Chapter: 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22
INTRODUCTION
1 This is the revelation of Jesus Christ which God gave to John in order to show to his servants what must happen soon. 2 He sent his Angel and disclosed it to his Apostle John who proclaimed the divine Gospel and told the story of Jesus Christ as an eye-witness. 3 Blessed is the man who reads these prophecies. Blessed are all those who listen to them and obey the commandments contained in them. For the appointed time is drawing near.
GREETINGS
4 John, to the seven Churches in Asia. Grace and peace to you from the eternal God, who is, who was, and who will manifest himself; from the Seven Spirits before his throne; 5 and from Jesus Christ, the expounder of the true faith, the pioneer of the resurrection, and the ruler of the kings of the earth. He loved us. He redeemed us from our sins with his blood. 6 He gave us the Kingdom of Heaven. He consecrated us as priests of God the Father. Glory and dominion to him forever and ever. Amen. 7 Listen, he is coming from the clouds. He will be manifested to every eye. He will be seen by those who pierced him on the Cross. He will bring consternation to all the nations of the earth. Yes, indeed. Amen.
8 I am the Alpha and the Omega, the beginning and the end of all the world. So says the Lord, the Almighty God, who is, who was, and who will manifest himself.
THE VISION
9 I, John, your brother and your companion in the affliction, in the Kingdom, and in the patient endurance which Jesus brings, was preaching the Gospel and testifying to the Lord in the Island of Patmos. 10 On Sunday I fell into a trance and I heard a loud voice like a trumpet behind me, 11 saying: “Write in a scroll what you see and send it to the Seven Churches, namely to Ephesus, Smyrna, Pergamum, Thyatira, Sardis, Philadelphia, and Laodicea.”
THE MESSIAH
12 When I turned to find out whose voice was speaking to me, I saw seven golden lampstands, 13 and in the midst of them a man wearing a long robe, with a golden belt around his breast. 14 His head and hair were as white as wool, as white as snow. His eyes blazed like fire. 15 His feet were like burnished bronze, refined in a furnace. His voice resounded like a cataract of mighty waters. 16 In his right hand he held seven stars. From his mouth issued a double-edged sword. His face was shining like the sun at noonday.
17 When I saw him, I fell like a dead man at his feet. But he laid his hand upon me, and said: “Do not be afraid. I am the first and the last. 18 I am the living one. I was dead, but here I am alive forever and ever. I am holding the keys of death and Hades. 19 So write what you see, what is now, and what will happen hereafter. 20 The seven stars which you saw in my right hand are the Bishops of the Seven Churches. The seven lampstands are the Seven Churches themselves.
TO THE CHURCH OF EPHESUS
1 “Write to the Bishop of the Church in Ephesus: ‘This is the Lord who holds the seven stars in his right hand and walks in the midst of the seven lampstands. 2 I know your achievements, your toil, and your patient endurance. You cannot tolerate wicked men. You have tested those who claimed to be Apostles and have found them to be impostors. You showed endurance. 3 You have undergone many sufferings for my sake, and you have not grown weary. 4 But I have this complaint against you: Your love is not as strong as it was at first. 5 So remember that you have fallen. Therefore repent and do the works you did at first. If you do not repent, I will come to you and take away your lampstand. 6 Yet I must give you credit, because you hate the Nicolaitans as I do. 7 Whoever has an ear let him hear what the Holy Spirit says to the Churches. I will reward the victor with the fruit of the tree of life which is in the Paradise of God.'”
TO THE CHURCH OF SMYRNA
8 “Write to the Bishop of the Church in Smyrna: ‘This is the message of the Lord, who is the first and the last, who died and has risen: 9 I know your afflictions, your poverty which makes you rich, and the slanders of those who claim to be Jews but are not. For they belong to the synagogue of Satan. 10 Do not be afraid of what you are going to suffer. Indeed, the devil will throw some of you into prison to test you, and you will be tortured for ten days. But be steadfast unto death, and I will give you the crown of life. 11 Whoever has an ear let him hear what the Holy Spirit says to the Churches. The victor will not be hurt by the second death.'”
TO THE CHURCH OF PERGAMUM
12 “Write to the Bishop of the Church in Pergamum: ‘This is the message of the Lord who wields the sharp double-edged sword: 13 I know that you live in the capital of Satan. You are loyal to my name. You did not deny my faith even in the days of Antipas, my faithful martyr, who was murdered before your eyes in the city where Satan reigns. 14 But I have a few complaints against you. You have among you some adherents of the heresy of Balaam. He taught Balak how to lure the children of Israel into eating pagan sacrificial meat and into participating in abominable orgies. 15 You also have some adherents of the heresy of the Nicolaitans. 16 Repent. Otherwise, I will come to you quickly and fight them with the double-edged sword of my mouth. 17 Whoever has an ear let him hear what the Holy Spirit says to the Churches. I will reward the victor with the sacred manna, and I will give him a white ballot with a new name written on it which no one can read except the recipient.'”
TO THE CHURCH OF THYATIRA
18 “Write to the Bishop of the Church in Thyatira: ‘This is the message of the Son of God, whose eyes blaze like fire, and whose feet glow like burnished bronze. 19 I know your achievements, your love, your loyalty, your helpfulness, and your endurance. I also know that you are now doing more than you did at first. 20 But I have this complaint against you: You tolerate the woman Jezebel, the self-styled prophetess who misleads my servants. For she teaches them to participate in abominable orgies and to eat pagan sacrificial meat. 21 I gave her time to repent. But she refuses to turn away from her immorality. 22 Therefore I will cast her into a sickbed. I will throw her adulterous companions into great affliction, unless they repent of her practices. 23 I will slay her children outright. Then all the Churches will know that I am searching the minds and the hearts, that I am punishing each one according to his misdeeds. 24 But to the rest of you in Thyatira, who do not follow this heretical teaching and have not been initiated into the so-called deep mysteries of Satan, to you I say: I do not impose upon you any other penalty. 25 Only hold fast to your faith, until I return. 26 To the victor who keeps my commandments until the end I will grant authority over the Gentiles, such as I received from my father. 27 He will rule them with a rod of iron. He will smash them like earthen pots. 28 And I will give him the morning star. 29 Whoever has an ear let him hear what the Holy Spirit says to the Churches.'”
TO THE CHURCH AT SARDIS
1 “Write to the Bishop of the Church in Sardis: ‘This is the message of the Lord who possesses the seven spirits of God and the seven stars. I know your achievements. You enjoy the reputation of being alive, but you are dead. 2 Awake, and strengthen those who survived from the agony of death. Your duties before God are still unfulfilled. 3 Therefore remember the commandments you heard and received. Obey them, and repent. If you do not wake up, I will come unexpectedly, and you will not know at what hour I will visit you. 4 Yet you have still a few men in Sardis who have not defiled themselves and who will walk with me in white garments, as they deserve. 5 Then I will clothe the victor in white vestments. I will keep his name in the book of life. I will acknowledge him before my Father and his Angels. 6 Whoever has an ear let him hear what the Holy Spirit says to the Churches.'”
TO THE CHURCH OF PHILADELPHIA
7 “Write to the Bishop of the Church in Philadelphia: ‘This is the message of the Lord, who is holy and true, who possesses the key of David, who opens what no one can shut, who shuts what no one can open. 8 I know your achievements. Indeed, I am opening for you a door which no one can shut. For though your strength was insignificant, yet you obeyed my commandments and you did not deny my name. 9 Therefore I will send you some members of the synagogue of Satan who call themselves Jews and who lie, because they are not. I will make them come to you, bow down at your feet, and acknowledge that I have loved you. 10 You have guarded my doctrine in patience. Therefore I will guard you from the hour of trial that is coming upon all the world, to test the inhabitants of the earth, I am coming soon. 11 Hold fast to your faith. Let no one take away your crown. 12 I will make the victor a pillar in the temple of God. I will enable him to remain there forever. I will inscribe upon him the name of God and the name of my divine commonwealth, the New Jerusalem of heaven which comes down from God. I will inscribe upon him my new name. 13 Whoever has an ear let him hear what the Holy Spirit says to the Churches.'”
TO THE CHURCH OF LAODICEA
14 “Write to the Bishop of the Church in Laodicea: ‘This is the message of the Lord of Amen, the expounder of the true faith, the beginning of the divine creation. 15 I know your achievements. You are neither cold nor hot. I wish you were either cold or hot. 16 But because you are lukewarm, that is to say neither hot nor cold, I will repudiate you. 17 You say that you are rich and prosperous. So you feel that you need nothing. You do not know that you are wretched, miserable, poor, blind, and naked. 18 Therefore I advise you to buy from me gold, refined by fire, which will make you rich. Buy from me white garments to clothe you, and cover your nakedness. Buy from me salve to anoint your eyes which will make you see. 19 I reprove and chasten those whom I love. So be zealous and repent. 20 Listen, I stand at the door and knock. If you hear my voice and open the door, I will come into your house and eat with you, and you with me. 21 I will grant to the victor to sit with me on my throne, as I myself triumphed and sat down with my Father on his throne. 22 Whoever has an ear let him hear what the Holy Spirit says to the Churches.'”
THE COURT OF HEAVEN
1 Then I had another vision: I saw an open door in heaven. And the same voice which I had heard speaking to me at first like a trumpet, said to me: “Come up here, and I will show you what must occur in the future.” 2 Immediately I fell into a trance, and I saw a throne in heaven, and a man seated on the throne. 3 His face blazed like a jewel of jasper and sardius. Over the throne there was a halo of the color of an emerald. 4 Around the throne were twenty-four thrones, on which sat twenty-four Elders, wearing white garments with golden crowns on their heads. 5 Flashes of lightening and peals of thunder issued from the throne, Seven torches of fire, which symbolize the seven Spirits of God, were burning before the throne. 6 In front of it a sea of glass glistened like crystal.
Four Bodyguards full of eyes in front and behind, were standing around the throne on each side. 7 The first Bodyguard looked like a lion. The second Bodyguard looked like a bull. The third Bodyguard looked like a man. The fourth Bodyguard looked like a flying eagle. 8 Each one of these four Bodyguards had six wings. They were covered with eyes over and under their wings. Day and night they sing ceaselessly:
“Holy, holy, holy is the Lord our God Almighty, who was, who is, and who will manifest himself.”
9 Whenever the Bodyguards render glory, honor, and thanks to the Lord who is seated on the throne, and lives forever and ever, 10 the twenty-four Elders kneel before him, worship him, cast their crowns before the throne, and sing:
11 “You are worthy, a Lord our God, of all glory, honor, and dominion. For you have created the universe, which has received life and existence through your will.”
THE SCROLL AND THE LAMB
1 Then I saw on the right hand of the Lord, who was seated on the throne, a scroll written on both sides, and sealed with seven seals. 2 Thereupon a mighty Angel asked loudly: “Who is qualified to open the scroll and break its seals?”
3 But no one in heaven and on earth could open the scroll and read it. 4 I cried bitterly, because no one was qualified to open the scroll and read it. 5 But one of the Elders said to me: “Do not cry. The lion of the tribe of Judah and of the line of David has triumphed. He will open the scroll and break its seals.”
6 Then I saw standing between the throne, the four Bodyguards, and the twenty-four Elders a Lamb, which seemed to have been slaughtered. He had seven horns and seven eyes, symbolizing the seven Spirits of God, which are sent on missions to all parts of the earth. 7 He came and took the scroll from the right hand of the Lord who was seated on the throne. 8 Thereupon the four Bodyguards and the twenty-four Elders knelt before the Lamb. Each one of them held a harp and a golden bowl full of incense, symbolizing the prayers of the people of God.
THE THREE SONGS OF PRAISE
9 Then they sang a new song:
“You are qualified to take the scroll and break its seals. For you have been slaughtered. You have bought for God with your blood every tribe, every tongue, every race, and every nation. 10 You have consecrated them as royal priests of God, and enabled them to reign over the earth.”
11 Then I heard in my vision, the voices of many angels surrounding the throne, the Bodyguards, and the Elders, numbering myriads of myriads and thousands of thousands. 12 They sang loudly: “The Lamb who was slaughtered is worthy to receive power, wealth, wisdom, might, honor, glory, and blessing.”
13 Thereupon I heard every creature in heaven, on earth, underneath the earth, on the sea, and in the sea, say: “Blessing, honor, glory, and power to the Lord who is seated on the throne and to the Lamb forever and ever.”
14 The four Bodyguards answered: “Amen.” The Elders knelt and worshiped.
THE FIRST SIX SEALS
1 When the Lamb opened one of the seven seals, I heard in my vision one of the four Bodyguards say with a voice of thunder: “Come.” 2 Then I saw a white horse with a rider who had a bow. He was given a crown, and he went out as a conquering hero.
3 When the Lamb opened the second seal, I heard the second Bodyguard say: “Come.” 4 Then a bright red horse came out. Its rider was empowered to take away peace from the earth and make men slaughter one another. He was given a mighty sword.
5 When the Lamb opened the third seal, I heard the third Bodyguard say: “Come!” Then a black horse came out. Its rider had a pair of scales in his hands. 6 Thereupon I heard the four Bodyguards say with one voice: “A silver piece for a quart of wheat. A silver piece for three quarts of barley. But do not reduce the oil and the wine.”
7 When the Lamb opened the fourth seal, I heard the fourth Bodyguard say: “Come!” 8 Then a pale horse came out. The name of its rider was Death. Hades followed him. They were given power over one quarter of the earth, to kill the people with sword, famine, pestilence, and the wild animals of the earth.
9 When the Lamb opened the fifth seal, I saw under the altar the souls of the martyrs who had been slain for the Gospel and for their faith. 10 They cried out loudly: “Holy and true Master, when are you going to judge the inhabitants of the earth and avenge our blood?”
11 They were given a white garment each and were told to wait a little longer, until the completion of the number of their fellow martyrs who were to be slaughtered as they had been.
12 When the Lamb opened the sixth seal, a mighty earthquake occurred. The sun became black like sackcloth. The full moon became like blood. 13 The stars of heaven fell upon the earth. Heaven became like a fig tree which drops its unripe figs when it is shaken by a violent wind. 14 The sky was torn apart and rolled up like a scroll. Every mountain and island was removed from its place. 15 The kings of the earth, the noblemen, the officers, the rich, the mighty, everybody, whether free or slave, concealed themselves in the caves and among the rocks of the mountains. 16 They said to the mountains and the rocks: “Fall on us and hide us from the sight of the Lord who is seated on the throne, and from the anger of the Lamb. 17 For the great day of retribution has come. No one can escape their anger.”
THE FOUR ANGELS
1 Then I saw four Angels standing at the four corners of the earth. They were holding the four winds. So no wind could blow on the earth, or on the sea, or on the trees. 2 Thereupon I saw another Angel ascend from the east with the seal of the living God. He shouted loudly to the four Angels who were empowered to harm the earth and the sea, 3 saying: “Do not harm the earth, or the sea, or the trees until we mark the servants of our God on their foreheads.”
4 I heard in my vision that the number of those who had been marked with the seal was a hundred and forty-four thousand out of every tribe of the sons of Israel: 5 Twelve thousand from the tribe of Judah; 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 Naphthali; 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 Zebulon; twelve thousand from the tribe of Joseph; twelve thousand from the tribe of Benjamin.
9 Then I looked up and saw a great innumerable crowd from every nation, tribe, race, and tongue, standing before the throne and before the Lamb, wearing white garments and bearing palm branches in their hands. 10 They cried out loudly: “Salvation comes from our God who sits upon the throne, and from the Lamb!”
11 All the Angels who stood around the throne, around the Elders, and around the four Bodyguards, fell on their faces before the throne and worshiped God. 12 They said: “Amen. Blessing, glory, wisdom, thanksgiving, honor, power, and dominion be to our God, forever and ever. Amen.”
THE SEVENTH SEAL
13 Then one of the Elders asked me: “Who are those wearing white garments, and where do they come from?”
14 I answered him: “You know, my Lord.” He said to me: “These are the men who have come out of the great ordeal. They washed their garments and whitened them through the blood of the Lamb. 15 Therefore they stand before the throne of God, and serve him day and night in his temple. The Lord who sits upon the throne will shelter them in his presence. 16 They will never be hungry or thirsty again. They will never be burned by the sun and by the scorching heat. 17 For the Lamb who sits on the throne will be their shepherd. He will guide them to springs of living water. God will wipe every tear from their eyes.”
THE SEVEN ANGELS
1 When the Lamb opened the seventh seal, a silence of about half an hour occurred in heaven. 2 Then I saw that the seven Angels who stand before God were each given a trumpet. 3 Another Angel with a golden censer came and stood at the altar. He was given a great quantity of incense to offer with the prayers of all the saints upon the golden altar before the throne. 4 The smoke of the incense rose before God with the prayers of the saints from the hand of the Angel.
5 Then the Angel took the censer and filled it with fire from the altar and threw it on the earth. Peals of thunder, explosions, flashes of lightning, and an earthquake followed.
6 Then the seven Angels with the trumpets made ready to blow them.
7 The first Angel blew his trumpet. Thereupon hail and fire, mixed with blood, fell on the earth. A third of the earth, a third of the trees, and all green grass were burnt up.
8 The second Angel blew his trumpet. Thereupon a great mountain, burning with fire, plunged into the sea. 9 A third of the sea became blood. A third of the living creatures in the sea died. A third of the ships were destroyed.
10 The third Angel blew his trumpet. Thereupon a great star, blazing like a torch, tumbled down from heaven. It fell on a third of the rivers and on the fountains of water. 11 The name of the star is Apsinthus, that is, Wormwood. Then a third of the waters became wormwood, and many men died of the water, because it was poisoned.
12 The fourth Angel blew his trumpet. A third of the sun was struck, a third of the moon, a third of the stars, and a third of their light was darkened. So there was no light for one third of the day and of the night.
13 Then I looked up and I heard an eagle screaming loudly as it flew in midheaven: “Woe, woe, woe to the inhabitants of the earth at the blasts of the other trumpets which the three other Angels are going to blow!”
THE FIRST WOE
1 The fifth Angel blew his trumpet. Then I saw a star fall from heaven to the earth. This Angel was given the key to the pit of the abyss. 2 He opened the bottomless pit. The smoke of a great furnace rose from the pit. The sun and the air were darkened from the smoke of the pit. 3 Locusts came on the earth out of the smoke. They were given the power of scorpions.
4 They were not allowed to injure the grass or plants or trees of the earth. They were authorized to attack only the men who had not been marked with the seal of God upon their foreheads. 5 They had no power to kill them. But they could torture them for five months. They inflicted a torture similar to the pain a man feels when he has been stung by a scorpion. 6 In those days men will seek death, but they will not find it. They will long to die, but death will fly from them.
7 In appearance the locusts were like war horses armed for battle. They wore crowns of gold on their heads. 8 They had the faces of men, the hair of women, and the teeth of lions. 9 Their breasts were covered by iron breast-plates. The noise of their wings resounded like that of many chariots and horses rushing into battle. 10 They had tails and stings like scorpions, with which they were empowered to injure men for five months. 11 They were commanded by a king, the fiend of the abyss, named in Hebrew Abbaddon, and in Greek Apollyon, that is, Exterminator.
12 The first woe has passed. But wait. There are two other woes still to come.
THE SECOND WOE
13 The sixth Angel blew his trumpet. Then I heard a voice from the golden altar of God 14 say to the sixth Angel: “Release the four fiends who are imprisoned by the great river Euphrates.”
15 These four fiends were held in readiness for this hour, this day, this month, and this year. They were now released to slaughter one third of mankind. 16 The number of the cavalrymen under their command was twenty thousand armies of ten thousand each. I heard their number with my own ears. 17 I saw the horses and their riders in my vision. The riders wore fire red, blue, and brimstone yellow breast-plates. The horses had heads of lions. Fire, smoke, and sulphur poured out of their mouths. 18 One third of mankind were slaughtered by these three plagues, the fire, smoke, and brimstone that poured out of the mouths of these horses. 19 They were empowered to kill men with their mouths and their tails. For their tails were like heads of serpents with which they could attack people.
20 Yet the rest of mankind who survived these plagues did not repent of their misdeeds. They did not give up worshiping demons and idols of gold, silver, bronze, stone, and wood, which cannot see or hear or walk. 21 They did not repent of their murders, their sorceries, their immorality, and their thefts.
THE LITTLE SCROLL
1 Then I saw another mighty Angel descend from heaven. He was wrapped up in a cloud and his head was surrounded by a rainbow. His face looked like the sun, and his legs looked like pillars of fire. 2 He held a little scroll open in his hand. He set his right foot on the sea and his left foot on the land. He uttered a great shout like the roar of a lion. 3 When he shouted, the seven thunders echoed his roar. 4 When the seven thunders resounded, I was going to write it down, but I heard a voice from heaven say: “Seal up the roar of the seven thunders. Do not write it down!”
5 Thereupon the Angel, whom I had seen standing on the sea and on the land, 6 raised his right hand to heaven, and swore by God who lives forever and ever, who created the heavens, the earth, the sea, and all they contain, that there should be no more delay. 7 For when the time came for the seventh Angel to speak and blow his trumpet, the foreordained dispensation of God would be fulfilled, as he had announced to his servants the Prophets.
8 Then the voice I had heard from heaven spoke to me again, and said: “Go and take the little 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 asked him to give me the little scroll. He answered me: “Take it and eat it. It will turn bitter in your stomach. But it will taste as sweet as honey in your mouth.”
10 Thereupon I took the little scroll and ate it. Indeed, it tasted as sweet as honey in my mouth. But it turned bitter in my stomach.
11 Then the Angel said to me: “You must prophesy again about many peoples, races, languages, and kings.”
THE TEMPLE
1 Then I was given a reed, shaped like a wand, and I received the following command: “Rise and measure the temple of God with the altar, and count all the worshipers. 2 But do not measure the court outside the temple. Leave it out. For it is given up to the Gentiles, who will trample over the Holy City for forty-two months. 3 In the meantime, I will grant the power of prophecy to my two witnesses, wearing sackcloths, for one thousand two hundred and sixty days.”
THE TWO WITNESSES
4 These witnesses are the two olive trees and the two lampstands which are standing in front of the Lord of the earth. 5 If anyone tries to harm them, fire will pour out from their mouths and consume their foes. That is to say, whoever tries to harm them is doomed to be killed.
6 They had the power to shut the doors of heaven and let no rain fall during the days of their ministry. They could turn the water into blood and smite the earth with any other plague they pleased.
7 When they had fulfilled their testimony, the Monster came out of the abyss, made war on them, conquered them, and slaughtered them. 8 Their corpses lay in the market place of the great city which is figuratively called Sodom or Egypt in the prophetic language, where their Lord was also crucified.
9 For three days and a half, men of all the peoples, races, languages, and nations gazed at their corpses and refused to bury them. 10 All the inhabitants of the earth gloated over their death. They celebrated their triumph by sending presents to one another. For these two prophets were a torment to the inhabitants of the earth.
11 But after three days and a half, the breath of divine life entered into them. They stood on their feet. Those who saw them were seized by terror. 12 They heard a loud voice from heaven say to them: “Come up here.” They went up to heaven in a cloud while their enemies were looking at them.
13 At that moment a violent earthquake occurred, and one tenth of the city was destroyed. Seven thousand people were killed by the earthquake. All the others were filled with awe, and acknowledged the glory of the God of heaven.
14 The second woe was past. The third woe is coming soon.
THE THIRD WOE
15 Then the seventh Angel blew his trumpet. Loud voices in heaven were heard proclaiming: The kingdom of the world has become the Kingdom of God and of our Lord Jesus Christ who will reign forever and ever.” 16 The twenty-four Elders who sit on their thrones before God fell on their faces and worshiped God.
17 They said: “We give you thanks, Lord our God Almighty, who are and who was. For now you have assumed your supreme authority and inaugurated your reign. 18 The Gentiles have vented their rage upon us. But now the day of your retribution has arrived. Now you will judge the dead. Now you will reward your servants, the prophets, the saints, and all those who fear your name, little or great. Now you will exterminate the exterminators of the earth.”
19 Then the temple of God in heaven was thrown open. The ark of the covenant was seen inside the temple. There followed flashes of lightning, explosions, peals of thunder, earthquakes, and heavy hailstorms.
THE WOMAN AND THE DRAGON
1 Then I saw a great miracle in heaven: It was a Woman enveloped in the sun, stepping on the moon with her feet, and wearing a crown of twelve stars on her head. 2 She was pregnant with a child, and screamed in her pangs of birth and in her pains of delivery.
3 Again I saw another miracle in heaven: It was a great red Dragon with seven heads and ten horns, bearing a crown on each head. 4 His tail swept away one third of the stars of heaven and flung them down upon the earth. He stood in front of the Woman to devour her child.
5 The Woman gave birth to a male Child who is going to rule all the Gentiles with a rod of iron. So he was carried up to the throne of God. 6 Thereupon the Woman fled into the desert to a place prepared by God to be nourished for one thousand two hundred and sixty days.
MICHAEL
7 Now war broke out in heaven. Michael and his Angels fought against the Dragon. 8 The Dragon and his henchmen were defeated and thrown out of heaven. 9 So the great Dragon, the serpent of old, who is called the Devil and Satan, the deceiver of all mankind, was hurled down to the earth, and his henchmen were thrown down with him.
THE TRIUMPH
10 Then I heard a mighty voice proclaim in heaven: “The salvation, the dominion, the Kingdom of our God, and the sovereignty of his Messiah have now come. For the accuser, who slandered our brethren day and night before our God, is now overthrown. 11 Our brethren have defeated him through the blood of the Lamb and through the might of their faith. For they preferred death to apostasy. 12 Therefore, rejoice, you heavens and you who dwell in them. But woe to you, O earth and sea, for Satan has come down to you in a great rage, because he knows that his time is very short.”
13 When the Dragon saw that he was thrown down to earth, he went in pursuit of the Woman who had given birth to the male Child. 14 But the Woman was given the two wings of the great eagle, which enabled her to fly to a place in the desert where she was nourished during her foreordained period away from the presence of the Serpent.
15 Then the Serpent poured water from his mouth like a river, to drown the Woman. 16 But the earth saved the Woman by swallowing the river which the Dragon had poured out. 17 The Dragon was enraged at the Woman, and went off to wage war against the rest of her children who obey the commandments of God and profess the religion of Jesus.
THE MONSTER OF THE SEA
1 As I was standing on the sand of the sea, I saw a Monster rising out of the waves with ten horns and seven heads, with a crown on each horn and a blasphemous name on each head. 2 The Monster looked like a leopard. But he had a bear’s feet and a lion’s mouth. The Dragon gave this Monster his power, his sovereignty, and his great authority. 3 One of the Monster’s heads had been mortally wounded. But the wound was healed. All the inhabitants of the earth admired the Monster. 4 They praised the Dragon for giving his dominion to the Monster, whom they worshiped, saying: “No one can stand against the Monster. No one can fight against him.”
5 The Monster was empowered to utter arrogant blasphemies, and to exercise authority for forty-two months. 6 He blasphemed God, his name, his dwelling-place, and the inhabitants of heaven. 7 He was also allowed to wage war against the saints and to defeat them. He was given authority over every tribe, people, language, and nation. 8 All the inhabitants of the earth have worshiped him, that is all those whose names are not inscribed in the Book of Life of the Lamb who was slaughtered. 9 Whoever has an ear let him hear. 10 Whoever is destined for captivity will go into captivity. Whoever is destined to be killed with the sword will be killed with the sword. Here is an opportunity for the saints to show endurance and faith in God.
THE MONSTER OF THE EARTH
11 Again I saw another Monster rise out of the earth. He had two horns like a lamb, but he spoke like a dragon. 12 He exercised all the authority of the First Monster in his presence. He compelled all the inhabitants of the earth to worship the First Monster whose mortal wound had been healed. 13 He performed great miracles. He made fire come down from heaven to earth in the sight of men.
14 He deceived all the inhabitants of the earth through the miracles he was empowered to perform in the presence of the First Monster. He ordered men to make a statue of the First Monster who received the mortal wound and survived it. 15 He was empowered to give life to the statue of the First Monster and even make him speak. He slaughtered all those who refused to worship the statue of the First Monster. 16 Moreover, he compelled everyone, small and great, rich and poor, free and slave, to be marked on the right hand or on the forehead. 17 For no one was allowed to buy or sell unless he had the mark, that is the name of the First Monster or the number of his name. 18 This was a wise provision. For every intelligent man can calculate the number of the First Monster. His number indicates a certain man. It is six hundred and sixty-six.
THE LAMB AND THE VIRGINS
1 Then I saw the Lamb standing on Mount Zion. He was surrounded by a hundred forty-four thousand disciples who had his name and the name of his Father marked on their foreheads. 2 Thereupon I heard a sound from heaven which echoed like a mighty cataract and like a tremendous peal of thunder. It was followed by a melody of harpers who were playing on their harps. 3 They were singing a new song in front of the Lord, the four Bodyguards, and the twenty-four Elders. No one could learn that song except the one hundred forty-four thousand disciples who had been redeemed from earthly sins. 4 These disciples had never allowed their virginity to be defiled by the pleasures of the flesh. They accompany the Lamb wherever he goes. They were the first men to be ransomed by the Lord and by the Lamb. 5 They always despised falsehood. They always proclaimed the truth. They now stand immaculate before the throne of God forevermore.
THE THREE ANGELS
6 Again I saw another Angel flying in midheaven, who proclaimed the eternal Gospel to all the nations, tribes, races, and peoples who dwell on earth. He cried aloud: 7 “Praise and glorify the Lord. The hour of his judgment has arrived. Worship the Lord, who created heaven, the earth, the sea, and the springs of water.”
8 A second Angel followed. He cried out: “Fallen, fallen is mighty Babylon who intoxicated and infuriated all the Gentiles with the wine of her pagan orgies.”
9 A third Angel followed. He cried aloud: “Those who worship the Monster and his statue, or wear the mark of the Monster on their forehead or on their hand, will be offered wine to drink. 10 But the wine they will drink is the wrath of God, poured out of his eternal vengeance. They will be tormented in fire and brimstone in front of his holy Angels and in front of the Lamb. 11 The smoke of their torture will go up forever and ever. Those who worshiped the Monster and his statue, those who bear the mark of his name will not have a single day or night of rest.”
THE SAINTS
12 Here is an opportunity for the saints, who keep the commandments of God and the faith of Jesus.
13 Then I heard a voice from heaven, saying: “Write: Blessed are those who die in the name of the Lord from now on. Yes, the Holy Spirit tells us that they are going to rest from their labors. For their deeds will follow them in heaven.”
THE JUDGMENT
14 Thereupon I saw a man sitting on a white cloud, who wore a golden crown on his head and held a sharp sickle in his hand. 15 Then an Angel came out of the temple in heaven and cried out loudly to the man who was sitting on the cloud: “Use your sickle and reap. The time has come, and the harvest is ripe.” 16 So the man sitting on the cloud swung his sickle on the earth, and the harvest was reaped.
17 A second Angel, who also had a sharp sickle, came out of the temple in heaven. 18 He was met by a third Angel, who came out from the altar, who had power over fire, and who cried out loudly to the second Angel who had the sharp sickle: “Use your sickle, and gather the clusters of the vine of the earth. For the grapes are ripe.” 19 So the Angel swung his sickle on the earth, gathered the vintage, and threw it into the great winepress of the wrath of God.
20 The grapes were trodden in the winepress outside the city. Blood poured out of the winepress in a stream so high that for two hundred miles it came up to the bridles of the horses.
THE SEA OF GLASS
1 Then a great and wonderful miracle occurred in heaven. I saw the Seven Angels who inflicted on mankind the last seven plagues by which the wrath of God was finally completed. 2 I had the vision of a sea of glass tinged with fire. Those who had defied the Monster, his statue, and the number of his name, were standing beside the sea of glass with divine harps in their hands. 3 They sang the song of Moses, the servant of God, and the song of the Lamb, saying: “Your deeds are great and marvellous, O Lord our God Almighty! Your ways are righteous and truthful, O King of the Nations. 4 All men will praise and glorify your name, O Lord. You alone are holy. All nations will come and worship you. Your just retributions have now been revealed.”
THE ANGELS AND THE PLAGUES
5 Thereupon I looked up and I saw that the heavenly temple which contains the tabernacle of the revelation was thrown open. 6 The Seven Angels with the seven plagues came out of the temple. They were wearing glistening linen garments and were girded with golden belts. 7 One of the four Bodyguards gave to each one of the Seven Angels a golden bowl filled with the wrath of God who lives forever and ever. 8 In the meantime, the temple was filled with the smoke of incense and the songs of praise for the glory of God. No one was allowed to enter the shrine until the seven plagues of the Seven Angels were finished.
THE FIRST THREE BOWLS
1 Then I heard a loud command from the temple telling the Seven Angels: “Go forth and pour out on the earth the seven bowls of the wrath of God.”
2 So the First Angel went forth and poured out his bowl on the earth. Loathsome and malignant ulcers attacked the men who bore the mark of the Monster and worshiped his statue.
3 The Second Angel poured out his bowl into the sea. The waters of the sea turned into blood like that of a corpse and killed every living creature in the sea.
4 The Third Angel poured out his bowl into the rivers and the fountains of water. They all turned into blood. 5 Thereupon I heard the Third Angel say: “Your retributions are righteous, O Holy Lord, who are and who was. 6 For men have shed the blood of saints and prophets. Therefore you have now given them blood to drink. It is their due.” 7 Then I heard a voice from the altar answer: “Yes, O Lord our God Almighty, your retributions are appropriate and righteous.”
THE SECOND THREE BOWLS
8 The Fourth Angel poured out his bowl on the sun which was empowered to burn the people with fire. 9 They were all scorched by the fierce heat. They blasphemed the name of God who tortured them with these plagues. But they did not repent and did not glorify him.
10 The Fifth Angel poured out his bowl on the throne of the Monster and plunged his kingdom into darkness. The people gnawed their tongues in anguish. 11 They blasphemed the God of heaven for their painful ulcers. But they did not repent of their deeds.
12 The Sixth Angel poured out his bowl on the great river Euphrates. Its water was dried up. Thus the way was prepared for the invasion of the kings of the East.
THE UNCLEAN SPIRITS
13 Then I saw three loathsome spirits like frogs come out from the mouth of the Dragon, from the mouth of the First Monster, and from the mouth of the Second Monster, or the false prophet. 14 They were satanic spirits which could perform miracles. They went forth to assemble the kings of the whole world for battle on the great day of God the Almighty, who said: 15 “Listen, I am coming unexpectedly. Blessed is the watchful man who is ready to receive me in decent attire.” 16 So the loathsome spirits assembled the kings of the whole world at the place which is called in Hebrew Armageddon.
THE SEVENTH BOWL
17 The Seventh Angel poured his bowl into the air. A loud voice cried out from the temple: “It is over!” 18 Flashes of lightning, explosions, peals of thunder, and a violent earthquake followed. Such a great and violent earthquake had never occurred before in the history of mankind. 19 The great city broke into three pieces, and all the cities of the Gentiles fell in ruins. God remembered great Babylon. He made her drain the cup of his furious wrath. 20 Islands and mountains disappeared from the face of the earth. 21 Huge hailstones of immense weight dropped on men from heaven. The people blasphemed God for this fearful plague of hail.
THE GREAT COURTESAN
1 Then one of the Seven Angels who poured out the seven bowls came to me and told me: “Come, I will show you the doom of the great Courtesan whose capital is located at the meeting-place of many rivers. 2 She has corrupted and intoxicated the kings and the inhabitants of the earth with the wine of her pagan orgies.” 3 Then in a vision he carried me away into a desert where I saw a Woman covered with blasphemous titles seated on a scarlet monster with seven heads and ten horns. 4 She was dressed in purple and scarlet. She was bedecked with gold, jewels, and pearls. She held in her hand a golden goblet, decorated with abominable and sacriligious carvings. 5 She had her name inscribed on her forehead: “The great pagan Babylon, mother of the idolatries and abominations of the earth.” 6 She was drunk with the blood of the saints and the martyrs of Jesus. I was deeply shocked when I saw her.
THE INTERPRETATION
7 But the Angel said to me: “Wait, I will explain to you the symbolic meaning of the Woman and the Monster with seven heads and ten horns on which she is seated. 8 The Monster you saw existed. But it exists no more. True, it will rise again from the abyss. But it will finally be destroyed. The inhabitants of the earth, whose names have never been inscribed in the Book of Life, will be amazed when they see that the Monster existed, that it exists no more, and yet it is going to rise up again.
9 “Here is an intelligent explanation. The seven heads mean the seven hills on which the Woman is seated. They also mean seven kings. 10 Five of them have fallen. One is now reigning. The seventh one has not yet come. But when he comes, he must remain only for a short time.
11 “The Monster who existed, but does not exist any longer, is the eighth king. He comes after the seventh king. But he is going to destruction also. 12 The ten horns you saw are also ten kings. They have not yet received any kingdom. But they will receive royal authority with the Monster for one hour only. 13 They all have one single purpose, namely to support the Monster with all their power and authority. 14 They will all wage war against the Lamb. But the Lamb will defeat them with his foreordained, chosen, and faithful followers. Because he is the Lord of Lords and the King of Kings.”
15 Then the Angel added: “The rivers on which the Courtesan is enthroned are peoples, tribes, nations, and races. 16 The ten kings of the ten horns, and the Monster will rise against the Courtesan. They will make her desolate and naked. They will devour her flesh and burn her up with fire. 17 For God will use them as instruments to carry out his purpose and his decrees. 18 Now the Courtesan you saw is the great city which has dominion over the kings of the earth.”
THE FALL OF BABYLON
1 Then I saw another Angel coming down from heaven. He had great authority and brightened the earth with his splendor.
2 He cried out loudly: “Fallen, fallen is Babylon the great! She has become the den of demons, a nest of all the unclean spirits, a haunt of all the loathsome and hateful vultures. 3 For all the Gentiles have been intoxicated with the wine of her abominable orgies. All the kings of the earth have been corrupted by her idolatry. All the merchants of the earth have been enriched by her wanton luxury.”
THE PUNISHMENT
4 Then I heard another voice from heaven, shouting: “Come out of her, my people. Otherwise, you will pay for her sins, and you will share in her plagues. 5 Her sins are piled up as high as heaven, and God is now denouncing her iniquities.
6 “Treat her as she has treated you. Repay her twice for her misdeeds. Mix her a double draught in the cup she mixed for others. 7 Requite her with torment and grief for all her glory and luxury. She claims to be enthroned like a queen, not like a sorrowing widow. 8 Yet all the plagues, death, disaster, and famine will overtake her in a single day, and she will be burned down with fire. For her judge is the Lord our God Almighty.”
THE DIRGES
9 “The kings of the earth who have shared her idolatry and her luxury will weep and lament over her doom when they see the smoke of her conflagration. 10 Standing at a safe distance, for fear of sharing her punishment, they will cry out: ‘Alas, alas, Babylon the great, the mighty city! Retribution has overtaken you in a single hour!’
11 “All the merchants of the world will weep and lament over her. 12 For no one will now buy their cargoes of gold, silver, precious stones, pearls, fine linen, purple, silk, scarlet, aromatic woods, ivory, precious wood, brass, iron, and marble; 13 cinnamon, balm, perfume, myrrh, incense, wine, oil, wheat, fine flour, cattle, sheep, horses, chariots, human bodies, and human souls.
14 “The fruits which her soul desired are gone. Her luxury and splendor have perished forever. 15 The merchants of these wares, who had grown rich from their trade with her, will stand at a distance, for fear of sharing her torment, grief, and lamentation, 16 saying: ‘Alas, alas, great city, arrayed in fine linen, purple, and scarlet, bedecked with gold, jewels, and pearls! All this wealth has vanished in a single hour!’
17 “All the shipmasters, sea-faring men, navigators, and the traders on the sea, will stand at a distance. 18 They will cry out when they see the smoke of your conflagration: ‘No city can be compared to that great city.’ 19 They will throw dust on their heads. They will weep, they will grieve, and they will cry aloud: ‘Alas, alas, great city, by whose wealth all the shipowners of the earth were enriched! She has been destroyed in a single hour.’
20 “Triumph, O heaven, over her fall! Triumph, you Saints, Apostles, and Prophets! For God has avenged you upon her.”
THE PROMISE
21 Then a mighty Angel lifted up a huge millstone, hurled it into the sea, and cried out: “With such a crash, O Babylon, great city, you will be overthrown and disappear forever! 22 The sound of harpers, musicians, flute-players, and trumpeters will never be heard in you again! Craftsmen of any craft will never be found in you again! The sound of the millstone will never be heard in you again! 23 The light of a lamp will never shine in you again! The voice of bridegroom and of bride will never be heard in you again! For you have despoiled the earth through your merchants. You have led astray all the Gentiles through your idolatry. 24 You have shed the blood of all the Prophets, the Saints, and the Martyrs on earth.”
THE ANGELIC SONG
1 Then I heard the mighty shout of a great multitude in heaven, exclaiming: “Alleluia! Salvation, glory, and dominion belong to our God. 2 For his sentences are appropriate and righteous. He has condemned the great Courtesan who corrupted the earth with her idolatry. He has avenged the blood of his servants upon her.”
3 They shouted for a second time: “Alleluia! The smoke of her conflagration rises forever and ever.”
4 Thereupon the twenty-four Elders and the four Bodyguards fell down and worshiped the Lord who sits upon the throne, saying: “Amen! Alleluia!”
5 A voice answered them from the throne, saying: “Praise our God, all his servants, great or small, who obey him.”
THE TRIUMPHAL SONG
6 Then I heard the shout of a great throng, which sounded like the roar of cataracts and the peals of mighty thunders, saying: “Alleluia! For the Lord our God Almighty has inaugurated his Kingdom! 7 Let us rejoice. Let us celebrate. Let us glorify him! The time for the wedding of the Lamb has come! His bride is ready for the ceremony. 8 She is arrayed in fine linen, radiant and glistening. For her garments symbolize the righteous deeds of the saints.”
9 Thereupon the Angel said to me: “Write! Blessed are the guests who are invited to the Wedding Supper of the Lamb!” Then he added: “These are the true words of God!”
10 I fell down at his feet to worship him. But he told me: “You must not worship me. I am a fellow servant like you and your brethren who profess the religion of Jesus. Worship only God. For the religion of Jesus has been announced by his Prophets.”
THE DIVINE WARRIOR
11 Then I saw a white horse appear in the wide open heaven. His rider is faithful and true. He is the defender and champion of righteousness. 12 His eyes blaze like fire. He wears many crowns on his head. He has a name inscribed which no one knows but himself. 13 He is arrayed in a robe dipped in blood. He is the Word of God.
KING OF KINGS
14 The knights of heaven, wearing fine linen, radiant and glistening, followed on white horses. 15 A sharp double-edged sword proceeded from the mouth of their leader, ready to smite the Gentiles. He will rule them with a rod of iron. He will tread the winepress of the furious wrath of God Almighty. 16 He had the following inscription on his robe and on his thigh: “King of Kings and Lord of Lords.”
17 Then I saw an Angel standing in the sun, who loudly called all the vultures which fly in midheaven: “Come, gather for the great supper of divine retribution! 18 Come and eat the flesh of kings, the flesh of warlords, the flesh of noblemen, the flesh of horses and horsemen, the flesh of all wicked men, free and slave, great and small.”
THE DEFEAT
19 The Monster and the kings of the earth with their armies gathered to make war against the Lord who sits upon the white horse, and against his army of white horsemen. 20 But the Monster was captured along with the False Prophet who in his presence had performed the miracles. Through them he had led astray those who were marked with the seal of the Monster and had worshiped his statue. Both of them were flung alive into the fiery lake of burning brimstone. 21 Their henchmen were slaughtered by the double-edged sword which proceeded from the mouth of the White Horseman. All the vultures of the sky were gorged with the flesh of these fiends.
SATAN IN CHAINS
1 Then I saw an Angel coming down from heaven. He held in his hand the key of the abyss and a great chain. 2 He seized the Dragon, the old Serpent, that is the Devil or Satan, and chained him for a thousand years. 3 He threw him into the abyss, locked him in, and sealed the door of his dungeon. Thus he kept him from leading astray the Gentiles until the thousand years were over, after which he had to release him for a short period.
REIGN OF THE SAINTS
4 Then I saw magistrates seated on thrones. They were empowered to act as judges. I also saw the souls of the Martyrs who were beheaded for the religion of Jesus and the Gospel of God. They had refused to worship the Monster or his statue, and to receive his mark on their foreheads or on their hands. Now they were resurrected and reigned with Christ for a thousand years.
5 The other dead had to wait for their resurrection a thousand years. For this was the first resurrection. 6 Blessed are the holy men who share in this first resurrection. They are not subject to the second death. For they become priests of God and of Christ. They will reign with Christ for a thousand years.
SATAN RELEASED
7 When the thousand years were ended, Satan was released from his prison. 8 He was allowed to lead astray the Gentiles in the four corners of the earth, that is Gog and Magog, and muster them for battle in numbers like the sand of the seashore. 9 They marched up over the broad earth. They surrounded the camp of the Saints and the beloved City. But fire came down from heaven and consumed them. 10 The Devil who had led them astray was hurled into the lake of fire and brimstone. There they joined the Monster and the False Prophet, with whom they will be tormented forever and ever.
THE LAST JUDGMENT
11 Then I saw the Lord seated on a great white throne. Heaven and earth fled away from his presence and vanished. 12 All the dead, great and small, stood in front of the throne. The books of their deeds, including the Book of Life, were opened. The dead were sentenced according to the deeds they had done which were written in the books. 13 The sea gave up her dead. Death and Hades gave up their dead. They were all sentenced according to their deeds.
14 Then Death and Hades were hurled into the lake of fire. 15 Anyone whose name was not listed in the Book of Life was also hurled into the lake of fire.
NEW HEAVEN AND NEW EARTH
1 Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth. For the old heaven, the old earth, and the old sea had vanished. 2 Thereupon I saw the holy city, the New Jerusalem, descending out of heaven from God, like a bride arrayed and adorned to meet her husband. 3 Then I heard a loud voice from the throne, saying: “Listen, the dwelling-place of God has come down on earth. Now God will dwell with men. They will be his people. God himself will live with them. 4 He will wipe away every tear from their eyes. There will be no death any longer. Grief, sorrow, and pain will vanish. The old order has passed away.”
5 The Lord who was seated on the throne said: “Listen, I am renovating everything.” He also told me: “Write! For these words are trustworthy and truthful.” 6 Then he added: “It is over! I am the Alpha and the Omega, the beginning and the end of all creation. I will give priceless water to the thirsty from the fountain of life. 7 The victors will inherit all these blessings. So I will be their God, and they will be my sons. 8 On the other hand, all the cowardly, the faithless, the defiled, the murderers, the fornicators, the sorcerers, the idolaters, and the liars, will be hurled into the burning lake of fire and brimstone. That will be the second death.”
THE HEAVENLY JERUSALEM
9 Thereupon one of the Seven Angels who poured out the seven bowls full of the seven plagues, came and spoke to me, saying: “Come, I will show you the Bride, the wife of the Lamb.”
10 He carried me away in a vision to a great and high mountain, from which he showed me Jerusalem, the Holy City, descending out of heaven from God. 11 She was surrounded with a divine aura. She sparkled with the radiance of a very precious stone, like jasper. She was as transparent as crystal.
12 She was surrounded by a great, high wall with twelve gates, which were guarded by twelve Angels. The names of the twelve tribes of Israel were carved on the twelve gates. 13 There were three gates on the east, three gates on the north, three gates on the south, and three gates on the west. 14 The wall of the city was built on twelve foundation stones, which bore the names of the twelve Apostles of the Lamb.
15 The Angel who talked with me had a golden rod to measure the city and its gates and walls. 16 The city was a square, the length the same as its breadth. When the Angel measured the city with his rod, he counted twelve thousand furlongs. Its length, breadth, and height were equal. 17 When he measured the wall, he counted one hundred forty-four cubits. They were reckoned by the measure of a man which is equivalent to that of an Angel.
18 The wall was built of jasper. The city was built of gold as transparent as crystal. 19 The foundation stones of the wall of the city were adorned with all kinds of jewels: The first foundation stone was adorned with jasper; the second with saphire; the third with agate; the fourth with emerald; 20 the fifth with onyx; the sixth with sardius; the seventh with chrysolite; the eighth with beryl; the ninth with topaz; the tenth with chrysoprase; the eleventh with jacinth; and the twelfth with amethyst. 21 The twelve gates were built of pearls. Each one of the gates consisted of a single pearl. The principal street of the city was paved with gold, as transparent as crystal.
THE DIVINE LIGHT
22 I saw no temple in the city. For the Lord our God Almighty and the Lamb are themselves her temple. 23 The city does not need the sun nor the moon to shine in it. For the glory of God is her light, and the Lamb is her lamp. 24 The nations will walk in her light. The kings of the earth will shine in her splendor. 25 Her gates will never be shut by day, and there will be no night in that city. 26 She will be adorned by the glory and the wealth of all nations. 27 No sinners, nor idolaters, nor deceivers will be tolerated within her gates. The only ones who will be admitted are those whose names are listed in the Book of Life.
THE TREE OF LIFE
1 Then the Angel showed me the river of living water, transparent as crystal which flowed from the throne of God and of the Lamb. 2 In the center of the city square and on both sides of the river grew the tree of life. It produced a different kind of fruit each month. Its leaves brought health to all the nations. 3 Idolatry was abolished. The throne of God and of the Lamb was established in the city. His servants worshiped him. 4 They saw his face, and they bore his name on their foreheads. 5 There was no more night. No one needed light from lamp or sun. For the Lord our God illuminated them, and they will reign forever and ever.
CONFIRMATION
6 Then the Angel said to me: “These prophecies are trustworthy and truthful. The Lord our God, who inspired the Prophets, has sent me to reveal to his servants the events which must happen in the near future. 7 Moreover, he ordered me to remind you that the Lord said: Listen, I am coming very soon. Blessed is the man who heeds the prophecies contained in this book.”
8 I, John, have heard these prophecies and have seen these visions. When I heard and saw them, I fell down to worship the Angel who revealed them to me. 9 But he told me: “You must not worship me. I am a fellow servant like you, like your brethren the prophets, and like the believers who heed the prophecies of this book. Worship only God.”
EXHORTATION
10 Then he added: “Do not conceal the prophecies contained in this book. For the time of their fulfillment is drawing near. 11 Warn the evildoers, the idolaters, as well as the righteous, and the saints: 12 Listen, I am coming soon to reward everyone for what he has done. 13 I am the Alpha and the Omega, the first and the last, the beginning and the end of all creation.” 14 Blessed are those who obey his commandments. For they will be allowed to approach the tree of life and to enter the gates of the city. 15 There will be no room for the evildoers, the sorcerers, the fornicators, the murderers, the idolaters, and the deceivers.
ATTESTATION
16 “I, Jesus, have sent my Angel to give you this testimony for the Churches. I am the root and the offspring of David. I am the radiant morning star.” 17 The Holy Spirit and the Holy City say: “Come!” Let the hearer also say: “Come!” Whoever is thirsty, let him come. Whoever wants it, let him receive the living water freely.
18 I warn everyone who reads the prophecies contained in this book: If anyone adds anything to them, God will inflict upon him all the plagues described in this book. 19 If anyone removes anything from them, God will remove from him his share in the tree of life and in the holy City described in this book.
20 The Lord who testifies to the contents of this book says: “Yes, I am coming soon.” Amen! Come, Lord Jesus!
21 The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with all the saints. Amen.