⁵ The angel answered me, “These are the four spirits^[a](A) of heaven, going out from standing in the presence of the Lord of the whole world.^(B)

⁷ In speaking of the angels he says,

¹⁴ Are not all angels ministering spirits^(A) sent to serve those who will inherit^(B) salvation?^(C)

¹⁰ Then the man standing among the myrtle trees explained, “They are the ones the Lord has sent to go throughout the earth.”^(A)

¹¹ And they reported to the angel of the Lord^(B) who was standing among the myrtle trees, “We have gone throughout the earth and found the whole world at rest and in peace.”^(C)

The Three Angels

⁶ 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) 7} 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)

⁸ 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)

⁹ 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.”

144,000 Sealed

7 After this I saw four angels standing at the four corners^(A) of the earth, holding back the four winds^(B) of the earth to prevent^(C) any wind from blowing on the land or on the sea or on any tree.

¹⁹ The angel said to him, “I am Gabriel.^(A) I stand in the presence of God, and I have been sent to speak to you and to tell you this good news.

³¹ And he will send his angels^(A) with a loud trumpet call,^(B) and they will gather his elect from the four winds, from one end of the heavens to the other.