⁷ Ever since the time of your ancestors you have turned away^(A) from my decrees and have not kept them. Return^(B) to me, and I will return to you,”^(C) says the Lord Almighty.

“But you ask,^(D) ‘How are we to return?’

⁸ “Will a mere mortal rob^(E) God? Yet you rob me.

“But you ask, ‘How are we robbing you?’

“In tithes^(F) and offerings. ⁹ You are under a curse^(G)—your whole nation—because you are robbing me.

⁴ Edom^(A) may say, “Though we have been crushed, we will rebuild^(B) the ruins.”

But this is what the Lord Almighty says: “They may build, but I will demolish.^(C) They will be called the Wicked Land, a people always under the wrath of the Lord.^(D)

⁶ “Come! Come! Flee from the land of the north,” declares the Lord, “for I have scattered^(A) you to the four winds of heaven,”^(B) declares the Lord.^(C)

⁷ “Come, Zion! Escape,^(D) you who live in Daughter Babylon!”^{(E) 8} For this is what the Lord Almighty says: “After the Glorious One has sent me against the nations that have plundered you—for whoever touches you touches the apple of his eye^(F)— ⁹ I will surely raise my hand against them so that their slaves will plunder them.^[a](G) Then you will know that the Lord Almighty has sent me.^(H)

¹¹ “Many nations will be joined with the Lord in that day and will become my people.^(A) I will live among you and you will know that the Lord Almighty has sent me to you.^(B)

Warning to Escape Babylon’s Judgment

⁴ Then I heard another voice from heaven say:

The Three Angels

⁶ Then I saw another angel flying in midair,^(A) and he had the eternal gospel to proclaim to those who live on the earth^(B)—to every nation, tribe, language and people.^{(C) 7} He said in a loud voice, “Fear God^(D) and give him glory,^(E) because the hour of his judgment has come. Worship him who made^(F) the heavens, the earth, the sea and the springs of water.”^(G)

⁸ A second angel followed and said, “‘Fallen! Fallen is Babylon the Great,’^[a](H) which made all the nations drink the maddening wine of her adulteries.”^(I)

⁹ A third angel followed them and said in a loud voice: “If anyone worships the beast^(J) and its image^(K) and receives its mark on their forehead^(L) or on their hand, ¹⁰ they, too, will drink the wine of God’s fury,^(M) which has been poured full strength into the cup of his wrath.^(N) They will be tormented with burning sulfur^(O) in the presence of the holy angels and of the Lamb. ¹¹ And the smoke of their torment will rise for ever and ever.^(P) There will be no rest day or night^(Q) for those who worship the beast and its image,^(R) or for anyone who receives the mark of its name.”^{(S) 12} This calls for patient endurance^(T) on the part of the people of God^(U) who keep his commands^(V) and remain faithful to Jesus.