words of him who has the sharp, double-edged sword.(CR) 13 I know where you live—where Satan has his throne. Yet you remain true to my name. You did not renounce your faith in me,(CS) not even in the days of Antipas, my faithful witness,(CT) who was put to death in your city—where Satan lives.(CU)
14 Nevertheless, I have a few things against you:(CV) There are some among you who hold to the teaching of Balaam,(CW) who taught Balak to entice the Israelites to sin so that they ate food sacrificed to idols(CX) and committed sexual immorality.(CY) 15 Likewise, you also have those who hold to the teaching of the Nicolaitans.(CZ) 16 Repent(DA) therefore! Otherwise, I will soon come to you and will fight against them with the sword of my mouth.(DB)
17 Whoever has ears, let them hear(DC) what the Spirit says to the churches. To the one who is victorious,(DD) I will give some of the hidden manna.(DE) I will also give that person a white stone with a new name(DF) written on it, known only to the one who receives it.(DG)
To the Church in Thyatira
18 “To the angel of the church in Thyatira(DH) write:
These are the words of the Son of God,(DI) whose eyes are like blazing fire and whose feet are like burnished bronze.(DJ) 19 I know your deeds,(DK) your love and faith, your service and perseverance, and that you are now doing more than you did at first.
20 Nevertheless, I have this against you: You tolerate that woman Jezebel,(DL) who calls herself a prophet. By her teaching she misleads my servants into sexual immorality and the eating of food sacrificed to idols.(DM) 21 I have given her time(DN) to repent of her immorality, but she is unwilling.(DO) 22 So I will cast her on a bed of suffering, and I will make those who commit adultery(DP) with her suffer intensely, unless they repent of her ways. 23 I will strike her children dead. Then all the churches will know that I am he who searches hearts and minds,(DQ) and I will repay each of you according to your deeds.(DR)
24 Now I say to the rest of you in Thyatira, to you who do not hold to her teaching and have not learned Satan’s so-called deep secrets, ‘I will not impose any other burden on you,(DS) 25 except to hold on to what you have(DT) until I come.’(DU)
26 To the one who is victorious(DV) and does my will to the end,(DW) I will give authority over the nations(DX)— 27 that one ‘will rule them with an iron scepter(DY) and will dash them to pieces like pottery’[g](DZ)—just as I have received authority from my Father. 28 I will also give that one the morning star.(EA) 29 Whoever has ears, let them hear(EB) what the Spirit says to the churches.
To the Church in Sardis
3 “To the angel[h] of the church in Sardis(EC) write:
These are the words of him who holds the seven spirits[i](ED) of God and the seven stars.(EE) I know your deeds;(EF) you have a reputation of being alive, but you are dead.(EG) 2 Wake up! Strengthen what remains and is about to die, for I have found your deeds unfinished in the sight of my God. 3 Remember, therefore, what you have received and heard; hold it fast, and repent.(EH) But if you do not wake up, I will come like a thief,(EI) and you will not know at what time(EJ) I will come to you.
4 Yet you have a few people in Sardis who have not soiled their clothes.(EK) They will walk with me, dressed in white,(EL) for they are worthy. 5 The one who is victorious(EM) will, like them, be dressed in white.(EN) I will never blot out the name of that person from the book of life,(EO) but will acknowledge that name before my Father(EP) and his angels. 6 Whoever has ears, let them hear(EQ) what the Spirit says to the churches.
To the Church in Philadelphia
7 “To the angel of the church in Philadelphia(ER) write:
These are the words of him who is holy(ES) and true,(ET) who holds the key of David.(EU) What he opens no one can shut, and what he shuts no one can open. 8 I know your deeds.(EV) See, I have placed before you an open door(EW) that no one can shut. I know that you have little strength, yet you have kept my word and have not denied my name.(EX) 9 I will make those who are of the synagogue of Satan,(EY) who claim to be Jews though they are not,(EZ) but are liars—I will make them come and fall down at your feet(FA) and acknowledge that I have loved you.(FB) 10 Since you have kept my command to endure patiently, I will also keep you(FC) from the hour of trial that is going to come on the whole world(FD) to test(FE) the inhabitants of the earth.(FF)
11 I am coming soon.(FG) Hold on to what you have,(FH) so that no one will take your crown.(FI) 12 The one who is victorious(FJ) I will make a pillar(FK) in the temple of my God. Never again will they leave it. I will write on them the name of my God(FL) and the name of the city of my God,(FM) the new Jerusalem,(FN) which is coming down out of heaven from my God; and I will also write on them my new name. 13 Whoever has ears, let them hear(FO) what the Spirit says to the churches.
To the Church in Laodicea
14 “To the angel of the church in Laodicea(FP) write:
These are the words of the Amen, the faithful and true witness,(FQ) the ruler of God’s creation.(FR) 15 I know your deeds,(FS) that you are neither cold nor hot.(FT) I wish you were either one or the other! 16 So, because you are lukewarm—neither hot nor cold—I am about to spit you out of my mouth. 17 You say, ‘I am rich; I have acquired wealth and do not need a thing.’(FU) But you do not realize that you are wretched, pitiful, poor, blind and naked.(FV) 18 I counsel you to buy from me gold refined in the fire,(FW) so you can become rich; and white clothes(FX) to wear, so you can cover your shameful nakedness;(FY) and salve to put on your eyes, so you can see.
19 Those whom I love I rebuke and discipline.(FZ) So be earnest and repent.(GA) 20 Here I am! I stand at the door(GB) and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door,(GC) I will come in(GD) and eat with that person, and they with me.
21 To the one who is victorious,(GE) I will give the right to sit with me on my throne,(GF) just as I was victorious(GG) and sat down with my Father on his throne. 22 Whoever has ears, let them hear(GH) what the Spirit says to the churches.”
The Throne in Heaven
4 After this I looked, and there before me was a door standing open(GI) in heaven. And the voice I had first heard speaking to me like a trumpet(GJ) said, “Come up here,(GK) and I will show you what must take place after this.”(GL) 2 At once I was in the Spirit,(GM) and there before me was a throne in heaven(GN) with someone sitting on it. 3 And the one who sat there had the appearance of jasper(GO) and ruby.(GP) A rainbow(GQ) that shone like an emerald(GR) encircled the throne. 4 Surrounding the throne were twenty-four other thrones, and seated on them were twenty-four elders.(GS) They were dressed in white(GT) and had crowns of gold on their heads. 5 From the throne came flashes of lightning, rumblings and peals of thunder.(GU) In front of the throne, seven lamps(GV) were blazing. These are the seven spirits[j](GW) of God. 6 Also in front of the throne there was what looked like a sea of glass,(GX) clear as crystal.
In the center, around the throne, were four living creatures,(GY) and they were covered with eyes, in front and in back.(GZ) 7 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.(HA) 8 Each of the four living creatures(HB) had six wings(HC) and was covered with eyes all around,(HD) even under its wings. Day and night(HE) they never stop saying:
9 Whenever the living creatures give glory, honor and thanks to him who sits on the throne(HH) and who lives for ever and ever,(HI) 10 the twenty-four elders(HJ) fall down before him(HK) who sits on the throne(HL) 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,(HM)
for you created all things,
and by your will they were created
and have their being.”(HN)
The Scroll and the Lamb
5 Then I saw in the right hand of him who sat on the throne(HO) a scroll with writing on both sides(HP) and sealed(HQ) with seven seals. 2 And I saw a mighty angel(HR) proclaiming in a loud voice, “Who is worthy to break the seals and open the scroll?” 3 But no one in heaven or on earth or under the earth could open the scroll or even look inside it. 4 I wept and wept because no one was found who was worthy to open the scroll or look inside. 5 Then one of the elders said to me, “Do not weep! See, the Lion(HS) of the tribe of Judah,(HT) the Root of David,(HU) has triumphed. He is able to open the scroll and its seven seals.”
6 Then I saw a Lamb,(HV) looking as if it had been slain, standing at the center of the throne, encircled by the four living creatures(HW) and the elders.(HX) The Lamb had seven horns and seven eyes,(HY) which are the seven spirits[l](HZ) of God sent out into all the earth. 7 He went and took the scroll from the right hand of him who sat on the throne.(IA) 8 And when he had taken it, the four living creatures(IB) and the twenty-four elders(IC) fell down before the Lamb. Each one had a harp(ID) and they were holding golden bowls full of incense, which are the prayers(IE) of God’s people. 9 And they sang a new song, saying:(IF)
“You are worthy(IG) to take the scroll
and to open its seals,
because you were slain,
and with your blood(IH) you purchased(II) for God
persons from every tribe and language and people and nation.(IJ)
10 You have made them to be a kingdom and priests(IK) to serve our God,
and they will reign[m] on the earth.”(IL)
11 Then I looked and heard the voice of many angels, numbering thousands upon thousands, and ten thousand times ten thousand.(IM) They encircled the throne and the living creatures(IN) and the elders.(IO) 12 In a loud voice they were saying:
“Worthy is the Lamb,(IP) who was slain,(IQ)
to receive power and wealth and wisdom and strength
and honor and glory and praise!”(IR)
13 Then I heard every creature in heaven and on earth and under the earth(IS) and on the sea, and all that is in them, saying:
“To him who sits on the throne(IT) and to the Lamb(IU)
be praise and honor and glory and power,
for ever and ever!”(IV)
14 The four living creatures(IW) said, “Amen,”(IX) and the elders(IY) fell down and worshiped.(IZ)
The Seals
6 I watched as the Lamb(JA) opened the first of the seven seals.(JB) Then I heard one of the four living creatures(JC) say in a voice like thunder,(JD) “Come!” 2 I looked, and there before me was a white horse!(JE) Its rider held a bow, and he was given a crown,(JF) and he rode out as a conqueror bent on conquest.(JG)
3 When the Lamb opened the second seal, I heard the second living creature(JH) say, “Come!” 4 Then another horse came out, a fiery red one.(JI) Its rider was given power to take peace from the earth(JJ) and to make people kill each other. To him was given a large sword.
5 When the Lamb opened the third seal, I heard the third living creature(JK) say, “Come!” I looked, and there before me was a black horse!(JL) Its rider was holding a pair of scales in his hand. 6 Then I heard what sounded like a voice among the four living creatures,(JM) saying, “Two pounds[n] of wheat for a day’s wages,[o] and six pounds[p] of barley for a day’s wages,[q](JN) and do not damage(JO) the oil and the wine!”
7 When the Lamb opened the fourth seal, I heard the voice of the fourth living creature(JP) say, “Come!” 8 I looked, and there before me was a pale horse!(JQ) Its rider was named Death, and Hades(JR) 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.(JS)
9 When he opened the fifth seal, I saw under(JT) the altar(JU) the souls of those who had been slain(JV) because of the word of God(JW) and the testimony they had maintained. 10 They called out in a loud voice, “How long,(JX) Sovereign Lord,(JY) holy and true,(JZ) until you judge the inhabitants of the earth(KA) and avenge our blood?”(KB) 11 Then each of them was given a white robe,(KC) and they were told to wait a little longer, until the full number of their fellow servants, their brothers and sisters,[r] were killed just as they had been.(KD)
12 I watched as he opened the sixth seal. There was a great earthquake.(KE) The sun turned black(KF) like sackcloth(KG) made of goat hair, the whole moon turned blood red, 13 and the stars in the sky fell to earth,(KH) as figs drop from a fig tree(KI) when shaken by a strong wind. 14 The heavens receded like a scroll being rolled up,(KJ) and every mountain and island was removed from its place.(KK)
15 Then the kings of the earth, the princes, the generals, the rich, the mighty, and everyone else, both slave and free,(KL) hid in caves and among the rocks of the mountains.(KM) 16 They called to the mountains and the rocks, “Fall on us(KN) and hide us[s] from the face of him who sits on the throne(KO) and from the wrath of the Lamb! 17 For the great day(KP) of their[t] wrath has come, and who can withstand it?”(KQ)
144,000 Sealed
7 After this I saw four angels standing at the four corners(KR) of the earth, holding back the four winds(KS) of the earth to prevent(KT) any wind from blowing on the land or on the sea or on any tree. 2 Then I saw another angel coming up from the east, having the seal(KU) of the living God.(KV) He called out in a loud voice to the four angels who had been given power to harm the land and the sea:(KW) 3 “Do not harm(KX) the land or the sea or the trees until we put a seal on the foreheads(KY) of the servants of our God.” 4 Then I heard the number(KZ) of those who were sealed: 144,000(LA) from all the tribes of Israel.
5 From the tribe of Judah 12,000 were sealed,
from the tribe of Reuben 12,000,
from the tribe of Gad 12,000,
6 from the tribe of Asher 12,000,
from the tribe of Naphtali 12,000,
from the tribe of Manasseh 12,000,
7 from the tribe of Simeon 12,000,
from the tribe of Levi 12,000,
from the tribe of Issachar 12,000,
8 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
9 After this I looked, and there before me was a great multitude that no one could count, from every nation, tribe, people and language,(LB) standing before the throne(LC) and before the Lamb. They were wearing white robes(LD) and were holding palm branches in their hands. 10 And they cried out in a loud voice:
11 All the angels were standing around the throne and around the elders(LG) and the four living creatures.(LH) They fell down on their faces(LI) 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!”(LJ)
13 Then one of the elders asked me, “These in white robes(LK)—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(LL) and made them white in the blood of the Lamb.(LM) 15 Therefore,
“they are before the throne of God(LN)
and serve him(LO) day and night in his temple;(LP)
and he who sits on the throne(LQ)
will shelter them with his presence.(LR)
16 ‘Never again will they hunger;
never again will they thirst.(LS)
The sun will not beat down on them,’[u]
nor any scorching heat.(LT)
17 For the Lamb at the center of the throne
will be their shepherd;(LU)
‘he will lead them to springs of living water.’[v](LV)
‘And God will wipe away every tear from their eyes.’[w]”(LW)
The Seventh Seal and the Golden Censer
8 When he opened the seventh seal,(LX) there was silence in heaven for about half an hour.
2 And I saw the seven angels(LY) who stand before God, and seven trumpets were given to them.(LZ)
3 Another angel,(MA) 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,(MB) on the golden altar(MC) in front of the throne. 4 The smoke of the incense, together with the prayers of God’s people, went up before God(MD) from the angel’s hand. 5 Then the angel took the censer, filled it with fire from the altar,(ME) and hurled it on the earth; and there came peals of thunder,(MF) rumblings, flashes of lightning and an earthquake.(MG)
The Trumpets
6 Then the seven angels who had the seven trumpets(MH) prepared to sound them.
7 The first angel(MI) sounded his trumpet, and there came hail and fire(MJ) mixed with blood, and it was hurled down on the earth. A third(MK) of the earth was burned up, a third of the trees were burned up, and all the green grass was burned up.(ML)
8 The second angel sounded his trumpet, and something like a huge mountain,(MM) all ablaze, was thrown into the sea. A third(MN) of the sea turned into blood,(MO) 9 a third(MP) 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(MQ) on a third of the rivers and on the springs of water(MR)— 11 the name of the star is Wormwood.[x] A third(MS) of the waters turned bitter, and many people died from the waters that had become bitter.(MT)
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(MU) of them turned dark.(MV) A third of the day was without light, and also a third of the night.(MW)
13 As I watched, I heard an eagle that was flying in midair(MX) call out in a loud voice: “Woe! Woe! Woe(MY) to the inhabitants of the earth,(MZ) because of the trumpet blasts about to be sounded by the other three angels!”
9 The fifth angel sounded his trumpet, and I saw a star that had fallen from the sky to the earth.(NA) The star was given the key(NB) to the shaft of the Abyss.(NC) 2 When he opened the Abyss, smoke rose from it like the smoke from a gigantic furnace.(ND) The sun and sky were darkened(NE) by the smoke from the Abyss.(NF) 3 And out of the smoke locusts(NG) came down on the earth and were given power like that of scorpions(NH) of the earth. 4 They were told not to harm(NI) the grass of the earth or any plant or tree,(NJ) but only those people who did not have the seal of God on their foreheads.(NK) 5 They were not allowed to kill them but only to torture them for five months.(NL) And the agony they suffered was like that of the sting of a scorpion(NM) when it strikes. 6 During those days people will seek death but will not find it; they will long to die, but death will elude them.(NN)
7 The locusts looked like horses prepared for battle.(NO) On their heads they wore something like crowns of gold, and their faces resembled human faces.(NP) 8 Their hair was like women’s hair, and their teeth were like lions’ teeth.(NQ) 9 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.(NR) 10 They had tails with stingers, like scorpions, and in their tails they had power to torment people for five months.(NS) 11 They had as king over them the angel of the Abyss,(NT) whose name in Hebrew(NU) is Abaddon(NV) and in Greek is Apollyon (that is, Destroyer).
12 The first woe is past; two other woes are yet to come.(NW)
13 The sixth angel sounded his trumpet, and I heard a voice coming from the four horns(NX) of the golden altar that is before God.(NY) 14 It said to the sixth angel who had the trumpet, “Release the four angels(NZ) who are bound at the great river Euphrates.”(OA) 15 And the four angels who had been kept ready for this very hour and day and month and year were released(OB) to kill a third(OC) of mankind.(OD) 16 The number of the mounted troops was twice ten thousand times ten thousand. I heard their number.(OE)
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(OF) came fire, smoke and sulfur.(OG) 18 A third(OH) of mankind was killed(OI) by the three plagues of fire, smoke and sulfur(OJ) 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(OK) of the work of their hands;(OL) they did not stop worshiping demons,(OM) and idols of gold, silver, bronze, stone and wood—idols that cannot see or hear or walk.(ON) 21 Nor did they repent(OO) of their murders, their magic arts,(OP) their sexual immorality(OQ) or their thefts.
The Angel and the Little Scroll
10 Then I saw another mighty angel(OR) coming down from heaven.(OS) He was robed in a cloud, with a rainbow(OT) above his head; his face was like the sun,(OU) and his legs were like fiery pillars.(OV) 2 He was holding a little scroll,(OW) which lay open in his hand. He planted his right foot on the sea and his left foot on the land,(OX) 3 and he gave a loud shout like the roar of a lion.(OY) When he shouted, the voices of the seven thunders(OZ) spoke. 4 And when the seven thunders spoke, I was about to write;(PA) but I heard a voice from heaven(PB) say, “Seal up what the seven thunders have said and do not write it down.”(PC)
5 Then the angel I had seen standing on the sea and on the land(PD) raised his right hand to heaven.(PE) 6 And he swore(PF) by him who lives for ever and ever,(PG) 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,(PH) and said, “There will be no more delay!(PI) 7 But in the days when the seventh angel is about to sound his trumpet,(PJ) the mystery(PK) of God will be accomplished, just as he announced to his servants the prophets.”(PL)
8 Then the voice that I had heard from heaven(PM) spoke to me once more: “Go, take the scroll(PN) that lies open in the hand of the angel who is standing on the sea and on the land.”
9 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.’[y]”(PO) 10 I took the little scroll from the angel’s hand and ate it. It tasted as sweet as honey in my mouth,(PP) but when I had eaten it, my stomach turned sour. 11 Then I was told, “You must prophesy(PQ) again about many peoples, nations, languages and kings.”(PR)
The Two Witnesses
11 I was given a reed like a measuring rod(PS) and was told, “Go and measure the temple of God and the altar, with its worshipers. 2 But exclude the outer court;(PT) do not measure it, because it has been given to the Gentiles.(PU) They will trample on the holy city(PV) for 42 months.(PW) 3 And I will appoint my two witnesses,(PX) and they will prophesy for 1,260 days,(PY) clothed in sackcloth.”(PZ) 4 They are “the two olive trees”(QA) and the two lampstands, and “they stand before the Lord of the earth.”[z](QB) 5 If anyone tries to harm them, fire comes from their mouths and devours their enemies.(QC) This is how anyone who wants to harm them must die.(QD) 6 They have power to shut up the heavens(QE) so that it will not rain during the time they are prophesying;(QF) and they have power to turn the waters into blood(QG) and to strike the earth with every kind of plague as often as they want.
7 Now when they have finished their testimony, the beast(QH) that comes up from the Abyss(QI) will attack them,(QJ) and overpower and kill them. 8 Their bodies will lie in the public square of the great city(QK)—which is figuratively called Sodom(QL) and Egypt—where also their Lord was crucified.(QM) 9 For three and a half days some from every people, tribe, language and nation(QN) will gaze on their bodies and refuse them burial.(QO) 10 The inhabitants of the earth(QP) will gloat over them and will celebrate by sending each other gifts,(QQ) because these two prophets had tormented those who live on the earth.
11 But after the three and a half days(QR) the breath[aa] of life from God entered them,(QS) 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.”(QT) And they went up to heaven in a cloud,(QU) while their enemies looked on.
13 At that very hour there was a severe earthquake(QV) and a tenth of the city collapsed. Seven thousand people were killed in the earthquake, and the survivors were terrified and gave glory(QW) to the God of heaven.(QX)
14 The second woe has passed; the third woe is coming soon.(QY)
The Seventh Trumpet
15 The seventh angel sounded his trumpet,(QZ) and there were loud voices(RA) in heaven, which said:
“The kingdom of the world has become
the kingdom of our Lord and of his Messiah,(RB)
and he will reign for ever and ever.”(RC)
16 And the twenty-four elders,(RD) who were seated on their thrones before God, fell on their faces(RE) and worshiped God, 17 saying:
“We give thanks(RF) to you, Lord God Almighty,(RG)
the One who is and who was,(RH)
because you have taken your great power
and have begun to reign.(RI)
18 The nations were angry,(RJ)
and your wrath has come.
The time has come for judging the dead,(RK)
and for rewarding your servants the prophets(RL)
and your people who revere your name,
both great and small(RM)—
and for destroying those who destroy the earth.”
19 Then God’s temple(RN) in heaven was opened, and within his temple was seen the ark of his covenant.(RO) And there came flashes of lightning, rumblings, peals of thunder,(RP) an earthquake and a severe hailstorm.(RQ)
The Woman and the Dragon
12 A great sign(RR) appeared in heaven:(RS) a woman clothed with the sun, with the moon under her feet and a crown of twelve stars(RT) on her head. 2 She was pregnant and cried out in pain(RU) as she was about to give birth. 3 Then another sign appeared in heaven:(RV) an enormous red dragon(RW) with seven heads(RX) and ten horns(RY) and seven crowns(RZ) on its heads. 4 Its tail swept a third(SA) of the stars out of the sky and flung them to the earth.(SB) The dragon stood in front of the woman who was about to give birth, so that it might devour her child(SC) the moment he was born. 5 She gave birth to a son, a male child, who “will rule all the nations with an iron scepter.”[ab](SD) And her child was snatched up(SE) to God and to his throne. 6 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.(SF)
7 Then war broke out in heaven. Michael(SG) and his angels fought against the dragon,(SH) and the dragon and his angels(SI) fought back. 8 But he was not strong enough, and they lost their place in heaven. 9 The great dragon was hurled down—that ancient serpent(SJ) called the devil,(SK) or Satan,(SL) who leads the whole world astray.(SM) He was hurled to the earth,(SN) and his angels with him.
10 Then I heard a loud voice in heaven(SO) say:
“Now have come the salvation(SP) and the power
and the kingdom of our God,
and the authority of his Messiah.
For the accuser of our brothers and sisters,(SQ)
who accuses them before our God day and night,
has been hurled down.
11 They triumphed over(SR) him
by the blood of the Lamb(SS)
and by the word of their testimony;(ST)
they did not love their lives so much
as to shrink from death.(SU)
12 Therefore rejoice, you heavens(SV)
and you who dwell in them!
But woe(SW) to the earth and the sea,(SX)
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(SY) saw that he had been hurled to the earth, he pursued the woman who had given birth to the male child.(SZ) 14 The woman was given the two wings of a great eagle,(TA) 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,(TB) out of the serpent’s reach. 15 Then from his mouth the serpent(TC) 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(TD) against the rest of her offspring(TE)—those who keep God’s commands(TF) and hold fast their testimony about Jesus.(TG)
The Beast out of the Sea
13 The dragon[ac] stood on the shore of the sea. And I saw a beast coming out of the sea.(TH) It had ten horns and seven heads,(TI) with ten crowns on its horns, and on each head a blasphemous name.(TJ) 2 The beast I saw resembled a leopard,(TK) but had feet like those of a bear(TL) and a mouth like that of a lion.(TM) The dragon gave the beast his power and his throne and great authority.(TN) 3 One of the heads of the beast seemed to have had a fatal wound, but the fatal wound had been healed.(TO) The whole world was filled with wonder(TP) and followed the beast. 4 People worshiped the dragon because he had given authority to the beast, and they also worshiped the beast and asked, “Who is like(TQ) the beast? Who can wage war against it?”
5 The beast was given a mouth to utter proud words and blasphemies(TR) and to exercise its authority for forty-two months.(TS) 6 It opened its mouth to blaspheme God, and to slander his name and his dwelling place and those who live in heaven.(TT) 7 It was given power to wage war(TU) against God’s holy people and to conquer them. And it was given authority over every tribe, people, language and nation.(TV) 8 All inhabitants of the earth(TW) will worship the beast—all whose names have not been written in the Lamb’s book of life,(TX) the Lamb(TY) who was slain from the creation of the world.[ad](TZ)
9 Whoever has ears, let them hear.(UA)
10 “If anyone is to go into captivity,
into captivity they will go.
If anyone is to be killed[ae] with the sword,
with the sword they will be killed.”[af](UB)
This calls for patient endurance and faithfulness(UC) on the part of God’s people.(UD)
The Beast out of the Earth
11 Then I saw a second beast, coming out of the earth.(UE) It had two horns like a lamb, but it spoke like a dragon.(UF) 12 It exercised all the authority(UG) of the first beast on its behalf,(UH) and made the earth and its inhabitants worship the first beast,(UI) whose fatal wound had been healed.(UJ) 13 And it performed great signs,(UK) even causing fire to come down from heaven(UL) to the earth in full view of the people. 14 Because of the signs(UM) it was given power to perform on behalf of the first beast, it deceived(UN) the inhabitants of the earth.(UO) It ordered them to set up an image in honor of the beast who was wounded by the sword and yet lived.(UP) 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(UQ) the image to be killed.(UR) 16 It also forced all people, great and small,(US) rich and poor, free and slave, to receive a mark on their right hands or on their foreheads,(UT) 17 so that they could not buy or sell unless they had the mark,(UU) which is the name of the beast or the number of its name.(UV)
18 This calls for wisdom.(UW) Let the person who has insight calculate the number of the beast, for it is the number of a man.[ag](UX) That number is 666.
The Lamb and the 144,000
14 Then I looked, and there before me was the Lamb,(UY) standing on Mount Zion,(UZ) and with him 144,000(VA) who had his name and his Father’s name(VB) written on their foreheads.(VC) 2 And I heard a sound from heaven like the roar of rushing waters(VD) and like a loud peal of thunder.(VE) The sound I heard was like that of harpists playing their harps.(VF) 3 And they sang a new song(VG) before the throne and before the four living creatures(VH) and the elders.(VI) No one could learn the song except the 144,000(VJ) who had been redeemed from the earth. 4 These are those who did not defile themselves with women, for they remained virgins.(VK) They follow the Lamb wherever he goes.(VL) They were purchased from among mankind(VM) and offered as firstfruits(VN) to God and the Lamb. 5 No lie was found in their mouths;(VO) they are blameless.(VP)
The Three Angels
6 Then I saw another angel flying in midair,(VQ) and he had the eternal gospel to proclaim to those who live on the earth(VR)—to every nation, tribe, language and people.(VS) 7 He said in a loud voice, “Fear God(VT) and give him glory,(VU) because the hour of his judgment has come. Worship him who made(VV) the heavens, the earth, the sea and the springs of water.”(VW)
8 A second angel followed and said, “‘Fallen! Fallen is Babylon the Great,’[ah](VX) which made all the nations drink the maddening wine of her adulteries.”(VY)
9 A third angel followed them and said in a loud voice: “If anyone worships the beast(VZ) and its image(WA) and receives its mark on their forehead(WB) or on their hand, 10 they, too, will drink the wine of God’s fury,(WC) which has been poured full strength into the cup of his wrath.(WD) They will be tormented with burning sulfur(WE) in the presence of the holy angels and of the Lamb. 11 And the smoke of their torment will rise for ever and ever.(WF) There will be no rest day or night(WG) for those who worship the beast and its image,(WH) or for anyone who receives the mark of its name.”(WI) 12 This calls for patient endurance(WJ) on the part of the people of God(WK) who keep his commands(WL) 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(WM) from now on.”
“Yes,” says the Spirit,(WN) “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,(WO) and seated on the cloud was one like a son of man[ai](WP) with a crown(WQ) of gold on his head and a sharp sickle in his hand. 15 Then another angel came out of the temple(WR) and called in a loud voice to him who was sitting on the cloud, “Take your sickle(WS) and reap, because the time to reap has come, for the harvest(WT) 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.(WU) 18 Still another angel, who had charge of the fire, came from the altar(WV) and called in a loud voice to him who had the sharp sickle, “Take your sharp sickle(WW) 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.(WX) 20 They were trampled in the winepress(WY) outside the city,(WZ) and blood(XA) flowed out of the press, rising as high as the horses’ bridles for a distance of 1,600 stadia.[aj]
Seven Angels With Seven Plagues
15 I saw in heaven another great and marvelous sign:(XB) seven angels(XC) with the seven last plagues(XD)—last, because with them God’s wrath is completed.
Footnotes
- Revelation 1:4 That is, the sevenfold Spirit
- Revelation 1:7 Daniel 7:13
- Revelation 1:7 Zech. 12:10
- Revelation 1:13 See Daniel 7:13.
- Revelation 1:20 Or messengers
- Revelation 2:1 Or messenger; also in verses 8, 12 and 18
- Revelation 2:27 Psalm 2:9
- Revelation 3:1 Or messenger; also in verses 7 and 14
- Revelation 3:1 That is, the sevenfold Spirit
- Revelation 4:5 That is, the sevenfold Spirit
- Revelation 4:8 Isaiah 6:3
- Revelation 5:6 That is, the sevenfold Spirit
- Revelation 5:10 Some manuscripts they reign
- Revelation 6:6 Or about 1 kilogram
- Revelation 6:6 Greek a denarius
- Revelation 6:6 Or about 3 kilograms
- Revelation 6:6 Greek a denarius
- 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.
- Revelation 6:16 See Hosea 10:8.
- Revelation 6:17 Some manuscripts his
- Revelation 7:16 Isaiah 49:10
- Revelation 7:17 Isaiah 49:10
- Revelation 7:17 Isaiah 25:8
- Revelation 8:11 Wormwood is a bitter substance.
- Revelation 10:9 Ezek. 3:3
- Revelation 11:4 See Zech. 4:3,11,14.
- Revelation 11:11 Or Spirit (see Ezek. 37:5,14)
- Revelation 12:5 Psalm 2:9
- Revelation 13:1 Some manuscripts And I
- Revelation 13:8 Or written from the creation of the world in the book of life belonging to the Lamb who was slain
- Revelation 13:10 Some manuscripts anyone kills
- Revelation 13:10 Jer. 15:2
- Revelation 13:18 Or is humanity’s number
- Revelation 14:8 Isaiah 21:9
- Revelation 14:14 See Daniel 7:13.
- Revelation 14:20 That is, about 180 miles or about 300 kilometers
Chinese Contemporary Bible (Simplified) (CCB)
Chinese Contemporary Bible Copyright © 1979, 2005, 2007, 2011 by Biblica® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.
New International Version (NIV) 
Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.
NIV Reverse Interlinear Bible: English to Hebrew and English to Greek. Copyright © 2019 by Zondervan.