Historical

There appeared in heaven a woman clothed with the sun. Michael fights with the dragon, who persecutes the woman.

12 And there appeared a great wonder in heaven: a woman clothed with the sun, and the moon under her feet, and upon her head a crown of 12 stars. ² And she was with child and cried out, travailing in birth, and pained, ready to be delivered. ³ And there appeared another wonder in heaven, for behold: a great red dragon, having seven heads and ten horns, and crowns upon his heads. ⁴ And his tail drew the third part of the stars and cast them to the earth.

And the dragon stood before the woman who was ready to be delivered in order to devour her child as soon as it was born. ⁵ And she brought forth a man child who was to rule all the nations with a rod of iron. And her Son was taken up to God and to his seat. ⁶ And the woman fled into wilderness where she had a place prepared by God, that they should feed her there 1,260 days.

⁷ And there was a great battle in heaven: Michael and his angels fought with the dragon. And the dragon fought, and his angels, ⁸ but did not prevail; neither was their place found in heaven any more. ⁹ And the great dragon was cast out, that old serpent called the devil and Satan, who deceives all the world. And he was cast into the earth, and his angels were cast out also.

¹⁰ And I heard a loud voice saying, Now in heaven is made salvation, and strength, and the kingdom of our God, and the power of his Christ. For he is cast down who accused our brethren before God day and night. ¹¹ And they overcame him by the blood of the Lamb, and by the word of their testimony. And they loved not their lives to the death. ¹² Therefore rejoice, O heavens, and you who dwell in them. Woe to the inhabiters of the earth and of the sea! For the devil has come down to you, who has great wrath, because he knows that he has but a short time.

¹³ And when the dragon saw that he was cast to the earth, he persecuted the woman who brought forth the man child. ¹⁴ And to the woman were given two wings of a great eagle, so that she could fly into the wilderness, into her place, where she is nourished for a time, times, and half a time, from the presence of the serpent. ¹⁵ And the dragon cast out of his mouth water after the woman, like a river, intending that she be caught in the flood. ¹⁶ But the earth helped the woman, and the earth opened her mouth and swallowed up the river that the dragon cast out of his mouth. ¹⁷ And the dragon was wroth with the woman, and went and made war with the remnant of her seed, who keep the commandments of God and have the testimony of Jesus Christ.

And I stood on the sea sand.

A beast with seven heads and ten horns rises out of the sea. Another beast with two horns comes out of the earth.

13 And I saw a beast rise out of the sea, having seven heads and ten horns, and upon his horns ten crowns, and upon his head the name of blasphemy. ² And the beast that I saw was like a cat of the mountain, and his feet were as the feet of a bear, and his mouth as the mouth of a lion. And the dragon gave him his power and his seat, and great authority.

³ And I saw one of his heads, as it were wounded to death, and his deadly wound was healed. And all the world wondered at the beast. ⁴ And they worshipped the dragon that gave power to the beast, and they worshipped the beast, saying, Who is like the beast? Who is able to war with him?

⁵ And there was given to him a mouth that spoke great things, and blasphemies, and power was given to him to continue 42 months. ⁶ And he opened his mouth in blasphemy against God, to blaspheme his name and his tabernacle, and them that dwell in heaven. ⁷ And it was given to him to make war with the saints, and to overcome them. And power was given him over every kindred, tongue, and nation. ⁸ And all who dwell upon the earth worshipped him, whose names are not written in the book of life of the Lamb, who was killed from the beginning of the world. ⁹ If anyone has an ear, let him hear. ¹⁰ He who leads into captivity will go into captivity; he who kills with a sword must be killed with a sword. Here is the patience and the faith of the saints.

¹¹ And I saw another beast coming up out of the earth, and he had two horns like a lamb, and he spoke as did the dragon. ¹² And he did all that the first beast could do in his presence. And he caused the earth and those who dwell therein to worship the first beast, whose deadly wound was healed. ¹³ And he did great wonders, so that he made fire come down from heaven in the sight of men, ¹⁴ and deceived those who dwelt on the earth by means of those signs that he had power to do in the sight of the beast, saying to those who dwelt on the earth that they should make an image to the beast, which had the wound of a sword and did live.

¹⁵ And he had power to give a spirit to the image of the beast, and that the image of the beast should speak, and should cause that as many as would not worship the image of the beast should be killed. ¹⁶ And he made all, both small and great, rich and poor, free and bond, receive a mark in their right hands or in their foreheads. ¹⁷ And no one could buy or sell except one who had the mark or the name of the beast, or the number of his name. ¹⁸ Here is wisdom. Let him who has understanding count the number of the beast. For it is the number of a man, and his number is 666.

The Lamb stands upon mount Zion, and the undefiled congregation with him. The angel exhorts to the fear of God, and tells of the fall of Babylon.

14 And I looked, and lo, a Lamb stood on mount Zion, and with him 144,000 having his Father’s name written in their foreheads. ² And I heard a voice from heaven as the sound of many waters, and as the voice of a great thunder. And I heard the sound of harpers harping with their harps, ³ and they sang as it were a new song before the seat, and before the four living creatures and the elders. And no one could learn that song except the 144,000 who were redeemed from the earth. ⁴ These are they who were not defiled with women, for they are virgins. These follow the Lamb wherever he goes. These were redeemed from mankind, being the first fruits unto God and to the Lamb. ⁵ And in their mouths was found no guile. For they are without spot before the throne of God.

⁶ And I saw an angel fly in the midst of heaven, having an everlasting gospel to preach to those who sit and dwell on the earth, and to all nations, kindreds, and tongues, and people, ⁷ saying with a loud voice, Fear God and give honour to him, for the hour of his judgment is come; and worship him who made heaven and earth, and the sea, and the springs of water.

⁸ And there followed another angel, saying, Babylon is fallen, is fallen, that great city. For she made all nations drink of the wine of her fornication.

⁹ And the third angel followed them, saying with a loud voice, If any one worships the beast and his image, and receives his mark in his forehead or on his hand, ¹⁰ the same shall drink of the wine of the wrath of God, which is poured in the cup of his wrath. And he will be punished in fire and brimstone before the holy angels and before the Lamb. ¹¹ And the smoke of their torment ascends up evermore. And they have no rest day or night, who worship the beast and his image, and whosoever receives the print of his name. ¹² Here is the patience of the saints. Here are they that keep the commandments and the faith of Jesus.

¹³ And I heard a voice from heaven saying to me, Write: Blessed are the dead who die hereafter in the Lord, as the Spirit affirms, that they may rest from their labours; but their works shall follow them.

¹⁴ And I looked, and behold, a white cloud, and upon the cloud one sitting like the Son of man, having on his head a golden crown, and in his hand a sharp sickle. ¹⁵ And another angel came out of the temple, crying with a loud voice to him who sat on the cloud, Thrust in your sickle and reap, for the time has come to reap! For the corn of the earth is ripe. ¹⁶ And he who sat on the cloud thrust in his sickle on the earth, and the earth was reaped.

¹⁷ And another angel came out of the temple that is in heaven, having also a sharp sickle. ¹⁸ And another angel came out from the altar, who had power over fire, and he cried with a loud cry to him who had the sharp sickle, and said, Thrust in your sharp sickle, and gather the clusters of the earth, for her grapes are ripe! ¹⁹ And the angel thrust in his sickle on the earth and cut down the grapes of the vineyard of the earth, and cast them into the great wine-vat of the wrath of God. ²⁰ And the wine-vat was trodden outside the city, and blood came out of the vat, even up to the horses’ bridles, for the space of 1,600 furlongs.

He sees seven angels having seven vials full of wrath.

15 And I saw another sign in heaven, great and marvellous: seven angels having the seven last plagues. For in them is fulfilled the wrath of God. ² And I saw as it were a glassy sea mingled with fire, and those who had gotten the victory of the beast, and of his image, and of his mark, and of the number of his name, standing on the glassy sea, having the harps of God. ³ And they sang the song of Moses, the servant of God, and the song of the Lamb, saying, Great and marvellous are your works, Lord God Almighty! Just and true are your ways, King of saints! ⁴ Who would not fear, O Lord, and glorify your name? For you alone are holy, and all the Gentiles will come and worship before you, for your judgments are made manifest.

⁵ And after that I looked, and behold, the temple of the tabernacle of testimony was open in heaven. ⁶ And the seven angels that had the seven plagues came out of the temple, clothed in pure and bright linen, and having their breasts girded with golden girdles. ⁷ And one of the four living creatures gave to the seven angels seven golden vials full of the wrath of God, who lives forevermore. ⁸ And the temple was full of the smoke of the glory of God and of his power, and no one was able to enter into the temple till the seven plagues of the seven angels were fulfilled.

The angels pour out their vials full of wrath.

16 And I heard a great voice out of the temple saying to the seven angels, Go your ways; pour out your vials of wrath upon the earth.

² And the first went and poured out his vial upon the earth, and there fell a foul and a grievous sore upon all who had the mark of the beast, and upon those who worshipped his image.

³ And the second angel shed out his vial upon the sea, and it turned as it were into the blood of a dead man. And every living thing died in the sea.

⁴ And the third angel shed out his vial upon the rivers and springs of waters, and they turned to blood. ⁵ And I heard an angel say, Lord who is and who was, you are righteous and holy, because you have given such judgments. ⁶ For they shed the blood of saints and prophets, and therefore you have given them blood to drink, for they have deserved it.

⁷ And I heard another out of the altar say, It is so, Lord God Almighty; true and righteous are your judgments.

⁸ And the fourth angel poured out his vial on the sun, and power was given to him to afflict people with the heat of fire. ⁹ And the people raged in the great heat, and spoke evil of the name of God, who has power over these plagues. And they did not repent, to give him glory.

¹⁰ And the fifth angel poured out his vial upon the seat of the beast, and his kingdom was made dark. And people gnawed their tongues for suffering, ¹¹ and blasphemed the God of heaven for the anguish and pain of their sores, and did not repent of their deeds.

¹² And the sixth angel poured out his vial upon the great river Euphrates, and the water dried up, to prepare the ways of the kings of the east. ¹³ And I saw three unclean spirits like frogs come out of the mouth of the dragon, and out of the mouth of the beast, and out of the mouth of the false prophet. ¹⁴ For they are the spirits of devils working miracles, to go out to the kings of the earth and of the whole world, to gather them to the battle of that great day of God Almighty.

¹⁵ Behold, I come as a thief. Happy is he who watches and keeps his garments, lest he be found naked and men see his shame.

¹⁶ And he gathered them together into a place called in the Hebrew tongue, Armageddon.

¹⁷ And the seventh angel poured his vial out into the air. And there came a voice out of heaven from the seat, saying, It is done! ¹⁸ And there followed voices, thunderings, and lightnings. And there was a great earthquake, such as was not since man has been upon the earth, so mighty an earthquake and so great. ¹⁹ And the great city was divided into three parts. And the cities of all the nations fell. And great Babylon came in remembrance before God, to give to her the cup of the wine of the fierceness of his wrath. ²⁰ Every isle fled away, and the mountains were not found. ²¹ And there fell out of heaven a great hail, as if of talents, upon people. And the people blasphemed God because of the plague of the hail, for it was great, and the plague of it sore.

He describes the woman sitting upon the beast with ten horns.

17 And there came one of the seven angels who had the seven vials, and he talked with me, saying to me, Come, I will show you the judgment of the great whore that sits upon many waters, ² with whom the kings of the earth have committed fornication, so that the inhabiters of the earth are drunk with the wine of her fornication.

³ And he carried me away into the wilderness in the Spirit. And I saw a woman sitting upon a rose-coloured beast full of names of blasphemy, which had ten horns. ⁴ And the woman was arrayed in purple and rose colour, and decked with gold, precious stones, and pearls, and had a cup of gold in her hand full of abominations and the filthiness of her fornication. ⁵ And in her forehead a name was written: a mystery – great babylon, the mother of whoredom and of the abominations of the earth. ⁶ And I saw the wife drunk with the blood of the saints and with the blood of the witnesses of Jesus. And when I saw her, I wondered with great marvel.

⁷ And the angel said to me, Why do you marvel? I will show you the mystery of the woman, and of the beast that bears her, which has seven heads and ten horns. ⁸ The beast that you see was, and is not, and will ascend out of the bottomless pit, and will go into perdition. And they who dwell on the earth (whose names are not written in the book of life from the beginning of the world) will marvel when they see the beast that was, and is not, and yet is.

⁹ And here is a mind that has wisdom: The seven heads are seven mountains on which the woman sits. ¹⁰ They are also seven kings. Five are fallen, and one is, and another is not yet come. When he comes, he must continue a space. ¹¹ And the beast that was and is not, is even the eighth, and is of the seven, and will go into destruction.

¹² And the ten horns that you see are ten kings who have received no kingdom, but shall receive power as kings at one hour with the beast. ¹³ These are of one mind, and will give their power and strength to the beast. ¹⁴ These will fight with the Lamb, and the Lamb will overcome them, for he is Lord of lords and King of kings. And those who are on his side are called and chosen and faithful.

¹⁵ And he said to me, The waters that you saw, where the whore sits, are people and folk and nations and tongues. ¹⁶ And the ten horns that you saw upon the beast are those who will hate the whore, and will make her desolate and naked, and will eat her flesh, and burn her with fire. ¹⁷ For God has put in their hearts to fulfil his will, and to act with one accord, and to give her kingdom to the beast until the words of God are fulfilled. ¹⁸ And the woman that you saw is that great city that reigns over the kings of the earth.

Those who love the world are sorry about the fall of Babylon, but those who are of God have cause to rejoice over her destruction.

18 And after that, I saw another angel come from heaven, having great power, and the earth was lightened with his brightness. ² And he cried mightily with a strong voice, saying, Great Babylon is fallen, is fallen, and has become the habitation of devils, and the hold of all foul spirits, and a cage of all unclean and hateful birds. ³ For all nations have drunk of the wine of the wrath of her fornication. And the kings of the earth have committed fornication with her, and her merchants were made rich from the abundance of her pleasures.

⁴ And I heard another voice from heaven say, Come away from her, my people, that you be not partakers in her sins, that you receive not of her plagues. ⁵ For her sins have gone up to heaven, and God has remembered her wickedness. ⁶ Reward her even as she rewarded you, and give her double according to her works. And pour in double for her, in the same cup that she filled for you. ⁷ And as much as she glorified herself and lived wantonly, so much pour in for her of punishment and sorrow. For she said in herself, I sit being a queen, and am no widow, and shall see no sorrow. ⁸ Therefore her plagues shall come at one day: death, and sorrow, and hunger; and she will be burnt with fire. For strong is the Lord God who judges her.

⁹ And the kings of the earth who have committed fornication with her and have lived wantonly with her will weep and wail over her, when they see the smoke of her burning. ¹⁰ And they will stand afar off for fear of her punishment, saying, Alas, alas, that great city Babylon, that mighty city! For at one hour has her judgment come.

¹¹ And the merchants of the earth will weep and wail in themselves, because no one will buy their wares any more – ¹² wares of gold and silver and precious stones, neither of pearl, and fine linens, and purple and scarlet cloth; and all fragrant wood, and all manner of vessels of ivory, and all manner of vessels of most precious wood, and of bronze and iron; ¹³ and cinnamon and incense, and oyntments, frankincense, wine, and oil, and fine flour and wheat; and work animals, and sheep, and horses, and chariots; and bodies and souls of men.

¹⁴ And the apples that your soul lusted after are departed from you. And all things that were choice and precious to you are departed from you, and you shall find them no more. ¹⁵ The merchants of these things, who had gotten rich, will stand afar off from her, for fear of her punishment, weeping and wailing, ¹⁶ and saying, Alas, alas, that great city, which was clothed in fine linen and purple and scarlet, and decked with gold and precious stones and pearls! ¹⁷ For at one hour such great riches have come to nothing.

And every ship captain, and all they that occupied ships, and sailors who work at sea, stood afar off, ¹⁸ and cried out when they saw the smoke of her burning, saying, What city is like this great city? ¹⁹ And they cast dust on their heads and cried out, weeping and wailing, and said, Alas, alas, that great city, wherein all who had ships in the sea were made rich by reason of her great wealth. For at one hour she is made desolate.

²⁰ Rejoice over her, O heaven, and ye holy apostles and prophets, for God has given your judgment on her.

²¹ And a mighty angel took up a stone like a great millstone and cast it into the sea, saying, With such violence shall that great city Babylon be cast down, and shall be found no more. ²² And the sound of harpers and musicians, and of pipers and trumpeters, shall be heard no more in you. And no craftsman, of whatsoever craft he be, shall be found any more in you. And the sound of a mill shall be heard no more in you. ²³ And the light of the candle shall no more shine in you. And the voice of the bridegroom and of the bride shall be heard no more in you. For your merchants were the great men of the earth, and with your enchantment were deceived all nations. ²⁴ And in her was found the blood of the prophets and of the saints, and of all that were slain upon the earth.