Zealous for Zion

8 Then the word of Adonai-Tzva’ot came saying: ² “Thus says Adonai-Tzva’ot, “I am exceedingly zealous for Zion, I am burning with jealousy for her.” ³ Thus says Adonai, “I will return to Zion and dwell in the midst of Jerusalem. Then Jerusalem will be called the City of Truth and the mountain of Adonai-Tzva’ot will be called the Holy Mountain.” ⁴ Thus says Adonai-Tzva’ot, “Once again old men and old women will sit in the streets of Jerusalem, each with his staff in his hand because of his age. ⁵ The streets of the city will be full of boys and girls playing in its streets.”

⁶ “Thus says Adonai-Tzva’ot, ‘It may seem difficult in the eyes of the remnant of this people in those days, but will it also be difficult in My eyes?’—it is a declaration of Adonai-Tzva’ot. ⁷ “Thus says Adonai-Tzva’ot, ‘Behold, I will save My people from the land of the east and from the land of the west. ⁸ I will bring them back and they will live in the midst of Jerusalem. They will be My people and I will be their God, in truth and righteousness.’ ^{[a] 9} “Thus says Adonai-Tzva’ot, ‘Let your hands be strong—you who hear these words spoken by the prophets who were there the day the foundation of the House of Adonai-Tzva’ot was laid—so that the Temple may be rebuilt. ¹⁰ Before those days there were no wages for man or animal, nor was there any shalom from adversity for those who came or went because I set every one against his neighbor. ¹¹ But now I will not treat the remnant of this people as in the former days”—it is a declaration of Adonai-Tzva’ot.

¹² “For there will be a sowing of shalom: the vine will yield its fruit, the ground will produce its increase, and the heavens will give their dew. I will cause the remnant of this people to inherit all these things. ¹³ It will happen that just as you were a curse among the nations, house of Judah and house of Israel, so will I save you and you will be a blessing. Fear not! Let your hands be strong!’

¹⁴ For thus says Adonai-Tzva’ot, “Just as I determined to harm you when your fathers provoked Me to anger,” says Adonai-Tzva’ot, ‘and I did not relent, ¹⁵ so I have again determined in these days to do good to Jerusalem and to the house of Judah. Fear not! ¹⁶ These are the things that you are to do: speak the truth one to another; administer the judgment of truth and shalom in your gates; ^{[b] 17} do not let any of you devise evil in your hearts against your neighbor; and do not love false oaths, for I hate all these things,”—it is a declaration of Adonai.

¹⁸ Again the word of Adonai-Tzva’ot came saying: ¹⁹ “Thus says Adonai-Tzva’ot, “The fast of the fourth, the fast of the fifth, the fast of the seventh and the fast of the tenth month will become joy, gladness and cheerful moadim. Therefore, love truth and shalom!’ ²⁰ Thus says Adonai-Tzva’ot, “Peoples and the inhabitants of many cities will again come. ²¹ The inhabitants of one city will go to another saying ‘Let us go to entreat the favor of Adonai and to seek Adonai-Tzva’ot. I also am going.’ ²² Indeed, many peoples and powerful nations will come to seek Adonai-Tzva’ot in Jerusalem, and to entreat the favor of Adonai.” ²³ Thus says Adonai-Tzva’ot, “In those days it will come to pass that ten men from every language of the nations will grasp the corner of the garment of a Jew saying, ‘Let us go with you, for we have heard that God is with you.’”

Seven Bowls of God’s Wrath

16 Then I heard a loud voice from the Temple saying to the seven angels, “Go and pour out on the earth the seven bowls of God’s wrath.” ^{[a] 2} So the first angel went and poured out his bowl on the earth, and foul and painful boils^[b] came upon the people having the mark of the beast and worshiping his image. ³ Next the second angel poured out his bowl into the sea, and it became blood like that of a corpse; and every living thing in the sea died. ^{[c] 4} Then the third angel poured out his bowl into the rivers and the springs of water, and they became blood. ^{[d] 5} Then I heard the angel of the waters saying,

⁸ The fourth angel poured out his bowl on the sun, and it was permitted to scorch people with fire. ⁹ People were scorched with fierce heat, and they cursed the name of God—the One who has power over these plagues. But they did not repent, to 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.^[g] People gnawed their tongues in pain ¹¹ and cursed the God of heaven because of their pains and their boils. But they did not repent of their deeds.^[h]

¹² The sixth angel poured out his bowl over the great river Euphrates; and its water was dried up, to prepare the way for the kings from the east. ¹³ Then I saw—coming from the dragon’s mouth and from the beast’s mouth and from the false prophet’s mouth—three unclean spirits like frogs. ^{[i] 14} For they are demonic spirits performing miraculous signs, who go out to the kings of the whole world—to gather them for battle on the great Day of Elohei Tzva’ot.^[j]

¹⁵ “Behold, I am coming like a thief! How fortunate is the one who stays alert and keeps his clothes on, lest he walk around naked and they see his shamefulness.”

¹⁶ Then the spirits gathered the kings to the place called in Hebrew Har-Megiddo.^[k]

¹⁷ The seventh angel poured out his bowl into the air. A loud voice came out of the Temple^[l] from the throne, saying, “It is done!” ^{[m] 18} And there were flashes of lightning and rumblings and clashes of thunder and a great earthquake—such as never happened since mankind has been on the earth, so mighty was the quake.^[n]

¹⁹ Then the great city was split into three parts, and the cities of the nations collapsed. Babylon the great was remembered before God, to force her to drink the cup of the wine of His furious wrath. ^{[o] 20} Every island fled away, and no mountains were to be found. ²¹ Enormous hail—about a hundred pounds each^[p]—falls from heaven on the people. And the people cursed God because of the plague of hail—so extreme was that plague.^[q]

Rescue from Battle

Psalm 144