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Revelation 12-18
Holman Christian Standard Bible
Revelation 12-18
Holman Christian Standard Bible
The Woman, the Child, and the Dragon
12 A great sign[a] appeared in heaven: a woman clothed with the sun, with the moon under her feet and a crown of 12 stars on her head.(A) 2 She was pregnant and cried out in labor and agony as she was about to give birth. 3 Then another sign[b] appeared in heaven: There was a great fiery red dragon having seven heads and 10 horns,(B) and on his heads were seven diadems.[c] 4 His tail swept away a third of the stars in heaven and hurled them to the earth.(C) And the dragon stood in front of the woman who was about to give birth, so that when she did give birth he might devour her child. 5 But she gave birth to a Son—a male who is going to shepherd[d] all nations with an iron scepter(D)—and her child was caught up to God and to His throne. 6 The woman fled into the wilderness, where she had a place prepared by God,(E) to be fed there[e] for 1,260 days.(F)
The Dragon Thrown Out of Heaven
7 Then war broke out in heaven: Michael(G) and his angels fought against the dragon. The dragon and his angels also fought, 8 but he could not prevail, and there was no place for them in heaven any longer. 9 So the great dragon was thrown out—the ancient serpent,(H) who is called the Devil[f] and Satan,[g](I) the one who deceives the whole world.(J) He was thrown to earth, and his angels with him.
10 Then I heard a loud voice in heaven say:
The salvation and the power
and the kingdom of our God
and the authority of His Messiah
have now come,
because the accuser(K) of our brothers
has been thrown out:
the one who accuses them
before our God day and night.
11 They conquered him
by the blood of the Lamb
and by the word of their testimony,
for they did not love their lives
in the face of death.(L)
12 Therefore rejoice, you heavens,
and you who dwell in them!
Woe to the earth and the sea,
for the Devil has come down to you
with great fury,
because he knows he has a short time.
The Woman Persecuted
13 When the dragon saw that he had been thrown to earth, he persecuted the woman who gave birth to the male child. 14 The woman was given two wings of a great eagle, so that she could fly from the serpent’s presence to her place in the wilderness, where she was fed for a time, times, and half a time.[h](M) 15 From his mouth the serpent spewed water like a river flowing after the woman, to sweep her away in a torrent. 16 But the earth helped the woman. The earth opened its mouth and swallowed up the river that the dragon had spewed from his mouth. 17 So the dragon was furious with the woman and left to wage war(N) against the rest of her offspring[i]—those who keep God’s commands and have the testimony about Jesus.(O) 18 He[j] stood on the sand of the sea.[k]
The Beast from the Sea
13 And I saw a beast coming up out of the sea.(P) He[l] had 10 horns and seven heads. On his horns were 10 diadems,(Q) and on his heads were blasphemous names.[m](R) 2 The beast I saw was like a leopard, his feet were like a bear’s, and his mouth was like a lion’s mouth.(S) The dragon gave him his power, his throne, and great authority. 3 One of his heads appeared to be fatally wounded,[n] but his fatal wound was healed. The whole earth was amazed and followed the beast.[o](T) 4 They worshiped the dragon(U) because he gave authority to the beast. And they worshiped the beast, saying, “Who is like the beast?(V) Who is able to wage war against him?”
5 A mouth was given to him to speak boasts and blasphemies.(W) He was also given authority to act[p][q] for 42 months.(X) 6 He began to speak[r] blasphemies against God: to blaspheme His name and His dwelling—those who dwell in heaven. 7 And he was permitted to wage war against the saints and to conquer them. He was also given authority over every tribe, people, language, and nation.(Y) 8 All those who live on the earth will worship him, everyone whose name was not written from the foundation of the world in the book[s] of life(Z) of the Lamb who was slaughtered.[t](AA)
9 If anyone has an ear, he should listen:(AB)
10 If anyone is destined for captivity,
into captivity he goes.
If anyone is to be killed[u] with a sword,
with a sword he will be killed.(AC)
This demands the perseverance[v] and faith of the saints.(AD)
The Beast from the Earth
11 Then I saw another beast coming up out of the earth; he had two horns like a lamb,[w](AE) but he sounded like a dragon. 12 He exercises all the authority of the first beast on his behalf and compels the earth and those who live on it to worship the first beast, whose fatal wound was healed. 13 He also performs great signs, even causing fire to come down from heaven to earth in front of people. 14 He deceives those who live on the earth(AF) because of the signs that he is permitted to perform on behalf of the beast,(AG) telling those who live on the earth to make an image[x] of the beast who had the sword wound and yet lived. 15 He was permitted to give a spirit[y] to the image of the beast, so that the image of the beast could both speak and cause whoever would not worship the image of the beast to be killed. 16 And he requires everyone—small and great, rich and poor, free and slave—to be given a mark[z] on his right hand or on his forehead,(AH) 17 so that no one can buy or sell unless he has the mark: the beast’s name or the number of his name.
18 Here is wisdom:[aa](AI) The one who has understanding must calculate[ab] the number of the beast, because it is the number of a man.[ac] His number is 666.[ad]
The Lamb and the 144,000
14 Then I looked, and there on Mount Zion stood the Lamb, and with Him were 144,000 who had His name and His Father’s name written on their foreheads.(AJ) 2 I heard a sound[ae] from heaven like the sound of cascading waters(AK) and like the rumbling of loud thunder. The sound I heard was also like harpists playing on their harps.(AL) 3 They sang[af] a new song(AM) before the throne and before the four living creatures and the elders,(AN) but no one could learn the song except the 144,000 who had been redeemed[ag] from the earth. 4 These are the ones not defiled with women, for they have kept their virginity.(AO) These are the ones who follow the Lamb wherever He goes. They were redeemed[ah][ai] from the human race as the firstfruits(AP) for God and the Lamb. 5 No lie was found in their mouths; they are blameless.(AQ)
The Proclamation of Three Angels
6 Then I saw another angel flying high overhead,(AR) having the eternal gospel to announce to the inhabitants of the earth—to every nation, tribe, language, and people.(AS) 7 He spoke with a loud voice: “Fear God and give Him glory, because the hour of His judgment has come. Worship the Maker of heaven and earth, the sea and springs of water.”
8 A second angel[aj] followed, saying: “It has fallen, Babylon the Great has fallen,[ak] who made all nations drink the wine of her sexual immorality,[al] which brings wrath.”(AT)
9 And a third angel[am] followed them and spoke with a loud voice: “If anyone worships the beast and his image and receives a mark on his forehead or on his hand, 10 he will also drink the wine of God’s wrath, which is mixed full strength in the cup of His anger.(AU) He will be tormented with fire and sulfur(AV) in the sight of the holy angels and in the sight of the Lamb, 11 and the smoke of their torment will go up forever and ever.(AW) There is no rest[an] day or night for those who worship the beast and his image, or anyone who receives the mark of his name. 12 This demands the perseverance[ao] of the saints,(AX) who keep God’s commands and their faith in Jesus.”[ap]
13 Then I heard a voice from heaven saying, “Write: The dead who die in the Lord from now on are blessed.”(AY)
“Yes,” says the Spirit, “let them rest from their labors, for their works follow them!”
Reaping the Earth’s Harvest
14 Then I looked, and there was a white cloud, and One like the Son of Man[aq](AZ) was seated on the cloud, with a gold crown on His head and a sharp sickle in His hand. 15 Another angel came out of the sanctuary, crying out in a loud voice to the One who was seated on the cloud, “Use your sickle and reap, for the time to reap has come, since the harvest of the earth is ripe.”(BA) 16 So the One seated on the cloud swung His sickle over the earth, and the earth was harvested.
17 Then another angel who also had a sharp sickle came out of the sanctuary in heaven. 18 Yet another angel, who had authority over fire, came from the altar, and he called with a loud voice to the one who had the sharp sickle, “Use your sharp sickle and gather the clusters of grapes from earth’s vineyard, because its grapes have ripened.” 19 So the angel swung his sickle toward earth and gathered the grapes from earth’s vineyard, and he threw them into the great winepress of God’s wrath.(BB) 20 Then the press was trampled outside the city, and blood flowed out of the press up to the horses’ bridles for about 180 miles.[ar](BC)
Preparation for the Bowl Judgments
15 Then I saw another great and awe-inspiring sign[as] in heaven:(BD) seven angels with the seven last plagues, for with them, God’s wrath will be completed.(BE) 2 I also saw something like a sea of glass(BF) mixed with fire, and those who had won the victory over the beast, his image,[at] and the number of his name, were standing on the sea of glass with harps from God.[au](BG) 3 They sang the song of God’s servant Moses(BH) and the song of the Lamb:
Great and awe-inspiring are Your works,
Lord God, the Almighty;
righteous and true are Your ways,
King of the Nations.[av]
4 Lord, who will not fear
and glorify Your name?
Because You alone are holy,
for all the nations will come
and worship before You
because Your righteous acts
have been revealed.
5 After this I looked, and the heavenly sanctuary—the tabernacle of testimony(BI)—was opened.(BJ) 6 Out of the sanctuary came the seven angels with the seven plagues, dressed in clean, bright linen, with gold sashes wrapped around their chests. 7 One of the four living creatures gave the seven angels seven gold bowls filled with the wrath of God who lives forever and ever. 8 Then the sanctuary was filled with smoke from God’s glory and from His power,(BK) and no one could enter the sanctuary until the seven plagues of the seven angels were completed.
The First Bowl
16 Then I heard a loud voice from the sanctuary saying to the seven angels, “Go and pour out the seven[aw] bowls of God’s wrath on the earth.” 2 The first went and poured out his bowl on the earth, and severely painful sores[ax](BL) broke out on the people who had the mark of the beast and who worshiped his image.
The Second Bowl
3 The second[ay] poured out his bowl into the sea. It turned to blood like a dead man’s, and all life[az] in the sea died.(BM)
The Third Bowl
4 The third[ba] poured out his bowl into the rivers and the springs of water, and they became blood.(BN) 5 I heard the angel of the waters say:
You are righteous,
who is and who was,(BO) the Holy One,
for You have decided these things.
6 Because they poured out
the blood of the saints and the prophets,
You also gave them blood to drink;
they deserve it!(BP)
7 Then I heard someone from the altar say:
Yes, Lord God, the Almighty,
true and righteous are Your judgments.(BQ)
The Fourth Bowl
8 The fourth[bb] poured out his bowl on the sun. He[bc] was given the power[bd] to burn people with fire, 9 and people were burned by the intense heat. So they blasphemed the name of God,(BR) who had the power[be] over these plagues, and they did not repent and give Him glory.
The Fifth Bowl
10 The fifth[bf] poured out his bowl on the throne of the beast,(BS) and his kingdom was plunged into darkness.(BT) People[bg] gnawed their tongues because of their pain 11 and blasphemed the God of heaven(BU) because of their pains and their sores, yet they did not repent of their actions.
The Sixth Bowl
12 The sixth[bh] poured out his bowl on the great river Euphrates,(BV) and its water was dried up to prepare the way for the kings from the east. 13 Then I saw three unclean spirits like frogs(BW) coming from the dragon’s mouth,(BX) from the beast’s mouth,(BY) and from the mouth of the false prophet.(BZ) 14 For they are spirits of demons performing signs,(CA) who travel to the kings of the whole world to assemble them for the battle of the great day of God, the Almighty.(CB)
15 “Look, I am coming like a thief. The one who is alert and remains clothed[bi](CC) so that he may not go around naked and people see his shame(CD) is blessed.”(CE)
16 So they assembled them at the place called in Hebrew, Armagedon.[bj][bk](CF)
The Seventh Bowl
17 Then the seventh[bl] poured out his bowl into the air,[bm] and a loud voice came out of the sanctuary[bn](CG) from the throne, saying, “It is done!” 18 There were flashes of lightning and rumblings of thunder. And a severe earthquake occurred like no other since man has been on the earth—so great was the quake.(CH) 19 The great city(CI) split into three parts, and the cities of the nations[bo] fell. Babylon the Great was remembered in God’s presence; He gave her the cup filled with the wine of His fierce anger.(CJ) 20 Every island fled, and the mountains disappeared.[bp](CK) 21 Enormous hailstones, each weighing about 100 pounds,[bq] fell from the sky on people, and they blasphemed God(CL) for the plague of hail because that plague was extremely severe.(CM)
The Woman and the Scarlet Beast
17 Then one of the seven angels who had the seven bowls(CN) came and spoke with me: “Come, I will show you the judgment of the notorious prostitute[br] who sits on many[bs] waters.(CO) 2 The kings of the earth committed sexual immorality with her, and those who live on the earth became drunk on the wine of her sexual immorality.”(CP) 3 So he carried me away in the Spirit[bt](CQ) to a desert. I saw a woman sitting on a scarlet beast that was covered[bu] with blasphemous names and had seven heads and 10 horns.(CR) 4 The woman was dressed in purple and scarlet, adorned with gold, precious stones, and pearls. She had a gold cup in her hand filled with everything vile(CS) and with the impurities of her[bv] prostitution. 5 On her forehead a cryptic name(CT) was written:
BABYLON THE GREAT
THE MOTHER OF PROSTITUTES
AND OF THE VILE THINGS OF THE EARTH.
6 Then I saw that the woman was drunk on the blood of the saints and on the blood of the witnesses to Jesus. When I saw her, I was greatly astonished.
The Meaning of the Woman and of the Beast
7 Then the angel said to me, “Why are you astonished? I will tell you the secret meaning of the woman and of the beast, with the seven heads and the 10 horns, that carries her. 8 The beast that you saw was, and is not, and is about to come up from the abyss(CU) and go to destruction.(CV) Those who live on the earth whose names have not been written in the book of life from the foundation of the world(CW) will be astonished when they see the beast that was, and is not, and will be present again.(CX)
9 “Here is the mind with wisdom:[bw](CY) The seven heads are seven mountains on which the woman is seated. 10 They are also seven kings:[bx] Five have fallen, one is, the other has not yet come, and when he comes, he must remain for a little while. 11 The beast that was and is not, is himself an eighth king, yet he belongs to the seven and is going to destruction. 12 The 10 horns you saw are 10 kings who have not yet received a kingdom, but they will receive authority as kings with the beast for one hour. 13 These have one purpose, and they give their power and authority to the beast. 14 These will make war against the Lamb, but the Lamb will conquer them because He is Lord of lords and King of kings.(CZ) Those with Him are called, chosen, and faithful.”
15 He also said to me, “The waters you saw, where the prostitute was seated, are peoples, multitudes, nations, and languages.(DA) 16 The 10 horns you saw, and the beast, will hate the prostitute.(DB) They will make her desolate and naked, devour her flesh, and burn her up with fire.(DC) 17 For God has put it into their hearts to carry out His plan by having one purpose(DD) and to give their kingdom[by] to the beast until God’s words are accomplished. 18 And the woman you saw is the great city that has an empire[bz] over the kings of the earth.”
The Fall of Babylon the Great
18 After this I saw another angel with great authority coming down from heaven, and the earth was illuminated by his splendor. 2 He cried in a mighty voice:
It has fallen,[ca]
Babylon the Great has fallen!(DE)
She has become a dwelling for demons,
a haunt for every unclean spirit,
a haunt for every unclean bird,
and a haunt[cb] for every unclean and despicable beast.[cc](DF)
3 For all the nations have drunk[cd]
the wine of her sexual immorality,
which brings wrath.(DG)
The kings of the earth
have committed sexual immorality with her,
and the merchants of the earth
have grown wealthy from her excessive luxury.
4 Then I heard another voice from heaven:
Come out of her, My people,
so that you will not share in her sins(DH)
or receive any of her plagues.
5 For her sins are piled up[ce] to heaven,(DI)
and God has remembered her crimes.
6 Pay her back the way she also paid,(DJ)
and double it according to her works.(DK)
In the cup in which she mixed,(DL)
mix a double portion for her.
7 As much as she glorified herself and lived luxuriously,
give her that much torment and grief,
for she says in her heart,
“I sit as a queen;
I am not a widow,
and I will never see grief.”(DM)
8 For this reason her plagues will come in one day[cf]—
death and grief and famine.
She will be burned up with fire,
because the Lord God who judges her is mighty.
The World Mourns Babylon’s Fall
9 The kings of the earth who have committed sexual immorality and lived luxuriously with her will weep and mourn over her when they see the smoke of her burning. 10 They will stand far off in fear of her torment, saying:
Woe, woe, the great city,
Babylon, the mighty city!
For in a single hour[cg]
your judgment has come.
11 The merchants of the earth will also weep and mourn over her, because no one buys their merchandise any longer— 12 merchandise of gold, silver, precious stones, and pearls; fine fabrics of linen, purple, silk, and scarlet; all kinds of fragrant wood products; objects of ivory; objects of expensive wood, brass,[ch] iron, and marble; 13 cinnamon, spice,[ci][cj] incense, myrrh,[ck] and frankincense; wine, olive oil, fine wheat flour, and grain; cattle and sheep; horses and carriages; and slaves[cl] and human lives.[cm](DN)
14 The fruit you craved has left you.
All your splendid and glamorous things are gone;
they will never find them again.
15 The merchants of these things, who became rich from her, will stand far off in fear of her torment, weeping and mourning, 16 saying:
Woe, woe, the great city,
dressed in fine linen, purple, and scarlet,
adorned with gold, precious stones, and pearls,
17 for in a single hour[cn]
such fabulous wealth was destroyed!
And every shipmaster, seafarer, the sailors, and all who do business by sea, stood far off 18 as they watched the smoke from her burning and kept crying out: “Who is like the great city?”(DO) 19 They threw dust on their heads and kept crying out, weeping, and mourning:(DP)
Woe, woe, the great city,(DQ)
where all those who have ships on the sea
became rich from her wealth,
for in a single hour[co] she was destroyed.
20 Rejoice over her, heaven,
and you saints, apostles, and prophets,(DR)
because God has executed your judgment on her![cp]
The Finality of Babylon’s Fall
21 Then a mighty angel(DS) picked up a stone like a large millstone and threw it into the sea, saying:
In this way, Babylon the great city
will be thrown down violently(DT)
and never be found again.(DU)
22 The sound of harpists, musicians,
flutists, and trumpeters
will never be heard in you again;(DV)
no craftsman of any trade
will ever be found in you again;
the sound of a mill
will never be heard in you again;
23 the light of a lamp
will never shine in you again;
and the voice of a groom and bride
will never be heard in you again.(DW)
All this will happen
because your merchants
were the nobility of the earth,
because all the nations were deceived
by your sorcery,[cq]
24 and the blood of prophets and saints,
and of all those slaughtered on earth,
was found in you.[cr](DX)
Footnotes
- Revelation 12:1 Or great symbolic display; see Rv 12:3
- Revelation 12:3 Or another symbolic display
- Revelation 12:3 Or crowns
- Revelation 12:5 Or rule
- Revelation 12:6 Lit God, that they might feed her there
- Revelation 12:9 In Gk, diabolos means slanderer.
- Revelation 12:9 In Hb, Satan means adversary.
- Revelation 12:14 This expression, occurring in Dn 7:25; 12:7, = 3½ years or 42 months (Rv 11:2; 13:5) or 1,260 days (Rv 11:3).
- Revelation 12:17 Or seed
- Revelation 12:18 Other mss read I. “He” is apparently a reference to the dragon.
- Revelation 12:18 Some translations put Rv 12:18 either in Rv 12:17 or Rv 13:1.
- Revelation 13:1 The beasts in Rv 13:1,11 are customarily referred to as “he” or “him” rather than “it.” The Gk word for a beast (therion) is grammatically neuter.
- Revelation 13:1 Other mss read heads was a blasphemous name
- Revelation 13:3 Lit be slain to death
- Revelation 13:3 Lit amazed after the beast
- Revelation 13:5 Other mss read wage war
- Revelation 13:5 Or to rule
- Revelation 13:6 Lit He opened his mouth in
- Revelation 13:8 Or scroll
- Revelation 13:8 Or written in the book of life of the Lamb who was slaughtered from the foundation of the world
- Revelation 13:10 Other mss read anyone kills
- Revelation 13:10 Lit Here is the perseverance
- Revelation 13:11 Or ram
- Revelation 13:14 Or statue, or likeness
- Revelation 13:15 Or give breath, or give life
- Revelation 13:16 Or stamp, or brand
- Revelation 13:18 Or This calls for wisdom
- Revelation 13:18 Or count, or figure out
- Revelation 13:18 Or is a man’s number, or is the number of a person
- Revelation 13:18 Other Gk mss read 616
- Revelation 14:2 Or voice
- Revelation 14:3 Other mss add as it were
- Revelation 14:3 Or purchased
- Revelation 14:4 Other mss add by Jesus
- Revelation 14:4 Or purchased
- Revelation 14:8 Lit Another angel, a second
- Revelation 14:8 Other mss omit the second has fallen
- Revelation 14:8 Or wine of her passionate immorality
- Revelation 14:9 Lit Another angel, a third
- Revelation 14:11 Lit They have no rest
- Revelation 14:12 Lit Here is the perseverance
- Revelation 14:12 Or and faith in Jesus, or and faithfulness to Jesus
- Revelation 14:14 Or like a son of man
- Revelation 14:20 Lit 1,600 stadia
- Revelation 15:1 Or and awesome symbolic display
- Revelation 15:2 Other mss add his mark
- Revelation 15:2 Or harps of God; = harps belonging to the service of God
- Revelation 15:3 Other mss read ages
- Revelation 16:1 Other mss omit seven
- Revelation 16:2 Lit and a severely painful sore
- Revelation 16:3 Other mss add angel
- Revelation 16:3 Lit and every soul of life
- Revelation 16:4 Other mss add angel
- Revelation 16:8 Other mss add angel
- Revelation 16:8 Or It
- Revelation 16:8 Or authority
- Revelation 16:9 Or authority
- Revelation 16:10 Other mss add angel
- Revelation 16:10 Lit They
- Revelation 16:12 Other mss add angel
- Revelation 16:15 Or and guards his clothes
- Revelation 16:16 Other mss read Armageddon; other mss read Harmegedon; other mss read Mageddon; other mss read Magedon
- Revelation 16:16 Traditionally the hill of Megiddo, a great city that guarded the pass between the coast and the valley of Jezreel or Esdraelon; Jdg 5:19; 2Kg 9:27
- Revelation 16:17 Other mss add angel
- Revelation 16:17 Or on the air
- Revelation 16:17 Other mss add of heaven
- Revelation 16:19 Or the Gentile cities
- Revelation 16:20 Lit mountains were not found
- Revelation 16:21 Lit about a talent; talents varied in weight upwards from 75 pounds
- Revelation 17:1 Traditionally translated the great whore
- Revelation 17:1 Or by many
- Revelation 17:3 Or in spirit
- Revelation 17:3 Lit was filled
- Revelation 17:4 Other mss read of earth’s
- Revelation 17:9 Or This calls for the mind with wisdom
- Revelation 17:10 Some editors or translators put They are also seven kings: in v. 9.
- Revelation 17:17 Or sovereignty
- Revelation 17:18 Or has sovereignty or rulership
- Revelation 18:2 Other mss omit It has fallen
- Revelation 18:2 Or prison
- Revelation 18:2 Other mss omit the words and a haunt for every unclean beast. The words and despicable then refer to the bird of the previous line.
- Revelation 18:3 Some mss read have collapsed; other mss read have fallen
- Revelation 18:5 Or sins have reached up
- Revelation 18:8 Suddenly
- Revelation 18:10 Suddenly
- Revelation 18:12 Or bronze, or copper
- Revelation 18:13 Other mss omit spice
- Revelation 18:13 Or amomum, an aromatic plant
- Revelation 18:13 Or perfume
- Revelation 18:13 Or bodies
- Revelation 18:13 Slaves; “bodies” was the Gk way of referring to slaves; “souls of men” was the Hb way.
- Revelation 18:17 Suddenly
- Revelation 18:19 Suddenly
- Revelation 18:20 Or God pronounced on her the judgment she passed on you; see Rv 18:6
- Revelation 18:23 Ancient sorcery or witchcraft often used spells and drugs. Here the term may be non-literal, that is, Babylon drugged the nations with her beauty and power.
- Revelation 18:24 Lit in her
Revelation 12-18
New International Version
Revelation 12-18
New International Version
The Woman and the Dragon
12 A great sign(A) appeared in heaven:(B) a woman clothed with the sun, with the moon under her feet and a crown of twelve stars(C) on her head. 2 She was pregnant and cried out in pain(D) as she was about to give birth. 3 Then another sign appeared in heaven:(E) an enormous red dragon(F) with seven heads(G) and ten horns(H) and seven crowns(I) on its heads. 4 Its tail swept a third(J) of the stars out of the sky and flung them to the earth.(K) The dragon stood in front of the woman who was about to give birth, so that it might devour her child(L) the moment he was born. 5 She gave birth to a son, a male child, who “will rule all the nations with an iron scepter.”[a](M) And her child was snatched up(N) to God and to his throne. 6 The woman fled into the wilderness to a place prepared for her by God, where she might be taken care of for 1,260 days.(O)
7 Then war broke out in heaven. Michael(P) and his angels fought against the dragon,(Q) and the dragon and his angels(R) fought back. 8 But he was not strong enough, and they lost their place in heaven. 9 The great dragon was hurled down—that ancient serpent(S) called the devil,(T) or Satan,(U) who leads the whole world astray.(V) He was hurled to the earth,(W) and his angels with him.
10 Then I heard a loud voice in heaven(X) say:
“Now have come the salvation(Y) and the power
and the kingdom of our God,
and the authority of his Messiah.
For the accuser of our brothers and sisters,(Z)
who accuses them before our God day and night,
has been hurled down.
11 They triumphed over(AA) him
by the blood of the Lamb(AB)
and by the word of their testimony;(AC)
they did not love their lives so much
as to shrink from death.(AD)
12 Therefore rejoice, you heavens(AE)
and you who dwell in them!
But woe(AF) to the earth and the sea,(AG)
because the devil has gone down to you!
He is filled with fury,
because he knows that his time is short.”
13 When the dragon(AH) saw that he had been hurled to the earth, he pursued the woman who had given birth to the male child.(AI) 14 The woman was given the two wings of a great eagle,(AJ) so that she might fly to the place prepared for her in the wilderness, where she would be taken care of for a time, times and half a time,(AK) out of the serpent’s reach. 15 Then from his mouth the serpent(AL) spewed water like a river, to overtake the woman and sweep her away with the torrent. 16 But the earth helped the woman by opening its mouth and swallowing the river that the dragon had spewed out of his mouth. 17 Then the dragon was enraged at the woman and went off to wage war(AM) against the rest of her offspring(AN)—those who keep God’s commands(AO) and hold fast their testimony about Jesus.(AP)
The Beast out of the Sea
13 The dragon[b] stood on the shore of the sea. And I saw a beast coming out of the sea.(AQ) It had ten horns and seven heads,(AR) with ten crowns on its horns, and on each head a blasphemous name.(AS) 2 The beast I saw resembled a leopard,(AT) but had feet like those of a bear(AU) and a mouth like that of a lion.(AV) The dragon gave the beast his power and his throne and great authority.(AW) 3 One of the heads of the beast seemed to have had a fatal wound, but the fatal wound had been healed.(AX) The whole world was filled with wonder(AY) 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(AZ) the beast? Who can wage war against it?”
5 The beast was given a mouth to utter proud words and blasphemies(BA) and to exercise its authority for forty-two months.(BB) 6 It opened its mouth to blaspheme God, and to slander his name and his dwelling place and those who live in heaven.(BC) 7 It was given power to wage war(BD) against God’s holy people and to conquer them. And it was given authority over every tribe, people, language and nation.(BE) 8 All inhabitants of the earth(BF) will worship the beast—all whose names have not been written in the Lamb’s book of life,(BG) the Lamb(BH) who was slain from the creation of the world.[c](BI)
9 Whoever has ears, let them hear.(BJ)
10 “If anyone is to go into captivity,
into captivity they will go.
If anyone is to be killed[d] with the sword,
with the sword they will be killed.”[e](BK)
This calls for patient endurance and faithfulness(BL) on the part of God’s people.(BM)
The Beast out of the Earth
11 Then I saw a second beast, coming out of the earth.(BN) It had two horns like a lamb, but it spoke like a dragon.(BO) 12 It exercised all the authority(BP) of the first beast on its behalf,(BQ) and made the earth and its inhabitants worship the first beast,(BR) whose fatal wound had been healed.(BS) 13 And it performed great signs,(BT) even causing fire to come down from heaven(BU) to the earth in full view of the people. 14 Because of the signs(BV) it was given power to perform on behalf of the first beast, it deceived(BW) the inhabitants of the earth.(BX) It ordered them to set up an image in honor of the beast who was wounded by the sword and yet lived.(BY) 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(BZ) the image to be killed.(CA) 16 It also forced all people, great and small,(CB) rich and poor, free and slave, to receive a mark on their right hands or on their foreheads,(CC) 17 so that they could not buy or sell unless they had the mark,(CD) which is the name of the beast or the number of its name.(CE)
18 This calls for wisdom.(CF) Let the person who has insight calculate the number of the beast, for it is the number of a man.[f](CG) That number is 666.
The Lamb and the 144,000
14 Then I looked, and there before me was the Lamb,(CH) standing on Mount Zion,(CI) and with him 144,000(CJ) who had his name and his Father’s name(CK) written on their foreheads.(CL) 2 And I heard a sound from heaven like the roar of rushing waters(CM) and like a loud peal of thunder.(CN) The sound I heard was like that of harpists playing their harps.(CO) 3 And they sang a new song(CP) before the throne and before the four living creatures(CQ) and the elders.(CR) No one could learn the song except the 144,000(CS) who had been redeemed from the earth. 4 These are those who did not defile themselves with women, for they remained virgins.(CT) They follow the Lamb wherever he goes.(CU) They were purchased from among mankind(CV) and offered as firstfruits(CW) to God and the Lamb. 5 No lie was found in their mouths;(CX) they are blameless.(CY)
The Three Angels
6 Then I saw another angel flying in midair,(CZ) and he had the eternal gospel to proclaim to those who live on the earth(DA)—to every nation, tribe, language and people.(DB) 7 He said in a loud voice, “Fear God(DC) and give him glory,(DD) because the hour of his judgment has come. Worship him who made(DE) the heavens, the earth, the sea and the springs of water.”(DF)
8 A second angel followed and said, “‘Fallen! Fallen is Babylon the Great,’[g](DG) which made all the nations drink the maddening wine of her adulteries.”(DH)
9 A third angel followed them and said in a loud voice: “If anyone worships the beast(DI) and its image(DJ) and receives its mark on their forehead(DK) or on their hand, 10 they, too, will drink the wine of God’s fury,(DL) which has been poured full strength into the cup of his wrath.(DM) They will be tormented with burning sulfur(DN) in the presence of the holy angels and of the Lamb. 11 And the smoke of their torment will rise for ever and ever.(DO) There will be no rest day or night(DP) for those who worship the beast and its image,(DQ) or for anyone who receives the mark of its name.”(DR) 12 This calls for patient endurance(DS) on the part of the people of God(DT) who keep his commands(DU) 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(DV) from now on.”
“Yes,” says the Spirit,(DW) “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,(DX) and seated on the cloud was one like a son of man[h](DY) with a crown(DZ) of gold on his head and a sharp sickle in his hand. 15 Then another angel came out of the temple(EA) and called in a loud voice to him who was sitting on the cloud, “Take your sickle(EB) and reap, because the time to reap has come, for the harvest(EC) 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.(ED) 18 Still another angel, who had charge of the fire, came from the altar(EE) and called in a loud voice to him who had the sharp sickle, “Take your sharp sickle(EF) 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.(EG) 20 They were trampled in the winepress(EH) outside the city,(EI) and blood(EJ) flowed out of the press, rising as high as the horses’ bridles for a distance of 1,600 stadia.[i]
Seven Angels With Seven Plagues
15 I saw in heaven another great and marvelous sign:(EK) seven angels(EL) with the seven last plagues(EM)—last, because with them God’s wrath is completed. 2 And I saw what looked like a sea of glass(EN) glowing with fire and, standing beside the sea, those who had been victorious(EO) over the beast(EP) and its image(EQ) and over the number of its name.(ER) They held harps(ES) given them by God 3 and sang the song of God’s servant(ET) Moses(EU) and of the Lamb:(EV)
“Great and marvelous are your deeds,(EW)
Lord God Almighty.(EX)
Just and true are your ways,(EY)
King of the nations.[j]
4 Who will not fear you, Lord,(EZ)
and bring glory to your name?(FA)
For you alone are holy.
All nations will come
and worship before you,(FB)
for your righteous acts(FC) have been revealed.”[k]
5 After this I looked, and I saw in heaven the temple(FD)—that is, the tabernacle of the covenant law(FE)—and it was opened.(FF) 6 Out of the temple(FG) came the seven angels with the seven plagues.(FH) They were dressed in clean, shining linen(FI) and wore golden sashes around their chests.(FJ) 7 Then one of the four living creatures(FK) gave to the seven angels(FL) seven golden bowls filled with the wrath of God, who lives for ever and ever.(FM) 8 And the temple was filled with smoke(FN) from the glory of God and from his power, and no one could enter the temple(FO) 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(FP) saying to the seven angels,(FQ) “Go, pour out the seven bowls of God’s wrath on the earth.”(FR)
2 The first angel went and poured out his bowl on the land,(FS) and ugly, festering sores(FT) broke out on the people who had the mark of the beast and worshiped its image.(FU)
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.(FV)
4 The third angel poured out his bowl on the rivers and springs of water,(FW) and they became blood.(FX) 5 Then I heard the angel in charge of the waters say:
“You are just in these judgments,(FY) O Holy One,(FZ)
you who are and who were;(GA)
6 for they have shed the blood of your holy people and your prophets,(GB)
and you have given them blood to drink(GC) as they deserve.”
7 And I heard the altar(GD) respond:
8 The fourth angel(GG) poured out his bowl on the sun,(GH) and the sun was allowed to scorch people with fire.(GI) 9 They were seared by the intense heat and they cursed the name of God,(GJ) who had control over these plagues, but they refused to repent(GK) and glorify him.(GL)
10 The fifth angel poured out his bowl on the throne of the beast,(GM) and its kingdom was plunged into darkness.(GN) People gnawed their tongues in agony 11 and cursed(GO) the God of heaven(GP) because of their pains and their sores,(GQ) but they refused to repent of what they had done.(GR)
12 The sixth angel poured out his bowl on the great river Euphrates,(GS) and its water was dried up to prepare the way(GT) for the kings from the East.(GU) 13 Then I saw three impure spirits(GV) that looked like frogs;(GW) they came out of the mouth of the dragon,(GX) out of the mouth of the beast(GY) and out of the mouth of the false prophet.(GZ) 14 They are demonic spirits(HA) that perform signs,(HB) and they go out to the kings of the whole world,(HC) to gather them for the battle(HD) on the great day(HE) of God Almighty.
15 “Look, I come like a thief!(HF) Blessed is the one who stays awake(HG) and remains clothed, so as not to go naked and be shamefully exposed.”(HH)
16 Then they gathered the kings together(HI) to the place that in Hebrew(HJ) is called Armageddon.(HK)
17 The seventh angel poured out his bowl into the air,(HL) and out of the temple(HM) came a loud voice(HN) from the throne, saying, “It is done!”(HO) 18 Then there came flashes of lightning, rumblings, peals of thunder(HP) and a severe earthquake.(HQ) No earthquake like it has ever occurred since mankind has been on earth,(HR) so tremendous was the quake. 19 The great city(HS) split into three parts, and the cities of the nations collapsed. God remembered(HT) Babylon the Great(HU) and gave her the cup filled with the wine of the fury of his wrath.(HV) 20 Every island fled away and the mountains could not be found.(HW) 21 From the sky huge hailstones,(HX) each weighing about a hundred pounds,[l] fell on people. And they cursed God(HY) on account of the plague of hail,(HZ) because the plague was so terrible.
Babylon, the Prostitute on the Beast
17 One of the seven angels(IA) who had the seven bowls(IB) came and said to me, “Come, I will show you the punishment(IC) of the great prostitute,(ID) who sits by many waters.(IE) 2 With her the kings of the earth committed adultery, and the inhabitants of the earth were intoxicated with the wine of her adulteries.”(IF)
3 Then the angel carried me away in the Spirit(IG) into a wilderness.(IH) There I saw a woman sitting on a scarlet(II) beast that was covered with blasphemous names(IJ) and had seven heads and ten horns.(IK) 4 The woman was dressed in purple and scarlet, and was glittering with gold, precious stones and pearls.(IL) She held a golden cup(IM) in her hand, filled with abominable things and the filth of her adulteries.(IN) 5 The name written on her forehead was a mystery:(IO)
6 I saw that the woman was drunk with the blood of God’s holy people,(IR) 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(IS) of the woman and of the beast she rides, which has the seven heads and ten horns.(IT) 8 The beast, which you saw, once was, now is not, and yet will come up out of the Abyss(IU) and go to its destruction.(IV) The inhabitants of the earth(IW) whose names have not been written in the book of life(IX) from the creation of the world will be astonished(IY) when they see the beast, because it once was, now is not, and yet will come.
9 “This calls for a mind with wisdom.(IZ) The seven heads(JA) 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,(JB) is an eighth king. He belongs to the seven and is going to his destruction.
12 “The ten horns(JC) you saw are ten kings who have not yet received a kingdom, but who for one hour(JD) will receive authority as kings along with the beast. 13 They have one purpose and will give their power and authority to the beast.(JE) 14 They will wage war(JF) against the Lamb, but the Lamb will triumph over(JG) them because he is Lord of lords and King of kings(JH)—and with him will be his called, chosen(JI) and faithful followers.”
15 Then the angel said to me, “The waters(JJ) you saw, where the prostitute sits, are peoples, multitudes, nations and languages.(JK) 16 The beast and the ten horns(JL) you saw will hate the prostitute.(JM) They will bring her to ruin(JN) and leave her naked;(JO) they will eat her flesh(JP) and burn her with fire.(JQ) 17 For God has put it into their hearts(JR) to accomplish his purpose by agreeing to hand over to the beast their royal authority,(JS) until God’s words are fulfilled.(JT) 18 The woman you saw is the great city(JU) that rules over the kings of the earth.”
Lament Over Fallen Babylon
18 After this I saw another angel(JV) coming down from heaven.(JW) He had great authority, and the earth was illuminated by his splendor.(JX) 2 With a mighty voice he shouted:
“‘Fallen! Fallen is Babylon the Great!’[m](JY)
She has become a dwelling for demons
and a haunt for every impure spirit,(JZ)
a haunt for every unclean bird,
a haunt for every unclean and detestable animal.(KA)
3 For all the nations have drunk
the maddening wine of her adulteries.(KB)
The kings of the earth committed adultery with her,(KC)
and the merchants of the earth grew rich(KD) from her excessive luxuries.”(KE)
Warning to Escape Babylon’s Judgment
4 Then I heard another voice from heaven say:
“‘Come out of her, my people,’[n](KF)
so that you will not share in her sins,
so that you will not receive any of her plagues;(KG)
5 for her sins are piled up to heaven,(KH)
and God has remembered(KI) her crimes.
6 Give back to her as she has given;
pay her back(KJ) double(KK) for what she has done.
Pour her a double portion from her own cup.(KL)
7 Give her as much torment and grief
as the glory and luxury she gave herself.(KM)
In her heart she boasts,
‘I sit enthroned as queen.
I am not a widow;[o]
I will never mourn.’(KN)
8 Therefore in one day(KO) her plagues will overtake her:
death, mourning and famine.
She will be consumed by fire,(KP)
for mighty is the Lord God who judges her.
Threefold Woe Over Babylon’s Fall
9 “When the kings of the earth who committed adultery with her(KQ) and shared her luxury(KR) see the smoke of her burning,(KS) they will weep and mourn over her.(KT) 10 Terrified at her torment, they will stand far off(KU) and cry:
11 “The merchants(KX) of the earth will weep and mourn(KY) over her because no one buys their cargoes anymore(KZ)— 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;(LA) 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.(LB)
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(LC) will stand far off,(LD) terrified at her torment. They will weep and mourn(LE) 16 and cry out:
“‘Woe! Woe to you, great city,(LF)
dressed in fine linen, purple and scarlet,
and glittering with gold, precious stones and pearls!(LG)
17 In one hour(LH) such great wealth has been brought to ruin!’(LI)
“Every sea captain, and all who travel by ship, the sailors, and all who earn their living from the sea,(LJ) will stand far off.(LK) 18 When they see the smoke of her burning,(LL) they will exclaim, ‘Was there ever a city like this great city(LM)?’(LN) 19 They will throw dust on their heads,(LO) and with weeping and mourning(LP) cry out:
“‘Woe! Woe to you, great city,(LQ)
where all who had ships on the sea
became rich through her wealth!
In one hour she has been brought to ruin!’(LR)
20 “Rejoice over her, you heavens!(LS)
Rejoice, you people of God!
Rejoice, apostles and prophets!
For God has judged her
with the judgment she imposed on you.”(LT)
The Finality of Babylon’s Doom
21 Then a mighty angel(LU) picked up a boulder the size of a large millstone and threw it into the sea,(LV) and said:
“With such violence
the great city(LW) of Babylon will be thrown down,
never to be found again.
22 The music of harpists and musicians, pipers and trumpeters,
will never be heard in you again.(LX)
No worker of any trade
will ever be found in you again.
The sound of a millstone
will never be heard in you again.(LY)
23 The light of a lamp
will never shine in you again.
The voice of bridegroom and bride
will never be heard in you again.(LZ)
Your merchants were the world’s important people.(MA)
By your magic spell(MB) all the nations were led astray.
24 In her was found the blood of prophets and of God’s holy people,(MC)
of all who have been slaughtered on the earth.”(MD)
Footnotes
- Revelation 12:5 Psalm 2:9
- Revelation 13:1 Some manuscripts And I
- Revelation 13:8 Or written from the creation of the world in the book of life belonging to the Lamb who was slain
- Revelation 13:10 Some manuscripts anyone kills
- Revelation 13:10 Jer. 15:2
- Revelation 13:18 Or is humanity’s number
- Revelation 14:8 Isaiah 21:9
- Revelation 14:14 See Daniel 7:13.
- Revelation 14:20 That is, about 180 miles or about 300 kilometers
- Revelation 15:3 Some manuscripts ages
- Revelation 15:4 Phrases in this song are drawn from Psalm 111:2,3; Deut. 32:4; Jer. 10:7; Psalms 86:9; 98:2.
- Revelation 16:21 Or about 45 kilograms
- Revelation 18:2 Isaiah 21:9
- Revelation 18:4 Jer. 51:45
- Revelation 18:7 See Isaiah 47:7,8.
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