Chronological

The Woman and the Dragon

12 A great sign appeared in heaven. It was a woman wearing the sun like clothes. The moon was under her feet. On her head she wore a crown of 12 stars. ² She was pregnant. She cried out in pain because she was about to have a baby. ³ Then another sign appeared in heaven. It was a huge red dragon. It had seven heads and ten horns. On its seven heads it wore seven crowns. ⁴ The dragon’s tail swept a third of the stars out of the sky. It threw the stars down to earth. The dragon stood in front of the woman who was about to have a baby. The dragon wanted to eat her child the moment he was born. ⁵ She gave birth to a son. He “will rule all the nations with an iron scepter.” (Psalm 2:9) And her child was taken up to God and to his throne. ⁶ The woman escaped into the desert where God had a place prepared for her. There she would be taken care of for 1,260 days.

⁷ Then a war began in heaven. Michael and his angels fought against the dragon. And the dragon and his angels fought back. ⁸ But the dragon wasn’t strong enough. Both he and his angels lost their place in heaven. ⁹ The great dragon was thrown down to the earth, and his angels with him. The dragon is that old serpent called the devil, or Satan. He leads the whole world astray.

¹⁰ Then I heard a loud voice in heaven. It said,

¹³ The dragon saw that he had been thrown down to the earth. So he chased the woman who had given birth to the boy. ¹⁴ The woman was given the two wings of a great eagle. She was given these wings so that she could fly away. She could fly to the place prepared for her in the desert. There she would be taken care of for three and a half years. She would be out of the serpent’s reach. ¹⁵ Then out of his mouth the serpent spit water like a river. He wanted to catch the woman and sweep her away in the flood. ¹⁶ But the earth helped the woman. It opened its mouth and swallowed the river that the dragon had spit out. ¹⁷ The dragon was very angry with the woman. He went off to make war against the rest of her children. They obey God’s commands. And they hold firmly to the truth they have said about Jesus.

The Beast Who Comes Out of the Sea

13 The dragon stood on the seashore. I saw a beast coming out of the sea. It had ten horns and seven heads. There were ten crowns on its horns. On each head was an evil name that brought shame to God. ² The beast I saw looked like a leopard. But it had feet like a bear and a mouth like a lion. The dragon gave the beast his power, his throne, and great authority. ³ One of the beast’s heads seemed to have had a deadly wound. But the wound had been healed. The whole world was amazed and followed the beast. ⁴ People worshiped the dragon, because he had given authority to the beast. They also worshiped the beast. They asked, “Who is like the beast? Who can make war against it?”

⁵ The beast was given a mouth to brag and speak evil things against God. The beast was allowed to use its authority for 42 months. ⁶ The beast opened its mouth to speak evil things against God. It told lies about God and about the place where God lives. And it told lies about those who live in heaven with him. ⁷ The beast was allowed to make war against God’s holy people and to overcome them. It was given authority over every tribe, people and nation, no matter what language they spoke. ⁸ Many people who live on the earth will worship the beast. They are the ones whose names are not written in the Lamb’s book of life. The Lamb is the one whose death was planned before the world was created.

⁹ Whoever has ears should listen.

So God’s people must be patient and faithful.

The Beast Who Comes Out of the Earth

¹¹ Then I saw a second beast. This one came out of the earth. It had two horns like a lamb. But it spoke like a dragon. ¹² This beast had all the authority of the first beast. It did what the first beast wanted. It made the earth and all who live on it worship the first beast. The first beast was the one whose deadly wound had been healed. ¹³ The second beast performed great signs. It even made fire come from heaven to the earth. And the fire was seen by everyone. ¹⁴ The first beast had given the second beast the power to perform these signs. By these signs, the second beast tricked those who live on the earth. The second beast ordered people to set up a statue to honor the first beast. The first beast was the one who had been wounded by a sword and still lived. ¹⁵ The second beast was allowed to give breath to this statue so it could speak. The statue could kill all who refused to worship it. ¹⁶ It also forced everyone to receive a mark on their right hand or on their forehead. People great or small, rich or poor, free or slave had to receive the mark. ¹⁷ They could not buy or sell anything unless they had the mark. The mark is the name of the beast or the number of its name.

¹⁸ This problem requires wisdom. Anyone who is wise should figure out what the beast’s number means. It is the number of a man. And that number is 666.

The Lamb and the 144,000

14 I looked, and there in front of me was the Lamb. He was standing on Mount Zion. With him were 144,000 people. Written on their foreheads were his name and his Father’s name. ² I heard a sound from heaven. It was like the roar of rushing waters and loud thunder. The sound I heard was like the music of harps being played. ³ Then everyone sang a new song in front of the throne. They sang it in front of the four living creatures and the elders. No one could learn the song except the 144,000. They had been set free from the evil of the earth. ⁴ They had not committed sexual sins with women. They had kept themselves pure. They follow the Lamb wherever he goes. They were purchased from among human beings as a first offering to God and the Lamb. ⁵ They told no lies. They are without blame.

The Three Angels

⁶ I saw another angel. He was flying high in the air. He came to tell everyone on earth the good news that will always be true. He told it to every nation, tribe and people, no matter what language they spoke. ⁷ In a loud voice he said, “Have respect for God. Give him glory. The hour has come for God to judge. Worship him who made the heavens and the earth. Worship him who made the sea and the springs of water.”

⁸ A second angel followed him. He said, “ ‘Fallen! Babylon the Great has fallen!’ (Isaiah 21:9) The city of Babylon made all the nations drink the strong wine of her terrible sins.”

⁹ A third angel followed them. He said in a loud voice, “There will be trouble for anyone who worships the beast and its statue! There will be trouble for anyone who has its mark on their forehead or their hand! ¹⁰ They, too, will drink the wine of God’s great anger. His wine has been poured full strength into the cup of his anger. They will be burned with flaming sulfur. The holy angels and the Lamb will see it happen. ¹¹ The smoke of their terrible suffering will rise for ever and ever. Day and night, there will be no rest for anyone who worships the beast and its statue. There will be no rest for anyone who receives the mark of its name.” ¹² God’s people need to be very patient. They are the ones who obey God’s commands. And they remain faithful to Jesus.

¹³ Then I heard a voice from heaven. “Write this,” it said. “Blessed are the dead who die as believers in the Lord from now on.”

“Yes,” says the Holy Spirit. “They will rest from their labor. What they have done will not be forgotten.”

The Harvest of the Earth

¹⁴ I looked, and there in front of me was a white cloud. Sitting on the cloud was one who looked “like a son of man.” (Daniel 7:13) He wore a gold crown on his head. In his hand was a sharp, curved blade for cutting grain. ¹⁵ Then another angel came out of the temple. He called in a loud voice to the one sitting on the cloud. “Take your blade,” he said. “Cut the grain. The time has come. The earth is ready to be harvested.” ¹⁶ So the one sitting on the cloud swung his blade over the earth. And the earth was harvested.

¹⁷ Another angel came out of the temple in heaven. He too had a sharp, curved blade. ¹⁸ Still another angel came from the altar. He was in charge of the fire on the altar. He called out in a loud voice to the angel who had the sharp blade. “Take your blade,” he said, “and gather the bunches of grapes from the earth’s vine. Its grapes are ripe.” ¹⁹ So the angel swung his blade over the earth. He gathered its grapes. Then he threw them into a huge winepress. The winepress stands for God’s anger. ²⁰ In the winepress outside the city, the grapes were stomped on. Blood flowed out of the winepress. It spread over the land for about 180 miles. It rose as high as the horses’ heads.

Seven Angels With Seven Plagues

15 I saw in heaven another great and wonderful sign. Seven angels were about to bring the seven last plagues. The plagues would complete God’s anger. ² Then I saw something that looked like a sea of glass glowing with fire. Standing beside the sea were those who had won the battle over the beast. They had also overcome its statue and the number of its name. They held harps given to them by God. ³ They sang the song of God’s servant Moses and of the Lamb. They sang,

⁵ After this I looked, and I saw the temple in heaven. And it was opened. The temple is the holy tent where the tablets of the covenant law were kept. ⁶ Out of the temple came the seven angels who were bringing the seven plagues. They were dressed in clean, shining linen. They wore gold strips of cloth around their chests. ⁷ Then one of the four living creatures gave seven golden bowls to the seven angels. The bowls were filled with the anger of God, who lives for ever and ever. ⁸ The temple was filled with smoke that came from the glory and power of God. No one could enter the temple at that time. They had to wait until the seven plagues of the seven angels were completed.

The Seven Bowls of God’s Great Anger

16 Then I heard a loud voice from the temple speaking to the seven angels. “Go,” it said. “Pour out the seven bowls of God’s great anger on the earth.”

² The first angel went and poured out his bowl on the land. Ugly and painful sores broke out on people. Those people had the mark of the beast and worshiped its statue.

³ The second angel poured out his bowl on the sea. It turned into blood like the blood of a dead person. Every living thing in the sea died.

⁴ The third angel poured out his bowl on the rivers and springs of water. They became blood. ⁵ Then I heard the angel who was in charge of the waters. He said,

⁷ Then I heard the altar reply. It said,

⁸ The fourth angel poured out his bowl on the sun. The sun was allowed to burn people with fire. ⁹ They were burned by the blazing heat. So they spoke evil things against the name of God, who controlled these plagues. But they refused to turn away from their sins. They did not give glory to God.

¹⁰ The fifth angel poured out his bowl on the throne of the beast. The kingdom of the beast became very dark. People chewed on their tongues because they were suffering so much. ¹¹ They spoke evil things against the God of heaven. They did this because of their pains and their sores. But they refused to turn away from the sins they had committed.

¹² The sixth angel poured out his bowl on the great river Euphrates. Its water dried up to prepare the way for the kings from the East. ¹³ Then I saw three evil spirits that looked like frogs. They came out of the mouths of the dragon, the beast and the false prophet. ¹⁴ They are spirits of demons that perform signs. They go out to gather the kings of the whole world for battle. This battle will take place on the great day of the God who rules over all.

¹⁵ “Look! I am coming like a thief! Blessed is anyone who stays awake and keeps their clothes on. Then they will be ready. They will not be caught naked and so be put to shame.”

¹⁶ Then the evil spirits gathered the kings together. In the Hebrew language, the place where the kings met is called Armageddon.

¹⁷ The seventh angel poured out his bowl into the air. Out of the temple came a loud voice from the throne. It said, “It is done!” ¹⁸ Then there came flashes of lightning, rumblings, thunder and a powerful earthquake. There has never been an earthquake as terrible as this. One like this hasn’t happened while human beings have lived on earth. ¹⁹ The great city split into three parts. The cities of the nations crumbled and fell. God remembered Babylon the Great. He gave Babylon the cup filled with the wine of his terrible anger. ²⁰ Every island ran away. The mountains could not be found. ²¹ Huge hailstones weighing about 100 pounds each fell from the sky. The hail crushed people. And they spoke evil things against God because of the plague. That’s because the plague of hail was so terrible.

Babylon the Great Prostitute Sits on the Beast

17 One of the seven angels who had the seven bowls came to me. He said, “Come. I will show you how the great prostitute will be punished. She is the one who sits by many waters. ² The kings of the earth took part in her evil ways. The people living on earth were drunk with the wine of her terrible sins.”

³ Then in a vision the angel carried me away to a desert. There the Holy Spirit showed me a woman sitting on a bright red beast. It was covered with names that say evil things about God. It had seven heads and ten horns. ⁴ The woman was dressed in purple and bright red. She was gleaming with gold, jewels and pearls. In her hand she held a golden cup filled with things that God hates. It was filled with her terrible, dirty sins. ⁵ The name written on her forehead was a mystery. Here is what it said.

The Great City of Babylon

The Mother of Prostitutes

The Mother of Everything on Earth that God Hates

⁶ I saw that the woman was drunk with the blood of God’s holy people. They are the ones who are witnesses about Jesus.

When I saw her, I was very amazed. ⁷ Then the angel said to me, “Why are you amazed? I will explain to you the mystery of the woman. And I will explain the mystery of the beast she rides on. The beast is the one who has the seven heads and ten horns. ⁸ The beast that you saw used to exist and now does not. Yet it will come up out of the Abyss and be destroyed. Some people on the earth will be amazed when they see the beast. Their names have not been written in the book of life from the time the world was created. They will be amazed at the beast. That’s because it will come again even though it used to exist and now does not.

⁹ “Here is a problem that you have to be wise to understand. The seven heads are seven hills that the woman sits on. ¹⁰ They are also seven kings. Five have fallen, one is ruling, and the other has still not come. When he does come, he must remain for only a little while. ¹¹ The beast who used to exist, and now does not, is an eighth king. He belongs to the other seven. He will be destroyed.

¹² “The ten horns you saw are ten kings. They have not yet received a kingdom. But for one hour they will receive authority to rule together with the beast. ¹³ They have only one purpose. So they will give their power and authority to the beast. ¹⁴ They will make war against the Lamb. But the Lamb will have victory over them. That’s because he is the most powerful Lord of all and the greatest King of all. His appointed, chosen and faithful followers will be with him.”

¹⁵ Then the angel spoke to me. “You saw the waters the prostitute sits on,” he said. “They stand for all the nations of the world, no matter what their race or language is. ¹⁶ The beast and the ten horns you saw will hate the prostitute. They will destroy her and leave her naked. They will eat her flesh and burn her with fire. ¹⁷ God has put it into their hearts to carry out his purpose. So they agreed to give the beast their royal authority. They will give him this authority until God’s words come true. ¹⁸ The woman you saw stands for the great city of Babylon. That city rules over the kings of the earth.”

Weeping When Babylon Falls

18 After these things I saw another angel coming down from heaven. He had great authority. His glory filled the earth with light. ² With a mighty voice he shouted,

Warning to Run From Babylon’s Judgment

⁴ Then I heard another voice from heaven. It said,

How Terrible When Babylon Falls!

⁹ “The kings of the earth who committed terrible sins with her will weep. They will mourn because they used to share her riches. They will see the smoke rising as she burns. ¹⁰ They will be terrified by her suffering. They will stand far away from her. And they will cry out,

¹¹ “The traders of the world will weep and mourn over her. No one buys what they sell anymore. ¹² Here is what they had for sale.

¹⁴ “The merchants will say, ‘The pleasure you longed for has left you. All your riches and glory have disappeared forever.’ ¹⁵ The traders who sold these things became rich because of Babylon. When she suffers, they will stand far away. Her suffering will terrify them. They will weep and mourn. ¹⁶ They will cry out,

“Every sea captain and all who travel by ship will stand far away. So will the sailors and all who earn their living from the sea. ¹⁸ They will see the smoke rising as Babylon burns. They will ask, ‘Was there ever a city like this great city?’ ¹⁹ They will throw dust on their heads. They will weep and mourn. They will cry out,

Babylon’s Judgment Is Final

²¹ Then a mighty angel picked up a huge rock. It was the size of a large millstone. He threw it into the sea. Then he said,