Read the New Testament in 24 Weeks

Three Hallelujahs for the Fall of Babylon!

19 After these things I heard a roar in heaven. It sounded like a huge crowd shouting,

³ Again they shouted,

⁴ The 24 elders and the four living creatures bowed down. They worshiped God, who was sitting on the throne. They cried out,

⁵ Then a voice came from the throne. It said,

⁶ Then I heard the noise of a huge crowd. It sounded like the roar of rushing waters and like loud thunder. The people were shouting,

Fine linen stands for the right things that God’s holy people do.

⁹ Here is what the angel told me to write. “Blessed are those invited to the wedding supper of the Lamb!” Then he added, “These are the true words of God.”

¹⁰ When I heard this, I fell at his feet to worship him. But he said to me, “Don’t do that! I serve God, just as you do. I am God’s servant, just like believers who hold firmly to what Jesus has taught. Worship God! The Spirit of prophecy tells the truth about Jesus.”

The Heavenly Warrior Has Victory Over the Beast

¹¹ I saw heaven standing open. There in front of me was a white horse. Its rider is called Faithful and True. When he judges or makes war, he is always fair. ¹² His eyes are like blazing fire. On his head are many crowns. A name is written on him that only he knows. ¹³ He is dressed in a robe dipped in blood. His name is the Word of God. ¹⁴ The armies of heaven were following him, riding on white horses. They were dressed in fine linen, white and clean. ¹⁵ Coming out of the rider’s mouth is a sharp sword. He will strike down the nations with the sword. Scripture says, “He will rule them with an iron scepter.” (Psalm 2:9) He stomps on the grapes of God’s winepress. The winepress stands for the terrible anger of the God who rules over all. ¹⁶ Here is the name that is written on the rider’s robe and on his thigh.

The Greatest King of All and the Most Powerful Lord of All

¹⁷ I saw an angel standing in the sun. He shouted to all the birds flying high in the air, “Come! Gather together for the great supper of God. ¹⁸ Come and eat the dead bodies of kings, generals, and other mighty people. Eat the bodies of horses and their riders. Eat the bodies of all people, free and slave, great and small.”

¹⁹ Then I saw the beast and the kings of the earth with their armies. They had gathered together to make war against the rider on the horse and his army. ²⁰ But the beast and the false prophet were captured. The false prophet had done signs for the beast. In this way the false prophet had tricked some people. Those people had received the mark of the beast and had worshiped its statue. The beast and the false prophet were thrown alive into the lake of fire. The lake of fire burns with sulfur. ²¹ The rest were killed by the sword that came out of the rider’s mouth. All the birds stuffed themselves with the dead bodies.

The Thousand Years

20 I saw an angel coming down out of heaven. He had the key to the Abyss. In his hand he held a heavy chain. ² He grabbed the dragon, that old serpent. The serpent is also called the devil, or Satan. The angel put him in chains for 1,000 years. ³ Then he threw him into the Abyss. He locked it and sealed him in. This was to keep Satan from causing the nations to believe his lies anymore. Satan will be locked away until the 1,000 years are ended. After that, he must be set free for a short time.

⁴ I saw thrones. Those who had been given authority to judge were sitting on them. I also saw the souls of those whose heads had been cut off. They had been killed because they had spoken what was true about Jesus. They had also been killed because of the word of God. They had not worshiped the beast or its statue. They had not received its mark on their foreheads or hands. They came to life and ruled with Christ for 1,000 years. ⁵ This is the first resurrection. The rest of the dead did not come to life until the 1,000 years were ended. ⁶ Blessed and holy are those who share in the first resurrection. The second death has no power over them. They will be priests of God and of Christ. They will rule with him for 1,000 years.

Satan Is Judged

⁷ When the 1,000 years are over, Satan will be set free from his prison. ⁸ He will go out to cause the nations to believe lies. He will gather them from the four corners of the earth. He will bring Gog and Magog together for battle. Their troops are as many as the grains of sand on the seashore. ⁹ They marched across the whole earth. They surrounded the place where God’s holy people were camped. It was the city he loves. But fire came down from heaven and burned them up. ¹⁰ The devil had caused them to believe lies. He was thrown into the lake of burning sulfur. That is where the beast and the false prophet had been thrown. They will all suffer day and night for ever and ever.

The Dead Are Judged

¹¹ I saw a great white throne. And I saw God sitting on it. When the earth and sky saw his face, they ran away. There was no place for them. ¹² I saw the dead, great and small, standing in front of the throne. Books were opened. Then another book was opened. It was the book of life. The dead were judged by what they had done. The things they had done were written in the books. ¹³ The sea gave up the dead that were in it. And Death and Hell gave up their dead. Each person was judged by what they had done. ¹⁴ Then Death and Hell were thrown into the lake of fire. The lake of fire is the second death. ¹⁵ Anyone whose name was not written in the book of life was thrown into the lake of fire.