Revelation 19
New Revised Standard Version Catholic Edition
The Rejoicing in Heaven
19 After this I heard what seemed to be the loud voice of a great multitude in heaven, saying,
“Hallelujah!
Salvation and glory and power to our God,
2 for his judgments are true and just;
he has judged the great whore
who corrupted the earth with her fornication,
and he has avenged on her the blood of his servants.”[a]
3 Once more they said,
“Hallelujah!
The smoke goes up from her forever and ever.”
4 And the twenty-four elders and the four living creatures fell down and worshiped God who is seated on the throne, saying,
“Amen. Hallelujah!”
5 And from the throne came a voice saying,
“Praise our God,
all you his servants,[b]
and all who fear him,
small and great.”
6 Then I heard what seemed to be the voice of a great multitude, like the sound of many waters and like the sound of mighty thunderpeals, crying out,
“Hallelujah!
For the Lord our God
the Almighty reigns.
7 Let us rejoice and exult
and give him the glory,
for the marriage of the Lamb has come,
and his bride has made herself ready;
8 to her it has been granted to be clothed
with fine linen, bright and pure”—
for the fine linen is the righteous deeds of the saints.
9 And the angel said[c] to me, “Write this: Blessed are those who are invited to the marriage supper of the Lamb.” And he said to me, “These are true words of God.” 10 Then I fell down at his feet to worship him, but he said to me, “You must not do that! I am a fellow servant[d] with you and your comrades[e] who hold the testimony of Jesus.[f] Worship God! For the testimony of Jesus[g] is the spirit of prophecy.”
The Rider on the White Horse
11 Then I saw heaven opened, and there was a white horse! Its rider is called Faithful and True, and in righteousness he judges and makes war. 12 His eyes are like a flame of fire, and on his head are many diadems; and he has a name inscribed that no one knows but himself. 13 He is clothed in a robe dipped in[h] blood, and his name is called The Word of God. 14 And the armies of heaven, wearing fine linen, white and pure, were following him on white horses. 15 From his mouth comes a sharp sword with which to strike down the nations, and he will rule[i] them with a rod of iron; he will tread the wine press of the fury of the wrath of God the Almighty. 16 On his robe and on his thigh he has a name inscribed, “King of kings and Lord of lords.”
The Beast and Its Armies Defeated
17 Then I saw an angel standing in the sun, and with a loud voice he called to all the birds that fly in midheaven, “Come, gather for the great supper of God, 18 to eat the flesh of kings, the flesh of captains, the flesh of the mighty, the flesh of horses and their riders—flesh of all, both free and slave, both small and great.” 19 Then I saw the beast and the kings of the earth with their armies gathered to make war against the rider on the horse and against his army. 20 And the beast was captured, and with it the false prophet who had performed in its presence the signs by which he deceived those who had received the mark of the beast and those who worshiped its image. These two were thrown alive into the lake of fire that burns with sulfur. 21 And the rest were killed by the sword of the rider on the horse, the sword that came from his mouth; and all the birds were gorged with their flesh.
Footnotes
- Revelation 19:2 Gk slaves
- Revelation 19:5 Gk slaves
- Revelation 19:9 Gk he said
- Revelation 19:10 Gk slave
- Revelation 19:10 Gk brothers
- Revelation 19:10 Or to Jesus
- Revelation 19:10 Or to Jesus
- Revelation 19:13 Other ancient authorities read sprinkled with
- Revelation 19:15 Or will shepherd
Revelation 19
Authorized (King James) Version
19 And after these things I heard a great voice of much people in heaven, saying, Alleluia; Salvation, and glory, and honour, and power, unto the Lord our God: 2 for true and righteous are his judgments: for he hath judged the great whore, which did corrupt the earth with her fornication, and hath avenged the blood of his servants at her hand. 3 And again they said, Alleluia. And her smoke rose up for ever and ever. 4 And the four and twenty elders and the four beasts fell down and worshipped God that sat on the throne, saying, Amen; Alleluia.
5 And a voice came out of the throne, saying, Praise our God, all ye his servants, and ye that fear him, both small and great. 6 And I heard as it were the voice of a great multitude, and as the voice of many waters, and as the voice of mighty thunderings, saying, Alleluia: for the Lord God omnipotent reigneth. 7 Let us be glad and rejoice, and give honour to him: for the marriage of the Lamb is come, and his wife hath made herself ready. 8 And to her was granted that she should be arrayed in fine linen, clean and white: for the fine linen is the righteousness of saints.
9 And he saith unto me, Write, Blessed are they which are called unto the marriage supper of the Lamb. And he saith unto me, These are the true sayings of God. 10 And I fell at his feet to worship him. And he said unto me, See thou do it not: I am thy fellowservant, and of thy brethren that have the testimony of Jesus: worship God: for the testimony of Jesus is the spirit of prophecy.
11 And I saw heaven opened, and behold a white horse; and he that sat upon him was called Faithful and True, and in righteousness he doth judge and make war. 12 His eyes were as a flame of fire, and on his head were many crowns; and he had a name written, that no man knew, but he himself. 13 And he was clothed with a vesture dipped in blood: and his name is called The Word of God. 14 And the armies which were in heaven followed him upon white horses, clothed in fine linen, white and clean. 15 And out of his mouth goeth a sharp sword, that with it he should smite the nations: and he shall rule them with a rod of iron: and he treadeth the winepress of the fierceness and wrath of Almighty God. 16 And he hath on his vesture and on his thigh a name written, KING OF KINGS, AND LORD OF LORDS.
17 And I saw an angel standing in the sun; and he cried with a loud voice, saying to all the fowls that fly in the midst of heaven, Come and gather yourselves together unto the supper of the great God; 18 that ye may eat the flesh of kings, and the flesh of captains, and the flesh of mighty men, and the flesh of horses, and of them that sit on them, and the flesh of all men, both free and bond, both small and great. 19 And I saw the beast, and the kings of the earth, and their armies, gathered together to make war against him that sat on the horse, and against his army. 20 And the beast was taken, and with him the false prophet that wrought miracles before him, with which he deceived them that had received the mark of the beast, and them that worshipped his image. These both were cast alive into a lake of fire burning with brimstone. 21 And the remnant were slain with the sword of him that sat upon the horse, which sword proceeded out of his mouth: and all the fowls were filled with their flesh.
Revelation 19
New English Translation
19 After these things I heard what sounded like the loud voice of a vast throng in heaven, saying,
“Hallelujah! Salvation and glory and power belong to our God,
2 because his judgments are true and just.[a]
For he has judged[b] the great prostitute
who corrupted the earth with her sexual immorality,
and has avenged the blood of his servants[c] poured out by her own hands!”[d]
3 Then[e] a second time the crowd shouted, “Hallelujah!” The smoke rises from her forever and ever.[f] 4 The twenty-four elders and the four living creatures threw themselves to the ground[g] and worshiped God, who was seated on the throne, saying: “Amen! Hallelujah!”
5 Then[h] a voice came from the throne, saying:
“Praise our God
all you his servants,
and all you who fear him,
both the small and the great!”
The Wedding Celebration of the Lamb
6 Then[i] I heard what sounded like the voice of a vast throng, like the roar of many waters and like loud crashes of thunder. They were shouting:[j]
“Hallelujah!
For the Lord our God,[k] the All-Powerful,[l] reigns!
7 Let us rejoice[m] and exult
and give him glory,
because the wedding celebration of the Lamb has come,
and his bride has made herself ready.
8 She was permitted to be dressed in bright, clean, fine linen”[n] (for the fine linen is the righteous deeds of the saints).[o]
9 Then[p] the angel[q] said to me, “Write the following: Blessed are those who are invited to the banquet at the wedding celebration of the Lamb!” He also said to me, “These are the true words of God.” 10 So[r] I threw myself down[s] at his feet to worship him, but[t] he said, “Do not do this![u] I am only[v] a fellow servant[w] with you and your brothers and sisters[x] who hold to the testimony about[y] Jesus. Worship God, for the testimony about Jesus is the spirit of prophecy.”
The Son of God Goes to War
11 Then[z] I saw heaven opened and here came[aa] a white horse! The[ab] one riding it was called “Faithful” and “True,” and with justice[ac] he judges and goes to war. 12 His eyes are like a fiery[ad] flame and there are many diadem crowns[ae] on his head. He has[af] a name written[ag] that no one knows except himself. 13 He is dressed in clothing dipped[ah] in blood, and he is called[ai] the Word of God. 14 The[aj] armies that are in heaven, dressed in white, clean, fine linen,[ak] were following him on white horses. 15 From his mouth extends a sharp sword, so that with it he can strike the nations.[al] He[am] will rule[an] them with an iron rod,[ao] and he stomps the winepress[ap] of the furious[aq] wrath of God, the All-Powerful.[ar] 16 He has a name written on his clothing and on his thigh: “King of kings and Lord of lords.”
17 Then[as] I saw one angel standing in[at] the sun, and he shouted in a loud voice to all the birds flying high in the sky:[au]
“Come, gather around for the great banquet[av] of God,
18 to eat[aw] your fill[ax] of the flesh of kings,
the flesh of generals,[ay]
the flesh of powerful people,
the flesh of horses and those who ride them,
and the flesh of all people, both free and slave,[az]
and small and great!”
19 Then[ba] I saw the beast and the kings of the earth and their armies assembled to do battle with the one who rode the horse and with his army. 20 Now[bb] the beast was seized, and along with him the false prophet who had performed the signs on his behalf[bc]—signs by which he deceived those who had received the mark of the beast and those who worshiped his image. Both of them were thrown alive into the lake of fire burning with sulfur.[bd] 21 The[be] others were killed by the sword that extended from the mouth of the one who rode the horse, and all the birds gorged[bf] themselves with their flesh.
Footnotes
- Revelation 19:2 tn Compare the similar phrase in Rev 16:7.
- Revelation 19:2 tn Or “has punished.” See BDAG 568 s.v. κρίνω 5.b.α, describing the OT background which involves both the vindication of the innocent and the punishment of the guilty.
- Revelation 19:2 tn See the note on the word “servants” in 1:1.
- Revelation 19:2 tn Grk “from her hand” (referring to her responsibility in causing the blood of God’s followers to be shed).
- Revelation 19:3 tn Here καί (kai) has been translated as “then” to indicate the implied sequence within the narrative.
- Revelation 19:3 tn Or “her smoke ascends forever and ever.”
- Revelation 19:4 tn Grk “creatures fell down.” BDAG 815 s.v. πίπτω 1.b.α.ב. has “fall down, throw oneself to the ground as a sign of devotion or humility, before high-ranking persons or divine beings.”
- Revelation 19:5 tn Here καί (kai) has been translated as “then” to indicate the implied sequence within the narrative.
- Revelation 19:6 tn Here καί (kai) has been translated as “then” to indicate the implied sequence within the narrative.
- Revelation 19:6 tn Grk “like the voice of a large crowd…saying.” Because of the complexity of the Greek sentence, a new sentence was started here in the translation by supplying the words “They were.”
- Revelation 19:6 tc Several mss (א2 P 1611 2053 2344 MK lat) read “the Lord our God” (κύριος ὁ θεός ἡμῶν, kurios ho theos hēmōn). Other significant mss (A 1006 1841), however, omit the “our” (ἡμῶν). Further, certain mss (051 MA) omit “Lord” (κύριος), while others (including א*) change the order of the statement to “God our Lord” (ὁ θεός ὁ κύριος ἡμῶν). The expression “the Lord God, the All-Powerful” occurs in 6 other places in Revelation (1:8; 4:8; 11:17; 15:3; 16:7; 21:22) and the pronoun “our” is never used. Scribes familiar with the expression in this book, and especially with the frequent κύριος ὁ θεὸς ὁ παντοκράτωρ (kurios ho theos ho pantokratōr; “the Lord God, the All-Powerful”) in the OT Prophets (LXX; cf. Jer 39:19; Hos 12:6; Amos 3:13; 4:13; 5:8, 14, 15, 16, 27; 9:5, 6, 15; Nah 3:5; Zech 10:3), would naturally omit the pronoun. Its presence may have arisen due to liturgical motivations or to conform to the expression “our God” in 19:1, 5, but this seems much less likely than an aversion to using the pronoun here and only here in the Greek Bible in the fuller title κύριος ὁ θεὸς ὁ παντοκράτωρ.
- Revelation 19:6 tn On this word BDAG 755 s.v. παντοκράτωρ states, “the Almighty, All-Powerful, Omnipotent (One) only of God…(ὁ) κύριος ὁ θεὸς ὁ π.…Rv 1:8; 4:8; 11:17; 15:3; 16:7; 21:22…κύριος ὁ θεὸς ἡμῶν ὁ π. Rv 19:6.”
- Revelation 19:7 tn This verb and the next two verbs are hortatory subjunctives (giving exhortations).
- Revelation 19:8 tn On the term translated “fine linen,” BDAG 185 s.v. βύσσινος states, “made of fine linen, subst. τὸ β. fine linen, linen garment…Rv 18:12…16; 19:8, 14.”
- Revelation 19:8 sn This phrase is treated as a parenthetical explanation by the author.
- Revelation 19:9 tn Here καί (kai) has been translated as “then” to indicate the implied sequence within the narrative.
- Revelation 19:9 tn Grk “he”; the referent (the angel) has been specified in the translation for clarity.
- Revelation 19:10 tn Here καί (kai) has been translated as “so” to indicate the implied result of the angel’s announcement.
- Revelation 19:10 tn Grk “I fell down at his feet.” BDAG 815 s.v. πίπτω 1.b.α.ב. has “fall down, throw oneself to the ground as a sign of devotion or humility, before high-ranking persons or divine beings.”
- Revelation 19:10 tn Here καί (kai) has been translated as “but” to indicate the contrast present in this context.
- Revelation 19:10 tn On the elliptical expression ὅρα μή (hora mē) BDAG 720 s.v. ὁράω B.2 states: “Elliptically…ὅρα μή (sc. ποιήσῃς) watch out! don’t do that! Rv 19:10; 22:9.”
- Revelation 19:10 tn The lowliness of a slave is emphasized in the Greek text with the emphatic position of σύνδουλος (sundoulos). The use of “only” helps to bring this nuance out in English.
- Revelation 19:10 tn Grk “fellow slave.” See the note on the word “servants” in v. 2.
- Revelation 19:10 tn The Greek term “brother” literally refers to family relationships, but here it is used in a broader sense to connote familial relationships within the family of God (cf. BDAG 18 s.v. ἀδελφός 2.a).
- Revelation 19:10 tn The genitive ᾿Ιησοῦ (Iēsou) has been translated as an objective genitive here. A subjective genitive, also possible, would produce the meaning “who hold to what Jesus testifies.”
- Revelation 19:11 tn Here καί (kai) has been translated as “then” to indicate the implied sequence within the narrative.
- Revelation 19:11 tn The phrase “and here came” expresses the sense of καὶ ἰδού (kai idou).
- Revelation 19:11 tn A new sentence was started in the translation at this point and καί (kai) was not translated because of differences between Greek and English style.
- Revelation 19:11 tn Or “in righteousness,” but since the context here involves the punishment of the wicked and the vindication of the saints, “justice” was preferred.
- Revelation 19:12 tn The genitive noun πυρός (puros) has been translated as an attributive genitive (see also Rev 1:14).
- Revelation 19:12 tn For the translation of διάδημα (diadēma) as “diadem crown” see L&N 6.196.sn Diadem crowns were a type of crown used as a symbol of the highest ruling authority in a given area, and thus often associated with kingship.
- Revelation 19:12 tn Grk “head, having.” Because of the length and complexity of the Greek sentence, a new sentence was started here in the translation.
- Revelation 19:12 tn Although many translations supply a prepositional phrase to specify what the name was written on (“upon Him,” NASB; “on him,” NIV), there is no location for the name specified in the Greek text.
- Revelation 19:13 tc It appears that “dipped” (βεβαμμένον, bebammenon), supported by several majuscules and other witnesses (A 051 M), is the original reading. Due to the lack of the preposition “in” (ἐν, en) after the verb (βεβαμμένον αἵματι, bebammenon haimati), and also probably because of literary allusions to Isa 63:3, several mss and versions seem to have changed the text to “sprinkled” (either ῥεραντισμένον [rherantismenon] in P 2329 al; ἐρραντισμένον [errantismenon] in 1006 1841; ἐρραμμένον [errammenon] in 2053 2062; or ῥεραμμένον [rherammenon] in 1611; or in one case περιρεραμμένον [perirerammenon] in א[2]). The reading most likely to give rise to the others is “dipped.”tn Or perhaps “soaked.”
- Revelation 19:13 tn Grk “the name of him is called.”
- Revelation 19:14 tn Here καί (kai) has not been translated because of differences between Greek and English style.
- Revelation 19:14 tn On the term translated “fine linen,” BDAG 185 s.v. βύσσινος states, “made of fine linen, subst. τὸ β. fine linen, linen garment…Rv 18:12, 16; 19:8, 14.”
- Revelation 19:15 tn Or “the Gentiles” (the same Greek word may be translated “Gentiles” or “nations”).
- Revelation 19:15 tn Here καί (kai) has not been translated because of differences between Greek and English style.
- Revelation 19:15 tn Grk “will shepherd.”
- Revelation 19:15 tn Or “scepter.” The Greek term ῥάβδος (rhabdos) can mean either “rod” or “scepter.” sn A quotation from Ps 2:9 (see also Rev 2:27; 12:5).
- Revelation 19:15 sn He stomps the winepress. See Isa 63:3, where Messiah does this alone (usually several individuals would join in the process), and Rev 14:20.
- Revelation 19:15 tn The genitive θυμοῦ (thumou) has been translated as an attributed genitive. Following BDAG 461 s.v. θυμός 2, the combination of the genitives of θυμός (thumos) and ὀργή (orgē) in Rev 16:19 and 19:15 are taken to be a strengthening of the thought as in the OT and Qumran literature (Exod 32:12; Jer 32:37; Lam 2:3; CD 10:9).
- Revelation 19:15 tn On this word BDAG 755 s.v. παντοκράτωρ states, “the Almighty, All-Powerful, Omnipotent (One) only of God…(ὁ) κύριος ὁ θεὸς ὁ π.…Rv 1:8; 4:8; 11:17; 15:3; 16:7; 21:22.”
- Revelation 19:17 tn Here καί (kai) has been translated as “then” to indicate the implied sequence within the narrative.
- Revelation 19:17 tn The precise significance of ἐν (en) here is difficult to determine.
- Revelation 19:17 tn On μεσουρανήματι (mesouranēmati) here see L&N 1.10: “high in the sky, midpoint in the sky, directly overhead, straight above in the sky.” The birds mentioned here are carrion birds like vultures, circling high overhead, and now being summoned to feast on the corpses.
- Revelation 19:17 tn This is the same Greek word (δεῖπνον, deipnon) used in 19:9.
- Revelation 19:18 tn The ἵνα (hina) clause, insofar as it is related to the first imperative, has the force of an imperative.
- Revelation 19:18 tn The idea of eating “your fill” is evident in the context with the use of χορτάζω (chortazō) in v. 21.
- Revelation 19:18 tn Grk “chiliarchs”; normally a chiliarch was a military officer commanding a thousand soldiers, but here probably used of higher-ranking commanders like generals (see L&N 55.15; cf. Rev 6:15).
- Revelation 19:18 tn See the note on the word “servants” in 1:1.
- Revelation 19:19 tn Here καί (kai) has been translated as “then” to indicate the implied sequence within the narrative.
- Revelation 19:20 tn Here καί (kai) has been translated as “now” to indicate the introduction of an unexpected development in the account: The opposing armies do not come together in battle; rather the leader of one side is captured.
- Revelation 19:20 tn For this meaning see BDAG 342 s.v. ἐνώπιον 4.b, “by the authority of, on behalf of Rv 13:12, 14; 19:20.”
- Revelation 19:20 tn Traditionally, “brimstone.”
- Revelation 19:21 tn Here καί (kai) has not been translated because of differences between Greek and English style.
- Revelation 19:21 tn On the translation of ἐχορτάσθησαν (echortasthēsan) BDAG 1087 s.v. χορτάζω 1.a states, “of animals, pass. in act. sense πάντα τὰ ὄρνεα ἐχορτάσθησαν ἐκ τῶν σαρκῶν αὐτῶν all the birds gorged themselves with their flesh Rv 19:21 (cp. TestJud. 21:8).”
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