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)

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)

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)

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

“You are just in these judgments,(J) O Holy One,(K)
    you who are and who were;(L)
for they have shed the blood of your holy people and your prophets,(M)
    and you have given them blood to drink(N) as they deserve.”

And I heard the altar(O) respond:

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

The fourth angel(R) poured out his bowl on the sun,(S) and the sun was allowed to scorch people with fire.(T) 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.

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

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) With her the kings of the earth committed adultery, and the inhabitants of the earth were intoxicated with the wine of her adulteries.”(BQ)

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) 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) The name written on her forehead was a mystery:(BZ)

babylon the great(CA)

the mother of prostitutes(CB)

and of the abominations of the earth.

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. 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) 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.

“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.”

Lament Over Fallen Babylon

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

“‘Fallen! Fallen is Babylon the Great!’[b](DJ)
    She has become a dwelling for demons
and a haunt for every impure spirit,(DK)
    a haunt for every unclean bird,
    a haunt for every unclean and detestable animal.(DL)
For all the nations have drunk
    the maddening wine of her adulteries.(DM)
The kings of the earth committed adultery with her,(DN)
    and the merchants of the earth grew rich(DO) from her excessive luxuries.”(DP)

Warning to Escape Babylon’s Judgment

Then I heard another voice from heaven say:

“‘Come out of her, my people,’[c](DQ)
    so that you will not share in her sins,
    so that you will not receive any of her plagues;(DR)
for her sins are piled up to heaven,(DS)
    and God has remembered(DT) her crimes.
Give back to her as she has given;
    pay her back(DU) double(DV) for what she has done.
    Pour her a double portion from her own cup.(DW)
Give her as much torment and grief
    as the glory and luxury she gave herself.(DX)
In her heart she boasts,
    ‘I sit enthroned as queen.
I am not a widow;[d]
    I will never mourn.’(DY)
Therefore in one day(DZ) her plagues will overtake her:
    death, mourning and famine.
She will be consumed by fire,(EA)
    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(EB) and shared her luxury(EC) see the smoke of her burning,(ED) they will weep and mourn over her.(EE) 10 Terrified at her torment, they will stand far off(EF) and cry:

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

11 “The merchants(EI) of the earth will weep and mourn(EJ) over her because no one buys their cargoes anymore(EK) 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;(EL) 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.(EM)

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(EN) will stand far off,(EO) terrified at her torment. They will weep and mourn(EP) 16 and cry out:

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

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

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

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

The Finality of Babylon’s Doom

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

“With such violence
    the great city(FH) 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.(FI)
No worker of any trade
    will ever be found in you again.
The sound of a millstone
    will never be heard in you again.(FJ)
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.(FK)
Your merchants were the world’s important people.(FL)
    By your magic spell(FM) all the nations were led astray.
24 In her was found the blood of prophets and of God’s holy people,(FN)
    of all who have been slaughtered on the earth.”(FO)

Threefold Hallelujah Over Babylon’s Fall

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

“Hallelujah!(FQ)
Salvation(FR) and glory and power(FS) belong to our God,
    for true and just are his judgments.(FT)
He has condemned the great prostitute(FU)
    who corrupted the earth by her adulteries.
He has avenged on her the blood of his servants.”(FV)

And again they shouted:

“Hallelujah!(FW)
The smoke from her goes up for ever and ever.”(FX)

The twenty-four elders(FY) and the four living creatures(FZ) fell down(GA) and worshiped God, who was seated on the throne. And they cried:

“Amen, Hallelujah!”(GB)

Then a voice came from the throne, saying:

“Praise our God,
    all you his servants,(GC)
you who fear him,
    both great and small!”(GD)

Then I heard what sounded like a great multitude,(GE) like the roar of rushing waters(GF) and like loud peals of thunder, shouting:

“Hallelujah!(GG)
    For our Lord God Almighty(GH) reigns.(GI)
Let us rejoice and be glad
    and give him glory!(GJ)
For the wedding of the Lamb(GK) has come,
    and his bride(GL) has made herself ready.
Fine linen,(GM) bright and clean,
    was given her to wear.”

(Fine linen stands for the righteous acts(GN) of God’s holy people.)

Then the angel said to me,(GO) “Write this:(GP) Blessed are those who are invited to the wedding supper of the Lamb!”(GQ) And he added, “These are the true words of God.”(GR)

10 At this I fell at his feet to worship him.(GS) But he said to me, “Don’t do that! I am a fellow servant with you and with your brothers and sisters who hold to the testimony of Jesus. Worship God!(GT) For it is the Spirit of prophecy who bears testimony to Jesus.”(GU)

The Heavenly Warrior Defeats the Beast

11 I saw heaven standing open(GV) and there before me was a white horse, whose rider(GW) is called Faithful and True.(GX) With justice he judges and wages war.(GY) 12 His eyes are like blazing fire,(GZ) and on his head are many crowns.(HA) He has a name written on him(HB) that no one knows but he himself.(HC) 13 He is dressed in a robe dipped in blood,(HD) and his name is the Word of God.(HE) 14 The armies of heaven were following him, riding on white horses and dressed in fine linen,(HF) white(HG) and clean. 15 Coming out of his mouth is a sharp sword(HH) with which to strike down(HI) the nations. “He will rule them with an iron scepter.”[e](HJ) He treads the winepress(HK) of the fury of the wrath of God Almighty. 16 On his robe and on his thigh he has this name written:(HL)

king of kings and lord of lords.(HM)

17 And I saw an angel standing in the sun, who cried in a loud voice to all the birds(HN) flying in midair,(HO) “Come,(HP) gather together for the great supper of God,(HQ) 18 so that you may eat the flesh of kings, generals, and the mighty, of horses and their riders, and the flesh of all people,(HR) free and slave,(HS) great and small.”(HT)

19 Then I saw the beast(HU) and the kings of the earth(HV) and their armies gathered together to wage war against the rider on the horse(HW) and his army. 20 But the beast was captured, and with it the false prophet(HX) who had performed the signs(HY) on its behalf.(HZ) With these signs he had deluded(IA) those who had received the mark of the beast(IB) and worshiped its image.(IC) The two of them were thrown alive into the fiery lake(ID) of burning sulfur.(IE) 21 The rest were killed with the sword(IF) coming out of the mouth of the rider on the horse,(IG) and all the birds(IH) gorged themselves on their flesh.

The Thousand Years

20 And I saw an angel coming down out of heaven,(II) having the key(IJ) to the Abyss(IK) and holding in his hand a great chain. He seized the dragon, that ancient serpent, who is the devil, or Satan,(IL) and bound him for a thousand years.(IM) He threw him into the Abyss,(IN) and locked and sealed(IO) it over him, to keep him from deceiving the nations(IP) anymore until the thousand years were ended. After that, he must be set free for a short time.

I saw thrones(IQ) on which were seated those who had been given authority to judge.(IR) And I saw the souls of those who had been beheaded(IS) because of their testimony about Jesus(IT) and because of the word of God.(IU) They[f] had not worshiped the beast(IV) or its image and had not received its mark on their foreheads or their hands.(IW) They came to life and reigned(IX) with Christ a thousand years. (The rest of the dead did not come to life until the thousand years were ended.) This is the first resurrection.(IY) Blessed(IZ) and holy are those who share in the first resurrection. The second death(JA) has no power over them, but they will be priests(JB) of God and of Christ and will reign with him(JC) for a thousand years.

The Judgment of Satan

When the thousand years are over,(JD) Satan will be released from his prison and will go out to deceive the nations(JE) in the four corners of the earth(JF)—Gog and Magog(JG)—and to gather them for battle.(JH) In number they are like the sand on the seashore.(JI) They marched across the breadth of the earth and surrounded(JJ) the camp of God’s people, the city he loves.(JK) But fire came down from heaven(JL) and devoured them. 10 And the devil, who deceived them,(JM) was thrown into the lake of burning sulfur,(JN) where the beast(JO) and the false prophet(JP) had been thrown. They will be tormented day and night for ever and ever.(JQ)

The Judgment of the Dead

11 Then I saw a great white throne(JR) and him who was seated on it. The earth and the heavens fled from his presence,(JS) and there was no place for them. 12 And I saw the dead, great and small,(JT) standing before the throne, and books were opened.(JU) Another book was opened, which is the book of life.(JV) The dead were judged(JW) according to what they had done(JX) as recorded in the books. 13 The sea gave up the dead that were in it, and death and Hades(JY) gave up the dead(JZ) that were in them, and each person was judged according to what they had done.(KA) 14 Then death(KB) and Hades(KC) were thrown into the lake of fire.(KD) The lake of fire is the second death.(KE) 15 Anyone whose name was not found written in the book of life(KF) was thrown into the lake of fire.

A New Heaven and a New Earth

21 Then I saw “a new heaven and a new earth,”[g](KG) for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away,(KH) and there was no longer any sea. I saw the Holy City,(KI) the new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God,(KJ) prepared as a bride(KK) beautifully dressed for her husband. And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, “Look! God’s dwelling place is now among the people, and he will dwell with them.(KL) They will be his people, and God himself will be with them and be their God.(KM) ‘He will wipe every tear from their eyes.(KN) There will be no more death’[h](KO) or mourning or crying or pain,(KP) for the old order of things has passed away.”(KQ)

He who was seated on the throne(KR) said, “I am making everything new!”(KS) Then he said, “Write this down, for these words are trustworthy and true.”(KT)

He said to me: “It is done.(KU) I am the Alpha and the Omega,(KV) the Beginning and the End. To the thirsty I will give water without cost(KW) from the spring of the water of life.(KX) Those who are victorious(KY) will inherit all this, and I will be their God and they will be my children.(KZ) But the cowardly, the unbelieving, the vile, the murderers, the sexually immoral, those who practice magic arts, the idolaters and all liars(LA)—they will be consigned to the fiery lake of burning sulfur.(LB) This is the second death.”(LC)

The New Jerusalem, the Bride of the Lamb

One of the seven angels who had the seven bowls full of the seven last plagues(LD) came and said to me, “Come, I will show you the bride,(LE) the wife of the Lamb.” 10 And he carried me away(LF) in the Spirit(LG) to a mountain great and high, and showed me the Holy City, Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God.(LH) 11 It shone with the glory of God,(LI) and its brilliance was like that of a very precious jewel, like a jasper,(LJ) clear as crystal.(LK) 12 It had a great, high wall with twelve gates,(LL) and with twelve angels at the gates. On the gates were written the names of the twelve tribes of Israel.(LM) 13 There were three gates on the east, three on the north, three on the south and three on the west. 14 The wall of the city had twelve foundations,(LN) and on them were the names of the twelve apostles(LO) of the Lamb.

15 The angel who talked with me had a measuring rod(LP) of gold to measure the city, its gates(LQ) and its walls. 16 The city was laid out like a square, as long as it was wide. He measured the city with the rod and found it to be 12,000 stadia[i] in length, and as wide and high as it is long. 17 The angel measured the wall using human(LR) measurement, and it was 144 cubits[j] thick.[k] 18 The wall was made of jasper,(LS) and the city of pure gold, as pure as glass.(LT) 19 The foundations of the city walls were decorated with every kind of precious stone.(LU) The first foundation was jasper,(LV) the second sapphire, the third agate, the fourth emerald, 20 the fifth onyx, the sixth ruby,(LW) the seventh chrysolite, the eighth beryl, the ninth topaz, the tenth turquoise, the eleventh jacinth, and the twelfth amethyst.[l] 21 The twelve gates(LX) were twelve pearls,(LY) each gate made of a single pearl. The great street of the city was of gold, as pure as transparent glass.(LZ)

22 I did not see a temple(MA) in the city, because the Lord God Almighty(MB) and the Lamb(MC) are its temple. 23 The city does not need the sun or the moon to shine on it, for the glory of God(MD) gives it light,(ME) and the Lamb(MF) is its lamp. 24 The nations will walk by its light, and the kings of the earth will bring their splendor into it.(MG) 25 On no day will its gates(MH) ever be shut,(MI) for there will be no night there.(MJ) 26 The glory and honor of the nations will be brought into it.(MK) 27 Nothing impure will ever enter it, nor will anyone who does what is shameful or deceitful,(ML) but only those whose names are written in the Lamb’s book of life.(MM)

Footnotes

  1. Revelation 16:21 Or about 45 kilograms
  2. Revelation 18:2 Isaiah 21:9
  3. Revelation 18:4 Jer. 51:45
  4. Revelation 18:7 See Isaiah 47:7,8.
  5. Revelation 19:15 Psalm 2:9
  6. Revelation 20:4 Or God; I also saw those who
  7. Revelation 21:1 Isaiah 65:17
  8. Revelation 21:4 Isaiah 25:8
  9. Revelation 21:16 That is, about 1,400 miles or about 2,200 kilometers
  10. Revelation 21:17 That is, about 200 feet or about 65 meters
  11. Revelation 21:17 Or high
  12. Revelation 21:20 The precise identification of some of these precious stones is uncertain.

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