The Lamb and His People (REV 14:1-5)

[14:1] Then I looked, and there was the Lamb standing on Mount Zion; with him were 144,000 people who have his name and his Father's name written on their foreheads.

[14:2] And I heard a voice from heaven that sounded like a roaring waterfall, like a loud peal of thunder. It sounded like the music made by musicians playing their harps.

[14:3] The 144,000 people stood before the throne, the four living creatures, and the elders; they were singing a new song, which only they could learn. Of the whole human race they are the only ones who have been redeemed.

[14:4] They are the men who have kept themselves pure by not having sexual relations with women; they are virgins. They follow the Lamb wherever he goes. They have been redeemed from the rest of the human race and are the first ones to be offered to God and to the Lamb.

[14:5] They have never been known to tell lies; they are faultless.

The Three Angels (REV 14:6-13)

[14:6] Then I saw another angel flying high in the air, with an eternal message of Good News to announce to the peoples of the earth, to every race, tribe, language, and nation.

[14:7] He said in a loud voice, “Honor God and praise his greatness! For the time has come for him to judge all people. Worship him who made heaven, earth, sea, and the springs of water!”

[14:8] A second angel followed the first one, saying, “She has fallen! Great Babylon has fallen! She made all peoples drink her wine—the strong wine of her immoral lust!”

[14:9] A third angel followed the first two, saying in a loud voice, “Those who worship the beast and its image and receive the mark on their forehead or on their hand

[14:10] will themselves drink God's wine, the wine of his fury, which he has poured at full strength into the cup of his anger! All who do this will be tormented in fire and sulfur before the holy angels and the Lamb.

[14:11] The smoke of the fire that torments them goes up forever and ever. There is no relief day or night for those who worship the beast and its image, for anyone who has the mark of its name.”

[14:12] This calls for endurance on the part of God's people, those who obey God's commandments and are faithful to Jesus.

[14:13] Then I heard a voice from heaven saying, “Write this: Happy are those who from now on die in the service of the Lord!” “Yes indeed!” answers the Spirit. “They will enjoy rest from their hard work, because the results of their service go with them.”

The Harvest of the Earth (REV 14:14-20)

[14:14] Then I looked, and there was a white cloud, and sitting on the cloud was what looked like a human being, with a crown of gold on his head and a sharp sickle in his hand.

[14:15] Then another angel came out from the temple and cried out in a loud voice to the one who was sitting on the cloud, “Use your sickle and reap the harvest, because the time has come; the earth is ripe for the harvest!”

[14:16] Then the one who sat on the cloud swung his sickle on the earth, and the earth's harvest was reaped.

[14:17] Then I saw another angel come out of the temple in heaven, and he also had a sharp sickle.

[14:18] Then another angel, who is in charge of the fire, came from the altar. He shouted in a loud voice to the angel who had the sharp sickle, “Use your sickle, and cut the grapes from the vineyard of the earth, because the grapes are ripe!”

[14:19] So the angel swung his sickle on the earth, cut the grapes from the vine, and threw them into the wine press of God's furious anger.

[14:20] The grapes were squeezed out in the wine press outside the city, and blood came out of the wine press in a flood two hundred miles long and about five feet deep.

The Angels with the Last Plagues (REV 15:1-8)

[15:1] Then I saw in the sky another mysterious sight, great and amazing. There were seven angels with seven plagues, which are the last ones, because they are the final expression of God's anger.

[15:2] Then I saw what looked like a sea of glass mixed with fire. I also saw those who had won the victory over the beast and its image and over the one whose name is represented by a number. They were standing by the sea of glass, holding harps that God had given them

[15:3] and singing the song of Moses, the servant of God, and the song of the Lamb: “Lord God Almighty, how great and wonderful are your deeds! King of the nations, how right and true are your ways!

[15:4] Who will not stand in awe of you, Lord? Who will refuse to declare your greatness? You alone are holy. All the nations will come and worship you, because your just actions are seen by all.”

[15:5] After this I saw the temple in heaven open, with the Sacred Tent in it.

[15:6] The seven angels who had the seven plagues came out of the temple, dressed in clean shining linen and with gold bands tied around their chests.

[15:7] Then one of the four living creatures gave the seven angels seven gold bowls full of the anger of God, who lives forever and ever.

[15:8] The temple was filled with smoke from the glory and power of God, and no one could go into the temple until the seven plagues brought by the seven angels had come to an end.

The Bowls of God's Anger (REV 16:1-21)

[16:1] Then I heard a loud voice speaking from the temple to the seven angels: “Go and pour out the seven bowls of God's anger on the earth!”

[16:2] The first angel went and poured out his bowl on the earth. Terrible and painful sores appeared on those who had the mark of the beast and on those who had worshiped its image.

[16:3] Then the second angel poured out his bowl on the sea. The water became like the blood of a dead person, and every living creature in the sea died.

[16:4] Then the third angel poured out his bowl on the rivers and the springs of water, and they turned into blood.

[16:5] I heard the angel in charge of the waters say, “The judgments you have made are just, O Holy One, you who are and who were!

[16:6] They poured out the blood of God's people and of the prophets, and so you have given them blood to drink. They are getting what they deserve!”

[16:7] Then I heard a voice from the altar saying, “Lord God Almighty! True and just indeed are your judgments!”

[16:8] Then the fourth angel poured out his bowl on the sun, and it was allowed to burn people with its fiery heat.

[16:9] They were burned by the fierce heat, and they cursed the name of God, who has authority over these plagues. But they would not turn from their sins and praise his greatness.

[16:10] Then the fifth angel poured out his bowl on the throne of the beast. Darkness fell over the beast's kingdom, and people bit their tongues because of their pain,

[16:11] and they cursed the God of heaven for their pains and sores. But they did not turn from their evil ways.

[16:12] Then the sixth angel poured out his bowl on the great Euphrates River. The river dried up, to provide a way for the kings who come from the east.

[16:13] Then I saw three unclean spirits that looked like frogs. They were coming out of the mouth of the dragon, the mouth of the beast, and the mouth of the false prophet.

[16:14] They are the spirits of demons that perform miracles. These three spirits go out to all the kings of the world, to bring them together for the battle on the great Day of Almighty God.

[16:15] “Listen! I am coming like a thief! Happy is he who stays awake and guards his clothes, so that he will not walk around naked and be ashamed in public!”

[16:16] Then the spirits brought the kings together in the place that in Hebrew is called Armageddon.

[16:17] Then the seventh angel poured out his bowl in the air. A loud voice came from the throne in the temple, saying, “It is done!”

[16:18] There were flashes of lightning, rumblings and peals of thunder, and a terrible earthquake. There has never been such an earthquake since the creation of human beings; this was the worst earthquake of all!

[16:19] The great city was split into three parts, and the cities of all countries were destroyed. God remembered great Babylon and made her drink the wine from his cup—the wine of his furious anger.

[16:20] All the islands disappeared, all the mountains vanished.

[16:21] Huge hailstones, each weighing as much as a hundred pounds, fell from the sky on people, who cursed God on account of the plague of hail, because it was such a terrible plague.

The Famous Prostitute (REV 17:1-18)

[17:1] Then one of the seven angels who had the seven bowls came to me and said, “Come, and I will show you how the famous prostitute is to be punished, that great city that is built near many rivers.

[17:2] The kings of the earth practiced sexual immorality with her, and the people of the world became drunk from drinking the wine of her immorality.”

[17:3] The Spirit took control of me, and the angel carried me to a desert. There I saw a woman sitting on a red beast that had names insulting to God written all over it; the beast had seven heads and ten horns.

[17:4] The woman was dressed in purple and scarlet, and covered with gold ornaments, precious stones, and pearls. In her hand she held a gold cup full of obscene and filthy things, the result of her immorality.

[17:5] On her forehead was written a name that has a secret meaning: “Great Babylon, the mother of all prostitutes and perverts in the world.”

[17:6] And I saw that the woman was drunk with the blood of God's people and the blood of those who were killed because they had been loyal to Jesus. When I saw her, I was completely amazed.

[17:7] “Why are you amazed?” the angel asked me. “I will tell you the secret meaning of the woman and of the beast that carries her, the beast with seven heads and ten horns.

[17:8] That beast was once alive, but lives no longer; it is about to come up from the abyss and will go off to be destroyed. The people living on earth whose names have not been written before the creation of the world in the book of the living, will all be amazed as they look at the beast. It was once alive; now it no longer lives, but it will reappear.

[17:9] “This calls for wisdom and understanding. The seven heads are seven hills, on which the woman sits. They are also seven kings:

[17:10] five of them have fallen, one still rules, and the other one has not yet come; when he comes, he must rule only a little while.

[17:11] And the beast that was once alive, but lives no longer, is itself an eighth king who is one of the seven and is going off to be destroyed.

[17:12] “The ten horns you saw are ten kings who have not yet begun to rule, but who will be given authority to rule as kings for one hour with the beast.

[17:13] These ten all have the same purpose, and they give their power and authority to the beast.

[17:14] They will fight against the Lamb; but the Lamb, together with his called, chosen, and faithful followers, will defeat them, because he is Lord of lords and King of kings.”

[17:15] The angel also said to me, “The waters you saw, on which the prostitute sits, are nations, peoples, races, and languages.

[17:16] The ten horns you saw and the beast will hate the prostitute; they will take away everything she has and leave her naked; they will eat her flesh and destroy her with fire.

[17:17] For God has placed in their hearts the will to carry out his purpose by acting together and giving to the beast their power to rule until God's words come true.

[17:18] “The woman you saw is the great city that rules over the kings of the earth.”

The Fall of Babylon (REV 18:1-19:4)

[18:1] After this I saw another angel coming down out of heaven. He had great authority, and his splendor brightened the whole earth.

[18:2] He cried out in a loud voice: “She has fallen! Great Babylon has fallen! She is now haunted by demons and unclean spirits; all kinds of filthy and hateful birds live in her.

[18:3] For all the nations have drunk her wine—the strong wine of her immoral lust. The kings of the earth practiced sexual immorality with her, and the merchants of the world grew rich from her unrestrained lust.”

[18:4] Then I heard another voice from heaven, saying, “Come out, my people! Come out from her! You must not take part in her sins; you must not share in her punishment!

[18:5] For her sins are piled up as high as heaven, and God remembers her wicked ways.

[18:6] Treat her exactly as she has treated you; pay her back double for all she has done. Fill her cup with a drink twice as strong as the drink she prepared for you.

[18:7] Give her as much suffering and grief as the glory and luxury she gave herself. For she keeps telling herself: ‘Here I sit, a queen! I am no widow, I will never know grief!’

[18:8] Because of this, in one day she will be struck with plagues— disease, grief, and famine. And she will be burned with fire, because the Lord God, who judges her, is mighty.”

[18:9] The kings of the earth who took part in her immorality and lust will cry and weep over the city when they see the smoke from the flames that consume her.

[18:10] They stand a long way off, because they are afraid of sharing in her suffering. They say, “How terrible! How awful! This great and mighty city Babylon! In just one hour you have been punished!”

[18:11] The merchants of the earth also cry and mourn for her, because no one buys their goods any longer;

[18:12] no one buys their gold, silver, precious stones, and pearls; their goods of linen, purple cloth, silk, and scarlet cloth; all kinds of rare woods and all kinds of objects made of ivory and of expensive wood, of bronze, iron, and marble;

[18:13] and cinnamon, spice, incense, myrrh, and frankincense; wine and oil, flour and wheat, cattle and sheep, horses and carriages, slaves, and even human lives.

[18:14] The merchants say to her, “All the good things you longed to own have disappeared, and all your wealth and glamor are gone, and you will never find them again!”

[18:15] The merchants, who became rich from doing business in that city, will stand a long way off, because they are afraid of sharing in her suffering. They will cry and mourn,

[18:16] and say, “How terrible! How awful for the great city! She used to dress herself in linen, purple, and scarlet, and cover herself with gold ornaments, precious stones, and pearls!

[18:17] And in one hour she has lost all this wealth!” All the ships' captains and passengers, the sailors and all others who earn their living on the sea, stood a long way off,

[18:18] and cried out as they saw the smoke from the flames that consumed her: “There never has been another city like this great city!”

[18:19] They threw dust on their heads, they cried and mourned, saying, “How terrible! How awful for the great city! She is the city where all who have ships sailing the seas became rich on her wealth! And in one hour she has lost everything!”

[18:20] Be glad, heaven, because of her destruction! Be glad, God's people and the apostles and prophets! For God has condemned her for what she did to you!

[18:21] Then a mighty angel picked up a stone the size of a large millstone and threw it into the sea, saying, “This is how the great city Babylon will be violently thrown down and will never be seen again.

[18:22] The music of harps and of human voices, of players of the flute and the trumpet, will never be heard in you again! No workman in any trade will ever be found in you again; and the sound of the millstone will be heard no more!

[18:23] Never again will the light of a lamp be seen in you; no more will the voices of brides and grooms be heard in you. Your merchants were the most powerful in all the world, and with your false magic you deceived all the peoples of the world!”

[18:24] Babylon was punished because the blood of prophets and of God's people was found in the city; yes, the blood of all those who have been killed on earth.

[19:1] After this I heard what sounded like the roar of a large crowd of people in heaven, saying, “Praise God! Salvation, glory, and power belong to our God!

[19:2] True and just are his judgments! He has condemned the prostitute who was corrupting the earth with her immorality. God has punished her because she killed his servants.”

[19:3] Again they shouted, “Praise God! The smoke from the flames that consume the great city goes up forever and ever!”

[19:4] The twenty-four elders and the four living creatures fell down and worshiped God, who was seated on the throne. They said, “Amen! Praise God!”

The Wedding Feast of the Lamb (REV 19:5-10)

[19:5] Then there came from the throne the sound of a voice, saying, “Praise our God, all his servants and all people, both great and small, who have reverence for him!”

[19:6] Then I heard what sounded like a crowd, like the sound of a roaring waterfall, like loud peals of thunder. I heard them say, “Praise God! For the Lord, our Almighty God, is King!

[19:7] Let us rejoice and be glad; let us praise his greatness! For the time has come for the wedding of the Lamb, and his bride has prepared herself for it.

[19:8] She has been given clean shining linen to wear.” (The linen is the good deeds of God's people.)

[19:9] Then the angel said to me, “Write this: Happy are those who have been invited to the wedding feast of the Lamb.” And the angel added, “These are the true words of God.”

[19:10] I fell down at his feet to worship him, but he said to me, “Don't do it! I am a servant together with you and with other believers, all those who hold to the truth that Jesus revealed. Worship God!” For the truth that Jesus revealed is what inspires the prophets.

The Rider on the White Horse (REV 19:11-21)

[19:11] Then I saw heaven open, and there was a white horse. Its rider is called Faithful and True; it is with justice that he judges and fights his battles.

[19:12] His eyes were like a flame of fire, and he wore many crowns on his head. He had a name written on him, but no one except himself knows what it is.

[19:13] The robe he wore was covered with blood. His name is “The Word of God.”

[19:14] The armies of heaven followed him, riding on white horses and dressed in clean white linen.

[19:15] Out of his mouth came a sharp sword, with which he will defeat the nations. He will rule over them with a rod of iron, and he will trample out the wine in the wine press of the furious anger of the Almighty God.

[19:16] On his robe and on his thigh was written the name: “King of kings and Lord of lords.”

[19:17] Then I saw an angel standing on the sun. He shouted in a loud voice to all the birds flying in midair: “Come and gather together for God's great feast!

[19:18] Come and eat the flesh of kings, generals, and soldiers, the flesh of horses and their riders, the flesh of all people, slave and free, great and small!”

[19:19] Then I saw the beast and the kings of the earth and their armies gathered to fight against the one who was riding the horse and against his army.

[19:20] The beast was taken prisoner, together with the false prophet who had performed miracles in his presence. (It was by those miracles that he had deceived those who had the mark of the beast and those who had worshiped the image of the beast.) The beast and the false prophet were both thrown alive into the lake of fire that burns with sulfur.

[19:21] Their armies were killed by the sword that comes out of the mouth of the one who was riding the horse; and all the birds ate all they could of their flesh.

The Thousand Years (REV 20:1-6)

[20:1] Then I saw an angel coming down from heaven, holding in his hand the key of the abyss and a heavy chain.

[20:2] He seized the dragon, that ancient serpent—that is, the Devil, or Satan—and chained him up for a thousand years.

[20:3] The angel threw him into the abyss, locked it, and sealed it, so that he could not deceive the nations any more until the thousand years were over. After that he must be set loose for a little while.

[20:4] Then I saw thrones, and those who sat on them were given the power to judge. I also saw the souls of those who had been executed because they had proclaimed the truth that Jesus revealed and the word of God. They had not worshiped the beast or its image, nor had they received the mark of the beast on their foreheads or their hands. They came to life and ruled as kings with Christ for a thousand years.

[20:5] (The rest of the dead did not come to life until the thousand years were over.) This is the first raising of the dead.

[20:6] Happy and greatly blessed are those who are included in this first raising of the dead. The second death has no power over them; they shall be priests of God and of Christ, and they will rule with him for a thousand years.