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The Lamb and the 144,000

14 Then I saw the Lamb standing on Mount Zion, and with him were 144,000 who had his name and his Father’s name written on their foreheads. And I heard a sound from heaven like the roar of mighty ocean waves or the rolling of loud thunder. It was like the sound of many harpists playing together.

This great choir sang a wonderful new song in front of the throne of God and before the four living beings and the twenty-four elders. No one could learn this song except the 144,000 who had been redeemed from the earth. They have kept themselves as pure as virgins,[a] following the Lamb wherever he goes. They have been purchased from among the people on the earth as a special offering[b] to God and to the Lamb. They have told no lies; they are without blame.

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.[c] 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[d] 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.[e]
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[f] 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.

16 Then I heard a mighty voice from the Temple say to the seven angels, “Go your ways and pour out on the earth the seven bowls containing God’s wrath.”

So the first angel left the Temple and poured out his bowl on the earth, and horrible, malignant sores broke out on everyone who had the mark of the beast and who worshiped his statue.

Then the second angel poured out his bowl on the sea, and it became like the blood of a corpse. And everything in the sea died.

Then the third angel poured out his bowl on the rivers and springs, and they became blood. And I heard the angel who had authority over all water saying,

“You are just, O Holy One, who is and who always was,
    because you have sent these judgments.
Since they shed the blood
    of your holy people and your prophets,
you have given them blood to drink.
    It is their just reward.”

And I heard a voice from the altar,[g] saying,

“Yes, O Lord God, the Almighty,
    your judgments are true and just.”

Then the fourth angel poured out his bowl on the sun, causing it to scorch everyone with its fire. Everyone was burned by this blast of heat, and they cursed the name of God, who had control over all these plagues. They did not repent of their sins and turn to God and give him glory.

10 Then the fifth angel poured out his bowl on the throne of the beast, and his kingdom was plunged into darkness. His subjects ground their teeth[h] in anguish, 11 and they cursed the God of heaven for their pains and sores. But they did not repent of their evil deeds and turn to God.

12 Then the sixth angel poured out his bowl on the great Euphrates River, and it dried up so that the kings from the east could march their armies toward the west without hindrance. 13 And I saw three evil[i] spirits that looked like frogs leap from the mouths of the dragon, the beast, and the false prophet. 14 They are demonic spirits who work miracles and go out to all the rulers of the world to gather them for battle against the Lord on that great judgment day of God the Almighty.

15 “Look, I will come as unexpectedly as a thief! Blessed are all who are watching for me, who keep their clothing ready so they will not have to walk around naked and ashamed.”

16 And the demonic spirits gathered all the rulers and their armies to a place with the Hebrew name Armageddon.[j]

17 Then the seventh angel poured out his bowl into the air. And a mighty shout came from the throne in the Temple, saying, “It is finished!” 18 Then the thunder crashed and rolled, and lightning flashed. And a great earthquake struck—the worst since people were placed on the earth. 19 The great city of Babylon split into three sections, and the cities of many nations fell into heaps of rubble. So God remembered all of Babylon’s sins, and he made her drink the cup that was filled with the wine of his fierce wrath. 20 And every island disappeared, and all the mountains were leveled. 21 There was a terrible hailstorm, and hailstones weighing as much as seventy-five pounds[k] fell from the sky onto the people below. They cursed God because of the terrible plague of the hailstorm.

The Great Prostitute

17 One of the seven angels who had poured out the seven bowls came over and spoke to me. “Come with me,” he said, “and I will show you the judgment that is going to come on the great prostitute, who rules over many waters. The kings of the world have committed adultery with her, and the people who belong to this world have been made drunk by the wine of her immorality.”

So the angel took me in the Spirit[l] into the wilderness. There I saw a woman sitting on a scarlet beast that had seven heads and ten horns, and blasphemies against God were written all over it. The woman wore purple and scarlet clothing and beautiful jewelry made of gold and precious gems and pearls. In her hand she held a gold goblet full of obscenities and the impurities of her immorality. A mysterious name was written on her forehead: “Babylon the Great, Mother of All Prostitutes and Obscenities in the World.” I could see that she was drunk—drunk with the blood of God’s holy people who were witnesses for Jesus. I stared at her in complete amazement.

“Why are you so amazed?” the angel asked. “I will tell you the mystery of this woman and of the beast with seven heads and ten horns on which she sits. The beast you saw was once alive but isn’t now. And yet he will soon come up out of the bottomless pit[m] and go to eternal destruction. And the people who belong to this world, whose names were not written in the Book of Life before the world was made, will be amazed at the reappearance of this beast who had died.

“This calls for a mind with understanding: The seven heads of the beast represent the seven hills where the woman rules. They also represent seven kings. 10 Five kings have already fallen, the sixth now reigns, and the seventh is yet to come, but his reign will be brief.

11 “The scarlet beast that was, but is no longer, is the eighth king. He is like the other seven, and he, too, is headed for destruction. 12 The ten horns of the beast are ten kings who have not yet risen to power. They will be appointed to their kingdoms for one brief moment to reign with the beast. 13 They will all agree to give him their power and authority. 14 Together they will go to war against the Lamb, but the Lamb will defeat them because he is Lord of all lords and King of all kings. And his called and chosen and faithful ones will be with him.”

15 Then the angel said to me, “The waters where the prostitute is ruling represent masses of people of every nation and language. 16 The scarlet beast and his ten horns all hate the prostitute. They will strip her naked, eat her flesh, and burn her remains with fire. 17 For God has put a plan into their minds, a plan that will carry out his purposes. They will agree to give their authority to the scarlet beast, and so the words of God will be fulfilled. 18 And this woman you saw in your vision represents the great city that rules over the kings of the world.”

The Fall of Babylon

18 After all this I saw another angel come down from heaven with great authority, and the earth grew bright with his splendor. He gave a mighty shout:

“Babylon is fallen—that great city is fallen!
    She has become a home for demons.
She is a hideout for every foul[n] spirit,
    a hideout for every foul vulture
    and every foul and dreadful animal.[o]
For all the nations have fallen[p]
    because of the wine of her passionate immorality.
The kings of the world
    have committed adultery with her.
Because of her desires for extravagant luxury,
    the merchants of the world have grown rich.”

Then I heard another voice calling from heaven,

“Come away from her, my people.
    Do not take part in her sins,
    or you will be punished with her.
For her sins are piled as high as heaven,
    and God remembers her evil deeds.
Do to her as she has done to others.
    Double her penalty[q] for all her evil deeds.
She brewed a cup of terror for others,
    so brew twice as much[r] for her.
She glorified herself and lived in luxury,
    so match it now with torment and sorrow.
She boasted in her heart,
    ‘I am queen on my throne.
I am no helpless widow,
    and I have no reason to mourn.’
Therefore, these plagues will overtake her in a single day—
    death and mourning and famine.
She will be completely consumed by fire,
    for the Lord God who judges her is mighty.”

And the kings of the world who committed adultery with her and enjoyed her great luxury will mourn for her as they see the smoke rising from her charred remains. 10 They will stand at a distance, terrified by her great torment. They will cry out,

“How terrible, how terrible for you,
    O Babylon, you great city!
In a single moment
    God’s judgment came on you.”

11 The merchants of the world will weep and mourn for her, for there is no one left to buy their goods. 12 She bought great quantities of gold, silver, jewels, and pearls; fine linen, purple, silk, and scarlet cloth; things made of fragrant thyine wood, ivory goods, and objects made of expensive wood; and bronze, iron, and marble. 13 She also bought cinnamon, spice, incense, myrrh, frankincense, wine, olive oil, fine flour, wheat, cattle, sheep, horses, wagons, and bodies—that is, human slaves.

14 “The fancy things you loved so much
    are gone,” they cry.
“All your luxuries and splendor
    are gone forever,
    never to be yours again.”

15 The merchants who became wealthy by selling her these things will stand at a distance, terrified by her great torment. They will weep and cry out,

16 “How terrible, how terrible for that great city!
    She was clothed in finest purple and scarlet linens,
    decked out with gold and precious stones and pearls!
17 In a single moment
    all the wealth of the city is gone!”

And all the captains of the merchant ships and their passengers and sailors and crews will stand at a distance. 18 They will cry out as they watch the smoke ascend, and they will say, “Where is there another city as great as this?” 19 And they will weep and throw dust on their heads to show their grief. And they will cry out,

“How terrible, how terrible for that great city!
    The shipowners became wealthy
    by transporting her great wealth on the seas.
In a single moment it is all gone.”

20 Rejoice over her fate, O heaven
    and people of God and apostles and prophets!
For at last God has judged her
    for your sakes.

21 Then a mighty angel picked up a boulder the size of a huge millstone. He threw it into the ocean and shouted,

“Just like this, the great city Babylon
    will be thrown down with violence
    and will never be found again.
22 The sound of harps, singers, flutes, and trumpets
    will never be heard in you again.
No craftsmen and no trades
    will ever be found in you again.
The sound of the mill
    will never be heard in you again.
23 The light of a lamp
    will never shine in you again.
The happy voices of brides and grooms
    will never be heard in you again.
For your merchants were the greatest in the world,
    and you deceived the nations with your sorceries.
24 In your[s] streets flowed the blood of the prophets and of God’s holy people
    and the blood of people slaughtered all over the world.”

Footnotes

  1. 14:4a Greek They are virgins who have not defiled themselves with women.
  2. 14:4b Greek as firstfruits.
  3. 14:14 Or like a son of man. See Dan 7:13. “Son of Man” is a title Jesus used for himself.
  4. 14:20 Greek 1,600 stadia [300 kilometers].
  5. 15:3 Some manuscripts read King of the ages.
  6. 15:6 Other manuscripts read white stone; still others read white [garments] made of linen.
  7. 16:7 Greek I heard the altar.
  8. 16:10 Greek gnawed their tongues.
  9. 16:13 Greek unclean.
  10. 16:16 Or Harmagedon.
  11. 16:21 Greek 1 talent [34 kilograms].
  12. 17:3 Or in spirit.
  13. 17:8 Or the abyss, or the underworld.
  14. 18:2a Greek unclean; also in each of the two following phrases.
  15. 18:2b Some manuscripts condense the last two lines to read a hideout for every foul [unclean] and dreadful vulture.
  16. 18:3 Some manuscripts read have drunk.
  17. 18:6a Or Give her an equal penalty.
  18. 18:6b Or brew just as much.
  19. 18:24 Greek her.

The Lamb and the 144,000

14 Then I looked, and there before me was the Lamb,(A) standing on Mount Zion,(B) and with him 144,000(C) who had his name and his Father’s name(D) written on their foreheads.(E) And I heard a sound from heaven like the roar of rushing waters(F) and like a loud peal of thunder.(G) The sound I heard was like that of harpists playing their harps.(H) And they sang a new song(I) before the throne and before the four living creatures(J) and the elders.(K) No one could learn the song except the 144,000(L) who had been redeemed from the earth. These are those who did not defile themselves with women, for they remained virgins.(M) They follow the Lamb wherever he goes.(N) They were purchased from among mankind(O) and offered as firstfruits(P) to God and the Lamb. No lie was found in their mouths;(Q) they are blameless.(R)

The Three Angels

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

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

A third angel followed them and said in a loud voice: “If anyone worships the beast(AB) and its image(AC) and receives its mark on their forehead(AD) or on their hand, 10 they, too, will drink the wine of God’s fury,(AE) which has been poured full strength into the cup of his wrath.(AF) They will be tormented with burning sulfur(AG) in the presence of the holy angels and of the Lamb. 11 And the smoke of their torment will rise for ever and ever.(AH) There will be no rest day or night(AI) for those who worship the beast and its image,(AJ) or for anyone who receives the mark of its name.”(AK) 12 This calls for patient endurance(AL) on the part of the people of God(AM) who keep his commands(AN) 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(AO) from now on.”

“Yes,” says the Spirit,(AP) “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,(AQ) and seated on the cloud was one like a son of man[b](AR) with a crown(AS) of gold on his head and a sharp sickle in his hand. 15 Then another angel came out of the temple(AT) and called in a loud voice to him who was sitting on the cloud, “Take your sickle(AU) and reap, because the time to reap has come, for the harvest(AV) 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.(AW) 18 Still another angel, who had charge of the fire, came from the altar(AX) and called in a loud voice to him who had the sharp sickle, “Take your sharp sickle(AY) 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.(AZ) 20 They were trampled in the winepress(BA) outside the city,(BB) and blood(BC) 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:(BD) seven angels(BE) with the seven last plagues(BF)—last, because with them God’s wrath is completed. And I saw what looked like a sea of glass(BG) glowing with fire and, standing beside the sea, those who had been victorious(BH) over the beast(BI) and its image(BJ) and over the number of its name.(BK) They held harps(BL) given them by God and sang the song of God’s servant(BM) Moses(BN) and of the Lamb:(BO)

“Great and marvelous are your deeds,(BP)
    Lord God Almighty.(BQ)
Just and true are your ways,(BR)
    King of the nations.[d]
Who will not fear you, Lord,(BS)
    and bring glory to your name?(BT)
For you alone are holy.
All nations will come
    and worship before you,(BU)
for your righteous acts(BV) have been revealed.”[e]

After this I looked, and I saw in heaven the temple(BW)—that is, the tabernacle of the covenant law(BX)—and it was opened.(BY) Out of the temple(BZ) came the seven angels with the seven plagues.(CA) They were dressed in clean, shining linen(CB) and wore golden sashes around their chests.(CC) Then one of the four living creatures(CD) gave to the seven angels(CE) seven golden bowls filled with the wrath of God, who lives for ever and ever.(CF) And the temple was filled with smoke(CG) from the glory of God and from his power, and no one could enter the temple(CH) 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(CI) saying to the seven angels,(CJ) “Go, pour out the seven bowls of God’s wrath on the earth.”(CK)

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

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.(CO)

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

“You are just in these judgments,(CR) O Holy One,(CS)
    you who are and who were;(CT)
for they have shed the blood of your holy people and your prophets,(CU)
    and you have given them blood to drink(CV) as they deserve.”

And I heard the altar(CW) respond:

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

The fourth angel(CZ) poured out his bowl on the sun,(DA) and the sun was allowed to scorch people with fire.(DB) They were seared by the intense heat and they cursed the name of God,(DC) who had control over these plagues, but they refused to repent(DD) and glorify him.(DE)

10 The fifth angel poured out his bowl on the throne of the beast,(DF) and its kingdom was plunged into darkness.(DG) People gnawed their tongues in agony 11 and cursed(DH) the God of heaven(DI) because of their pains and their sores,(DJ) but they refused to repent of what they had done.(DK)

12 The sixth angel poured out his bowl on the great river Euphrates,(DL) and its water was dried up to prepare the way(DM) for the kings from the East.(DN) 13 Then I saw three impure spirits(DO) that looked like frogs;(DP) they came out of the mouth of the dragon,(DQ) out of the mouth of the beast(DR) and out of the mouth of the false prophet.(DS) 14 They are demonic spirits(DT) that perform signs,(DU) and they go out to the kings of the whole world,(DV) to gather them for the battle(DW) on the great day(DX) of God Almighty.

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

16 Then they gathered the kings together(EB) to the place that in Hebrew(EC) is called Armageddon.(ED)

17 The seventh angel poured out his bowl into the air,(EE) and out of the temple(EF) came a loud voice(EG) from the throne, saying, “It is done!”(EH) 18 Then there came flashes of lightning, rumblings, peals of thunder(EI) and a severe earthquake.(EJ) No earthquake like it has ever occurred since mankind has been on earth,(EK) so tremendous was the quake. 19 The great city(EL) split into three parts, and the cities of the nations collapsed. God remembered(EM) Babylon the Great(EN) and gave her the cup filled with the wine of the fury of his wrath.(EO) 20 Every island fled away and the mountains could not be found.(EP) 21 From the sky huge hailstones,(EQ) each weighing about a hundred pounds,[f] fell on people. And they cursed God(ER) on account of the plague of hail,(ES) because the plague was so terrible.

Babylon, the Prostitute on the Beast

17 One of the seven angels(ET) who had the seven bowls(EU) came and said to me, “Come, I will show you the punishment(EV) of the great prostitute,(EW) who sits by many waters.(EX) With her the kings of the earth committed adultery, and the inhabitants of the earth were intoxicated with the wine of her adulteries.”(EY)

Then the angel carried me away in the Spirit(EZ) into a wilderness.(FA) There I saw a woman sitting on a scarlet(FB) beast that was covered with blasphemous names(FC) and had seven heads and ten horns.(FD) The woman was dressed in purple and scarlet, and was glittering with gold, precious stones and pearls.(FE) She held a golden cup(FF) in her hand, filled with abominable things and the filth of her adulteries.(FG) The name written on her forehead was a mystery:(FH)

babylon the great(FI)

the mother of prostitutes(FJ)

and of the abominations of the earth.

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

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

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

15 Then the angel said to me, “The waters(GC) you saw, where the prostitute sits, are peoples, multitudes, nations and languages.(GD) 16 The beast and the ten horns(GE) you saw will hate the prostitute.(GF) They will bring her to ruin(GG) and leave her naked;(GH) they will eat her flesh(GI) and burn her with fire.(GJ) 17 For God has put it into their hearts(GK) to accomplish his purpose by agreeing to hand over to the beast their royal authority,(GL) until God’s words are fulfilled.(GM) 18 The woman you saw is the great city(GN) that rules over the kings of the earth.”

Lament Over Fallen Babylon

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

“‘Fallen! Fallen is Babylon the Great!’[g](GR)
    She has become a dwelling for demons
and a haunt for every impure spirit,(GS)
    a haunt for every unclean bird,
    a haunt for every unclean and detestable animal.(GT)
For all the nations have drunk
    the maddening wine of her adulteries.(GU)
The kings of the earth committed adultery with her,(GV)
    and the merchants of the earth grew rich(GW) from her excessive luxuries.”(GX)

Warning to Escape Babylon’s Judgment

Then I heard another voice from heaven say:

“‘Come out of her, my people,’[h](GY)
    so that you will not share in her sins,
    so that you will not receive any of her plagues;(GZ)
for her sins are piled up to heaven,(HA)
    and God has remembered(HB) her crimes.
Give back to her as she has given;
    pay her back(HC) double(HD) for what she has done.
    Pour her a double portion from her own cup.(HE)
Give her as much torment and grief
    as the glory and luxury she gave herself.(HF)
In her heart she boasts,
    ‘I sit enthroned as queen.
I am not a widow;[i]
    I will never mourn.’(HG)
Therefore in one day(HH) her plagues will overtake her:
    death, mourning and famine.
She will be consumed by fire,(HI)
    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(HJ) and shared her luxury(HK) see the smoke of her burning,(HL) they will weep and mourn over her.(HM) 10 Terrified at her torment, they will stand far off(HN) and cry:

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

11 “The merchants(HQ) of the earth will weep and mourn(HR) over her because no one buys their cargoes anymore(HS) 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;(HT) 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.(HU)

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(HV) will stand far off,(HW) terrified at her torment. They will weep and mourn(HX) 16 and cry out:

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

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

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

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

The Finality of Babylon’s Doom

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

“With such violence
    the great city(IP) 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.(IQ)
No worker of any trade
    will ever be found in you again.
The sound of a millstone
    will never be heard in you again.(IR)
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.(IS)
Your merchants were the world’s important people.(IT)
    By your magic spell(IU) all the nations were led astray.
24 In her was found the blood of prophets and of God’s holy people,(IV)
    of all who have been slaughtered on the earth.”(IW)

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.
  6. Revelation 16:21 Or about 45 kilograms
  7. Revelation 18:2 Isaiah 21:9
  8. Revelation 18:4 Jer. 51:45
  9. Revelation 18:7 See Isaiah 47:7,8.