² And I saw what looked like a sea of glass^(A) glowing with fire and, standing beside the sea, those who had been victorious^(B) over the beast^(C) and its image^(D) and over the number of its name.^(E) They held harps^(F) given them by God

⁶ Also in front of the throne there was what looked like a sea of glass,^(A) clear as crystal.

In the center, around the throne, were four living creatures,^(B) and they were covered with eyes, in front and in back.^(C)

Threefold Hallelujah Over Babylon’s Fall

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

³ And again they shouted:

⁴ The twenty-four elders^(J) and the four living creatures^(K) fell down^(L) and worshiped God, who was seated on the throne. And they cried:

⁵ Then a voice came from the throne, saying:

⁶ Then I heard what sounded like a great multitude,^(P) like the roar of rushing waters^(Q) and like loud peals of thunder, shouting:

⁸ And when he had taken it, the four living creatures^(A) and the twenty-four elders^(B) fell down before the Lamb. Each one had a harp^(C) and they were holding golden bowls full of incense, which are the prayers^(D) of God’s people.

¹⁸ The wall was made of jasper,^(A) and the city of pure gold, as pure as glass.^(B)

⁷ These have come so that the proven genuineness^(A) of your faith—of greater worth than gold, which perishes even though refined by fire^(B)—may result in praise, glory and honor^(C) when Jesus Christ is revealed.^(D)

¹⁴ Because of the signs^(A) it was given power to perform on behalf of the first beast, it deceived^(B) the inhabitants of the earth.^(C) It ordered them to set up an image in honor of the beast who was wounded by the sword and yet lived.^{(D) 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^(E) the image to be killed.^{(F) 16} It also forced all people, great and small,^(G) rich and poor, free and slave, to receive a mark on their right hands or on their foreheads,^{(H) 17} so that they could not buy or sell unless they had the mark,^(I) which is the name of the beast or the number of its name.^(J)

¹⁸ This calls for wisdom.^(K) Let the person who has insight calculate the number of the beast, for it is the number of a man.^[a](L) That number is 666.

The Lamb and the 144,000

14 Then I looked, and there before me was the Lamb,^(M) standing on Mount Zion,^(N) and with him 144,000^(O) who had his name and his Father’s name^(P) written on their foreheads.^{(Q) 2} And I heard a sound from heaven like the roar of rushing waters^(R) and like a loud peal of thunder.^(S) The sound I heard was like that of harpists playing their harps.^{(T) 3} And they sang a new song^(U) before the throne and before the four living creatures^(V) and the elders.^(W) No one could learn the song except the 144,000^(X) who had been redeemed from the earth. ⁴ These are those who did not defile themselves with women, for they remained virgins.^(Y) They follow the Lamb wherever he goes.^(Z) They were purchased from among mankind^(AA) and offered as firstfruits^(AB) to God and the Lamb. ⁵ No lie was found in their mouths;^(AC) they are blameless.^(AD)

¹¹ But after the three and a half days^(A) the breath^[a] of life from God entered them,^(B) 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.”^(C) And they went up to heaven in a cloud,^(D) while their enemies looked on.