Revelation 11-16

New International Version

The Two Witnesses

11 I was given a reed like a measuring rod^(A) and was told, “Go and measure the temple of God and the altar, with its worshipers. ² But exclude the outer court;^(B) do not measure it, because it has been given to the Gentiles.^(C) They will trample on the holy city^(D) for 42 months.^{(E) 3} And I will appoint my two witnesses,^(F) and they will prophesy for 1,260 days,^(G) clothed in sackcloth.”^{(H) 4} They are “the two olive trees”^(I) and the two lampstands, and “they stand before the Lord of the earth.”^{[a](J) 5} If anyone tries to harm them, fire comes from their mouths and devours their enemies.^(K) This is how anyone who wants to harm them must die.^{(L) 6} They have power to shut up the heavens^(M) so that it will not rain during the time they are prophesying;^(N) and they have power to turn the waters into blood^(O) and to strike the earth with every kind of plague as often as they want.

⁷ Now when they have finished their testimony, the beast^(P) that comes up from the Abyss^(Q) will attack them,^(R) and overpower and kill them. ⁸ Their bodies will lie in the public square of the great city^(S)—which is figuratively called Sodom^(T) and Egypt—where also their Lord was crucified.^{(U) 9} For three and a half days some from every people, tribe, language and nation^(V) will gaze on their bodies and refuse them burial.^{(W) 10} The inhabitants of the earth^(X) will gloat over them and will celebrate by sending each other gifts,^(Y) because these two prophets had tormented those who live on the earth.

¹¹ But after the three and a half days^(Z) the breath^[b] of life from God entered them,^(AA) and they stood on their feet, and terror struck those who saw them. ¹² Then they heard a loud voice from heaven saying to them, “Come up here.”^(AB) And they went up to heaven in a cloud,^(AC) while their enemies looked on.

¹³ At that very hour there was a severe earthquake^(AD) and a tenth of the city collapsed. Seven thousand people were killed in the earthquake, and the survivors were terrified and gave glory^(AE) to the God of heaven.^(AF)

¹⁴ The second woe has passed; the third woe is coming soon.^(AG)

The Seventh Trumpet

¹⁵ The seventh angel sounded his trumpet,^(AH) and there were loud voices^(AI) in heaven, which said:

¹⁶ And the twenty-four elders,^(AL) who were seated on their thrones before God, fell on their faces^(AM) and worshiped God, ¹⁷ saying:

¹⁹ Then God’s temple^(AV) in heaven was opened, and within his temple was seen the ark of his covenant.^(AW) And there came flashes of lightning, rumblings, peals of thunder,^(AX) an earthquake and a severe hailstorm.^(AY)

The Woman and the Dragon

12 A great sign^(AZ) appeared in heaven:^(BA) a woman clothed with the sun, with the moon under her feet and a crown of twelve stars^(BB) on her head. ² She was pregnant and cried out in pain^(BC) as she was about to give birth. ³ Then another sign appeared in heaven:^(BD) an enormous red dragon^(BE) with seven heads^(BF) and ten horns^(BG) and seven crowns^(BH) on its heads. ⁴ Its tail swept a third^(BI) of the stars out of the sky and flung them to the earth.^(BJ) The dragon stood in front of the woman who was about to give birth, so that it might devour her child^(BK) 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.”^[c](BL) And her child was snatched up^(BM) 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.^(BN)

⁷ Then war broke out in heaven. Michael^(BO) and his angels fought against the dragon,^(BP) and the dragon and his angels^(BQ) 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^(BR) called the devil,^(BS) or Satan,^(BT) who leads the whole world astray.^(BU) He was hurled to the earth,^(BV) and his angels with him.

¹⁰ Then I heard a loud voice in heaven^(BW) say:

¹³ When the dragon^(CG) saw that he had been hurled to the earth, he pursued the woman who had given birth to the male child.^{(CH) 14} The woman was given the two wings of a great eagle,^(CI) 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,^(CJ) out of the serpent’s reach. ¹⁵ Then from his mouth the serpent^(CK) 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^(CL) against the rest of her offspring^(CM)—those who keep God’s commands^(CN) and hold fast their testimony about Jesus.^(CO)

The Beast out of the Sea

13 The dragon^[d] stood on the shore of the sea. And I saw a beast coming out of the sea.^(CP) It had ten horns and seven heads,^(CQ) with ten crowns on its horns, and on each head a blasphemous name.^{(CR) 2} The beast I saw resembled a leopard,^(CS) but had feet like those of a bear^(CT) and a mouth like that of a lion.^(CU) The dragon gave the beast his power and his throne and great authority.^{(CV) 3} One of the heads of the beast seemed to have had a fatal wound, but the fatal wound had been healed.^(CW) The whole world was filled with wonder^(CX) 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^(CY) the beast? Who can wage war against it?”

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

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

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

The Beast out of the Earth

¹¹ Then I saw a second beast, coming out of the earth.^(DM) It had two horns like a lamb, but it spoke like a dragon.^{(DN) 12} It exercised all the authority^(DO) of the first beast on its behalf,^(DP) and made the earth and its inhabitants worship the first beast,^(DQ) whose fatal wound had been healed.^{(DR) 13} And it performed great signs,^(DS) even causing fire to come down from heaven^(DT) to the earth in full view of the people. ¹⁴ Because of the signs^(DU) it was given power to perform on behalf of the first beast, it deceived^(DV) the inhabitants of the earth.^(DW) It ordered them to set up an image in honor of the beast who was wounded by the sword and yet lived.^{(DX) 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^(DY) the image to be killed.^{(DZ) 16} It also forced all people, great and small,^(EA) rich and poor, free and slave, to receive a mark on their right hands or on their foreheads,^{(EB) 17} so that they could not buy or sell unless they had the mark,^(EC) which is the name of the beast or the number of its name.^(ED)

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

The Lamb and the 144,000

14 Then I looked, and there before me was the Lamb,^(EG) standing on Mount Zion,^(EH) and with him 144,000^(EI) who had his name and his Father’s name^(EJ) written on their foreheads.^{(EK) 2} And I heard a sound from heaven like the roar of rushing waters^(EL) and like a loud peal of thunder.^(EM) The sound I heard was like that of harpists playing their harps.^{(EN) 3} And they sang a new song^(EO) before the throne and before the four living creatures^(EP) and the elders.^(EQ) No one could learn the song except the 144,000^(ER) who had been redeemed from the earth. ⁴ These are those who did not defile themselves with women, for they remained virgins.^(ES) They follow the Lamb wherever he goes.^(ET) They were purchased from among mankind^(EU) and offered as firstfruits^(EV) to God and the Lamb. ⁵ No lie was found in their mouths;^(EW) they are blameless.^(EX)

The Three Angels

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

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

⁹ A third angel followed them and said in a loud voice: “If anyone worships the beast^(FH) and its image^(FI) and receives its mark on their forehead^(FJ) or on their hand, ¹⁰ they, too, will drink the wine of God’s fury,^(FK) which has been poured full strength into the cup of his wrath.^(FL) They will be tormented with burning sulfur^(FM) in the presence of the holy angels and of the Lamb. ¹¹ And the smoke of their torment will rise for ever and ever.^(FN) There will be no rest day or night^(FO) for those who worship the beast and its image,^(FP) or for anyone who receives the mark of its name.”^{(FQ) 12} This calls for patient endurance^(FR) on the part of the people of God^(FS) who keep his commands^(FT) 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^(FU) from now on.”

“Yes,” says the Spirit,^(FV) “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,^(FW) and seated on the cloud was one like a son of man^[j](FX) with a crown^(FY) of gold on his head and a sharp sickle in his hand. ¹⁵ Then another angel came out of the temple^(FZ) and called in a loud voice to him who was sitting on the cloud, “Take your sickle^(GA) and reap, because the time to reap has come, for the harvest^(GB) 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.^{(GC) 18} Still another angel, who had charge of the fire, came from the altar^(GD) and called in a loud voice to him who had the sharp sickle, “Take your sharp sickle^(GE) 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.^{(GF) 20} They were trampled in the winepress^(GG) outside the city,^(GH) and blood^(GI) flowed out of the press, rising as high as the horses’ bridles for a distance of 1,600 stadia.^[k]

Seven Angels With Seven Plagues

15 I saw in heaven another great and marvelous sign:^(GJ) seven angels^(GK) with the seven last plagues^(GL)—last, because with them God’s wrath is completed. ² And I saw what looked like a sea of glass^(GM) glowing with fire and, standing beside the sea, those who had been victorious^(GN) over the beast^(GO) and its image^(GP) and over the number of its name.^(GQ) They held harps^(GR) given them by God ³ and sang the song of God’s servant^(GS) Moses^(GT) and of the Lamb:^(GU)

⁵ After this I looked, and I saw in heaven the temple^(HC)—that is, the tabernacle of the covenant law^(HD)—and it was opened.^{(HE) 6} Out of the temple^(HF) came the seven angels with the seven plagues.^(HG) They were dressed in clean, shining linen^(HH) and wore golden sashes around their chests.^{(HI) 7} Then one of the four living creatures^(HJ) gave to the seven angels^(HK) seven golden bowls filled with the wrath of God, who lives for ever and ever.^{(HL) 8} And the temple was filled with smoke^(HM) from the glory of God and from his power, and no one could enter the temple^(HN) 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^(HO) saying to the seven angels,^(HP) “Go, pour out the seven bowls of God’s wrath on the earth.”^(HQ)

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

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.^(HU)

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

⁷ And I heard the altar^(IC) respond:

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

¹⁰ The fifth angel poured out his bowl on the throne of the beast,^(IL) and its kingdom was plunged into darkness.^(IM) People gnawed their tongues in agony ¹¹ and cursed^(IN) the God of heaven^(IO) because of their pains and their sores,^(IP) but they refused to repent of what they had done.^(IQ)

¹² The sixth angel poured out his bowl on the great river Euphrates,^(IR) and its water was dried up to prepare the way^(IS) for the kings from the East.^{(IT) 13} Then I saw three impure spirits^(IU) that looked like frogs;^(IV) they came out of the mouth of the dragon,^(IW) out of the mouth of the beast^(IX) and out of the mouth of the false prophet.^{(IY) 14} They are demonic spirits^(IZ) that perform signs,^(JA) and they go out to the kings of the whole world,^(JB) to gather them for the battle^(JC) on the great day^(JD) of God Almighty.

¹⁶ Then they gathered the kings together^(JH) to the place that in Hebrew^(JI) is called Armageddon.^(JJ)

¹⁷ The seventh angel poured out his bowl into the air,^(JK) and out of the temple^(JL) came a loud voice^(JM) from the throne, saying, “It is done!”^{(JN) 18} Then there came flashes of lightning, rumblings, peals of thunder^(JO) and a severe earthquake.^(JP) No earthquake like it has ever occurred since mankind has been on earth,^(JQ) so tremendous was the quake. ¹⁹ The great city^(JR) split into three parts, and the cities of the nations collapsed. God remembered^(JS) Babylon the Great^(JT) and gave her the cup filled with the wine of the fury of his wrath.^{(JU) 20} Every island fled away and the mountains could not be found.^{(JV) 21} From the sky huge hailstones,^(JW) each weighing about a hundred pounds,^[n] fell on people. And they cursed God^(JX) on account of the plague of hail,^(JY) because the plague was so terrible.