Revelation
Revelation
1 (The Message)
1 A revealing of Jesus, the Messiah.
God gave it to make plain to his servants what is about to happen. He published
and delivered it by Angel to his servant John. 2 And John told everything he
saw: God's Word - the witness of Jesus Christ! 3 How blessed the reader! How
blessed the hearers and keepers of these oracle words, all the words written in
this book! Time is just about up. His Eyes Pouring Fire-Blaze 4 I, John, am
writing this to the seven churches in Asia province: All the best to you from
The God Who Is, The God Who Was, and The God About to Arrive, and from the
Seven Spirits assembled before his throne, 5 and from Jesus Christ - Loyal
Witness, Firstborn from the dead, Ruler of all earthly kings. Glory and
strength to Christ, who loves us, who blood-washed our sins from our lives, 6
Who made us a Kingdom, Priests for his Father, forever - and yes, he's on his
way! 7 Riding the clouds, he'll be seen by every eye, those who mocked and
killed him will see him, People from all nations and all times will tear their
clothes in lament. Oh, Yes. 8 The Master declares, "I'm A to Z. I'm The
God Who Is, The God Who Was, and The God About to Arrive. I'm the
Sovereign-Strong." 9 I, John, with you all the way in the trial and the
Kingdom and the passion of patience in Jesus, was on the island called Patmos
because of God's Word, the witness of Jesus. 10 It was Sunday and I was in the
Spirit, praying. I heard a loud voice behind me, trumpet-clear and piercing: 11
"Write what you see into a book. Send it to the seven churches: to
Ephesus, Smyrna, Pergamum, Thyatira, Sardis, Philadelphia, Laodicea." 12 I
turned and saw the voice. I saw a gold menorah with seven branches, 13 And in
the center, the Son of Man, in a robe and gold breastplate, 14 hair a blizzard
of white, Eyes pouring fire-blaze, 15 both feet furnace-fired bronze, His voice
a cataract, 16 right hand holding the Seven Stars, His mouth a sharp-biting
sword, his face a perigee sun. 17 I saw this and fainted dead at his feet. His
right hand pulled me upright, his voice reassured me: 18 I'm Alive. I died, but
I came to life, and my life is now forever. See these keys in my hand? They
open and lock Death's doors, they open and lock Hell's gates. 19 Now write down
everything you see: things that are, things about to be. 20 The Seven Stars you
saw in my right hand and the seven-branched gold menorah - do you want to know
what's behind them? The Seven Stars are the Angels of the seven churches; the
menorah's seven branches are the seven churches."
Revelation
2 (The Message)
1 Write this to Ephesus, to the Angel
of the church. The One with Seven Stars in his right-fist grip, striding
through the golden seven-lights' circle, speaks: 2 "I see what you've
done, your hard, hard work, your refusal to quit. I know you can't stomach
evil, that you weed out apostolic pretenders. 3 I know your persistence, your
courage in my cause, that you never wear out. 4 "But you walked away from
your first love - why? What's going on with you, anyway? 5 Do you have any idea
how far you've fallen? A Lucifer fall! "Turn back! Recover your dear early
love. No time to waste, for I'm well on my way to removing your light from the
golden circle. 6 "You do have this to your credit: You hate the Nicolaitan
business. I hate it, too. 7 "Are your ears awake? Listen. Listen to the
Wind Words, the Spirit blowing through the churches. I'm about to call each
conqueror to dinner. I'm spreading a banquet of Tree-of-Life fruit, a supper
plucked from God's orchard." 8 Write this to Smyrna, to the Angel of the church.
The Beginning and Ending, the First and Final One, the Once Dead and Then Come
Alive, speaks: 9 "I can see your pain and poverty - constant pain, dire
poverty - but I also see your wealth. And I hear the lie in the claims of those
who pretend to be good Jews, who in fact belong to Satan's crowd. 10 "Fear
nothing in the things you're about to suffer - but stay on guard! Fear nothing!
The Devil is about to throw you in jail for a time of testing - ten days. It
won't last forever. "Don't quit, even if it costs you your life. Stay
there believing. I have a Life-Crown sized and ready for you. 11 "Are your
ears awake? Listen. Listen to the Wind Words, the Spirit blowing through the
churches. Christ-conquerors are safe from Devil-death." 12 Write this to
Pergamum, to the Angel of the church. The One with the sharp-biting sword draws
from the sheath of his mouth - out come the sword words: 13 "I see where
you live, right under the shadow of Satan's throne. But you continue boldly in
my Name; you never once denied my Name, even when the pressure was worst, when
they martyred Antipas, my witness who stayed faithful to me on Satan's turf. 14
"But why do you indulge that Balaam crowd? Don't you remember that Balaam
was an enemy agent, seducing Balak and sabotaging Israel's holy pilgrimage by
throwing unholy parties? 15 And why do you put up with the Nicolaitans, who do
the same thing? 16 "Enough! Don't give in to them; I'll be with you soon.
I'm fed up and about to cut them to pieces with my sword-sharp words. 17 "Are
your ears awake? Listen. Listen to the Wind Words, the Spirit blowing through
the churches. I'll give the sacred manna to every conqueror; I'll also give a
clear, smooth stone inscribed with your new name, your secret new name."
18 Write this to Thyatira, to the Angel of the church. God's Son, eyes pouring
fire-blaze, standing on feet of furnace-fired bronze, says this: 19 "I see
everything you're doing for me. Impressive! The love and the faith, the service
and persistence. Yes, very impressive! You get better at it every day. 20
"But why do you let that Jezebel who calls herself a prophet mislead my
dear servants into Cross-denying, self-indulging religion? 21 I gave her a
chance to change her ways, but she has no intention of giving up a career in
the god-business. 22 I'm about to lay her low, along with her partners, as they
play their sex-and-religion games. 23 The bastard offspring of their
idol-whoring I'll kill. Then every church will know that appearances don't
impress me. I x-ray every motive and make sure you get what's coming to you. 24
"The rest of you Thyatirans, who have nothing to do with this outrage, who
scorn this playing around with the Devil that gets paraded as profundity, be
assured I'll not make life any harder for you than it already is. 25 Hold on to
the truth you have until I get there. 26 "Here's the reward I have for
every conqueror, everyone who keeps at it, refusing to give up: You'll rule the
nations, 27 your Shepherd-King rule as firm as an iron staff, their resistance
fragile as clay pots. This was the gift my Father gave me; I pass it along to
you - 28 and with it, the Morning Star! 29 "Are your ears awake? Listen.
Listen to the Wind Words, the Spirit blowing through the churches."
Revelation
3 (The Message)
1 Write this to Sardis, to the Angel of
the church. The One holding the Seven Spirits of God in one hand, a firm grip
on the Seven Stars with the other, speaks: "I see right through your work.
You have a reputation for vigor and zest, but you're dead, stone dead. 2
"Up on your feet! Take a deep breath! Maybe there's life in you yet. But I
wouldn't know it by looking at your busywork; nothing of God's work has been
completed. Your condition is desperate. 3 Think of the gift you once had in
your hands, the Message you heard with your ears - grasp it again and turn back
to God. "If you pull the covers back over your head and sleep on,
oblivious to God, I'll return when you least expect it, break into your life
like a thief in the night. 4 "You still have a few Christians in Sardis
who haven't ruined themselves wallowing in the muck of the world's ways.
They'll walk with me on parade! They've proved their worth! 5 "Conquerors
will march in the victory parade, their names indelible in the Book of Life.
I'll lead them up and present them by name to my Father and his Angels. 6
"Are your ears awake? Listen. Listen to the Wind Words, the Spirit blowing
through the churches." 7 Write this to Philadelphia, to the Angel of the
church. The Holy, the True - David's key in his hand, opening doors no one can
lock, locking doors no one can open - speaks: 8 "I see what you've done.
Now see what I've done. I've opened a door before you that no one can slam
shut. You don't have much strength, I know that; you used what you had to keep
my Word. You didn't deny me when times were rough. 9 "And watch as I take
those who call themselves true believers but are nothing of the kind,
pretenders whose true membership is in the club of Satan - watch as I strip off
their pretensions and they're forced to acknowledge it's you that I've loved.
10 "Because you kept my Word in passionate patience, I'll keep you safe in
the time of testing that will be here soon, and all over the earth, every man,
woman, and child put to the test. 11 "I'm on my way; I'll be there soon.
Keep a tight grip on what you have so no one distracts you and steals your
crown. 12 "I'll make each conqueror a pillar in the sanctuary of my God, a
permanent position of honor. Then I'll write names on you, the pillars: the
Name of my God, the Name of God's City - the new Jerusalem coming down out of
Heaven - and my new Name. 13 "Are your ears awake? Listen. Listen to the
Wind Words, the Spirit blowing through the churches." 14 Write to
Laodicea, to the Angel of the church. God's Yes, the Faithful and Accurate
Witness, the First of God's creation, says: 15 "I know you inside and out,
and find little to my liking. You're not cold, you're not hot - far better to
be either cold or hot! 16 You're stale. You're stagnant. You make me want to
vomit. 17 You brag, 'I'm rich, I've got it made, I need nothing from anyone,'
oblivious that in fact you're a pitiful, blind beggar, threadbare and homeless.
18 "Here's what I want you to do: Buy your gold from me, gold that's been
through the refiner's fire. Then you'll be rich. Buy your clothes from me,
clothes designed in Heaven. You've gone around half-naked long enough. And buy
medicine for your eyes from me so you can see, really see. 19 "The people
I love, I call to account - prod and correct and guide so that they'll live at
their best. Up on your feet, then! About face! Run after God! 20 "Look at
me. I stand at the door. I knock. If you hear me call and open the door, I'll
come right in and sit down to supper with you. 21 Conquerors will sit alongside
me at the head table, just as I, having conquered, took the place of honor at
the side of my Father. That's my gift to the conquerors! 22 "Are your ears
awake? Listen. Listen to the Wind Words, the Spirit blowing through the
churches."
Revelation
4 (The Message)
1 Then I looked, and, oh! - a door open
into Heaven. The trumpet-voice, the first voice in my vision, called out,
"Ascend and enter. I'll show you what happens next." 2 I was caught
up at once in deep worship and, oh! - a Throne set in Heaven with One Seated on
the Throne, 3 suffused in gem hues of amber and flame with a nimbus of emerald.
4 Twenty-four thrones circled the Throne, with Twenty-four Elders seated,
white-robed, gold-crowned. 5 Lightning flash and thunder crash pulsed from the
Throne. Seven fire-blazing torches fronted the Throne (these are the Sevenfold
Spirit of God). 6 Before the Throne it was like a clear crystal sea. 7 The
first Animal like a lion, the second like an ox, the third with a human face,
the fourth like an eagle in flight. 8 The Four Animals were winged, each with
six wings. They were all eyes, seeing around and within. And they chanted night
and day, never taking a break: Holy, holy, holy Is God our Master,
Sovereign-Strong, The Was, The Is, The Coming. 9 Every time the Animals gave
glory and honor and thanks to the One Seated on the Throne - the age-after-age
Living One - 10 the Twenty-four Elders would fall prostrate before the One
Seated on the Throne. They worshiped the age-after-age Living One. They threw
their crowns at the foot of the Throne, chanting, 11 Worthy, O Master! Yes, our
God! Take the glory! the honor! the power! You created it all; It was created
because you wanted it.
Revelation
5 (The Message)
1 I saw a scroll in the right hand of
the One Seated on the Throne. It was written on both sides, fastened with seven
seals. 2 I also saw a powerful Angel, calling out in a voice like thunder,
"Is there anyone who can open the scroll, who can break its seals?" 3
There was no one - no one in Heaven, no one on earth, no one from the
underworld - able to break open the scroll and read it. 4 I wept and wept and
wept that no one was found able to open the scroll, able to read it. 5 One of
the Elders said, "Don't weep. Look - the Lion from Tribe Judah, the Root
of David's Tree, has conquered. He can open the scroll, can rip through the
seven seals." 6 So I looked, and there, surrounded by Throne, Animals, and
Elders, was a Lamb, slaughtered but standing tall. Seven horns he had, and
seven eyes, the Seven Spirits of God sent into all the earth. 7 He came to the
One Seated on the Throne and took the scroll from his right hand. 8 The moment
he took the scroll, the Four Animals and Twenty-four Elders fell down and
worshiped the Lamb. Each had a harp and each had a bowl, a gold bowl filled
with incense, the prayers of God's holy people. 9 And they sang a new song:
Worthy! Take the scroll, open its seals. Slain! Paying in blood, you bought men
and women, Bought them back from all over the earth, Bought them back for God.
10 Then you made them a Kingdom, Priests for our God, Priest-kings to rule over
the earth. 11 I looked again. I heard a company of Angels around the Throne,
the Animals, and the Elders - ten thousand times ten thousand their number,
thousand after thousand after thousand 12 in full song: The slain Lamb is
worthy! Take the power, the wealth, the wisdom, the strength! Take the honor,
the glory, the blessing! 13 Then I heard every creature in Heaven and earth, in
underworld and sea, join in, all voices in all places, singing: To the One on
the Throne! To the Lamb! The blessing, the honor, the glory, the strength, For
age after age after age. 14 The Four Animals called out, "Oh, Yes!"
The Elders fell to their knees and worshiped.
Revelation
6 (The Message)
1 I watched while the Lamb ripped off
the first of the seven seals. I heard one of the Animals roar, "Come
out!" 2 I looked - I saw a white horse. Its rider carried a bow and was
given a victory garland. He rode off victorious, conquering right and left. 3
When the Lamb ripped off the second seal, I heard the second Animal cry,
"Come out!" 4 Another horse appeared, this one red. Its rider was off
to take peace from the earth, setting people at each other's throats, killing
one another. He was given a huge sword. 5 When he ripped off the third seal, I
heard the third Animal cry, "Come out!" I looked. A black horse this
time. Its rider carried a set of scales in his hand. 6 I heard a message (it
seemed to issue from the Four Animals): "A quart of wheat for a day's
wages, or three quarts of barley, but all the oil and wine you want." 7
When he ripped off the fourth seal, I heard the fourth Animal cry, "Come
out!" 8 I looked. A colorless horse, sickly pale. Its rider was Death, and
Hell was close on its heels. They were given power to destroy a fourth of the
earth by war, famine, disease, and wild beasts. 9 When he ripped off the fifth
seal, I saw the souls of those killed because they had held firm in their
witness to the Word of God. They were gathered under the Altar, 10 and cried
out in loud prayers, "How long, Strong God, Holy and True? How long before
you step in and avenge our murders?" 11 Then each martyr was given a white
robe and told to sit back and wait until the full number of martyrs was filled
from among their servant companions and friends in the faith. 12 I watched
while he ripped off the sixth seal: a bone-jarring earthquake, sun turned black
as ink, moon all bloody, 13 stars falling out of the sky like figs shaken from
a tree in a high wind, 14 sky snapped shut like a book, islands and mountains
sliding this way and that. 15 And then pandemonium, everyone and his dog
running for cover - kings, princes, generals, rich and strong, along with every
commoner, slave or free. They hid in mountain caves and rocky dens, 16 calling
out to mountains and rocks, "Refuge! Hide us from the One Seated on the
Throne and the wrath of the Lamb! 17 The great Day of their wrath has come -
who can stand it?"
Revelation
7 (The Message)
1 Immediately I saw Four Angels
standing at the four corners of earth, standing steady with a firm grip on the
four winds so no wind would blow on earth or sea, not even rustle a tree. 2
Then I saw another Angel rising from where the sun rose, carrying the seal of
the Living God. He thundered to the Four Angels assigned the task of hurting
earth and sea, 3 "Don't hurt the earth! Don't hurt the sea! Don't so much
as hurt a tree until I've sealed the servants of our God on their
foreheads!" 4 I heard the count of those who were sealed: 144,000! They
were sealed out of every Tribe of Israel: 5 12,000 sealed from Judah, 12,000
from Reuben, 12,000 from Gad, 6 12,000 from Asher, 12,000 from Naphtali, 12,000
from Manasseh, 7 12,000 from Simeon, 12,000 from Levi, 12,000 from Issachar, 8
12,000 from Zebulun, 12,000 from Joseph, 12,000 sealed from Benjamin. 9 I
looked again. I saw a huge crowd, too huge to count. Everyone was there - all
nations and tribes, all races and languages. And they were standing, dressed in
white robes and waving palm branches, standing before the Throne and the Lamb
10 and heartily singing: Salvation to our God on his Throne! Salvation to the
Lamb! 11 All who were standing around the Throne - Angels, Elders, Animals -
fell on their faces before the Throne and worshiped God, 12 singing: Oh, Yes!
The blessing and glory and wisdom and thanksgiving, The honor and power and
strength, To our God forever and ever and ever! Oh, Yes! 13 Just then one of
the Elders addressed me: "Who are these dressed in white robes, and where
did they come from?" 14 Taken aback, I said, "O Sir, I have no idea -
but you must know." 15 That's why they're standing before God's Throne.
They serve him day and night in his Temple. The One on the Throne will pitch
his tent there for them: 16 no more hunger, no more thirst, no more scorching
heat. 17 The Lamb on the Throne will shepherd them, will lead them to spring
waters of Life. And God will wipe every last tear from their eyes."
Revelation
8 (The Message)
1 When the Lamb ripped off the seventh
seal, Heaven fell quiet - complete silence for about half an hour. 2 I saw the
Seven Angels who are always in readiness before God handed seven trumpets. 3
Then another Angel, carrying a gold censer, came and stood at the Altar. He was
given a great quantity of incense so that he could offer up the prayers of all
the holy people of God on the Golden Altar before the Throne. 4 Smoke billowed
up from the incense-laced prayers of the holy ones, rose before God from the
hand of the Angel. 5 Then the Angel filled the censer with fire from the Altar
and heaved it to earth. It set off thunders, voices, lightnings, and an
earthquake. 6 The Seven Angels with the trumpets got ready to blow them. 7 At
the first trumpet blast, hail and fire mixed with blood were dumped on earth. A
third of the earth was scorched, a third of the trees, and every blade of green
grass - burned to a crisp. 8 The second Angel trumpeted. Something like a huge
mountain blazing with fire was flung into the sea. A third of the sea turned to
blood, 9 a third of the living sea creatures died, and a third of the ships
sank. 10 The third Angel trumpeted. A huge Star, blazing like a torch, fell
from Heaven, wiping out a third of the rivers and a third of the springs. 11
The Star's name was Wormwood. A third of the water turned bitter, and many
people died from the poisoned water. 12 The fourth Angel trumpeted. A third of
the sun, a third of the moon, and a third of the stars were hit, blacked out by
a third, both day and night in one-third blackout. 13 I looked hard; I heard a
lone eagle, flying through Middle-Heaven, crying out ominously, "Doom!
Doom! Doom to everyone left on earth! There are three more Angels about to blow
their trumpets. Doom is on its way!"
Revelation
9 (The Message)
1 The fifth Angel trumpeted. I saw a
Star plummet from Heaven to earth. The Star was handed a key to the Well of the
Abyss. 2 He unlocked the Well of the Abyss - smoke poured out of the Well,
billows and billows of smoke, sun and air in blackout from smoke pouring out of
the Well. 3 Then out of the smoke crawled locusts with the venom of scorpions.
4 They were given their orders: "Don't hurt the grass, don't hurt anything
green, don't hurt a single tree - only men and women, and then only those who
lack the seal of God on their foreheads." 5 They were ordered to torture
but not kill, torture them for five months, the pain like a scorpion sting. 6
When this happens, people are going to prefer death to torture, look for ways
to kill themselves. But they won't find a way - death will have gone into
hiding. 7 The locusts looked like horses ready for war. They had gold crowns,
human faces, 8 women's hair, the teeth of lions, 9 and iron breastplates. The
sound of their wings was the sound of horse-drawn chariots charging into
battle. 10 Their tails were equipped with stings, like scorpion tails. With
those tails they were ordered to torture the human race for five months. 11
They had a king over them, the Angel of the Abyss. His name in Hebrew is
Abaddon, in Greek, Apollyon - "Destroyer." 12 The first doom is past.
Two dooms yet to come. 13 The sixth Angel trumpeted. I heard a voice speaking
to the sixth Angel from the horns of the Golden Altar before God: 14 "Let
the Four Angels loose, the Angels confined at the great River Euphrates."
15 The Four Angels were untied and let loose, Four Angels all prepared for the
exact year, month, day, and even hour when they were to kill a third of the
human race. 16 The number of the army of horsemen was twice ten thousand times
ten thousand. I heard the count 17 and saw both horses and riders in my vision:
fiery breastplates on the riders, lion heads on the horses breathing out fire
and smoke and brimstone. 18 With these three weapons - fire and smoke and
brimstone - they killed a third of the human race. 19 The horses killed with
their mouths and tails; their serpentlike tails also had heads that wreaked
havoc. 20 The remaining men and women who weren't killed by these weapons went
on their merry way - didn't change their way of life, didn't quit worshiping
demons, didn't quit centering their lives around lumps of gold and silver and
brass, hunks of stone and wood that couldn't see or hear or move. 21 There
wasn't a sign of a change of heart. They plunged right on in their murderous,
occult, promiscuous, and thieving ways.
Revelation
10 (The Message)
1 I saw another powerful Angel coming
down out of Heaven wrapped in a cloud. There was a rainbow over his head, his
face was sun-radiant, his legs pillars of fire. 2 He had a small book open in
his hand. He placed his right foot on the sea and his left foot on land, 3 then
called out thunderously, a lion roar. When he called out, the Seven Thunders
called back. 4 When the Seven Thunders spoke, I started to write it all down,
but a voice out of Heaven stopped me, saying, "Seal with silence the Seven
Thunders; don't write a word." 5 Then the Angel I saw astride sea and land
lifted his right hand to Heaven 6 and swore by the One Living Forever and Ever,
who created Heaven and everything in it, earth and everything in it, sea and
everything in it, that time was up - 7 that when the seventh Angel blew his
trumpet, which he was about to do, the Mystery of God, all the plans he had
revealed to his servants, the prophets, would be completed. 8 The voice out of
Heaven spoke to me again: "Go, take the book held open in the hand of the
Angel astride sea and earth." 9 I went up to the Angel and said,
"Give me the little book." He said, "Take it, then eat it. It
will taste sweet like honey, but turn sour in your stomach." 10 I took the
little book from the Angel's hand and it was sweet honey in my mouth, but when
I swallowed, my stomach curdled. 11 Then I was told, "You must go back and
prophesy again over many peoples and nations and languages and kings."
Revelation
11 (The Message)
1 I was given a stick for a measuring
rod and told, "Get up and measure God's Temple and Altar and everyone
worshiping in it. 2 Exclude the outside court; don't measure it. It's been
handed over to non-Jewish outsiders. They'll desecrate the Holy City for
forty-two months. 3 "Meanwhile, I'll provide my two Witnesses. Dressed in
sackcloth, they'll prophesy for one thousand two hundred sixty days. 4 These
are the two Olive Trees, the two Lampstands, standing at attention before God
on earth. 5 If anyone tries to hurt them, a blast of fire from their mouths
will incinerate them - burn them to a crisp just like that. 6 They'll have
power to seal the sky so that it doesn't rain for the time of their
prophesying, power to turn rivers and springs to blood, power to hit earth with
any and every disaster as often as they want. 7 "When they've completed
their witness, the Beast from the Abyss will emerge and fight them, conquer and
kill them, 8 leaving their corpses exposed on the street of the Great City
spiritually called Sodom and Egypt, the same City where their Master was
crucified. 9 For three and a half days they'll be there - exposed, prevented
from getting a decent burial, stared at by the curious from all over the world.
10 Those people will cheer at the spectacle, shouting 'Good riddance!' and
calling for a celebration, for these two prophets pricked the conscience of all
the people on earth, made it impossible for them to enjoy their sins. 11
"Then, after three and a half days, the Living Spirit of God will enter
them - they're on their feet! - and all those gloating spectators will be
scared to death." 12 I heard a strong voice out of Heaven calling,
"Come up here!" and up they went to Heaven, wrapped in a cloud, their
enemies watching it all. 13 At that moment there was a gigantic earthquake - a
tenth of the city fell to ruin, seven thousand perished in the earthquake, the
rest frightened to the core of their being, frightened into giving honor to the
God of Heaven. 14 The second doom is past, the third doom coming right on its
heels. 15 The seventh Angel trumpeted. A crescendo of voices in Heaven sang
out, The kingdom of the world is now the Kingdom of our God and his Messiah! He
will rule forever and ever! 16 The Twenty-four Elders seated before God on
their thrones fell to their knees, worshiped, 17 and sang, We thank you, O God,
Sovereign-Strong, Who Is and Who Was. You took your great power and took over -
reigned! 18 The angry nations now get a taste of your anger. The time has come
to judge the dead, to reward your servants, all prophets and saints, Reward
small and great who fear your Name, and destroy the destroyers of earth. 19 The
doors of God's Temple in Heaven flew open, and the Ark of his Covenant was
clearly seen surrounded by flashes of lightning, loud shouts, peals of thunder,
an earthquake, and a fierce hailstorm.
Revelation
12 (The Message)
1 A great Sign appeared in Heaven: a
Woman dressed all in sunlight, standing on the moon, and crowned with Twelve
Stars. 2 She was giving birth to a Child and cried out in the pain of
childbirth. 3 And then another Sign alongside the first: a huge and fiery
Dragon! It had seven heads and ten horns, a crown on each of the seven heads. 4
With one flick of its tail it knocked a third of the Stars from the sky and
dumped them on earth. The Dragon crouched before the Woman in childbirth,
poised to eat up the Child when it came. 5 The Woman gave birth to a Son who
will shepherd all nations with an iron rod. Her Son was seized and placed
safely before God on his Throne. 6 The Woman herself escaped to the desert to a
place of safety prepared by God, all comforts provided her for one thousand two
hundred and sixty days. 7 War broke out in Heaven. Michael and his Angels
fought the Dragon. The Dragon and his Angels fought back, 8 but were no match
for Michael. They were cleared out of Heaven, not a sign of them left. 9 The
great Dragon - ancient Serpent, the one called Devil and Satan, the one who led
the whole earth astray - thrown out, and all his Angels thrown out with him,
thrown down to earth. 10 Then I heard a strong voice out of Heaven saying,
Salvation and power are established! Kingdom of our God, authority of his
Messiah! The Accuser of our brothers and sisters thrown out, who accused them
day and night before God. 11 They defeated him through the blood of the Lamb
and the bold word of their witness. They weren't in love with themselves; they
were willing to die for Christ. 12 So rejoice, O Heavens, and all who live
there, but doom to earth and sea, For the Devil's come down on you with both
feet; he's had a great fall; He's wild and raging with anger; he hasn't much
time and he knows it. 13 When the Dragon saw he'd been thrown to earth, he went
after the Woman who had given birth to the Man-Child. 14 The Woman was given
wings of a great eagle to fly to a place in the desert to be kept in safety and
comfort for a time and times and half a time, safe and sound from the Serpent.
15 The Serpent vomited a river of water to swamp and drown her, 16 but earth
came to her help, swallowing the water the Dragon spewed from its mouth. 17
Helpless with rage, the Dragon raged at the Woman, then went off to make war
with the rest of her children, the children who keep God's commands and hold
firm to the witness of Jesus.
Revelation
13 (The Message)
1 And the Dragon stood on the shore of
the sea. I saw a Beast rising from the sea. It had ten horns and seven heads -
on each horn a crown, and each head inscribed with a blasphemous name. 2 The
Beast I saw looked like a leopard with bear paws and a lion's mouth. The Dragon
turned over its power to it, its throne and great authority. 3 One of the
Beast's heads looked as if it had been struck a deathblow, and then healed. The
whole earth was agog, gaping at the Beast. 4 They worshiped the Dragon who gave
the Beast authority, and they worshiped the Beast, exclaiming, "There's
never been anything like the Beast! No one would dare go to war with the
Beast!" 5 The Beast had a loud mouth, boastful and blasphemous. It could
do anything it wanted for forty-two months. 6 It yelled blasphemies against
God, blasphemed his Name, blasphemed his Church, especially those already
dwelling with God in Heaven. 7 It was permitted to make war on God's holy
people and conquer them. It held absolute sway over all tribes and peoples,
tongues and races. 8 Everyone on earth whose name was not written from the
world's foundation in the slaughtered Lamb's Book of Life will worship the
Beast. 9 Are you listening to this? 10 They've made their bed; now they must
lie in it. Anyone marked for prison goes straight to prison; anyone pulling a
sword goes down by the sword. Meanwhile, God's holy people passionately and
faithfully stand their ground. 11 I saw another Beast rising out of the ground.
It had two horns like a lamb but sounded like a dragon when it spoke. 12 It was
a puppet of the first Beast, made earth and everyone in it worship the first
Beast, which had been healed of its deathblow. 13 This second Beast worked
magical signs, dazzling people by making fire come down from Heaven. 14 It used
the magic it got from the Beast to dupe earth dwellers, getting them to make an
image of the Beast that received the deathblow and lived. 15 It was able to
animate the image of the Beast so that it talked, and then arrange that anyone
not worshiping the Beast would be killed. 16 It forced all people, small and
great, rich and poor, free and slave, to have a mark on the right hand or
forehead. 17 Without the mark of the name of the Beast or the number of its
name, it was impossible to buy or sell anything. 18 Solve a riddle: Put your
heads together and figure out the meaning of the number of the Beast. It's a
human number: six hundred sixty-six.
Revelation
14 (The Message)
1 I saw - it took my breath away! - the
Lamb standing on Mount Zion, One Hundred and Forty-four Thousand standing there
with him, his Name and the Name of his Father inscribed on their foreheads. 2
And I heard a voice out of Heaven, the sound like a cataract, like the crash of
thunder. 3 and the harpists singing a new song before the Throne and the Four
Animals and the Elders. Only the Hundred and Forty-four Thousand could learn to
sing the song. They were bought from earth, 4 lived without compromise,
virgin-fresh before God. Wherever the Lamb went, they followed. They were
bought from humankind, firstfruits of the harvest for God and the Lamb. 5 Not a
false word in their mouths. A perfect offering. 6 I saw another Angel soaring
in Middle-Heaven. He had an Eternal Message to preach to all who were still on
earth, every nation and tribe, every tongue and people. 7 He preached in a loud
voice, "Fear God and give him glory! His hour of judgment has come!
Worship the Maker of Heaven and earth, salt sea and fresh water!" 8 A
second Angel followed, calling out, "Ruined, ruined, Great Babylon ruined!
She made all the nations drunk on the wine of her whoring!" 9 A third
Angel followed, shouting, warning, "If anyone worships the Beast and its
image and takes the mark on forehead or hand, 10 that person will drink the
wine of God's wrath, prepared unmixed in his chalice of anger, and suffer
torment from fire and brimstone in the presence of Holy Angels, in the presence
of the Lamb. 11 Smoke from their torment will rise age after age. No respite
for those who worship the Beast and its image, who take the mark of its
name." 12 Meanwhile, the saints stand passionately patient, keeping God's
commands, staying faithful to Jesus. 13 I heard a voice out of Heaven,
"Write this: Blessed are those who die in the Master from now on; how
blessed to die that way!" "Yes," says the Spirit, "and
blessed rest from their hard, hard work. None of what they've done is wasted;
God blesses them for it all in the end." 14 I looked up, I caught my
breath! - a white cloud and one like the Son of Man sitting on it. He wore a
gold crown and held a sharp sickle. 15 Another Angel came out of the Temple,
shouting to the Cloud-Enthroned, "Swing your sickle and reap. It's harvest
time. Earth's harvest is ripe for reaping." 16 The Cloud-Enthroned gave a
mighty sweep of his sickle, began harvesting earth in a stroke. 17 Then another
Angel came out of the Temple in Heaven. He also had a sharp sickle. 18 Yet
another Angel, the one in charge of tending the fire, came from the Altar. He
thundered to the Angel who held the sharp sickle, "Swing your sharp
sickle. Harvest earth's vineyard. The grapes are bursting with ripeness."
19 The Angel swung his sickle, harvested earth's vintage, and heaved it into
the winepress, the giant winepress of God's wrath. 20 The winepress was outside
the City. As the vintage was trodden, blood poured from the winepress as high
as a horse's bridle, a river of blood for two hundred miles.
Revelation
15 (The Message)
1 I saw another Sign in Heaven, huge
and breathtaking: seven Angels with seven disasters. These are the final
disasters, the wrap-up of God's wrath. 2 I saw something like a sea made of
glass, the glass all shot through with fire. Carrying harps of God, triumphant
over the Beast, its image, and the number of its name, the saved ones stood on
the sea of glass. 3 They sang the Song of Moses, servant of God; they sang the
Song of the Lamb: Mighty your acts and marvelous, O God, the Sovereign-Strong!
Righteous your ways and true, King of the nations! 4 Who can fail to fear you,
God, give glory to your Name? Because you and you only are holy, all nations
will come and worship you, because they see your judgments are right. 5 Then I
saw the doors of the Temple, the Tent of Witness in Heaven, open wide. 6 The
Seven Angels carrying the seven disasters came out of the Temple. They were
dressed in clean, bright linen and wore gold vests. 7 One of the Four Animals
handed the Seven Angels seven gold bowls, brimming with the wrath of God, who
lives forever and ever. 8 Smoke from God's glory and power poured out of the
Temple. No one was permitted to enter the Temple until the seven disasters of
the Seven Angels were finished.
Revelation
16 (The Message)
1 I heard a shout of command from the
Temple to the Seven Angels: "Begin! Pour out the seven bowls of God's
wrath on earth!" 2 The first Angel stepped up and poured his bowl out on
earth: Loathsome, stinking sores erupted on all who had taken the mark of the
Beast and worshiped its image. 3 The second Angel poured his bowl on the sea:
The sea coagulated into blood, and everything in it died. 4 The third Angel
poured his bowl on rivers and springs: The waters turned to blood. 5 I heard
the Angel of Waters say, Righteous you are, and your judgments are righteous,
The Is, The Was, The Holy. 6 They poured out the blood of saints and prophets
so you've given them blood to drink - they've gotten what they deserve! 7 Just
then I heard the Altar chime in, Yes, O God, the Sovereign-Strong! Your
judgments are true and just! 8 The fourth Angel poured his bowl on the sun:
Fire blazed from the sun and scorched men and women. 9 Burned and blistered,
they cursed God's Name, the God behind these disasters. They refused to repent,
refused to honor God. 10 The fifth Angel poured his bowl on the throne of the
Beast: Its kingdom fell into sudden eclipse. Mad with pain, men and women bit
and chewed their tongues, 11 cursed the God of Heaven for their torment and
sores, and refused to repent and change their ways. 12 The sixth Angel poured
his bowl on the great Euphrates River: It dried up to nothing. The dry riverbed
became a fine roadbed for the kings from the East. 13 From the mouths of the
Dragon, the Beast, and the False Prophet I saw three foul demons crawl out -
they looked like frogs. 14 These are demon spirits performing signs. They're after
the kings of the whole world to get them gathered for battle on the Great Day
of God, the Sovereign-Strong. 15 "Keep watch! I come unannounced, like a
thief. You're blessed if, awake and dressed, you're ready for me. Too bad if
you're found running through the streets, naked and ashamed." 16 The
frog-demons gathered the kings together at the place called in Hebrew
Armageddon. 17 The seventh Angel poured his bowl into the air: From the Throne
in the Temple came a shout, "Done!" 18 followed by lightning flashes
and shouts, thunder crashes and a colossal earthquake - a huge and devastating
earthquake, never an earthquake like it since time began. 19 The Great City
split three ways, the cities of the nations toppled to ruin. Great Babylon had
to drink the wine of God's raging anger - God remembered to give her the cup!
20 Every island fled and not a mountain was to be found. 21 Hailstones weighing
a ton plummeted, crushing and smashing men and women as they cursed God for the
hail, the epic disaster of hail.
Revelation
17 (The Message)
1 One of the Seven Angels who carried
the seven bowls came and invited me, "Come, I'll show you the judgment of
the great Whore who sits enthroned over many waters, 2 the Whore with whom the
kings of the earth have gone whoring, show you the judgment on earth dwellers
drunk on her whorish lust." 3 In the Spirit he carried me out in the
desert. I saw a woman mounted on a Scarlet Beast. Stuffed with blasphemies, the
Beast had seven heads and ten horns. 4 The woman was dressed in purple and
scarlet, festooned with gold and gems and pearls. She held a gold chalice in
her hand, brimming with defiling obscenities, her foul fornications. 5 A
riddle-name was branded on her forehead: great babylon, mother of whores and
abominations of the earth. 6 I could see that the woman was drunk, drunk on the
blood of God's holy people, drunk on the blood of the martyrs of Jesus. 7 The
Angel said, "Does this surprise you? Let me tell you the riddle of the
woman and the Beast she rides, the Beast with seven heads and ten horns. 8 The
Beast you saw once was, is no longer, and is about to ascend from the Abyss and
head straight for Hell. Earth dwellers whose names weren't written in the Book
of Life from the foundation of the world will be dazzled when they see the
Beast that once was, is no longer, and is to come. 9 "But don't drop your
guard. Use your head. The seven heads are seven hills; they are where the woman
sits. 10 They are also seven kings: five dead, one living, the other not yet
here - and when he does come his time will be brief. 11 The Beast that once was
and is no longer is both an eighth and one of the seven - and headed for Hell.
12 "The ten horns you saw are ten kings, but they're not yet in power.
They will come to power with the Scarlet Beast, but won't last long - a very
brief reign. 13 These kings will agree to turn over their power and authority
to the Beast. 14 They will go to war against the Lamb but the Lamb will defeat
them, proof that he is Lord over all lords, King over all kings, and those with
him will be the called, chosen, and faithful." 15 The Angel continued,
"The waters you saw on which the Whore was enthroned are peoples and
crowds, nations and languages. 16 And the ten horns you saw, together with the
Beast, will turn on the Whore - they'll hate her, violate her, strip her naked,
rip her apart with their teeth, then set fire to her. 17 It was God who put the
idea in their heads to turn over their rule to the Beast until the words of God
are completed. 18 The woman you saw is the great city, tyrannizing the kings of
the earth."
Revelation
18 (The Message)
1 Following this I saw another Angel
descend from Heaven. His authority was immense, his glory flooded earth with
brightness, 2 his voice thunderous: Ruined, ruined, Great Babylon, ruined! A
ghost town for demons is all that's left! A garrison of carrion spirits,
garrison of loathsome, carrion birds. 3 All nations drank the wild wine of her
whoring; kings of the earth went whoring with her; entrepreneurs made millions
exploiting her. 4 Just then I heard another shout out of Heaven: Get out, my
people, as fast as you can, so you don't get mixed up in her sins, so you don't
get caught in her doom. 5 Her sins stink to high Heaven; God has remembered
every evil she's done. 6 Give her back what she's given, double what she's
doubled in her works, double the recipe in the cup she mixed; 7 Bring her
flaunting and wild ways to torment and tears. Because she gloated, "I'm
queen over all, and no widow, never a tear on my face," 8 In one day,
disasters will crush her - death, heartbreak, and famine - Then she'll be
burned by fire, because God, the Strong God who judges her, has had enough. 9
"The kings of the earth will see the smoke of her burning, and they'll cry
and carry on, the kings who went night after night to her brothel. 10 They'll
keep their distance for fear they'll get burned, and they'll cry their lament:
Doom, doom, the great city doomed! City of Babylon, strong city! In one hour
it's over, your judgment come! 11 "The traders will cry and carry on because
the bottom dropped out of business, no more market for their goods: 12 gold,
silver, precious gems, pearls; fabrics of fine linen, purple, silk, scarlet;
perfumed wood and vessels of ivory, precious woods, bronze, iron, and marble;
13 cinnamon and spice, incense, myrrh, and frankincense; wine and oil, flour
and wheat; cattle, sheep, horses, and chariots. And slaves - their terrible
traffic in human lives. 14 Everything you've lived for, gone! All delicate and
delectable luxury, lost! Not a scrap, not a thread to be found! 15 "The
traders who made millions off her kept their distance for fear of getting
burned, and cried and carried on all the more: 16 Doom, doom, the great city
doomed! Dressed in the latest fashions, adorned with the finest jewels, 17 in
one hour such wealth wiped out! 18 and cried their lament when they saw the
smoke from her burning: 'Oh, what a city! There was never a city like her!' 19
They threw dust on their heads and cried as if the world had come to an end:
Doom, doom, the great city doomed! All who owned ships or did business by sea
Got rich on her getting and spending. And now it's over - wiped out in one
hour! 20 "O Heaven, celebrate! And join in, saints, apostles, and
prophets! God has judged her; every wrong you suffered from her has been
judged." 21 A strong Angel reached for a boulder - huge, like a millstone
- and heaved it into the sea, saying, Heaved and sunk, the great city Babylon,
sunk in the sea, not a sign of her ever again. 22 Silent the music of harpists
and singers - you'll never hear flutes and trumpets again. Artisans of every
kind - gone; you'll never see their likes again. The voice of a millstone
grinding falls dumb; you'll never hear that sound again. 23 The light from
lamps, never again; never again laughter of bride and groom. Her traders robbed
the whole earth blind, and by black-magic arts deceived the nations. 24 The
only thing left of Babylon is blood - the blood of saints and prophets, the
murdered and the martyred.
Revelation
19 (The Message)
1 I heard a sound like massed choirs in
Heaven singing, Hallelujah! The salvation and glory and power are God's - 2 his
judgments true, his judgments just. He judged the great Whore who corrupted the
earth with her lust. He avenged on her the blood of his servants. 3 Then, more
singing: Hallelujah! The smoke from her burning billows up to high Heaven
forever and ever and ever. 4 The Twenty-four Elders and the Four Animals fell
to their knees and worshiped God on his Throne, praising, Amen! Yes!
Hallelujah! 5 From the Throne came a shout, a command: Praise our God, all you
his servants, All you who fear him, small and great! 6 Then I heard the sound
of massed choirs, the sound of a mighty cataract, the sound of strong thunder:
Hallelujah! The Master reigns, our God, the Sovereign-Strong! 7 Let us
celebrate, let us rejoice, let us give him the glory! The Marriage of the Lamb
has come; his Wife has made herself ready. 8 She was given a bridal gown of
bright and shining linen. The linen is the righteousness of the saints. 9 The
Angel said to me, "Write this: 'Blessed are those invited to the Wedding
Supper of the Lamb.'" He added, "These are the true words of
God!" 10 I fell at his feet to worship him, but he wouldn't let me.
"Don't do that," he said. "I'm a servant just like you, and like
your brothers and sisters who hold to the witness of Jesus. The witness of
Jesus is the spirit of prophecy." 11 Then I saw Heaven open wide - and oh!
a white horse and its Rider. The Rider, named Faithful and True, judges and
makes war in pure righteousness. 12 His eyes are a blaze of fire, on his head
many crowns. He has a Name inscribed that's known only to himself. 13 He is
dressed in a robe soaked with blood, and he is addressed as "Word of
God." 14 The armies of Heaven, mounted on white horses and dressed in
dazzling white linen, follow him. 15 A sharp sword comes out of his mouth so he
can subdue the nations, then rule them with a rod of iron. He treads the
winepress of the raging wrath of God, the Sovereign-Strong. 16 On his robe and
thigh is written, King of kings, Lord of lords. 17 I saw an Angel standing in
the sun, shouting to all flying birds in Middle-Heaven, "Come to the Great
Supper of God! 18 Feast on the flesh of kings and captains and champions,
horses and their riders. Eat your fill of them all - free and slave, small and
great!" 19 I saw the Beast and, assembled with him, earth's kings and
their armies, ready to make war against the One on the horse and his army. 20
The Beast was taken, and with him, his puppet, the False Prophet, who used
signs to dazzle and deceive those who had taken the mark of the Beast and
worshiped his image. They were thrown alive, those two, into Lake Fire and
Brimstone. 21 The rest were killed by the sword of the One on the horse, the
sword that comes from his mouth. All the birds held a feast on their flesh.
Revelation
20 (The Message)
1 I saw an Angel descending out of
Heaven. He carried the key to the Abyss and a chain - a huge chain. 2 He
grabbed the Dragon, that old Snake - the very Devil, Satan himself! - chained
him up for a thousand years, 3 dumped him into the Abyss, slammed it shut and
sealed it tight. No more trouble out of him, deceiving the nations - until the
thousand years are up. After that he has to be let loose briefly. 4 I saw thrones.
Those put in charge of judgment sat on the thrones. I also saw the souls of
those beheaded because of their witness to Jesus and the Word of God, who
refused to worship either the Beast or his image, refused to take his mark on
forehead or hand - they lived and reigned with Christ for a thousand years! 5
The rest of the dead did not live until the thousand years were up. This is the
first resurrection - 6 and those involved most blessed, most holy. No second
death for them! They're priests of God and Christ; they'll reign with him a
thousand years. 7 When the thousand years are up, Satan will be let loose from
his cell, 8 and will launch again his old work of deceiving the nations,
searching out victims in every nook and cranny of earth, even Gog and Magog!
He'll talk them into going to war and will gather a huge army, millions strong.
9 They'll stream across the earth, surround and lay siege to the camp of God's
holy people, the Beloved City. They'll no sooner get there than fire will pour
out of Heaven and burn them up. 10 The Devil who deceived them will be hurled
into Lake Fire and Brimstone, joining the Beast and False Prophet, the three in
torment around the clock for ages without end. 11 I saw a Great White Throne
and the One Enthroned. Nothing could stand before or against the Presence,
nothing in Heaven, nothing on earth. 12 And then I saw all the dead, great and
small, standing there - before the Throne! And books were opened. Then another
book was opened: the Book of Life. The dead were judged by what was written in
the books, by the way they had lived. 13 Sea released its dead, Death and Hell
turned in their dead. Each man and woman was judged by the way he or she had
lived. 14 Then Death and Hell were hurled into Lake Fire. This is the second
death - Lake Fire. 15 Anyone whose name was not found inscribed in the Book of
Life was hurled into Lake Fire.
Revelation
21 (The Message)
1 I saw Heaven and earth new-created.
Gone the first Heaven, gone the first earth, gone the sea. 2 I saw Holy
Jerusalem, new-created, descending resplendent out of Heaven, as ready for God
as a bride for her husband. 3 I heard a voice thunder from the Throne:
"Look! Look! God has moved into the neighborhood, making his home with men
and women! They're his people, he's their God. 4 He'll wipe every tear from
their eyes. Death is gone for good - tears gone, crying gone, pain gone - all
the first order of things gone." 5 The Enthroned continued, "Look!
I'm making everything new. Write it all down - each word dependable and
accurate." 6 Then he said, "It's happened. I'm A to Z. I'm the
Beginning, I'm the Conclusion. From Water-of-Life Well I give freely to the
thirsty. 7 Conquerors inherit all this. I'll be God to them, they'll be sons
and daughters to me. 8 But for the rest - the feckless and faithless,
degenerates and murderers, sex peddlers and sorcerers, idolaters and all liars
- for them it's Lake Fire and Brimstone. Second death!" 9 One of the Seven
Angels who had carried the bowls filled with the seven final disasters spoke to
me: "Come here. I'll show you the Bride, the Wife of the Lamb." 10 He
took me away in the Spirit to an enormous, high mountain and showed me Holy
Jerusalem descending out of Heaven from God, 11 resplendent in the bright glory
of God. 12 She had a wall majestic and high with twelve gates. At each gate
stood an Angel, and on the gates were inscribed the names of the Twelve Tribes
of the sons of Israel: 13 three gates on the east, three gates on the north,
three gates on the south, three gates on the west. 14 The wall was set on
twelve foundations, the names of the Twelve Apostles of the Lamb inscribed on
them. 15 The Angel speaking with me had a gold measuring stick to measure the
City, its gates, and its wall. 16 The City was laid out in a perfect square. He
measured the City with the measuring stick: twelve thousand stadia, its length,
width, and height all equal. 17 Using the standard measure, the Angel measured
the thickness of its wall: 144 cubits. 18 The wall was jasper, the color of
Glory, and the City was pure gold, translucent as glass. 19 The foundations of
the City walls were garnished with every precious gem imaginable: the first
foundation jasper, the second sapphire, the third agate, the fourth emerald, 20
the fifth onyx, the sixth carnelian, the seventh chrysolite, the eighth beryl,
the ninth topaz, the tenth chrysoprase, the eleventh jacinth, the twelfth
amethyst. 21 The twelve gates were twelve pearls, each gate a single pearl. 22
But there was no sign of a Temple, for the Lord God - the Sovereign-Strong -
and the Lamb are the Temple. 23 The City doesn't need sun or moon for light.
God's Glory is its light, the Lamb its lamp! 24 The nations will walk in its
light and earth's kings bring in their splendor. 25 Its gates will never be
shut by day, and there won't be any night. 26 They'll bring the glory and honor
of the nations into the City. 27 Nothing dirty or defiled will get into the
City, and no one who defiles or deceives. Only those whose names are written in
the Lamb's Book of Life will get in.
Revelation
22 (The Message)
1 Then the Angel showed me
Water-of-Life River, crystal bright. It flowed from the Throne of God and the
Lamb, 2 right down the middle of the street. The Tree of Life was planted on
each side of the River, producing twelve kinds of fruit, a ripe fruit each
month. The leaves of the Tree are for healing the nations. 3 Never again will
anything be cursed. The Throne of God and of the Lamb is at the center. His
servants will offer God service - worshiping, 4 they'll look on his face, their
foreheads mirroring God. 5 Never again will there be any night. No one will
need lamplight or sunlight. The shining of God, the Master, is all the light
anyone needs. And they will rule with him age after age after age. 6 The Angel
said to me, "These are dependable and accurate words, every one. The God
and Master of the spirits of the prophets sent his Angel to show his servants
what must take place, and soon. 7 And tell them, 'Yes, I'm on my way!' Blessed
be the one who keeps the words of the prophecy of this book." 8 I, John,
saw all these things with my own eyes, heard them with my ears. Immediately
when I heard and saw, I fell on my face to worship at the feet of the Angel who
laid it all out before me. 9 He objected, "No you don't! I'm a servant
just like you and your companions, the prophets, and all who keep the words of
this book. Worship God!" 10 The Angel continued, "Don't seal the
words of the prophecy of this book; don't put it away on the shelf. Time is
just about up. 11 Let evildoers do their worst and the dirty-minded go all out
in pollution, but let the righteous maintain a straight course and the holy
continue on in holiness." 12 "Yes, I'm on my way! I'll be there soon!
I'm bringing my payroll with me. I'll pay all people in full for their life's
work. 13 I'm A to Z, the First and the Final, Beginning and Conclusion. 14
"How blessed are those who wash their robes! The Tree of Life is theirs
for good, and they'll walk through the gates to the City. 15 But outside for
good are the filthy curs: sorcerers, fornicators, murderers, idolaters - all
who love and live lies. 16 "I, Jesus, sent my Angel to testify to these
things for the churches. I'm the Root and Branch of David, the Bright Morning
Star." 17 "Come!" say the Spirit and the Bride. Whoever hears,
echo, "Come!" Is anyone thirsty? Come! All who will, come and drink,
Drink freely of the Water of Life! 18 I give fair warning to all who hear the
words of the prophecy of this book: If you add to the words of this prophecy,
God will add to your life the disasters written in this book; 19 if you
subtract from the words of the book of this prophecy, God will subtract your
part from the Tree of Life and the Holy City that are written in this book. 20
He who testifies to all these things says it again: "I'm on my way! I'll
be there soon!" Yes! Come, Master Jesus! 21 The grace of the Master Jesus
be with all of you. Oh, Yes!
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