The Seven Bowls of God’s Wrath

16 Then I heard a loud voice from the temple^(A) saying to the seven angels,^(B) “Go, pour out the seven bowls of God’s wrath on the earth.”^(C)

² The first angel went and poured out his bowl on the land,^(D) and ugly, festering sores^(E) broke out on the people who had the mark of the beast and worshiped its image.^(F)

³ 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.^(G)

⁴ The third angel poured out his bowl on the rivers and springs of water,^(H) and they became blood.^{(I) 5} Then I heard the angel in charge of the waters say:

⁷ And I heard the altar^(O) respond:

⁸ The fourth angel^(R) poured out his bowl on the sun,^(S) and the sun was allowed to scorch people with fire.^{(T) 9} They were seared by the intense heat and they cursed the name of God,^(U) who had control over these plagues, but they refused to repent^(V) and glorify him.^(W)

¹⁰ The fifth angel poured out his bowl on the throne of the beast,^(X) and its kingdom was plunged into darkness.^(Y) People gnawed their tongues in agony ¹¹ and cursed^(Z) the God of heaven^(AA) because of their pains and their sores,^(AB) but they refused to repent of what they had done.^(AC)

¹² The sixth angel poured out his bowl on the great river Euphrates,^(AD) and its water was dried up to prepare the way^(AE) for the kings from the East.^{(AF) 13} Then I saw three impure spirits^(AG) that looked like frogs;^(AH) they came out of the mouth of the dragon,^(AI) out of the mouth of the beast^(AJ) and out of the mouth of the false prophet.^{(AK) 14} They are demonic spirits^(AL) that perform signs,^(AM) and they go out to the kings of the whole world,^(AN) to gather them for the battle^(AO) on the great day^(AP) of God Almighty.

¹⁶ Then they gathered the kings together^(AT) to the place that in Hebrew^(AU) is called Armageddon.^(AV)

¹⁷ The seventh angel poured out his bowl into the air,^(AW) and out of the temple^(AX) came a loud voice^(AY) from the throne, saying, “It is done!”^{(AZ) 18} Then there came flashes of lightning, rumblings, peals of thunder^(BA) and a severe earthquake.^(BB) No earthquake like it has ever occurred since mankind has been on earth,^(BC) so tremendous was the quake. ¹⁹ The great city^(BD) split into three parts, and the cities of the nations collapsed. God remembered^(BE) Babylon the Great^(BF) and gave her the cup filled with the wine of the fury of his wrath.^{(BG) 20} Every island fled away and the mountains could not be found.^{(BH) 21} From the sky huge hailstones,^(BI) each weighing about a hundred pounds,^[a] fell on people. And they cursed God^(BJ) on account of the plague of hail,^(BK) because the plague was so terrible.

Babylon, the Prostitute on the Beast

17 One of the seven angels^(BL) who had the seven bowls^(BM) came and said to me, “Come, I will show you the punishment^(BN) of the great prostitute,^(BO) who sits by many waters.^{(BP) 2} With her the kings of the earth committed adultery, and the inhabitants of the earth were intoxicated with the wine of her adulteries.”^(BQ)

³ Then the angel carried me away in the Spirit^(BR) into a wilderness.^(BS) There I saw a woman sitting on a scarlet^(BT) beast that was covered with blasphemous names^(BU) and had seven heads and ten horns.^{(BV) 4} The woman was dressed in purple and scarlet, and was glittering with gold, precious stones and pearls.^(BW) She held a golden cup^(BX) in her hand, filled with abominable things and the filth of her adulteries.^{(BY) 5} The name written on her forehead was a mystery:^(BZ)

⁶ I saw that the woman was drunk with the blood of God’s holy people,^(CC) the blood of those who bore testimony to Jesus.

When I saw her, I was greatly astonished. ⁷ Then the angel said to me: “Why are you astonished? I will explain to you the mystery^(CD) of the woman and of the beast she rides, which has the seven heads and ten horns.^{(CE) 8} The beast, which you saw, once was, now is not, and yet will come up out of the Abyss^(CF) and go to its destruction.^(CG) The inhabitants of the earth^(CH) whose names have not been written in the book of life^(CI) from the creation of the world will be astonished^(CJ) when they see the beast, because it once was, now is not, and yet will come.

⁹ “This calls for a mind with wisdom.^(CK) The seven heads^(CL) 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,^(CM) is an eighth king. He belongs to the seven and is going to his destruction.

¹² “The ten horns^(CN) you saw are ten kings who have not yet received a kingdom, but who for one hour^(CO) will receive authority as kings along with the beast. ¹³ They have one purpose and will give their power and authority to the beast.^{(CP) 14} They will wage war^(CQ) against the Lamb, but the Lamb will triumph over^(CR) them because he is Lord of lords and King of kings^(CS)—and with him will be his called, chosen^(CT) and faithful followers.”

¹⁵ Then the angel said to me, “The waters^(CU) you saw, where the prostitute sits, are peoples, multitudes, nations and languages.^{(CV) 16} The beast and the ten horns^(CW) you saw will hate the prostitute.^(CX) They will bring her to ruin^(CY) and leave her naked;^(CZ) they will eat her flesh^(DA) and burn her with fire.^{(DB) 17} For God has put it into their hearts^(DC) to accomplish his purpose by agreeing to hand over to the beast their royal authority,^(DD) until God’s words are fulfilled.^{(DE) 18} The woman you saw is the great city^(DF) that rules over the kings of the earth.”