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Revelation 16-18
English Standard Version
Revelation 16-18
English Standard Version
The Seven Bowls of God's Wrath
16 Then I heard a loud voice from the temple telling (A)the seven angels, “Go and (B)pour out on the earth (C)the seven bowls of the wrath of God.”
2 So the first angel went and poured out his bowl on the earth, and harmful and painful (D)sores came upon the people who bore (E)the mark of the beast and worshiped its image.
3 The second angel poured out his bowl into the sea, and (F)it became like the blood of a corpse, and (G)every living thing died that was in the sea.
4 The third angel poured out his bowl into (H)the rivers and the springs of water, and (I)they became blood. 5 And I heard the angel in charge of the waters[a] say,
(J)“Just are you, (K)O Holy One, (L)who is and who was,
for you brought these judgments.
6 For (M)they have shed the blood of (N)saints and prophets,
and (O)you have given them blood to drink.
It is what they deserve!”
7 And I heard (P)the altar saying,
“Yes, Lord God the Almighty,
(Q)true and just are your judgments!”
8 The fourth angel poured out his bowl on the sun, and it was allowed to scorch people (R)with fire. 9 They were scorched by the fierce heat, and (S)they cursed[b] the name of God who had power over these plagues. (T)They did not repent (U)and give him glory.
10 The fifth angel poured out his bowl on (V)the throne of the beast, and (W)its kingdom was plunged into darkness. People gnawed their tongues in anguish 11 and cursed (X)the God of heaven for their pain and (Y)sores. (Z)They did not repent of their deeds.
12 The sixth angel poured out his bowl on (AA)the great river Euphrates, and (AB)its water was dried up, (AC)to prepare the way for the kings (AD)from the east. 13 And I saw, coming out of the mouth of (AE)the dragon and out of the mouth of (AF)the beast and out of the mouth of (AG)the false prophet, three (AH)unclean spirits like (AI)frogs. 14 For they are (AJ)demonic spirits, (AK)performing signs, who go abroad to the kings of the whole world, (AL)to assemble them for battle on (AM)the great day of God the Almighty. 15 (“Behold, (AN)I am coming like a thief! (AO)Blessed is the one who stays awake, keeping his garments on, (AP)that he may not go about naked and be seen exposed!”) 16 And (AQ)they assembled them at the place that in Hebrew is called (AR)Armageddon.
The Seventh Bowl
17 The seventh angel poured out his bowl into (AS)the air, and a loud voice came out of the temple, from the throne, saying, (AT)“It is done!” 18 And there were (AU)flashes of lightning, rumblings,[c] peals of thunder, and (AV)a great earthquake (AW)such as there had never been since man was on the earth, so great was that earthquake. 19 (AX)The great city (AY)was split into three parts, and the cities of the nations fell, and God (AZ)remembered (BA)Babylon the great, (BB)to make her drain the cup of the wine of the fury of his wrath. 20 And (BC)every island fled away, and no mountains were to be found. 21 And (BD)great hailstones, about one hundred pounds[d] each, fell from heaven on people; and (BE)they cursed God for (BF)the plague of the hail, because the plague was so severe.
The Great Prostitute and the Beast
17 Then (BG)one of the seven angels who had (BH)the seven bowls came and said to me, “Come, I will show you the judgment of (BI)the great prostitute (BJ)who is seated on many waters, 2 (BK)with whom the kings of the earth have committed sexual immorality, and (BL)with the wine of whose sexual immorality (BM)the dwellers on earth have become drunk.” 3 And (BN)he carried me away in the Spirit (BO)into a wilderness, and I saw a woman sitting on (BP)a scarlet beast that was full of (BQ)blasphemous names, and (BR)it had seven heads and ten horns. 4 The woman (BS)was arrayed in purple and scarlet, and adorned (BT)with gold and jewels and pearls, holding in her hand (BU)a golden cup full of abominations and the impurities of her sexual immorality. 5 And on her forehead was written a name of (BV)mystery: (BW)“Babylon the great, mother of prostitutes and of earth's abominations.” 6 And I saw the woman, drunk (BX)with the blood of the saints, the blood of (BY)the martyrs of Jesus.[e]
When I saw her, I marveled greatly. 7 But the angel said to me, “Why do you marvel? I will tell you (BZ)the mystery of the woman, and of the beast with seven heads and ten horns that carries her. 8 The beast that you saw (CA)was, and is not, and (CB)is about to rise from (CC)the bottomless pit[f] and (CD)go to destruction. And (CE)the dwellers on earth whose names have not been written in (CF)the book of life from the foundation of the world will marvel to see the beast, because (CG)it was and is not and is to come. 9 (CH)This calls for a mind with wisdom: the seven heads are seven mountains on which the woman is seated; 10 they are also seven kings, five of whom have fallen, one is, the other has not yet come, and when he does come he must remain only a little while. 11 As for the beast (CI)that was and is not, it is an eighth but it belongs to the seven, and it goes to destruction. 12 And (CJ)the ten horns that you saw are ten kings who have not yet received royal power, but they are to receive authority as kings (CK)for one hour, together with the beast. 13 These are of one mind, and they hand over their power and authority to the beast. 14 They (CL)will make war on the Lamb, and (CM)the Lamb will conquer them, for he is (CN)Lord of lords and (CO)King of kings, and those with him are (CP)called and chosen and faithful.”
15 And the angel[g] said to me, (CQ)“The waters that you saw, where the prostitute is seated, are peoples and multitudes and nations and languages. 16 And (CR)the ten horns that you saw, they and the beast (CS)will hate the prostitute. They will make her (CT)desolate and (CU)naked, and (CV)devour her flesh and (CW)burn her up with fire, 17 for (CX)God has put it into their hearts to carry out his purpose by being of one mind and (CY)handing over their royal power to the beast, until the words of God are fulfilled. 18 And the woman that you saw is (CZ)the great city that has dominion over the kings of the earth.”
The Fall of Babylon
18 After this I saw (DA)another angel coming down from heaven, having great authority, and (DB)the earth was made bright with his glory. 2 And he called out with a mighty voice,
(DC)“Fallen, fallen is Babylon the great!
She has become (DD)a dwelling place for demons,
a haunt (DE)for every unclean spirit,
a haunt (DF)for every unclean bird,
a haunt for every unclean and detestable beast.
3 For all nations have drunk[h]
(DG)the wine of the passion of her sexual immorality,
and (DH)the kings of the earth have committed immorality with her,
and (DI)the merchants of the earth have grown rich from the power of her luxurious living.”
4 Then I heard another voice from heaven saying,
(DJ)“Come out of her, my people,
lest you take part in her sins,
lest you share in her plagues;
5 for (DK)her sins are heaped high as heaven,
and (DL)God has remembered her iniquities.
6 (DM)Pay her back as she herself has paid back others,
and repay her (DN)double for her deeds;
mix a double portion for her (DO)in the cup she mixed.
7 (DP)As she glorified herself and lived in luxury,
so give her a like measure of torment and mourning,
since in her heart she says,
(DQ)‘I sit as a queen,
I am no widow,
and mourning I shall never see.’
8 For this reason her plagues will come (DR)in a single day,
death and mourning and famine,
and (DS)she will be burned up with fire;
for (DT)mighty is the Lord God who has judged her.”
9 And (DU)the kings of the earth, who committed sexual immorality and lived in luxury with her, (DV)will weep and wail over her (DW)when they see the smoke of her burning. 10 (DX)They will stand far off, in fear of her torment, and say,
“Alas! Alas! (DY)You great city,
you mighty city, Babylon!
For (DZ)in a single hour your judgment has come.”
11 And (EA)the merchants of the earth weep and mourn for her, since no one buys their cargo anymore, 12 cargo of gold, silver, jewels, pearls, fine linen, purple cloth, silk, scarlet cloth, all kinds of scented wood, all kinds of articles of ivory, all kinds of articles of costly wood, bronze, iron and marble, 13 cinnamon, spice, incense, myrrh, frankincense, wine, oil, fine flour, wheat, cattle and sheep, horses and chariots, and slaves, that is, human souls.[i]
14 “The fruit for which your soul longed
has gone from you,
and all your delicacies and your splendors
are lost to you,
never to be found again!”
15 (EB)The merchants of these wares, who gained wealth from her, (EC)will stand far off, in fear of her torment, weeping and mourning aloud,
16 “Alas, alas, for the great city
(ED)that was clothed in fine linen,
in purple and scarlet,
adorned with gold,
with jewels, and with pearls!
17 For (EE)in a single hour all this wealth (EF)has been laid waste.”
And (EG)all shipmasters and seafaring men, sailors and all whose trade is on the sea, stood far off 18 and (EH)cried out (EI)as they saw the smoke of her burning,
(EJ)“What city was like the great city?”
19 And they threw (EK)dust on their heads as they wept and mourned, crying out,
“Alas, alas, for the great city
(EL)where all who had ships at sea
grew rich by her wealth!
For (EM)in a single hour she has been laid waste.
20 (EN)Rejoice over her, O heaven,
and you saints and (EO)apostles and prophets,
for (EP)God has given judgment for you against her!”
21 Then (EQ)a mighty angel (ER)took up a stone like a great millstone and threw it into the sea, saying,
“So will Babylon (ES)the great city be thrown down with violence,
and will be found no more;
22 and (ET)the sound of harpists and musicians, of flute players and trumpeters,
will be heard in you no more,
and a craftsman of any craft
will be found in you no more,
and (EU)the sound of the mill
will be heard in you no more,
23 and the light of a lamp
will shine in you no more,
and (EV)the voice of bridegroom and bride
will be heard in you no more,
for (EW)your merchants were the great ones of the earth,
and all nations were deceived (EX)by your sorcery.
24 And (EY)in her was found the blood of prophets and of saints,
and of (EZ)all who have been slain on earth.”
Footnotes
- Revelation 16:5 Greek angel of the waters
- Revelation 16:9 Greek blasphemed; also verses 11, 21
- Revelation 16:18 Or voices, or sounds
- Revelation 16:21 Greek a talent in weight
- Revelation 17:6 Greek the witnesses to Jesus
- Revelation 17:8 Greek the abyss
- Revelation 17:15 Greek he
- Revelation 18:3 Some manuscripts fallen by
- Revelation 18:13 Or and slaves, and human lives
Revelation 16-18
New International Version
Revelation 16-18
New International Version
The Seven Bowls of God’s Wrath
16 Then I heard a loud voice from the temple(A) saying to the seven angels,(B) “Go, pour out the seven bowls of God’s wrath on the earth.”(C)
2 The first angel went and poured out his bowl on the land,(D) and ugly, festering sores(E) broke out on the people who had the mark of the beast and worshiped its image.(F)
3 The second angel poured out his bowl on the sea, and it turned into blood like that of a dead person, and every living thing in the sea died.(G)
4 The third angel poured out his bowl on the rivers and springs of water,(H) and they became blood.(I) 5 Then I heard the angel in charge of the waters say:
“You are just in these judgments,(J) O Holy One,(K)
you who are and who were;(L)
6 for they have shed the blood of your holy people and your prophets,(M)
and you have given them blood to drink(N) as they deserve.”
7 And I heard the altar(O) respond:
8 The fourth angel(R) poured out his bowl on the sun,(S) and the sun was allowed to scorch people with fire.(T) 9 They were seared by the intense heat and they cursed the name of God,(U) who had control over these plagues, but they refused to repent(V) and glorify him.(W)
10 The fifth angel poured out his bowl on the throne of the beast,(X) and its kingdom was plunged into darkness.(Y) People gnawed their tongues in agony 11 and cursed(Z) the God of heaven(AA) because of their pains and their sores,(AB) but they refused to repent of what they had done.(AC)
12 The sixth angel poured out his bowl on the great river Euphrates,(AD) and its water was dried up to prepare the way(AE) for the kings from the East.(AF) 13 Then I saw three impure spirits(AG) that looked like frogs;(AH) they came out of the mouth of the dragon,(AI) out of the mouth of the beast(AJ) and out of the mouth of the false prophet.(AK) 14 They are demonic spirits(AL) that perform signs,(AM) and they go out to the kings of the whole world,(AN) to gather them for the battle(AO) on the great day(AP) of God Almighty.
15 “Look, I come like a thief!(AQ) Blessed is the one who stays awake(AR) and remains clothed, so as not to go naked and be shamefully exposed.”(AS)
16 Then they gathered the kings together(AT) to the place that in Hebrew(AU) is called Armageddon.(AV)
17 The seventh angel poured out his bowl into the air,(AW) and out of the temple(AX) came a loud voice(AY) from the throne, saying, “It is done!”(AZ) 18 Then there came flashes of lightning, rumblings, peals of thunder(BA) and a severe earthquake.(BB) No earthquake like it has ever occurred since mankind has been on earth,(BC) so tremendous was the quake. 19 The great city(BD) split into three parts, and the cities of the nations collapsed. God remembered(BE) Babylon the Great(BF) and gave her the cup filled with the wine of the fury of his wrath.(BG) 20 Every island fled away and the mountains could not be found.(BH) 21 From the sky huge hailstones,(BI) each weighing about a hundred pounds,[a] fell on people. And they cursed God(BJ) on account of the plague of hail,(BK) because the plague was so terrible.
Babylon, the Prostitute on the Beast
17 One of the seven angels(BL) who had the seven bowls(BM) came and said to me, “Come, I will show you the punishment(BN) of the great prostitute,(BO) who sits by many waters.(BP) 2 With her the kings of the earth committed adultery, and the inhabitants of the earth were intoxicated with the wine of her adulteries.”(BQ)
3 Then the angel carried me away in the Spirit(BR) into a wilderness.(BS) There I saw a woman sitting on a scarlet(BT) beast that was covered with blasphemous names(BU) and had seven heads and ten horns.(BV) 4 The woman was dressed in purple and scarlet, and was glittering with gold, precious stones and pearls.(BW) She held a golden cup(BX) in her hand, filled with abominable things and the filth of her adulteries.(BY) 5 The name written on her forehead was a mystery:(BZ)
6 I saw that the woman was drunk with the blood of God’s holy people,(CC) the blood of those who bore testimony to Jesus.
When I saw her, I was greatly astonished. 7 Then the angel said to me: “Why are you astonished? I will explain to you the mystery(CD) of the woman and of the beast she rides, which has the seven heads and ten horns.(CE) 8 The beast, which you saw, once was, now is not, and yet will come up out of the Abyss(CF) and go to its destruction.(CG) The inhabitants of the earth(CH) whose names have not been written in the book of life(CI) from the creation of the world will be astonished(CJ) when they see the beast, because it once was, now is not, and yet will come.
9 “This calls for a mind with wisdom.(CK) The seven heads(CL) are seven hills on which the woman sits. 10 They are also seven kings. Five have fallen, one is, the other has not yet come; but when he does come, he must remain for only a little while. 11 The beast who once was, and now is not,(CM) is an eighth king. He belongs to the seven and is going to his destruction.
12 “The ten horns(CN) you saw are ten kings who have not yet received a kingdom, but who for one hour(CO) will receive authority as kings along with the beast. 13 They have one purpose and will give their power and authority to the beast.(CP) 14 They will wage war(CQ) against the Lamb, but the Lamb will triumph over(CR) them because he is Lord of lords and King of kings(CS)—and with him will be his called, chosen(CT) and faithful followers.”
15 Then the angel said to me, “The waters(CU) you saw, where the prostitute sits, are peoples, multitudes, nations and languages.(CV) 16 The beast and the ten horns(CW) you saw will hate the prostitute.(CX) They will bring her to ruin(CY) and leave her naked;(CZ) they will eat her flesh(DA) and burn her with fire.(DB) 17 For God has put it into their hearts(DC) to accomplish his purpose by agreeing to hand over to the beast their royal authority,(DD) until God’s words are fulfilled.(DE) 18 The woman you saw is the great city(DF) that rules over the kings of the earth.”
Lament Over Fallen Babylon
18 After this I saw another angel(DG) coming down from heaven.(DH) He had great authority, and the earth was illuminated by his splendor.(DI) 2 With a mighty voice he shouted:
“‘Fallen! Fallen is Babylon the Great!’[b](DJ)
She has become a dwelling for demons
and a haunt for every impure spirit,(DK)
a haunt for every unclean bird,
a haunt for every unclean and detestable animal.(DL)
3 For all the nations have drunk
the maddening wine of her adulteries.(DM)
The kings of the earth committed adultery with her,(DN)
and the merchants of the earth grew rich(DO) from her excessive luxuries.”(DP)
Warning to Escape Babylon’s Judgment
4 Then I heard another voice from heaven say:
“‘Come out of her, my people,’[c](DQ)
so that you will not share in her sins,
so that you will not receive any of her plagues;(DR)
5 for her sins are piled up to heaven,(DS)
and God has remembered(DT) her crimes.
6 Give back to her as she has given;
pay her back(DU) double(DV) for what she has done.
Pour her a double portion from her own cup.(DW)
7 Give her as much torment and grief
as the glory and luxury she gave herself.(DX)
In her heart she boasts,
‘I sit enthroned as queen.
I am not a widow;[d]
I will never mourn.’(DY)
8 Therefore in one day(DZ) her plagues will overtake her:
death, mourning and famine.
She will be consumed by fire,(EA)
for mighty is the Lord God who judges her.
Threefold Woe Over Babylon’s Fall
9 “When the kings of the earth who committed adultery with her(EB) and shared her luxury(EC) see the smoke of her burning,(ED) they will weep and mourn over her.(EE) 10 Terrified at her torment, they will stand far off(EF) and cry:
11 “The merchants(EI) of the earth will weep and mourn(EJ) over her because no one buys their cargoes anymore(EK)— 12 cargoes of gold, silver, precious stones and pearls; fine linen, purple, silk and scarlet cloth; every sort of citron wood, and articles of every kind made of ivory, costly wood, bronze, iron and marble;(EL) 13 cargoes of cinnamon and spice, of incense, myrrh and frankincense, of wine and olive oil, of fine flour and wheat; cattle and sheep; horses and carriages; and human beings sold as slaves.(EM)
14 “They will say, ‘The fruit you longed for is gone from you. All your luxury and splendor have vanished, never to be recovered.’ 15 The merchants who sold these things and gained their wealth from her(EN) will stand far off,(EO) terrified at her torment. They will weep and mourn(EP) 16 and cry out:
“‘Woe! Woe to you, great city,(EQ)
dressed in fine linen, purple and scarlet,
and glittering with gold, precious stones and pearls!(ER)
17 In one hour(ES) such great wealth has been brought to ruin!’(ET)
“Every sea captain, and all who travel by ship, the sailors, and all who earn their living from the sea,(EU) will stand far off.(EV) 18 When they see the smoke of her burning,(EW) they will exclaim, ‘Was there ever a city like this great city(EX)?’(EY) 19 They will throw dust on their heads,(EZ) and with weeping and mourning(FA) cry out:
“‘Woe! Woe to you, great city,(FB)
where all who had ships on the sea
became rich through her wealth!
In one hour she has been brought to ruin!’(FC)
20 “Rejoice over her, you heavens!(FD)
Rejoice, you people of God!
Rejoice, apostles and prophets!
For God has judged her
with the judgment she imposed on you.”(FE)
The Finality of Babylon’s Doom
21 Then a mighty angel(FF) picked up a boulder the size of a large millstone and threw it into the sea,(FG) and said:
“With such violence
the great city(FH) of Babylon will be thrown down,
never to be found again.
22 The music of harpists and musicians, pipers and trumpeters,
will never be heard in you again.(FI)
No worker of any trade
will ever be found in you again.
The sound of a millstone
will never be heard in you again.(FJ)
23 The light of a lamp
will never shine in you again.
The voice of bridegroom and bride
will never be heard in you again.(FK)
Your merchants were the world’s important people.(FL)
By your magic spell(FM) all the nations were led astray.
24 In her was found the blood of prophets and of God’s holy people,(FN)
of all who have been slaughtered on the earth.”(FO)
Footnotes
- Revelation 16:21 Or about 45 kilograms
- Revelation 18:2 Isaiah 21:9
- Revelation 18:4 Jer. 51:45
- Revelation 18:7 See Isaiah 47:7,8.
English Standard Version (ESV) 
The Holy Bible, English Standard Version. ESV® Text Edition: 2016. Copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers.
New International Version (NIV) 
Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.
NIV Reverse Interlinear Bible: English to Hebrew and English to Greek. Copyright © 2019 by Zondervan.