Bible in 90 Days
Address and Greeting. 1 [a]Jude, a slave of Jesus Christ and brother of James, to those who are called, beloved in God the Father and kept safe for Jesus Christ:(A) 2 may mercy, peace, and love be yours in abundance.(B)
Occasion for Writing. 3 Beloved, although I was making every effort to write to you about our common salvation,[b] I now feel a need to write to encourage you to contend for the faith that was once for all handed down to the holy ones.(C) 4 For there have been some intruders, who long ago were designated for this condemnation, godless persons, who pervert the grace of our God into licentiousness and who deny our only Master and Lord, Jesus Christ.(D)
The False Teachers. 5 (E)I wish to remind you, although you know all things, that [the] Lord who once saved a people from the land of Egypt later destroyed those who did not believe.[c] 6 (F)The angels too, who did not keep to their own domain but deserted their proper dwelling, he has kept in eternal chains, in gloom, for the judgment of the great day.[d] 7 Likewise, Sodom, Gomorrah, and the surrounding towns, which, in the same manner as they, indulged in sexual promiscuity and practiced unnatural vice,[e] serve as an example by undergoing a punishment of eternal fire.(G)
8 Similarly, these dreamers[f] nevertheless also defile the flesh, scorn lordship, and revile glorious beings. 9 Yet the archangel Michael, when he argued with the devil in a dispute over the body of Moses, did not venture to pronounce a reviling judgment[g] upon him but said, “May the Lord rebuke you!”(H) 10 But these people revile what they do not understand and are destroyed by what they know by nature like irrational animals.(I) 11 Woe to them!(J) They followed the way of Cain, abandoned themselves to Balaam’s error for the sake of gain, and perished in the rebellion of Korah.[h] 12 These are blemishes on your love feasts,[i] as they carouse fearlessly and look after themselves. They are waterless clouds blown about by winds, fruitless trees in late autumn, twice dead and uprooted.(K) 13 They are like wild waves of the sea, foaming up their shameless deeds, wandering stars for whom the gloom of darkness has been reserved forever.
14 [j]Enoch, of the seventh generation from Adam, prophesied also about them when he said,(L) “Behold, the Lord has come with his countless holy ones 15 to execute judgment on all and to convict everyone for all the godless deeds that they committed and for all the harsh words godless sinners have uttered against him.” 16 These people are complainers, disgruntled ones who live by their desires; their mouths utter bombast as they fawn over people to gain advantage.(M)
Exhortations. 17 But you, beloved, remember the words spoken beforehand by the apostles of our Lord Jesus Christ,(N) 18 for they told you,(O) “In [the] last time there will be scoffers who will live according to their own godless desires.”[k] 19 These are the ones who cause divisions; they live on the natural plane, devoid of the Spirit.(P) 20 But you, beloved, build yourselves up in your most holy faith; pray in the holy Spirit.(Q) 21 Keep yourselves in the love of God and wait for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ that leads to eternal life.(R) 22 On those who waver, have mercy;[l] 23 save others by snatching them out of the fire; on others have mercy with fear,[m] abhorring even the outer garment stained by the flesh.
Doxology.[n] 24 To the one who is able to keep you from stumbling and to present you unblemished and exultant, in the presence of his glory,(S) 25 to the only God, our savior, through Jesus Christ our Lord be glory, majesty, power, and authority from ages past, now, and for ages to come. Amen.(T)
I. Prologue[o]
Chapter 1
1 The revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave to him, to show his servants what must happen soon. He made it known by sending his angel to his servant John,(U) 2 who gives witness to the word of God and to the testimony of Jesus Christ by reporting what he saw. 3 Blessed is the one[p] who reads aloud and blessed are those who listen to this prophetic message and heed what is written in it, for the appointed time is near.(V)
II. Letters to the Churches of Asia
Greeting.[q] 4 John, to the seven churches in Asia:[r] grace to you and peace from him who is and who was and who is to come, and from the seven spirits before his throne,(W) 5 and from Jesus Christ, the faithful witness, the firstborn of the dead and ruler of the kings of the earth. To him who loves us and has freed us[s] from our sins by his blood,(X) 6 who has made us into a kingdom, priests for his God and Father, to him be glory and power forever [and ever]. Amen.(Y)
7 Behold, he is coming amid the clouds,
and every eye will see him,
even those who pierced him.
All the peoples of the earth will lament him.
Yes. Amen.(Z)
8 “I am the Alpha and the Omega,”[t] says the Lord God, “the one who is and who was and who is to come, the almighty.”(AA)
The First Vision.[u] 9 I, John, your brother, who share with you the distress, the kingdom, and the endurance we have in Jesus, found myself on the island called Patmos[v] because I proclaimed God’s word and gave testimony to Jesus. 10 I was caught up in spirit on the Lord’s day[w] and heard behind me a voice as loud as a trumpet, 11 which said, “Write on a scroll[x] what you see and send it to the seven churches: to Ephesus, Smyrna, Pergamum, Thyatira, Sardis, Philadelphia, and Laodicea.” 12 [y]Then I turned to see whose voice it was that spoke to me, and when I turned, I saw seven gold lampstands 13 and in the midst of the lampstands one like a son of man,[z] wearing an ankle-length robe, with a gold sash around his chest.(AB) 14 The hair of his head was as white as white wool or as snow,[aa] and his eyes were like a fiery flame. 15 His feet were like polished brass refined in a furnace,[ab] and his voice was like the sound of rushing water. 16 In his right hand he held seven stars.[ac] A sharp two-edged sword came out of his mouth, and his face shone like the sun at its brightest.(AC)
17 When I caught sight of him, I fell down at his feet as though dead.[ad] He touched me with his right hand and said, “Do not be afraid. I am the first and the last,(AD) 18 the one who lives. Once I was dead, but now I am alive forever and ever. I hold the keys to death and the netherworld.[ae] 19 Write down, therefore, what you have seen, and what is happening, and what will happen afterwards.[af] 20 This is the secret meaning[ag] of the seven stars you saw in my right hand, and of the seven gold lampstands: the seven stars are the angels of the seven churches, and the seven lampstands are the seven churches.
Chapter 2
To Ephesus. 1 [ah]“To the angel of the church[ai] in Ephesus,[aj] write this:
“‘The one who holds the seven stars in his right hand and walks in the midst of the seven gold lampstands says this: 2 “I know your works, your labor, and your endurance, and that you cannot tolerate the wicked; you have tested those who call themselves apostles but are not, and discovered that they are impostors.[ak] 3 Moreover, you have endurance and have suffered for my name, and you have not grown weary. 4 Yet I hold this against you: you have lost the love you had at first. 5 Realize how far you have fallen. Repent, and do the works you did at first. Otherwise, I will come to you and remove your lampstand from its place, unless you repent. 6 But you have this in your favor: you hate the works of the Nicolaitans,[al] which I also hate.
7 “‘“Whoever has ears ought to hear what the Spirit says to the churches. To the victor[am] I will give the right to eat from the tree of life that is in the garden of God.”’(AE)
To Smyrna.[an] 8 “To the angel of the church in Smyrna,[ao] write this:
“‘The first and the last, who once died but came to life, says this: 9 “I know your tribulation and poverty, but you are rich.[ap] I know the slander of those who claim to be Jews and are not, but rather are members of the assembly of Satan.(AF) 10 Do not be afraid of anything that you are going to suffer. Indeed, the devil will throw some of you into prison, that you may be tested, and you will face an ordeal for ten days. Remain faithful until death, and I will give you the crown of life.
11 “‘“Whoever has ears ought to hear what the Spirit says to the churches.(AG) The victor shall not be harmed by the second death.”’[aq]
To Pergamum.[ar] 12 “To the angel of the church in Pergamum,[as] write this:
“‘The one with the sharp two-edged sword says this: 13 “I know that you live where Satan’s throne[at] is, and yet you hold fast to my name and have not denied your faith in me, not even in the days of Antipas, my faithful witness, who was martyred among you, where Satan lives. 14 [au]Yet I have a few things against you. You have some people there who hold to the teaching of Balaam, who instructed Balak to put a stumbling block before the Israelites: to eat food sacrificed to idols and to play the harlot.(AH) 15 Likewise, you also have some people who hold to the teaching of [the] Nicolaitans. 16 Therefore, repent. Otherwise, I will come to you quickly and wage war against them with the sword of my mouth.
17 “‘“Whoever has ears ought to hear what the Spirit says to the churches. To the victor I shall give some of the hidden manna;[av] I shall also give a white amulet upon which is inscribed a new name, which no one knows except the one who receives it.”’(AI)
To Thyatira.[aw] 18 “To the angel of the church in Thyatira,[ax] write this:
“‘The Son of God, whose eyes are like a fiery flame and whose feet are like polished brass, says this: 19 “I know your works, your love, faith, service, and endurance, and that your last works are greater than the first. 20 Yet I hold this against you, that you tolerate the woman Jezebel, who calls herself a prophetess, who teaches and misleads my servants to play the harlot and to eat food sacrificed to idols.[ay] 21 I have given her time to repent, but she refuses to repent of her harlotry. 22 So I will cast her on a sickbed and plunge those who commit adultery with her into intense suffering unless they repent of her works. 23 I will also put her children[az] to death. Thus shall all the churches come to know that I am the searcher of hearts and minds and that I will give each of you what your works deserve.(AJ) 24 But I say to the rest of you in Thyatira, who do not uphold this teaching and know nothing of the so-called deep secrets of Satan:[ba] on you I will place no further burden, 25 except that you must hold fast to what you have until I come.
26 “‘“To the victor,[bb] who keeps to my ways[bc] until the end,
I will give authority over the nations.(AK)
27 He will rule them with an iron rod.
Like clay vessels will they be smashed,
28 just as I received authority from my Father. And to him I will give the morning star.
29 “‘“Whoever has ears ought to hear what the Spirit says to the churches.”’
Chapter 3
To Sardis.[bd] 1 “To the angel of the church in Sardis,[be] write this:
“‘The one who has the seven spirits of God and the seven stars says this: “I know your works, that you have the reputation of being alive, but you are dead. 2 Be watchful and strengthen what is left, which is going to die, for I have not found your works complete in the sight of my God. 3 Remember then how you accepted and heard; keep it, and repent. If you are not watchful, I will come like a thief, and you will never know at what hour I will come upon you.(AL) 4 However, you have a few people in Sardis who have not soiled their garments; they will walk with me dressed in white, because they are worthy.(AM)
5 “‘“The victor will thus be dressed in white,[bf] and I will never erase his name from the book of life but will acknowledge his name in the presence of my Father and of his angels.(AN)
6 “‘“Whoever has ears ought to hear what the Spirit says to the churches.”’
To Philadelphia.[bg] 7 “To the angel of the church in Philadelphia,[bh] write this:
“‘The holy one, the true,
who holds the key of David,
who opens and no one shall close,
who closes and no one shall open,(AO)
says this:
8 “‘“I know your works (behold, I have left an open door[bi] before you, which no one can close). You have limited strength, and yet you have kept my word and have not denied my name. 9 Behold, I will make those of the assembly of Satan who claim to be Jews and are not, but are lying, behold I will make them come and fall prostrate at your feet, and they will realize that I love you.(AP) 10 Because you have kept my message of endurance,[bj] I will keep you safe in the time of trial that is going to come to the whole world to test the inhabitants of the earth. 11 I am coming quickly. Hold fast to what you have, so that no one may take your crown.(AQ)
12 “‘“The victor I will make into a pillar[bk] in the temple of my God, and he will never leave it again. On him I will inscribe the name of my God and the name of the city of my God, the new Jerusalem, which comes down out of heaven from my God, as well as my new name.(AR)
13 “‘“Whoever has ears ought to hear what the Spirit says to the churches.”’
To Laodicea.[bl] 14 “To the angel of the church in Laodicea,[bm] write this:
“‘The Amen, the faithful and true witness, the source of God’s creation, says this:(AS) 15 “I know your works; I know that you are neither cold nor hot.[bn] I wish you were either cold or hot. 16 [bo]So, because you are lukewarm, neither hot nor cold, I will spit you out of my mouth. 17 [bp](AT)For you say, ‘I am rich and affluent and have no need of anything,’ and yet do not realize that you are wretched, pitiable, poor, blind, and naked. 18 I advise you to buy from me gold refined by fire[bq] so that you may be rich, and white garments to put on so that your shameful nakedness may not be exposed, and buy ointment to smear on your eyes so that you may see. 19 Those whom I love, I reprove and chastise. Be earnest, therefore, and repent.(AU)
20 “‘“Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, [then] I will enter his house and dine with him, and he with me.[br] 21 I will give the victor the right to sit with me on my throne, as I myself first won the victory and sit with my Father on his throne.(AV)
22 “‘“Whoever has ears ought to hear what the Spirit says to the churches.”’”
III. God and the Lamb in Heaven
Chapter 4
Vision of Heavenly Worship.[bs] 1 After this I had a vision of an open door[bt] to heaven, and I heard the trumpetlike voice that had spoken to me before, saying, “Come up here and I will show you what must happen afterwards.” 2 [bu]At once I was caught up in spirit.(AW) A throne was there in heaven, and on the throne sat 3 one whose appearance sparkled like jasper and carnelian. Around the throne was a halo as brilliant as an emerald. 4 Surrounding the throne I saw twenty-four other thrones on which twenty-four elders[bv] sat, dressed in white garments and with gold crowns on their heads.(AX) 5 From the throne came flashes of lightning, rumblings, and peals of thunder.[bw] Seven flaming torches burned in front of the throne, which are the seven spirits of God. 6 (AY)In front of the throne was something that resembled a sea of glass like crystal.[bx]
In the center and around the throne, there were four living creatures covered with eyes in front and in back. 7 The first creature resembled a lion, the second was like a calf, the third had a face like that of a human being, and the fourth looked like an eagle[by] in flight. 8 The four living creatures, each of them with six wings,[bz] were covered with eyes inside and out. Day and night they do not stop exclaiming:
“Holy, holy, holy is the Lord God almighty,
who was, and who is, and who is to come.”(AZ)
9 Whenever the living creatures give glory and honor and thanks to the one who sits on the throne, who lives forever and ever, 10 the twenty-four elders fall down before the one who sits on the throne and worship him, who lives forever and ever. They throw down their crowns before the throne, exclaiming:
11 “Worthy are you, Lord our God,
to receive glory and honor and power,
for you created all things;
because of your will they came to be and were created.”(BA)
Chapter 5
The Scroll and the Lamb.[ca] 1 I saw a scroll[cb] in the right hand of the one who sat on the throne. It had writing on both sides and was sealed with seven seals.(BB) 2 Then I saw a mighty angel who proclaimed in a loud voice, “Who is worthy to open the scroll and break its seals?” 3 But no one in heaven or on earth or under the earth was able to open the scroll or to examine it. 4 I shed many tears because no one was found worthy to open the scroll or to examine it. 5 One of the elders said to me, “Do not weep. The lion of the tribe of Judah, the root of David,[cc] has triumphed, enabling him to open the scroll with its seven seals.”(BC)
6 Then I saw standing in the midst of the throne and the four living creatures and the elders a Lamb[cd] that seemed to have been slain. He had seven horns and seven eyes; these are the [seven] spirits of God sent out into the whole world.(BD) 7 He came and received the scroll from the right hand of the one who sat on the throne. 8 When he took it, the four living creatures and the twenty-four elders fell down before the Lamb. Each of the elders held a harp and gold bowls filled with incense, which are the prayers of the holy ones. 9 They sang a new hymn:
“Worthy are you to receive the scroll
and to break open its seals,
for you were slain and with your blood you purchased for God
those from every tribe and tongue, people and nation.
10 You made them a kingdom and priests for our God,
and they will reign on earth.”(BE)
11 I looked again and heard the voices of many angels who surrounded the throne and the living creatures and the elders. They were countless[ce] in number,(BF) 12 and they cried out in a loud voice:
“Worthy is the Lamb that was slain
to receive power and riches, wisdom and strength,
honor and glory and blessing.”
13 Then I heard every creature in heaven and on earth and under the earth and in the sea, everything in the universe, cry out:
“To the one who sits on the throne and to the Lamb
be blessing and honor, glory and might,
forever and ever.”
14 The four living creatures answered, “Amen,” and the elders fell down and worshiped.
IV. The Seven Seals, Trumpets, and Plagues, with Interludes[cf]
Chapter 6[cg]
The First Six Seals. 1 [ch]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.[ci] He was given a crown, and he rode forth victorious to further his victories.(BG)
3 When he broke open the second seal, I heard the second living creature cry out, “Come forward.” 4 [cj](BH)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,[ck] 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,[cl] and three rations of barley cost a day’s pay. But do not damage the olive oil or the wine.”(BI)
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[cm] 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.(BJ)
9 When he broke open the fifth seal, I saw underneath the altar[cn] 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,[co] 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 [cp]Then I watched while he broke open the sixth seal, and there was a great earthquake; the sun turned as black as dark sackcloth[cq] and the whole moon became like blood.(BK) 13 The stars in the sky fell to the earth like unripe figs[cr] shaken loose from the tree in a strong wind. 14 Then the sky was divided[cs] like a torn scroll curling up, and every mountain and island was moved from its place.(BL) 15 The kings of the earth, the nobles,[ct] 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,(BM) 17 because the great day of their[cu] wrath has come and who can withstand it?”
Chapter 7[cv]
The 144,000 Sealed. 1 After this I saw four angels standing at the four corners of the earth,[cw] holding back the four winds of the earth so that no wind could blow on land or sea or against any tree.(BN) 2 Then I saw another angel come up from the East,[cx] 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.”(BO) 4 I heard the number of those who had been marked with the seal, one hundred and forty-four thousand marked[cy] from every tribe of the Israelites:(BP) 5 twelve thousand were marked from the tribe of Judah,[cz] 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[da] in their hands. 10 They cried out in a loud voice:
“Salvation comes from[db] our God, who is seated on the throne,
and from the Lamb.”
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:
“Amen. Blessing and glory, wisdom and thanksgiving,
honor, power, and might
be to our God forever and ever. Amen.”
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;[dc] they have washed their robes and made them white in the blood of the Lamb.(BQ)
15 “For this reason they stand before God’s throne
and worship him day and night in his temple.
The one who sits on the throne will shelter them.
16 They will not hunger or thirst anymore,
nor will the sun or any heat strike them.(BR)
17 For the Lamb who is in the center of the throne will shepherd them
and lead them to springs of life-giving water,[dd]
and God will wipe away every tear from their eyes.”(BS)
Chapter 8[de]
The Seven Trumpets. 1 When he broke open the seventh seal, there was silence in heaven[df] for about half an hour.(BT) 2 And I saw that the seven angels who stood before God were given seven trumpets.(BU)
The Gold Censer. 3 Another angel came and stood at the altar,[dg] 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.(BV) 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.(BW)
The First Four Trumpets. 6 The seven angels who were holding the seven trumpets prepared to blow them.(BX)
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.[dh]
8 [di]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,(BY) 9 a third of the creatures living in the sea[dj] 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.(BZ) 11 The star was called “Wormwood,”[dk] and a third of all the water turned to wormwood. Many people died from this water, because it was made bitter.(CA)
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.(CB)
13 Then I looked again and heard an eagle flying high overhead cry out in a loud voice, “Woe! Woe! Woe[dl] 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.[dm] 1 Then the fifth angel blew his trumpet, and I saw a star[dn] 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,(CC) 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.(CD) 3 Locusts came out of the smoke onto the land, and they were given the same power as scorpions[do] of the earth.(CE) 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;[dp] 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.(CF)
7 [dq]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,(CG) 8 and they had hair like women’s hair. Their teeth were like lions’ teeth,(CH) 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[dr] and in Greek Apollyon.
12 The first woe has passed, but there are two more to come.
The Sixth Trumpet.[ds] 13 Then the sixth angel blew his trumpet, and I heard a voice coming from the [four][dt] horns of the gold altar before God,(CI) 14 telling the sixth angel who held the trumpet, “Release the four angels[du] 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,[dv] and the horses’ heads were like heads of lions, and out of their mouths came fire, smoke, and sulfur.(CJ) 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,[dw] to give up the worship of demons and idols made from gold, silver, bronze, stone, and wood, which cannot see or hear or walk.(CK) 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 [dx]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,[dy] 3 and then he cried out in a loud voice as a lion roars. When he cried out, the seven thunders[dz] raised their voices, too.(CL) 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[ea] and all that is in them, “There shall be no more delay.(CM) 7 At the time when you hear the seventh angel blow his trumpet, the mysterious plan of God[eb] shall be fulfilled, as he promised to his servants the prophets.”(CN)
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[ec] 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.(CO) 11 Then someone said to me, “You must prophesy again about many peoples, nations, tongues, and kings.”[ed]
Chapter 11
The Two Witnesses. 1 [ee](CP)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[ef] 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[eg] to prophesy for those twelve hundred and sixty days, wearing sackcloth.” 4 (CQ)These are the two olive trees and the two lampstands[eh] that stand before the Lord of the earth. 5 [ei]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.(CR)
7 When they have finished their testimony, the beast that comes up from the abyss[ej] will wage war against them and conquer them and kill them.(CS) 8 Their corpses will lie in the main street of the great city,[ek] which has the symbolic names “Sodom” and “Egypt,” where indeed their Lord was crucified. 9 [el]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.(CT) 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.(CU) 13 At that moment there was a great earthquake, and a tenth of the city fell in ruins. Seven thousand people[em] 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.[en] 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:
“We give thanks to you, Lord God almighty,
who are and who were.
For you have assumed your great power
and have established your reign.
18 The nations raged,
but your wrath has come,
and the time for the dead to be judged,
and to recompense your servants, the prophets,
and the holy ones and those who fear your name,
the small and the great alike,
and to destroy those who destroy the earth.”(CV)
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 [eo]A great sign appeared in the sky, a woman[ep] clothed with the sun, with the moon under her feet, and on her head a crown of twelve stars.(CW) 2 She was with child and wailed aloud in pain as she labored to give birth.[eq] 3 Then another sign appeared in the sky; it was a huge red dragon,[er] with seven heads and ten horns, and on its heads were seven diadems.(CX) 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.(CY) 5 She gave birth to a son, a male child, destined to rule all the nations with an iron rod.[es] Her child was caught up to God and his throne.(CZ) 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.[et]
7 [eu]Then war broke out in heaven; Michael[ev] 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,[ew] 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.(DA)
10 Then I heard a loud voice in heaven say:
“Now have salvation and power come,
and the kingdom of our God
and the authority of his Anointed.
For the accuser[ex] of our brothers is cast out,
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;
love for life did not deter them from death.
12 Therefore, rejoice, you heavens,
and you who dwell in them.
But woe to you, earth and sea,
for the Devil has come down to you in great fury,
for he knows he has but a short time.”
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.(DB) 14 But the woman was given the two wings of the great eagle,[ey] 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.(DC) 15 The serpent,[ez] 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.[fa](DD) 18 It took its position[fb] on the sand of the sea.
Chapter 13
The First Beast.[fc] 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].(DE) 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.[fd](DF) 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.[fe] 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[ff] and said, “Who can compare with the beast or who can fight against it?”
5 [fg]The beast was given a mouth uttering proud boasts and blasphemies,(DG) and it was given authority to act for forty-two months.[fh] 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.(DH) 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.(DI)
9 Whoever has ears ought to hear these words.(DJ)
10 Anyone destined for captivity goes into captivity.
Anyone destined to be slain by the sword shall be slain by the sword.(DK)
Such is the faithful endurance of the holy ones.
The Second Beast.[fi] 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.(DL) 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.(DM) 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,(DN) 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 [fj](DO)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.[fk] 1 Then I looked and there was the Lamb standing on Mount Zion,[fl] and with him a hundred and forty-four thousand who had his name and his Father’s name written on their foreheads.(DP) 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.(DQ) 4 These are they who were not defiled with women; they are virgins[fm] 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.(DR) 5 On their lips no deceit[fn] has been found; they are unblemished.(DS)
The Three Angels.[fo] 6 Then I saw another angel flying high overhead, with everlasting good news[fp] 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.”(DT)
8 A second angel followed, saying:
“Fallen, fallen is Babylon the great,(DU)
that made all the nations drink
the wine of her licentious passion.”[fq]
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,[fr] 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.”(DV) 12 Here is what sustains the holy ones who keep God’s commandments(DW) and their faith in Jesus.[fs]
13 (DX)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.”[ft]
The Harvest of the Earth.[fu] 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.(DY) 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.”(DZ) 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,[fv] [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.(EA) 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.[fw]
Chapter 15
The Seven Last Plagues. 1 [fx]Then I saw in heaven another sign,[fy] 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.[fz] 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,(EB) 3 and they sang the song of Moses,[ga] the servant of God, and the song of the Lamb:
“Great and wonderful are your works,
Lord God almighty.
Just and true are your ways,
O king of the nations.(EC)
4 Who will not fear you, Lord,
or glorify your name?
For you alone are holy.
All the nations will come
and worship before you,
for your righteous acts have been revealed.”(ED)
5 [gb]After this I had another vision. The temple that is the heavenly tent of testimony[gc] 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.(EE) 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.(EF)
Chapter 16
The Seven Bowls.[gd] 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.[ge]
3 [gf]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.(EG) 5 Then I heard the angel in charge of the waters say:
“You are just, O Holy One,
who are and who were,
in passing this sentence.(EH)
6 For they have shed the blood of the holy ones and the prophets,
and you [have] given them blood to drink;
it is what they deserve.”(EI)
7 Then I heard the altar cry out,
“Yes, Lord God almighty,
your judgments are true and just.”(EJ)
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.(EK)
10 (EL)The fifth angel poured out his bowl on the throne of the beast.[gg] 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.(EM)
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.[gh] 13 I saw three unclean spirits like frogs[gi] come from the mouth of the dragon, from the mouth of the beast, and from the mouth of the false prophet.(EN) 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.(EO) 15 (“Behold, I am coming like a thief.”[gj] Blessed is the one who watches and keeps his clothes ready, so that he may not go naked and people see him exposed.)(EP) 16 They then assembled the kings in the place that is named Armageddon[gk] 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.”(EQ) 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.(ER) 19 The great city[gl] 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 [gm]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.(ES)
V. The Punishment of Babylon and the Destruction of Pagan Nations
Chapter 17
Babylon the Great. 1 [gn]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[go] who lives near the many waters.(ET) 2 [gp]The kings of the earth have had intercourse with her,(EU) 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[gq] that was covered with blasphemous names, with seven heads and ten horns.(EV) 4 The woman was wearing purple and scarlet and adorned with gold, precious stones, and pearls.(EW) 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 [gr]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.[gs] 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 [gt](EX)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[gu] for one who has wisdom. The seven heads represent seven hills upon which the woman sits. They also represent seven kings:(EY) 10 five have already fallen, one still lives, and the last has not yet come,[gv] and when he comes he must remain only a short while. 11 The beast[gw] 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;[gx] they will receive royal authority along with the beast for one hour.(EZ) 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.”(FA)
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[gy] 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.(FB) 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.”
Scripture texts, prefaces, introductions, footnotes and cross references used in this work are taken from the New American Bible, revised edition © 2010, 1991, 1986, 1970 Confraternity of Christian Doctrine, Inc., Washington, DC All Rights Reserved. No part of this work may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, or by any information storage and retrieval system, without permission in writing from the copyright owner.