The Beast out of the Sea

13 The dragon^[a] stood on the shore of the sea. And I saw a beast coming out of the sea.^(A) It had ten horns and seven heads,^(B) with ten crowns on its horns, and on each head a blasphemous name.^{(C) 2} The beast I saw resembled a leopard,^(D) but had feet like those of a bear^(E) and a mouth like that of a lion.^(F) The dragon gave the beast his power and his throne and great authority.^{(G) 3} One of the heads of the beast seemed to have had a fatal wound, but the fatal wound had been healed.^(H) The whole world was filled with wonder^(I) and followed the beast. ⁴ People worshiped the dragon because he had given authority to the beast, and they also worshiped the beast and asked, “Who is like^(J) the beast? Who can wage war against it?”

⁵ The beast was given a mouth to utter proud words and blasphemies^(K) and to exercise its authority for forty-two months.^{(L) 6} It opened its mouth to blaspheme God, and to slander his name and his dwelling place and those who live in heaven.^{(M) 7} It was given power to wage war^(N) against God’s holy people and to conquer them. And it was given authority over every tribe, people, language and nation.^{(O) 8} All inhabitants of the earth^(P) will worship the beast—all whose names have not been written in the Lamb’s book of life,^(Q) the Lamb^(R) who was slain from the creation of the world.^[b](S)

⁹ Whoever has ears, let them hear.^(T)

This calls for patient endurance and faithfulness^(V) on the part of God’s people.^(W)

The Beast out of the Earth

¹¹ Then I saw a second beast, coming out of the earth.^(X) It had two horns like a lamb, but it spoke like a dragon.^{(Y) 12} It exercised all the authority^(Z) of the first beast on its behalf,^(AA) and made the earth and its inhabitants worship the first beast,^(AB) whose fatal wound had been healed.^{(AC) 13} And it performed great signs,^(AD) even causing fire to come down from heaven^(AE) to the earth in full view of the people. ¹⁴ Because of the signs^(AF) it was given power to perform on behalf of the first beast, it deceived^(AG) the inhabitants of the earth.^(AH) It ordered them to set up an image in honor of the beast who was wounded by the sword and yet lived.^{(AI) 15} The second beast was given power to give breath to the image of the first beast, so that the image could speak and cause all who refused to worship^(AJ) the image to be killed.^{(AK) 16} It also forced all people, great and small,^(AL) rich and poor, free and slave, to receive a mark on their right hands or on their foreheads,^{(AM) 17} so that they could not buy or sell unless they had the mark,^(AN) which is the name of the beast or the number of its name.^(AO)

¹⁸ This calls for wisdom.^(AP) Let the person who has insight calculate the number of the beast, for it is the number of a man.^[e](AQ) That number is 666.

The Lamb and the 144,000

14 Then I looked, and there before me was the Lamb,^(AR) standing on Mount Zion,^(AS) and with him 144,000^(AT) who had his name and his Father’s name^(AU) written on their foreheads.^{(AV) 2} And I heard a sound from heaven like the roar of rushing waters^(AW) and like a loud peal of thunder.^(AX) The sound I heard was like that of harpists playing their harps.^{(AY) 3} And they sang a new song^(AZ) before the throne and before the four living creatures^(BA) and the elders.^(BB) No one could learn the song except the 144,000^(BC) who had been redeemed from the earth. ⁴ These are those who did not defile themselves with women, for they remained virgins.^(BD) They follow the Lamb wherever he goes.^(BE) They were purchased from among mankind^(BF) and offered as firstfruits^(BG) to God and the Lamb. ⁵ No lie was found in their mouths;^(BH) they are blameless.^(BI)

The Three Angels

⁶ Then I saw another angel flying in midair,^(BJ) and he had the eternal gospel to proclaim to those who live on the earth^(BK)—to every nation, tribe, language and people.^{(BL) 7} He said in a loud voice, “Fear God^(BM) and give him glory,^(BN) because the hour of his judgment has come. Worship him who made^(BO) the heavens, the earth, the sea and the springs of water.”^(BP)

⁸ A second angel followed and said, “‘Fallen! Fallen is Babylon the Great,’^[f](BQ) which made all the nations drink the maddening wine of her adulteries.”^(BR)

⁹ A third angel followed them and said in a loud voice: “If anyone worships the beast^(BS) and its image^(BT) and receives its mark on their forehead^(BU) or on their hand, ¹⁰ they, too, will drink the wine of God’s fury,^(BV) which has been poured full strength into the cup of his wrath.^(BW) They will be tormented with burning sulfur^(BX) in the presence of the holy angels and of the Lamb. ¹¹ And the smoke of their torment will rise for ever and ever.^(BY) There will be no rest day or night^(BZ) for those who worship the beast and its image,^(CA) or for anyone who receives the mark of its name.”^{(CB) 12} This calls for patient endurance^(CC) on the part of the people of God^(CD) who keep his commands^(CE) and remain faithful to Jesus.

¹³ Then I heard a voice from heaven say, “Write this: Blessed are the dead who die in the Lord^(CF) from now on.”

“Yes,” says the Spirit,^(CG) “they will rest from their labor, for their deeds will follow them.”

Harvesting the Earth and Trampling the Winepress

¹⁴ I looked, and there before me was a white cloud,^(CH) and seated on the cloud was one like a son of man^[g](CI) with a crown^(CJ) of gold on his head and a sharp sickle in his hand. ¹⁵ Then another angel came out of the temple^(CK) and called in a loud voice to him who was sitting on the cloud, “Take your sickle^(CL) and reap, because the time to reap has come, for the harvest^(CM) of the earth is ripe.” ¹⁶ So he who was seated on the cloud swung his sickle over the earth, and the earth was harvested.

¹⁷ Another angel came out of the temple in heaven, and he too had a sharp sickle.^{(CN) 18} Still another angel, who had charge of the fire, came from the altar^(CO) and called in a loud voice to him who had the sharp sickle, “Take your sharp sickle^(CP) and gather the clusters of grapes from the earth’s vine, because its grapes are ripe.” ¹⁹ The angel swung his sickle on the earth, gathered its grapes and threw them into the great winepress of God’s wrath.^{(CQ) 20} They were trampled in the winepress^(CR) outside the city,^(CS) and blood^(CT) flowed out of the press, rising as high as the horses’ bridles for a distance of 1,600 stadia.^[h]

Seven Angels With Seven Plagues

15 I saw in heaven another great and marvelous sign:^(CU) seven angels^(CV) with the seven last plagues^(CW)—last, because with them God’s wrath is completed. ² And I saw what looked like a sea of glass^(CX) glowing with fire and, standing beside the sea, those who had been victorious^(CY) over the beast^(CZ) and its image^(DA) and over the number of its name.^(DB) They held harps^(DC) given them by God ³ and sang the song of God’s servant^(DD) Moses^(DE) and of the Lamb:^(DF)

⁵ After this I looked, and I saw in heaven the temple^(DN)—that is, the tabernacle of the covenant law^(DO)—and it was opened.^{(DP) 6} Out of the temple^(DQ) came the seven angels with the seven plagues.^(DR) They were dressed in clean, shining linen^(DS) and wore golden sashes around their chests.^{(DT) 7} Then one of the four living creatures^(DU) gave to the seven angels^(DV) seven golden bowls filled with the wrath of God, who lives for ever and ever.^{(DW) 8} And the temple was filled with smoke^(DX) from the glory of God and from his power, and no one could enter the temple^(DY) until the seven plagues of the seven angels were completed.

The Seven Bowls of God’s Wrath

16 Then I heard a loud voice from the temple^(DZ) saying to the seven angels,^(EA) “Go, pour out the seven bowls of God’s wrath on the earth.”^(EB)

² The first angel went and poured out his bowl on the land,^(EC) and ugly, festering sores^(ED) broke out on the people who had the mark of the beast and worshiped its image.^(EE)

³ The second angel poured out his bowl on the sea, and it turned into blood like that of a dead person, and every living thing in the sea died.^(EF)

⁴ The third angel poured out his bowl on the rivers and springs of water,^(EG) and they became blood.^{(EH) 5} Then I heard the angel in charge of the waters say:

⁷ And I heard the altar^(EN) respond:

⁸ The fourth angel^(EQ) poured out his bowl on the sun,^(ER) and the sun was allowed to scorch people with fire.^{(ES) 9} They were seared by the intense heat and they cursed the name of God,^(ET) who had control over these plagues, but they refused to repent^(EU) and glorify him.^(EV)

¹⁰ The fifth angel poured out his bowl on the throne of the beast,^(EW) and its kingdom was plunged into darkness.^(EX) People gnawed their tongues in agony ¹¹ and cursed^(EY) the God of heaven^(EZ) because of their pains and their sores,^(FA) but they refused to repent of what they had done.^(FB)

¹² The sixth angel poured out his bowl on the great river Euphrates,^(FC) and its water was dried up to prepare the way^(FD) for the kings from the East.^{(FE) 13} Then I saw three impure spirits^(FF) that looked like frogs;^(FG) they came out of the mouth of the dragon,^(FH) out of the mouth of the beast^(FI) and out of the mouth of the false prophet.^{(FJ) 14} They are demonic spirits^(FK) that perform signs,^(FL) and they go out to the kings of the whole world,^(FM) to gather them for the battle^(FN) on the great day^(FO) of God Almighty.

¹⁶ Then they gathered the kings together^(FS) to the place that in Hebrew^(FT) is called Armageddon.^(FU)

¹⁷ The seventh angel poured out his bowl into the air,^(FV) and out of the temple^(FW) came a loud voice^(FX) from the throne, saying, “It is done!”^{(FY) 18} Then there came flashes of lightning, rumblings, peals of thunder^(FZ) and a severe earthquake.^(GA) No earthquake like it has ever occurred since mankind has been on earth,^(GB) so tremendous was the quake. ¹⁹ The great city^(GC) split into three parts, and the cities of the nations collapsed. God remembered^(GD) Babylon the Great^(GE) and gave her the cup filled with the wine of the fury of his wrath.^{(GF) 20} Every island fled away and the mountains could not be found.^{(GG) 21} From the sky huge hailstones,^(GH) each weighing about a hundred pounds,^[k] fell on people. And they cursed God^(GI) on account of the plague of hail,^(GJ) because the plague was so terrible.

Babylon, the Prostitute on the Beast

17 One of the seven angels^(GK) who had the seven bowls^(GL) came and said to me, “Come, I will show you the punishment^(GM) of the great prostitute,^(GN) who sits by many waters.^{(GO) 2} With her the kings of the earth committed adultery, and the inhabitants of the earth were intoxicated with the wine of her adulteries.”^(GP)

³ Then the angel carried me away in the Spirit^(GQ) into a wilderness.^(GR) There I saw a woman sitting on a scarlet^(GS) beast that was covered with blasphemous names^(GT) and had seven heads and ten horns.^{(GU) 4} The woman was dressed in purple and scarlet, and was glittering with gold, precious stones and pearls.^(GV) She held a golden cup^(GW) in her hand, filled with abominable things and the filth of her adulteries.^{(GX) 5} The name written on her forehead was a mystery:^(GY)

⁶ I saw that the woman was drunk with the blood of God’s holy people,^(HB) the blood of those who bore testimony to Jesus.

When I saw her, I was greatly astonished. ⁷ Then the angel said to me: “Why are you astonished? I will explain to you the mystery^(HC) of the woman and of the beast she rides, which has the seven heads and ten horns.^{(HD) 8} The beast, which you saw, once was, now is not, and yet will come up out of the Abyss^(HE) and go to its destruction.^(HF) The inhabitants of the earth^(HG) whose names have not been written in the book of life^(HH) from the creation of the world will be astonished^(HI) when they see the beast, because it once was, now is not, and yet will come.

⁹ “This calls for a mind with wisdom.^(HJ) The seven heads^(HK) are seven hills on which the woman sits. ¹⁰ They are also seven kings. Five have fallen, one is, the other has not yet come; but when he does come, he must remain for only a little while. ¹¹ The beast who once was, and now is not,^(HL) is an eighth king. He belongs to the seven and is going to his destruction.

¹² “The ten horns^(HM) you saw are ten kings who have not yet received a kingdom, but who for one hour^(HN) will receive authority as kings along with the beast. ¹³ They have one purpose and will give their power and authority to the beast.^{(HO) 14} They will wage war^(HP) against the Lamb, but the Lamb will triumph over^(HQ) them because he is Lord of lords and King of kings^(HR)—and with him will be his called, chosen^(HS) and faithful followers.”

¹⁵ Then the angel said to me, “The waters^(HT) you saw, where the prostitute sits, are peoples, multitudes, nations and languages.^{(HU) 16} The beast and the ten horns^(HV) you saw will hate the prostitute.^(HW) They will bring her to ruin^(HX) and leave her naked;^(HY) they will eat her flesh^(HZ) and burn her with fire.^{(IA) 17} For God has put it into their hearts^(IB) to accomplish his purpose by agreeing to hand over to the beast their royal authority,^(IC) until God’s words are fulfilled.^{(ID) 18} The woman you saw is the great city^(IE) that rules over the kings of the earth.”

Lament Over Fallen Babylon

18 After this I saw another angel^(IF) coming down from heaven.^(IG) He had great authority, and the earth was illuminated by his splendor.^{(IH) 2} With a mighty voice he shouted:

Warning to Escape Babylon’s Judgment

⁴ Then I heard another voice from heaven say:

Threefold Woe Over Babylon’s Fall

⁹ “When the kings of the earth who committed adultery with her^(JA) and shared her luxury^(JB) see the smoke of her burning,^(JC) they will weep and mourn over her.^{(JD) 10} Terrified at her torment, they will stand far off^(JE) and cry:

¹¹ “The merchants^(JH) of the earth will weep and mourn^(JI) over her because no one buys their cargoes anymore^(JJ)— ¹² cargoes of gold, silver, precious stones and pearls; fine linen, purple, silk and scarlet cloth; every sort of citron wood, and articles of every kind made of ivory, costly wood, bronze, iron and marble;^{(JK) 13} cargoes of cinnamon and spice, of incense, myrrh and frankincense, of wine and olive oil, of fine flour and wheat; cattle and sheep; horses and carriages; and human beings sold as slaves.^(JL)

¹⁴ “They will say, ‘The fruit you longed for is gone from you. All your luxury and splendor have vanished, never to be recovered.’ ¹⁵ The merchants who sold these things and gained their wealth from her^(JM) will stand far off,^(JN) terrified at her torment. They will weep and mourn^{(JO) 16} and cry out:

“Every sea captain, and all who travel by ship, the sailors, and all who earn their living from the sea,^(JT) will stand far off.^{(JU) 18} When they see the smoke of her burning,^(JV) they will exclaim, ‘Was there ever a city like this great city^(JW)?’^{(JX) 19} They will throw dust on their heads,^(JY) and with weeping and mourning^(JZ) cry out:

The Finality of Babylon’s Doom

²¹ Then a mighty angel^(KE) picked up a boulder the size of a large millstone and threw it into the sea,^(KF) and said:

Threefold Hallelujah Over Babylon’s Fall

19 After this I heard what sounded like the roar of a great multitude^(KO) in heaven shouting:

³ And again they shouted:

⁴ The twenty-four elders^(KX) and the four living creatures^(KY) fell down^(KZ) and worshiped God, who was seated on the throne. And they cried:

⁵ Then a voice came from the throne, saying:

⁶ Then I heard what sounded like a great multitude,^(LD) like the roar of rushing waters^(LE) and like loud peals of thunder, shouting:

(Fine linen stands for the righteous acts^(LM) of God’s holy people.)

⁹ Then the angel said to me,^(LN) “Write this:^(LO) Blessed are those who are invited to the wedding supper of the Lamb!”^(LP) And he added, “These are the true words of God.”^(LQ)

¹⁰ At this I fell at his feet to worship him.^(LR) But he said to me, “Don’t do that! I am a fellow servant with you and with your brothers and sisters who hold to the testimony of Jesus. Worship God!^(LS) For it is the Spirit of prophecy who bears testimony to Jesus.”^(LT)

The Heavenly Warrior Defeats the Beast

¹¹ I saw heaven standing open^(LU) and there before me was a white horse, whose rider^(LV) is called Faithful and True.^(LW) With justice he judges and wages war.^{(LX) 12} His eyes are like blazing fire,^(LY) and on his head are many crowns.^(LZ) He has a name written on him^(MA) that no one knows but he himself.^{(MB) 13} He is dressed in a robe dipped in blood,^(MC) and his name is the Word of God.^{(MD) 14} The armies of heaven were following him, riding on white horses and dressed in fine linen,^(ME) white^(MF) and clean. ¹⁵ Coming out of his mouth is a sharp sword^(MG) with which to strike down^(MH) the nations. “He will rule them with an iron scepter.”^[o](MI) He treads the winepress^(MJ) of the fury of the wrath of God Almighty. ¹⁶ On his robe and on his thigh he has this name written:^(MK)

¹⁷ And I saw an angel standing in the sun, who cried in a loud voice to all the birds^(MM) flying in midair,^(MN) “Come,^(MO) gather together for the great supper of God,^{(MP) 18} so that you may eat the flesh of kings, generals, and the mighty, of horses and their riders, and the flesh of all people,^(MQ) free and slave,^(MR) great and small.”^(MS)

¹⁹ Then I saw the beast^(MT) and the kings of the earth^(MU) and their armies gathered together to wage war against the rider on the horse^(MV) and his army. ²⁰ But the beast was captured, and with it the false prophet^(MW) who had performed the signs^(MX) on its behalf.^(MY) With these signs he had deluded^(MZ) those who had received the mark of the beast^(NA) and worshiped its image.^(NB) The two of them were thrown alive into the fiery lake^(NC) of burning sulfur.^{(ND) 21} The rest were killed with the sword^(NE) coming out of the mouth of the rider on the horse,^(NF) and all the birds^(NG) gorged themselves on their flesh.

The Man of Lawlessness

2 Concerning the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ^(A) and our being gathered to him,^(B) we ask you, brothers and sisters, ² not to become easily unsettled or alarmed by the teaching allegedly from us—whether by a prophecy or by word of mouth or by letter^(C)—asserting that the day of the Lord^(D) has already come.^{(E) 3} Don’t let anyone deceive you^(F) in any way, for that day will not come until the rebellion^(G) occurs and the man of lawlessness^[a] is revealed,^(H) the man doomed to destruction. ⁴ He will oppose and will exalt himself over everything that is called God^(I) or is worshiped, so that he sets himself up in God’s temple, proclaiming himself to be God.^(J)

⁵ Don’t you remember that when I was with you I used to tell you these things?^{(K) 6} And now you know what is holding him back,^(L) so that he may be revealed at the proper time. ⁷ For the secret power of lawlessness is already at work; but the one who now holds it back^(M) will continue to do so till he is taken out of the way. ⁸ And then the lawless one will be revealed,^(N) whom the Lord Jesus will overthrow with the breath of his mouth^(O) and destroy by the splendor of his coming.^{(P) 9} The coming of the lawless one will be in accordance with how Satan^(Q) works. He will use all sorts of displays of power through signs and wonders^(R) that serve the lie, ¹⁰ and all the ways that wickedness deceives those who are perishing.^(S) They perish because they refused to love the truth and so be saved.^{(T) 11} For this reason God sends them^(U) a powerful delusion^(V) so that they will believe the lie^{(W) 12} and so that all will be condemned who have not believed the truth but have delighted in wickedness.^(X)

Stand Firm

¹³ But we ought always to thank God for you,^(Y) brothers and sisters loved by the Lord, because God chose you as firstfruits^[b](Z) to be saved^(AA) through the sanctifying work of the Spirit^(AB) and through belief in the truth. ¹⁴ He called you^(AC) to this through our gospel,^(AD) that you might share in the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ.

¹⁵ So then, brothers and sisters, stand firm^(AE) and hold fast to the teachings^[c] we passed on to you,^(AF) whether by word of mouth or by letter.

¹⁶ May our Lord Jesus Christ himself and God our Father,^(AG) who loved us^(AH) and by his grace gave us eternal encouragement and good hope, ¹⁷ encourage^(AI) your hearts and strengthen^(AJ) you in every good deed and word.

The Day of the Lord

5 Now, brothers and sisters, about times and dates^(A) we do not need to write to you,^{(B) 2} for you know very well that the day of the Lord^(C) will come like a thief in the night.^{(D) 3} While people are saying, “Peace and safety,”^(E) destruction will come on them suddenly,^(F) as labor pains on a pregnant woman, and they will not escape.^(G)

The Remnant of Israel

11 I ask then: Did God reject his people? By no means!^(A) I am an Israelite myself, a descendant of Abraham,^(B) from the tribe of Benjamin.^{(C) 2} God did not reject his people,^(D) whom he foreknew.^(E) Don’t you know what Scripture says in the passage about Elijah—how he appealed to God against Israel: ³ “Lord, they have killed your prophets and torn down your altars; I am the only one left, and they are trying to kill me”^[a]?^{(F) 4} And what was God’s answer to him? “I have reserved for myself seven thousand who have not bowed the knee to Baal.”^{[b](G) 5} So too, at the present time there is a remnant^(H) chosen by grace.^{(I) 6} And if by grace, then it cannot be based on works;^(J) if it were, grace would no longer be grace.

⁷ What then? What the people of Israel sought so earnestly they did not obtain.^(K) The elect among them did, but the others were hardened,^{(L) 8} as it is written:

⁹ And David says:

Ingrafted Branches

¹¹ Again I ask: Did they stumble so as to fall beyond recovery? Not at all!^(Q) Rather, because of their transgression, salvation has come to the Gentiles^(R) to make Israel envious.^{(S) 12} But if their transgression means riches for the world, and their loss means riches for the Gentiles,^(T) how much greater riches will their full inclusion bring!

¹³ I am talking to you Gentiles. Inasmuch as I am the apostle to the Gentiles,^(U) I take pride in my ministry ¹⁴ in the hope that I may somehow arouse my own people to envy^(V) and save^(W) some of them. ¹⁵ For if their rejection brought reconciliation^(X) to the world, what will their acceptance be but life from the dead?^{(Y) 16} If the part of the dough offered as firstfruits^(Z) is holy, then the whole batch is holy; if the root is holy, so are the branches.

¹⁷ If some of the branches have been broken off,^(AA) and you, though a wild olive shoot, have been grafted in among the others^(AB) and now share in the nourishing sap from the olive root, ¹⁸ do not consider yourself to be superior to those other branches. If you do, consider this: You do not support the root, but the root supports you.^{(AC) 19} You will say then, “Branches were broken off so that I could be grafted in.” ²⁰ Granted. But they were broken off because of unbelief, and you stand by faith.^(AD) Do not be arrogant,^(AE) but tremble.^{(AF) 21} For if God did not spare the natural branches, he will not spare you either.

²² Consider therefore the kindness^(AG) and sternness of God: sternness to those who fell, but kindness to you, provided that you continue^(AH) in his kindness. Otherwise, you also will be cut off.^{(AI) 23} And if they do not persist in unbelief, they will be grafted in, for God is able to graft them in again.^{(AJ) 24} After all, if you were cut out of an olive tree that is wild by nature, and contrary to nature were grafted into a cultivated olive tree,^(AK) how much more readily will these, the natural branches, be grafted into their own olive tree!

All Israel Will Be Saved

²⁵ I do not want you to be ignorant^(AL) of this mystery,^(AM) brothers and sisters, so that you may not be conceited:^(AN) Israel has experienced a hardening^(AO) in part until the full number of the Gentiles has come in,^{(AP) 26} and in this way^[e] all Israel will be saved.^(AQ) As it is written:

²⁸ As far as the gospel is concerned, they are enemies^(AS) for your sake; but as far as election is concerned, they are loved on account of the patriarchs,^{(AT) 29} for God’s gifts and his call^(AU) are irrevocable.^{(AV) 30} Just as you who were at one time disobedient^(AW) to God have now received mercy as a result of their disobedience, ³¹ so they too have now become disobedient in order that they too may now^[h] receive mercy as a result of God’s mercy to you. ³² For God has bound everyone over to disobedience^(AX) so that he may have mercy on them all.

Doxology

¹⁰ “Yet the Israelites will be like the sand on the seashore, which cannot be measured or counted.^(A) In the place where it was said to them, ‘You are not my people,’ they will be called ‘children of the living God.’^{(B) 11} The people of Judah and the people of Israel will come together;^(C) they will appoint one leader^(D) and will come up out of the land,^(E) for great will be the day of Jezreel.^[a](F)