Revelation 6-22

New American Bible (Revised Edition)

IV. The Seven Seals, Trumpets, and Plagues, with Interludes^[a]

Chapter 6^[b]

The First Six Seals. ^1 [c]Then I watched while the Lamb broke open the first of the seven seals, and I heard one of the four living creatures cry out in a voice like thunder, “Come forward.” ² I looked, and there was a white horse, and its rider had a bow.^[d] He was given a crown, and he rode forth victorious to further his victories.^(A)

³ When he broke open the second seal, I heard the second living creature cry out, “Come forward.” ^4 [e](B)Another horse came out, a red one. Its rider was given power to take peace away from the earth, so that people would slaughter one another. And he was given a huge sword.

⁵ When he broke open the third seal, I heard the third living creature cry out, “Come forward.” I looked, and there was a black horse,^[f] and its rider held a scale in his hand. ⁶ I heard what seemed to be a voice in the midst of the four living creatures. It said, “A ration of wheat costs a day’s pay,^[g] and three rations of barley cost a day’s pay. But do not damage the olive oil or the wine.”^(C)

⁷ When he broke open the fourth seal, I heard the voice of the fourth living creature cry out, “Come forward.” ⁸ I looked, and there was a pale green^[h] horse. Its rider was named Death, and Hades accompanied him. They were given authority over a quarter of the earth, to kill with sword, famine, and plague, and by means of the beasts of the earth.^(D)

⁹ When he broke open the fifth seal, I saw underneath the altar^[i] the souls of those who had been slaughtered because of the witness they bore to the word of God. ¹⁰ They cried out in a loud voice, “How long will it be, holy and true master,^[j] before you sit in judgment and avenge our blood on the inhabitants of the earth?” ¹¹ Each of them was given a white robe, and they were told to be patient a little while longer until the number was filled of their fellow servants and brothers who were going to be killed as they had been.

^12 [k]Then I watched while he broke open the sixth seal, and there was a great earthquake; the sun turned as black as dark sackcloth^[l] and the whole moon became like blood.^{(E) 13} The stars in the sky fell to the earth like unripe figs^[m] shaken loose from the tree in a strong wind. ¹⁴ Then the sky was divided^[n] like a torn scroll curling up, and every mountain and island was moved from its place.^{(F) 15} The kings of the earth, the nobles,^[o] the military officers, the rich, the powerful, and every slave and free person hid themselves in caves and among mountain crags. ¹⁶ They cried out to the mountains and the rocks, “Fall on us and hide us from the face of the one who sits on the throne and from the wrath of the Lamb,^{(G) 17} because the great day of their^[p] wrath has come and who can withstand it?”

Chapter 7^[q]

The 144,000 Sealed. ¹ After this I saw four angels standing at the four corners of the earth,^[r] holding back the four winds of the earth so that no wind could blow on land or sea or against any tree.^{(H) 2} Then I saw another angel come up from the East,^[s] holding the seal of the living God. He cried out in a loud voice to the four angels who were given power to damage the land and the sea, ³ “Do not damage the land or the sea or the trees until we put the seal on the foreheads of the servants of our God.”^{(I) 4} I heard the number of those who had been marked with the seal, one hundred and forty-four thousand marked^[t] from every tribe of the Israelites:^{(J) 5} twelve thousand were marked from the tribe of Judah,^[u] twelve thousand from the tribe of Reuben, twelve thousand from the tribe of Gad, ⁶ twelve thousand from the tribe of Asher, twelve thousand from the tribe of Naphtali, twelve thousand from the tribe of Manasseh, ⁷ twelve thousand from the tribe of Simeon, twelve thousand from the tribe of Levi, twelve thousand from the tribe of Issachar, ⁸ twelve thousand from the tribe of Zebulun, twelve thousand from the tribe of Joseph, and twelve thousand were marked from the tribe of Benjamin.

Triumph of the Elect. ⁹ After this I had a vision of a great multitude, which no one could count, from every nation, race, people, and tongue. They stood before the throne and before the Lamb, wearing white robes and holding palm branches^[v] in their hands. ¹⁰ They cried out in a loud voice:

¹¹ All the angels stood around the throne and around the elders and the four living creatures. They prostrated themselves before the throne, worshiped God, ¹² and exclaimed:

¹³ Then one of the elders spoke up and said to me, “Who are these wearing white robes, and where did they come from?” ¹⁴ I said to him, “My lord, you are the one who knows.” He said to me, “These are the ones who have survived the time of great distress;^[x] they have washed their robes and made them white in the blood of the Lamb.^(K)

Chapter 8^[z]

The Seven Trumpets. ¹ When he broke open the seventh seal, there was silence in heaven^[aa] for about half an hour.^{(N) 2} And I saw that the seven angels who stood before God were given seven trumpets.^(O)

The Gold Censer. ³ Another angel came and stood at the altar,^[ab] holding a gold censer. He was given a great quantity of incense to offer, along with the prayers of all the holy ones, on the gold altar that was before the throne.^{(P) 4} The smoke of the incense along with the prayers of the holy ones went up before God from the hand of the angel. ⁵ Then the angel took the censer, filled it with burning coals from the altar, and hurled it down to the earth. There were peals of thunder, rumblings, flashes of lightning, and an earthquake.^(Q)

The First Four Trumpets. ⁶ The seven angels who were holding the seven trumpets prepared to blow them.^(R)

⁷ When the first one blew his trumpet, there came hail and fire mixed with blood, which was hurled down to the earth. A third of the land was burned up, along with a third of the trees and all green grass.^[ac]

^8 [ad]When the second angel blew his trumpet, something like a large burning mountain was hurled into the sea. A third of the sea turned to blood,^{(S) 9} a third of the creatures living in the sea^[ae] died, and a third of the ships were wrecked.

¹⁰ When the third angel blew his trumpet, a large star burning like a torch fell from the sky. It fell on a third of the rivers and on the springs of water.^{(T) 11} The star was called “Wormwood,”^[af] and a third of all the water turned to wormwood. Many people died from this water, because it was made bitter.^(U)

¹² When the fourth angel blew his trumpet, a third of the sun, a third of the moon, and a third of the stars were struck, so that a third of them became dark. The day lost its light for a third of the time, as did the night.^(V)

¹³ Then I looked again and heard an eagle flying high overhead cry out in a loud voice, “Woe! Woe! Woe^[ag] to the inhabitants of the earth from the rest of the trumpet blasts that the three angels are about to blow!”

Chapter 9

The Fifth Trumpet.^{[ah] 1} Then the fifth angel blew his trumpet, and I saw a star^[ai] that had fallen from the sky to the earth. It was given the key for the passage to the abyss. ² It opened the passage to the abyss,^(W) and smoke came up out of the passage like smoke from a huge furnace. The sun and the air were darkened by the smoke from the passage.^{(X) 3} Locusts came out of the smoke onto the land, and they were given the same power as scorpions^[aj] of the earth.^{(Y) 4} They were told not to harm the grass of the earth or any plant or any tree, but only those people who did not have the seal of God on their foreheads. ⁵ They were not allowed to kill them but only to torment them for five months;^[ak] the torment they inflicted was like that of a scorpion when it stings a person. ⁶ During that time these people will seek death but will not find it, and they will long to die but death will escape them.^(Z)

^7 [al]The appearance of the locusts was like that of horses ready for battle. On their heads they wore what looked like crowns of gold; their faces were like human faces,^{(AA) 8} and they had hair like women’s hair. Their teeth were like lions’ teeth,^{(AB) 9} and they had chests like iron breastplates. The sound of their wings was like the sound of many horse-drawn chariots racing into battle. ¹⁰ They had tails like scorpions, with stingers; with their tails they had power to harm people for five months. ¹¹ They had as their king the angel of the abyss, whose name in Hebrew is Abaddon^[am] and in Greek Apollyon.

¹² The first woe has passed, but there are two more to come.

The Sixth Trumpet.^{[an] 13} Then the sixth angel blew his trumpet, and I heard a voice coming from the [four]^[ao] horns of the gold altar before God,^{(AC) 14} telling the sixth angel who held the trumpet, “Release the four angels^[ap] who are bound at the banks of the great river Euphrates.” ¹⁵ So the four angels were released, who were prepared for this hour, day, month, and year to kill a third of the human race. ¹⁶ The number of cavalry troops was two hundred million; I heard their number. ¹⁷ Now in my vision this is how I saw the horses and their riders. They wore red, blue, and yellow breastplates,^[aq] and the horses’ heads were like heads of lions, and out of their mouths came fire, smoke, and sulfur.^{(AD) 18} By these three plagues of fire, smoke, and sulfur that came out of their mouths a third of the human race was killed. ¹⁹ For the power of the horses is in their mouths and in their tails; for their tails are like snakes, with heads that inflict harm.

²⁰ The rest of the human race, who were not killed by these plagues, did not repent of the works of their hands,^[ar] to give up the worship of demons and idols made from gold, silver, bronze, stone, and wood, which cannot see or hear or walk.^{(AE) 21} Nor did they repent of their murders, their magic potions, their unchastity, or their robberies.

Chapter 10

The Angel with the Small Scroll. ^1 [as]Then I saw another mighty angel come down from heaven wrapped in a cloud, with a halo around his head; his face was like the sun and his feet were like pillars of fire. ² In his hand he held a small scroll that had been opened. He placed his right foot on the sea and his left foot on the land,^{[at] 3} and then he cried out in a loud voice as a lion roars. When he cried out, the seven thunders^[au] raised their voices, too.^{(AF) 4} When the seven thunders had spoken, I was about to write it down; but I heard a voice from heaven say, “Seal up what the seven thunders have spoken, but do not write it down.” ⁵ Then the angel I saw standing on the sea and on the land raised his right hand to heaven ⁶ and swore by the one who lives forever and ever, who created heaven and earth and sea^[av] and all that is in them, “There shall be no more delay.^{(AG) 7} At the time when you hear the seventh angel blow his trumpet, the mysterious plan of God^[aw] shall be fulfilled, as he promised to his servants the prophets.”^(AH)

⁸ Then the voice that I had heard from heaven spoke to me again and said, “Go, take the scroll that lies open in the hand of the angel who is standing on the sea and on the land.” ⁹ So I went up to the angel and told him to give me the small scroll. He said to me, “Take and swallow it. It will turn your stomach sour, but in your mouth it will taste as sweet^[ax] as honey.” ¹⁰ I took the small scroll from the angel’s hand and swallowed it. In my mouth it was like sweet honey, but when I had eaten it, my stomach turned sour.^{(AI) 11} Then someone said to me, “You must prophesy again about many peoples, nations, tongues, and kings.”^[ay]

Chapter 11

The Two Witnesses. ^1 [az](AJ)Then I was given a measuring rod like a staff and I was told, “Come and measure the temple of God and the altar, and count those who are worshiping in it. ² But exclude the outer court^[ba] of the temple; do not measure it, for it has been handed over to the Gentiles, who will trample the holy city for forty-two months. ³ I will commission my two witnesses^[bb] to prophesy for those twelve hundred and sixty days, wearing sackcloth.” ^4 (AK)These are the two olive trees and the two lampstands^[bc] that stand before the Lord of the earth. ^5 [bd]If anyone wants to harm them, fire comes out of their mouths and devours their enemies. In this way, anyone wanting to harm them is sure to be slain. ⁶ They have the power to close up the sky so that no rain can fall during the time of their prophesying. They also have power to turn water into blood and to afflict the earth with any plague as often as they wish.^(AL)

⁷ When they have finished their testimony, the beast that comes up from the abyss^[be] will wage war against them and conquer them and kill them.^{(AM) 8} Their corpses will lie in the main street of the great city,^[bf] which has the symbolic names “Sodom” and “Egypt,” where indeed their Lord was crucified. ^9 [bg]Those from every people, tribe, tongue, and nation will gaze on their corpses for three and a half days, and they will not allow their corpses to be buried. ¹⁰ The inhabitants of the earth will gloat over them and be glad and exchange gifts because these two prophets tormented the inhabitants of the earth. ¹¹ But after the three and a half days, a breath of life from God entered them. When they stood on their feet, great fear fell on those who saw them.^{(AN) 12} Then they heard a loud voice from heaven say to them, “Come up here.” So they went up to heaven in a cloud as their enemies looked on.^{(AO) 13} At that moment there was a great earthquake, and a tenth of the city fell in ruins. Seven thousand people^[bh] were killed during the earthquake; the rest were terrified and gave glory to the God of heaven.

¹⁴ The second woe has passed, but the third is coming soon.

The Seventh Trumpet.^{[bi] 15} Then the seventh angel blew his trumpet. There were loud voices in heaven, saying, “The kingdom of the world now belongs to our Lord and to his Anointed, and he will reign forever and ever.” ¹⁶ The twenty-four elders who sat on their thrones before God prostrated themselves and worshiped God ¹⁷ and said:

¹⁹ Then God’s temple in heaven was opened, and the ark of his covenant could be seen in the temple. There were flashes of lightning, rumblings, and peals of thunder, an earthquake, and a violent hailstorm.

Chapter 12

The Woman and the Dragon. ^1 [bj]A great sign appeared in the sky, a woman^[bk] clothed with the sun, with the moon under her feet, and on her head a crown of twelve stars.^{(AQ) 2} She was with child and wailed aloud in pain as she labored to give birth.^{[bl] 3} Then another sign appeared in the sky; it was a huge red dragon,^[bm] with seven heads and ten horns, and on its heads were seven diadems.^{(AR) 4} Its tail swept away a third of the stars in the sky and hurled them down to the earth. Then the dragon stood before the woman about to give birth, to devour her child when she gave birth.^{(AS) 5} She gave birth to a son, a male child, destined to rule all the nations with an iron rod.^[bn] Her child was caught up to God and his throne.^{(AT) 6} The woman herself fled into the desert where she had a place prepared by God, that there she might be taken care of for twelve hundred and sixty days.^[bo]

^7 [bp]Then war broke out in heaven; Michael^[bq] and his angels battled against the dragon. The dragon and its angels fought back, ⁸ but they did not prevail and there was no longer any place for them in heaven. ⁹ The huge dragon, the ancient serpent,^[br] who is called the Devil and Satan, who deceived the whole world, was thrown down to earth, and its angels were thrown down with it.^(AU)

¹⁰ Then I heard a loud voice in heaven say:

¹³ When the dragon saw that it had been thrown down to the earth, it pursued the woman who had given birth to the male child.^{(AV) 14} But the woman was given the two wings of the great eagle,^[bt] so that she could fly to her place in the desert, where, far from the serpent, she was taken care of for a year, two years, and a half-year.^{(AW) 15} The serpent,^[bu] however, spewed a torrent of water out of his mouth after the woman to sweep her away with the current. ¹⁶ But the earth helped the woman and opened its mouth and swallowed the flood that the dragon spewed out of its mouth. ¹⁷ Then the dragon became angry with the woman and went off to wage war against the rest of her offspring, those who keep God’s commandments and bear witness to Jesus.^{[bv](AX) 18} It took its position^[bw] on the sand of the sea.

Chapter 13

The First Beast.^{[bx] 1} Then I saw a beast come out of the sea with ten horns and seven heads; on its horns were ten diadems, and on its heads blasphemous name[s].^{(AY) 2} The beast I saw was like a leopard, but it had feet like a bear’s, and its mouth was like the mouth of a lion.^[by](AZ) To it the dragon gave its own power and throne, along with great authority. ³ I saw that one of its heads seemed to have been mortally wounded, but this mortal wound was healed.^[bz] Fascinated, the whole world followed after the beast. ⁴ They worshiped the dragon because it gave its authority to the beast; they also worshiped the beast^[ca] and said, “Who can compare with the beast or who can fight against it?”

^5 [cb]The beast was given a mouth uttering proud boasts and blasphemies,^(BA) and it was given authority to act for forty-two months.^{[cc] 6} It opened its mouth to utter blasphemies against God, blaspheming his name and his dwelling and those who dwell in heaven. ⁷ It was also allowed to wage war against the holy ones and conquer them, and it was granted authority over every tribe, people, tongue, and nation.^{(BB) 8} All the inhabitants of the earth will worship it, all whose names were not written from the foundation of the world in the book of life, which belongs to the Lamb who was slain.^(BC)

Such is the faithful endurance of the holy ones.

The Second Beast.^{[cd] 11} Then I saw another beast come up out of the earth; it had two horns like a lamb’s but spoke like a dragon. ¹² It wielded all the authority of the first beast in its sight and made the earth and its inhabitants worship the first beast, whose mortal wound had been healed. ¹³ It performed great signs, even making fire come down from heaven to earth in the sight of everyone.^{(BF) 14} It deceived the inhabitants of the earth with the signs it was allowed to perform in the sight of the first beast, telling them to make an image for the beast who had been wounded by the sword and revived. ¹⁵ It was then permitted to breathe life into the beast’s image, so that the beast’s image could speak and [could] have anyone who did not worship it put to death.^{(BG) 16} It forced all the people, small and great, rich and poor, free and slave, to be given a stamped image on their right hands or their foreheads,^{(BH) 17} so that no one could buy or sell except one who had the stamped image of the beast’s name or the number that stood for its name.

^18 [ce](BI)Wisdom is needed here; one who understands can calculate the number of the beast, for it is a number that stands for a person. His number is six hundred and sixty-six.

Chapter 14

The Lamb’s Companions.^{[cf] 1} Then I looked and there was the Lamb standing on Mount Zion,^[cg] and with him a hundred and forty-four thousand who had his name and his Father’s name written on their foreheads.^{(BJ) 2} I heard a sound from heaven like the sound of rushing water or a loud peal of thunder. The sound I heard was like that of harpists playing their harps. ³ They were singing [what seemed to be] a new hymn before the throne, before the four living creatures and the elders. No one could learn this hymn except the hundred and forty-four thousand who had been ransomed from the earth.^{(BK) 4} These are they who were not defiled with women; they are virgins^[ch] and these are the ones who follow the Lamb wherever he goes. They have been ransomed as the firstfruits of the human race for God and the Lamb.^{(BL) 5} On their lips no deceit^[ci] has been found; they are unblemished.^(BM)

The Three Angels.^{[cj] 6} Then I saw another angel flying high overhead, with everlasting good news^[ck] to announce to those who dwell on earth, to every nation, tribe, tongue, and people. ⁷ He said in a loud voice, “Fear God and give him glory, for his time has come to sit in judgment. Worship him who made heaven and earth and sea and springs of water.”^(BN)

⁸ A second angel followed, saying:

⁹ A third angel followed them and said in a loud voice, “Anyone who worships the beast or its image, or accepts its mark on forehead or hand, ¹⁰ will also drink the wine of God’s fury,^[cm] poured full strength into the cup of his wrath, and will be tormented in burning sulfur before the holy angels and before the Lamb. ¹¹ The smoke of the fire that torments them will rise forever and ever, and there will be no relief day or night for those who worship the beast or its image or accept the mark of its name.”^{(BP) 12} Here is what sustains the holy ones who keep God’s commandments^(BQ) and their faith in Jesus.^[cn]

^13 (BR)I heard a voice from heaven say, “Write this: Blessed are the dead who die in the Lord from now on.” “Yes,” said the Spirit, “let them find rest from their labors, for their works accompany them.”^[co]

The Harvest of the Earth.^{[cp] 14} Then I looked and there was a white cloud, and sitting on the cloud one who looked like a son of man, with a gold crown on his head and a sharp sickle in his hand.^{(BS) 15} Another angel came out of the temple, crying out in a loud voice to the one sitting on the cloud, “Use your sickle and reap the harvest, for the time to reap has come, because the earth’s harvest is fully ripe.”^{(BT) 16} So the one who was sitting on the cloud swung his sickle over the earth, and the earth was harvested.

¹⁷ Then another angel came out of the temple in heaven who also had a sharp sickle. ¹⁸ Then another angel [came] from the altar,^[cq] [who] was in charge of the fire, and cried out in a loud voice to the one who had the sharp sickle, “Use your sharp sickle and cut the clusters from the earth’s vines, for its grapes are ripe.” ¹⁹ So the angel swung his sickle over the earth and cut the earth’s vintage. He threw it into the great wine press of God’s fury.^{(BU) 20} The wine press was trodden outside the city and blood poured out of the wine press to the height of a horse’s bridle for two hundred miles.^[cr]

Chapter 15

The Seven Last Plagues. ^1 [cs]Then I saw in heaven another sign,^[ct] great and awe-inspiring: seven angels with the seven last plagues, for through them God’s fury is accomplished.

² Then I saw something like a sea of glass mingled with fire.^[cu] On the sea of glass were standing those who had won the victory over the beast and its image and the number that signified its name. They were holding God’s harps,^{(BV) 3} and they sang the song of Moses,^[cv] the servant of God, and the song of the Lamb:

^5 [cw]After this I had another vision. The temple that is the heavenly tent of testimony^[cx] opened, ⁶ and the seven angels with the seven plagues came out of the temple. They were dressed in clean white linen, with a gold sash around their chests.^{(BY) 7} One of the four living creatures gave the seven angels seven gold bowls filled with the fury of God, who lives forever and ever. ⁸ Then the temple became so filled with the smoke from God’s glory and might that no one could enter it until the seven plagues of the seven angels had been accomplished.^(BZ)

Chapter 16

The Seven Bowls.^{[cy] 1} I heard a loud voice speaking from the temple to the seven angels, “Go and pour out the seven bowls of God’s fury upon the earth.”

² The first angel went and poured out his bowl on the earth. Festering and ugly sores broke out on those who had the mark of the beast or worshiped its image.^[cz]

^3 [da]The second angel poured out his bowl on the sea. The sea turned to blood like that from a corpse; every creature living in the sea died.

⁴ The third angel poured out his bowl on the rivers and springs of water. These also turned to blood.^{(CA) 5} Then I heard the angel in charge of the waters say:

⁷ Then I heard the altar cry out,

⁸ The fourth angel poured out his bowl on the sun. It was given the power to burn people with fire. ⁹ People were burned by the scorching heat and blasphemed the name of God who had power over these plagues, but they did not repent or give him glory.^(CE)

^10 (CF)The fifth angel poured out his bowl on the throne of the beast.^[db] Its kingdom was plunged into darkness, and people bit their tongues in pain ¹¹ and blasphemed the God of heaven because of their pains and sores. But they did not repent of their works.^(CG)

¹² The sixth angel emptied his bowl on the great river Euphrates. Its water was dried up to prepare the way for the kings of the East.^{[dc] 13} I saw three unclean spirits like frogs^[dd] come from the mouth of the dragon, from the mouth of the beast, and from the mouth of the false prophet.^{(CH) 14} These were demonic spirits who performed signs. They went out to the kings of the whole world to assemble them for the battle on the great day of God the almighty.^{(CI) 15} (“Behold, I am coming like a thief.”^[de] Blessed is the one who watches and keeps his clothes ready, so that he may not go naked and people see him exposed.)^{(CJ) 16} They then assembled the kings in the place that is named Armageddon^[df] in Hebrew.

¹⁷ The seventh angel poured out his bowl into the air. A loud voice came out of the temple from the throne, saying, “It is done.”^{(CK) 18} Then there were lightning flashes, rumblings, and peals of thunder, and a great earthquake. It was such a violent earthquake that there has never been one like it since the human race began on earth.^{(CL) 19} The great city^[dg] was split into three parts, and the gentile cities fell. But God remembered great Babylon, giving it the cup filled with the wine of his fury and wrath. ^20 [dh]Every island fled, and mountains disappeared. ²¹ Large hailstones like huge weights came down from the sky on people, and they blasphemed God for the plague of hail because this plague was so severe.^(CM)

V. The Punishment of Babylon and the Destruction of Pagan Nations

Chapter 17

Babylon the Great. ^1 [di]Then one of the seven angels who were holding the seven bowls came and said to me, “Come here. I will show you the judgment on the great harlot^[dj] who lives near the many waters.^{(CN) 2 [dk]}The kings of the earth have had intercourse with her,^(CO) and the inhabitants of the earth became drunk on the wine of her harlotry.” ³ Then he carried me away in spirit to a deserted place where I saw a woman seated on a scarlet beast^[dl] that was covered with blasphemous names, with seven heads and ten horns.^{(CP) 4} The woman was wearing purple and scarlet and adorned with gold, precious stones, and pearls.^(CQ) She held in her hand a gold cup that was filled with the abominable and sordid deeds of her harlotry. ⁵ On her forehead was written a name, which is a mystery, “Babylon the great, the mother of harlots and of the abominations of the earth.” ^6 [dm]I saw that the woman was drunk on the blood of the holy ones and on the blood of the witnesses to Jesus.

Meaning of the Beast and Harlot.^[dn] When I saw her I was greatly amazed. ⁷ The angel said to me, “Why are you amazed? I will explain to you the mystery of the woman and of the beast that carries her, the beast with the seven heads and the ten horns. ^8 [do](CR)The beast that you saw existed once but now exists no longer. It will come up from the abyss and is headed for destruction. The inhabitants of the earth whose names have not been written in the book of life from the foundation of the world shall be amazed when they see the beast, because it existed once but exists no longer, and yet it will come again. ⁹ Here is a clue^[dp] for one who has wisdom. The seven heads represent seven hills upon which the woman sits. They also represent seven kings:^{(CS) 10} five have already fallen, one still lives, and the last has not yet come,^[dq] and when he comes he must remain only a short while. ¹¹ The beast^[dr] that existed once but exists no longer is an eighth king, but really belongs to the seven and is headed for destruction. ¹² The ten horns that you saw represent ten kings who have not yet been crowned;^[ds] they will receive royal authority along with the beast for one hour.^{(CT) 13} They are of one mind and will give their power and authority to the beast. ¹⁴ They will fight with the Lamb, but the Lamb will conquer them, for he is Lord of lords and king of kings, and those with him are called, chosen, and faithful.”^(CU)

¹⁵ Then he said to me, “The waters that you saw where the harlot lives represent large numbers of peoples, nations, and tongues. ¹⁶ The ten horns^[dt] that you saw and the beast will hate the harlot; they will leave her desolate and naked; they will eat her flesh and consume her with fire.^{(CV) 17} For God has put it into their minds to carry out his purpose and to make them come to an agreement to give their kingdom to the beast until the words of God are accomplished. ¹⁸ The woman whom you saw represents the great city that has sovereignty over the kings of the earth.”

Chapter 18

The Fall of Babylon.^{[du] 1} After this I saw another angel coming down from heaven, having great authority, and the earth became illumined by his splendor.^{(CW) 2 [dv]}He cried out in a mighty voice:

⁴ Then I heard another voice from heaven say:

⁹ The kings of the earth who had intercourse with her in their wantonness will weep and mourn over her when they see the smoke of her pyre. ¹⁰ They will keep their distance for fear of the torment inflicted on her, and they will say:

¹¹ The merchants of the earth will weep and mourn for her, because there will be no more markets^[dy] for their cargo: ¹² their cargo of gold, silver, precious stones, and pearls; fine linen, purple silk, and scarlet cloth; fragrant wood of every kind, all articles of ivory and all articles of the most expensive wood, bronze, iron, and marble; ¹³ cinnamon, spice,^[dz] incense, myrrh, and frankincense; wine, olive oil, fine flour, and wheat; cattle and sheep, horses and chariots, and slaves, that is, human beings.

¹⁵ The merchants who deal in these goods, who grew rich from her, will keep their distance for fear of the torment inflicted on her. Weeping and mourning, ¹⁶ they cry out:

Every captain of a ship, every traveler at sea, sailors, and seafaring merchants stood at a distance ¹⁸ and cried out when they saw the smoke of her pyre, “What city could compare with the great city?” ^19 (DF)They threw dust on their heads and cried out, weeping and mourning:

²¹ A mighty angel picked up a stone like a huge millstone and threw it into the sea and said:

Chapter 19

¹ After this I heard what sounded like the loud voice of a great multitude in heaven, saying:

³ They said a second time:

⁴ The twenty-four elders and the four living creatures fell down and worshiped God who sat on the throne, saying, “Amen. Alleluia.”

The Victory Song.^{[eb] 5} A voice coming from the throne said:

⁶ Then I heard something like the sound of a great multitude or the sound of rushing water or mighty peals of thunder, as they said:

(The linen represents the righteous deeds of the holy ones.)^[ed]

⁹ Then the angel said to me, “Write this: Blessed^[ee] are those who have been called to the wedding feast of the Lamb.” And he said to me, “These words are true; they come from God.”^{(DQ) 10} I fell at his feet to worship him. But he said to me, “Don’t! I am a fellow servant of yours and of your brothers who bear witness to Jesus. Worship God.^(DR) Witness to Jesus is the spirit of prophecy.”^[ef]

The King of Kings. ^11 [eg]Then I saw the heavens opened, and there was a white horse; its rider was [called] “Faithful and True.” He judges and wages war in righteousness.^{(DS) 12} His eyes were [like] a fiery flame, and on his head were many diadems. He had a name^[eh] inscribed that no one knows except himself.^{(DT) 13} He wore a cloak that had been dipped in^[ei] blood, and his name was called the Word of God.^{(DU) 14} The armies of heaven followed him, mounted on white horses and wearing clean white linen.^{(DV) 15} Out of his mouth came a sharp sword to strike the nations. He will rule them with an iron rod, and he himself will tread out in the wine press^[ej] the wine of the fury and wrath of God the almighty.^{(DW) 16} He has a name written on his cloak and on his thigh, “King of kings and Lord of lords.”^(DX)

^17 [ek]Then I saw an angel standing on the sun. He cried out [in] a loud voice to all the birds flying high overhead, “Come here. Gather for God’s great feast, ¹⁸ to eat the flesh of kings, the flesh of military officers, and the flesh of warriors, the flesh of horses and of their riders, and the flesh of all, free and slave, small and great.”^{(DY) 19} Then I saw the beast and the kings of the earth and their armies gathered to fight against the one riding the horse and against his army. ²⁰ The beast was caught and with it the false prophet^[el] who had performed in its sight the signs by which he led astray those who had accepted the mark of the beast and those who had worshiped its image. The two were thrown alive into the fiery pool burning with sulfur.^{(DZ) 21} The rest were killed by the sword that came out of the mouth of the one riding the horse, and all the birds gorged themselves on their flesh.

Chapter 20

The Thousand-year Reign. ^1 [em]Then I saw an angel come down from heaven, holding in his hand the key to the abyss^[en] and a heavy chain.^{(EA) 2} He seized the dragon, the ancient serpent, which is the Devil or Satan,^[eo] and tied it up for a thousand years^{(EB) 3} and threw it into the abyss, which he locked over it and sealed, so that it could no longer lead the nations astray until the thousand years are completed. After this, it is to be released for a short time.

⁴ Then I saw thrones; those who sat on them were entrusted with judgment. I also saw the souls of those who had been beheaded for their witness to Jesus and for the word of God, and who had not worshiped the beast or its image nor had accepted its mark^[ep] on their foreheads or hands. They came to life and they reigned with Christ for a thousand years.^{(EC) 5} The rest of the dead did not come to life until the thousand years were over. This is the first resurrection. ⁶ Blessed^[eq] and holy is the one who shares in the first resurrection. The second death has no power over these; they will be priests of God and of Christ, and they will reign with him for [the] thousand years.

^7 [er]When the thousand years are completed, Satan will be released from his prison. ⁸ He will go out to deceive the nations at the four corners of the earth, Gog and Magog,^[es] to gather them for battle; their number is like the sand of the sea.^{(ED) 9} They invaded the breadth of the earth^[et] and surrounded the camp of the holy ones and the beloved city. But fire came down from heaven and consumed them.^{(EE) 10} The Devil who had led them astray was thrown into the pool of fire and sulfur, where the beast and the false prophet were. There they will be tormented day and night forever and ever.

The Large White Throne.^{[eu] 11} Next I saw a large white throne and the one who was sitting on it. The earth and the sky fled from his presence and there was no place for them.^{(EF) 12} I saw the dead, the great and the lowly, standing before the throne, and scrolls were opened. Then another scroll was opened, the book of life.^[ev] The dead were judged according to their deeds, by what was written in the scrolls.^{(EG) 13} The sea gave up its dead; then Death and Hades^[ew] gave up their dead. All the dead were judged according to their deeds. ^14 (EH)Then Death and Hades were thrown into the pool of fire. (This pool of fire is the second death.^[ex]) ¹⁵ Anyone whose name was not found written in the book of life was thrown into the pool of fire.

VI. The New Creation^[ey]

Chapter 21

The New Heaven and the New Earth. ^1 (EI)Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth. The former heaven and the former earth had passed away, and the sea was no more.^{[ez] 2} I also saw the holy city, a new Jerusalem,^[fa] coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband.^{(EJ) 3} I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, “Behold, God’s dwelling is with the human race.^(EK) He will dwell with them and they will be his people^[fb] and God himself will always be with them [as their God].^{[fc] 4} He will wipe every tear from their eyes, and there shall be no more death or mourning, wailing or pain, [for] the old order has passed away.”^(EL)

⁵ The one who sat on the throne^[fd] said, “Behold, I make all things new.” Then he said, “Write these words down, for they are trustworthy and true.”^{(EM) 6} He said to me, “They are accomplished.^[fe] I [am] the Alpha and the Omega, the beginning and the end. To the thirsty I will give a gift from the spring of life-giving water.^{(EN) 7} The victor^[ff] will inherit these gifts, and I shall be his God, and he will be my son.^{(EO) 8} But as for cowards,^[fg] the unfaithful, the depraved, murderers, the unchaste, sorcerers, idol-worshipers, and deceivers of every sort, their lot is in the burning pool of fire and sulfur, which is the second death.”^(EP)

The New Jerusalem.^{[fh] 9} One of the seven angels who held the seven bowls filled with the seven last plagues came and said to me, “Come here. I will show you the bride, the wife of the Lamb.”^{[fi] 10} He took me in spirit to a great, high mountain and showed me the holy city Jerusalem coming down out of heaven from God.^{(EQ) 11} It gleamed with the splendor of God. Its radiance was like that of a precious stone, like jasper, clear as crystal.^{(ER) 12} It had a massive, high wall, with twelve gates where twelve angels were stationed and on which names were inscribed, [the names] of the twelve tribes of the Israelites. ¹³ There were three gates facing east, three north, three south, and three west.^{(ES) 14} The wall of the city had twelve courses of stones as its foundation, on which were inscribed the twelve names of the twelve apostles^[fj] of the Lamb.^(ET)

^15 [fk]The one who spoke to me held a gold measuring rod to measure the city, its gates, and its wall. ¹⁶ The city was square, its length the same as [also] its width. He measured the city with the rod and found it fifteen hundred miles^[fl] in length and width and height. ¹⁷ He also measured its wall: one hundred and forty-four cubits^[fm] according to the standard unit of measurement the angel used. ^18 [fn]The wall was constructed of jasper, while the city was pure gold, clear as glass. ¹⁹ The foundations of the city wall were decorated with every precious stone; the first course of stones was jasper, the second sapphire, the third chalcedony, the fourth emerald,^{(EU) 20} the fifth sardonyx, the sixth carnelian, the seventh chrysolite, the eighth beryl, the ninth topaz, the tenth chrysoprase, the eleventh hyacinth, and the twelfth amethyst. ²¹ The twelve gates were twelve pearls, each of the gates made from a single pearl; and the street of the city was of pure gold, transparent as glass.

^22 [fo](EV)I saw no temple in the city, for its temple is the Lord God almighty and the Lamb. ^23 [fp]The city had no need of sun or moon to shine on it,^(EW) for the glory of God gave it light, and its lamp was the Lamb. ²⁴ The nations will walk by its light,^[fq] and to it the kings of the earth will bring their treasure.^{(EX) 25} During the day its gates will never be shut, and there will be no night there. ²⁶ The treasure and wealth of the nations will be brought there, ²⁷ but nothing unclean will enter it, nor any[one] who does abominable things or tells lies. Only those will enter whose names are written in the Lamb’s book of life.^(EY)

Chapter 22

¹ Then the angel showed me the river of life-giving water,^[fr] sparkling like crystal, flowing from the throne of God and of the Lamb^{(EZ) 2} down the middle of its street. On either side of the river grew the tree of life^[fs] that produces fruit twelve times a year, once each month; the leaves of the trees serve as medicine for the nations. ³ Nothing accursed will be found there anymore. The throne of God and of the Lamb will be in it, and his servants will worship him. ⁴ They will look upon his face,^[ft] and his name will be on their foreheads. ⁵ Night will be no more, nor will they need light from lamp or sun, for the Lord God shall give them light, and they shall reign forever and ever.^(FA)

VII. Epilogue^[fu]

⁶ And he said to me, “These words are trustworthy and true, and the Lord, the God of prophetic spirits, sent his angel to show his servants what must happen soon.”^{(FB) 7 [fv]}“Behold, I am coming soon.”^[fw] Blessed is the one who keeps the prophetic message of this book.^(FC)

⁸ It is I, John, who heard and saw these things, and when I heard and saw them I fell down to worship at the feet of the angel who showed them to me. ⁹ But he said to me, “Don’t! I am a fellow servant of yours and of your brothers the prophets and of those who keep the message of this book. Worship God.”^(FD)

¹⁰ Then he said to me, “Do not seal up the prophetic words of this book, for the appointed time^[fx] is near. ¹¹ Let the wicked still act wickedly, and the filthy still be filthy. The righteous must still do right, and the holy still be holy.”

¹² “Behold, I am coming soon. I bring with me the recompense I will give to each according to his deeds.^{(FE) 13} I am the Alpha and the Omega,^(FF) the first and the last, the beginning and the end.”^[fy]

¹⁴ Blessed are they who wash their robes so as to have the right to the tree of life and enter the city^[fz] through its gates.^{(FG) 15} Outside are the dogs, the sorcerers, the unchaste, the murderers, the idol-worshipers, and all who love and practice deceit.^(FH)

¹⁶ “I, Jesus, sent my angel to give you this testimony for the churches. I am the root and offspring of David,^[ga] the bright morning star.”^(FI)

¹⁷ The Spirit and the bride^[gb] say, “Come.” Let the hearer say, “Come.” Let the one who thirsts come forward, and the one who wants it receive the gift of life-giving water.^(FJ)

¹⁸ I warn everyone who hears the prophetic words in this book: if anyone adds to them, God will add to him the plagues described in this book, ¹⁹ and if anyone takes away from the words in this prophetic book, God will take away his share in the tree of life and in the holy city described in this book.^(FK)

^20 [gc](FL)The one who gives this testimony says, “Yes, I am coming soon.” Amen! Come, Lord Jesus!

²¹ The grace of the Lord Jesus be with all.