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The Three Angels

And I saw another angel flying through the sky, carrying the eternal Good News to proclaim to the people who belong to this world—to every nation, tribe, language, and people. “Fear God,” he shouted. “Give glory to him. For the time has come when he will sit as judge. Worship him who made the heavens, the earth, the sea, and all the springs of water.”

Then another angel followed him through the sky, shouting, “Babylon is fallen—that great city is fallen—because she made all the nations of the world drink the wine of her passionate immorality.”

Then a third angel followed them, shouting, “Anyone who worships the beast and his statue or who accepts his mark on the forehead or on the hand 10 must drink the wine of God’s anger. It has been poured full strength into God’s cup of wrath. And they will be tormented with fire and burning sulfur in the presence of the holy angels and the Lamb. 11 The smoke of their torment will rise forever and ever, and they will have no relief day or night, for they have worshiped the beast and his statue and have accepted the mark of his name.”

12 This means that God’s holy people must endure persecution patiently, obeying his commands and maintaining their faith in Jesus.

13 And I heard a voice from heaven saying, “Write this down: Blessed are those who die in the Lord from now on. Yes, says the Spirit, they are blessed indeed, for they will rest from their hard work; for their good deeds follow them!”

The Harvest of the Earth

14 Then I saw a white cloud, and seated on the cloud was someone like the Son of Man.[a] He had a gold crown on his head and a sharp sickle in his hand.

15 Then another angel came from the Temple and shouted to the one sitting on the cloud, “Swing the sickle, for the time of harvest has come; the crop on earth is ripe.” 16 So the one sitting on the cloud swung his sickle over the earth, and the whole earth was harvested.

17 After that, another angel came from the Temple in heaven, and he also had a sharp sickle. 18 Then another angel, who had power to destroy with fire, came from the altar. He shouted to the angel with the sharp sickle, “Swing your sickle now to gather the clusters of grapes from the vines of the earth, for they are ripe for judgment.” 19 So the angel swung his sickle over the earth and loaded the grapes into the great winepress of God’s wrath. 20 The grapes were trampled in the winepress outside the city, and blood flowed from the winepress in a stream about 180 miles[b] long and as high as a horse’s bridle.

The Song of Moses and of the Lamb

15 Then I saw in heaven another marvelous event of great significance. Seven angels were holding the seven last plagues, which would bring God’s wrath to completion. I saw before me what seemed to be a glass sea mixed with fire. And on it stood all the people who had been victorious over the beast and his statue and the number representing his name. They were all holding harps that God had given them. And they were singing the song of Moses, the servant of God, and the song of the Lamb:

“Great and marvelous are your works,
    O Lord God, the Almighty.
Just and true are your ways,
    O King of the nations.[c]
Who will not fear you, Lord,
    and glorify your name?
    For you alone are holy.
All nations will come and worship before you,
    for your righteous deeds have been revealed.”

The Seven Bowls of the Seven Plagues

Then I looked and saw that the Temple in heaven, God’s Tabernacle, was thrown wide open. The seven angels who were holding the seven plagues came out of the Temple. They were clothed in spotless white linen[d] with gold sashes across their chests. Then one of the four living beings handed each of the seven angels a gold bowl filled with the wrath of God, who lives forever and ever. The Temple was filled with smoke from God’s glory and power. No one could enter the Temple until the seven angels had completed pouring out the seven plagues.

Footnotes

  1. 14:14 Or like a son of man. See Dan 7:13. “Son of Man” is a title Jesus used for himself.
  2. 14:20 Greek 1,600 stadia [300 kilometers].
  3. 15:3 Some manuscripts read King of the ages.
  4. 15:6 Other manuscripts read white stone; still others read white [garments] made of linen.

The Three Angels

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) 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)

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)

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.

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

“Yes,” says the Spirit,(X) “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,(Y) and seated on the cloud was one like a son of man[b](Z) with a crown(AA) of gold on his head and a sharp sickle in his hand. 15 Then another angel came out of the temple(AB) and called in a loud voice to him who was sitting on the cloud, “Take your sickle(AC) and reap, because the time to reap has come, for the harvest(AD) 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.(AE) 18 Still another angel, who had charge of the fire, came from the altar(AF) and called in a loud voice to him who had the sharp sickle, “Take your sharp sickle(AG) 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.(AH) 20 They were trampled in the winepress(AI) outside the city,(AJ) and blood(AK) flowed out of the press, rising as high as the horses’ bridles for a distance of 1,600 stadia.[c]

Seven Angels With Seven Plagues

15 I saw in heaven another great and marvelous sign:(AL) seven angels(AM) with the seven last plagues(AN)—last, because with them God’s wrath is completed. And I saw what looked like a sea of glass(AO) glowing with fire and, standing beside the sea, those who had been victorious(AP) over the beast(AQ) and its image(AR) and over the number of its name.(AS) They held harps(AT) given them by God and sang the song of God’s servant(AU) Moses(AV) and of the Lamb:(AW)

“Great and marvelous are your deeds,(AX)
    Lord God Almighty.(AY)
Just and true are your ways,(AZ)
    King of the nations.[d]
Who will not fear you, Lord,(BA)
    and bring glory to your name?(BB)
For you alone are holy.
All nations will come
    and worship before you,(BC)
for your righteous acts(BD) have been revealed.”[e]

After this I looked, and I saw in heaven the temple(BE)—that is, the tabernacle of the covenant law(BF)—and it was opened.(BG) Out of the temple(BH) came the seven angels with the seven plagues.(BI) They were dressed in clean, shining linen(BJ) and wore golden sashes around their chests.(BK) Then one of the four living creatures(BL) gave to the seven angels(BM) seven golden bowls filled with the wrath of God, who lives for ever and ever.(BN) And the temple was filled with smoke(BO) from the glory of God and from his power, and no one could enter the temple(BP) until the seven plagues of the seven angels were completed.

Footnotes

  1. Revelation 14:8 Isaiah 21:9
  2. Revelation 14:14 See Daniel 7:13.
  3. Revelation 14:20 That is, about 180 miles or about 300 kilometers
  4. Revelation 15:3 Some manuscripts ages
  5. 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.