Revelation 18:17-19:10

New International Version

¹⁷In one hour^(A) such great wealth has been brought to ruin!’^(B)

“Every sea captain, and all who travel by ship, the sailors, and all who earn their living from the sea,^(C) will stand far off.^(D) ¹⁸When they see the smoke of her burning,^(E) they will exclaim, ‘Was there ever a city like this great city^(F)?’^(G) ¹⁹They will throw dust on their heads,^(H) and with weeping and mourning^(I) cry out:

“‘Woe! Woe to you, great city,^(J)
where all who had ships on the sea
became rich through her wealth!
In one hour she has been brought to ruin!’^(K)

²⁰“Rejoice over her, you heavens!^(L)
    Rejoice, you people of God!
    Rejoice, apostles and prophets!
For God has judged her
    with the judgment she imposed on you.”^(M)

The Finality of Babylon’s Doom

²¹Then a mighty angel^(N) picked up a boulder the size of a large millstone and threw it into the sea,^(O) and said:

“With such violence
    the great city^(P) of Babylon will be thrown down,
    never to be found again.
²²The music of harpists and musicians, pipers and trumpeters,
    will never be heard in you again.^(Q)
No worker of any trade
    will ever be found in you again.
The sound of a millstone
    will never be heard in you again.^(R)
²³The light of a lamp
    will never shine in you again.
The voice of bridegroom and bride
    will never be heard in you again.^(S)
Your merchants were the world’s important people.^(T)
    By your magic spell^(U) all the nations were led astray.
²⁴In her was found the blood of prophets and of God’s holy people,^(V)
    of all who have been slaughtered on the earth.”^(W)

Threefold Hallelujah Over Babylon’s Fall

19 After this I heard what sounded like the roar of a great multitude^(X) in heaven shouting:

“Hallelujah!^(Y)
Salvation^(Z) and glory and power^(AA) belong to our God,
² for true and just are his judgments.^(AB)
He has condemned the great prostitute^(AC)
who corrupted the earth by her adulteries.
He has avenged on her the blood of his servants.”^(AD)

³And again they shouted:

“Hallelujah!^(AE)
The smoke from her goes up for ever and ever.”^(AF)

⁴The twenty-four elders^(AG) and the four living creatures^(AH) fell down^(AI) and worshiped God, who was seated on the throne. And they cried:

“Amen, Hallelujah!”^(AJ)

⁵Then a voice came from the throne, saying:

“Praise our God,
all you his servants,^(AK)
you who fear him,
both great and small!”^(AL)

⁶Then I heard what sounded like a great multitude,^(AM) like the roar of rushing waters^(AN) and like loud peals of thunder, shouting:

“Hallelujah!^(AO)
    For our Lord God Almighty^(AP) reigns.^(AQ)
⁷Let us rejoice and be glad
    and give him glory!^(AR)
For the wedding of the Lamb^(AS) has come,
    and his bride^(AT) has made herself ready.
⁸Fine linen,^(AU) bright and clean,
    was given her to wear.”

(Fine linen stands for the righteous acts^(AV) of God’s holy people.)

⁹Then the angel said to me,^(AW) “Write this:^(AX) Blessed are those who are invited to the wedding supper of the Lamb!”^(AY) And he added, “These are the true words of God.”^(AZ)

¹⁰At this I fell at his feet to worship him.^(BA) But he said to me, “Don’t do that! I am a fellow servant with you and with your brothers and sisters who hold to the testimony of Jesus. Worship God!^(BB) For it is the Spirit of prophecy who bears testimony to Jesus.”^(BC)