²¹ For then there will be ^(A)great tribulation, ^(B)such as has not been from the beginning of the world until now, no, and never will be. ²² And if those days had not been cut short, no human being would be saved. But for ^(C)the sake of the elect those days will be cut short.

²⁰ Truly, truly, I say to you, ^(A)you will weep and lament, but ^(B)the world will rejoice. You will be sorrowful, but ^(C)your sorrow will turn into joy. ^21 (D)When a woman is giving birth, she has sorrow because her hour has come, but when she has delivered the baby, she no longer remembers the anguish, for joy that a human being has been born into the world. ^22 (E)So also you have sorrow now, but ^(F)I will see you again, and ^(G)your hearts will rejoice, and no one will take your joy from you. ^23 (H)In that day you will ^(I)ask nothing of me. Truly, truly, I say to you, ^(J)whatever you ask of the Father in my name, ^(K)he will give it to you. ²⁴ Until now you have asked nothing in my name. ^(L)Ask, and you will receive, ^(M)that your joy may be full.

^7 (A)Of this gospel I was made ^(B)a minister according to the gift of ^(C)God's grace, which was given me ^(D)by the working of his power. ⁸ To me, ^(E)though I am the very least of all the saints, this grace was given, ^(F)to preach to the Gentiles the ^(G)unsearchable ^(H)riches of Christ, ⁹ and ^(I)to bring to light for everyone what is the plan of the mystery ^(J)hidden for ages in^[a] God, ^(K)who created all things, ¹⁰ so that through the church the manifold ^(L)wisdom of God ^(M)might now be made known to ^(N)the rulers and authorities ^(O)in the heavenly places. ¹¹ This was ^(P)according to the eternal purpose that he has realized in Christ Jesus our Lord, ¹² in whom we have ^(Q)boldness and ^(R)access with ^(S)confidence through our ^(T)faith in him. ¹³ So I ask you not to lose heart over what I am suffering ^(U)for you, ^(V)which is your glory.

⁹ they had breastplates like breastplates of iron, and the noise of their wings was ^(A)like the noise of many chariots with ^(B)horses rushing into battle. ¹⁰ They have tails and stings like scorpions, and their power to hurt people ^(C)for five months is in their tails. ¹¹ They have ^(D)as king over them the angel of the bottomless pit. His name in Hebrew is ^(E)Abaddon, and in Greek he is called Apollyon.^[a]

A Great Multitude from Every Nation

⁹ After this I looked, and behold, ^(A)a great multitude that no one could number, ^(B)from every nation, from all tribes and peoples and languages, standing before the throne and before the Lamb, ^(C)clothed in white robes, with ^(D)palm branches in their hands, ¹⁰ and crying out with a loud voice, ^(E)“Salvation belongs to our God who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb!” ¹¹ And all the angels were standing around the throne and around the elders and ^(F)the four living creatures, and they ^(G)fell on their faces before the throne and worshiped God, ^12 (H)saying, “Amen! Blessing and glory and wisdom and thanksgiving and honor and power and might be to our God forever and ever! Amen.”

¹³ Then one of the elders addressed me, saying, “Who are these, ^(I)clothed in white robes, and from where have they come?” ¹⁴ I said to him, “Sir, you know.” And he said to me, “These are the ones coming out of ^(J)the great tribulation. ^(K)They have washed their robes and ^(L)made them white ^(M)in the blood of the Lamb.

²⁰ He who testifies to these things says, “Surely ^(A)I am coming soon.” Amen. ^(B)Come, Lord Jesus!

²¹ The grace of the Lord Jesus be with all.^[a] Amen.