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)

²The 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)

³The 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)

⁴The third angel poured out his bowl on the rivers and springs of water,^(H) and they became blood.^(I) ⁵Then 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)
⁶for 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.”

⁷And I heard the altar^(O) respond:

“Yes, Lord God Almighty,^(P)
true and just are your judgments.”^(Q)

⁸The fourth angel^(R) poured out his bowl on the sun,^(S) and the sun was allowed to scorch people with fire.^(T) ⁹They 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)

¹⁰The 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 ¹¹and 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)

¹²The 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) ¹³Then 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) ¹⁴They 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)

¹⁶Then they gathered the kings together^(AT) to the place that in Hebrew^(AU) is called Armageddon.^(AV)

¹⁷The 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) ¹⁸Then 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. ¹⁹The 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) ²⁰Every island fled away and the mountains could not be found.^(BH) ²¹From 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) ²With her the kings of the earth committed adultery, and the inhabitants of the earth were intoxicated with the wine of her adulteries.”^(BQ)

³Then 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) ⁴The 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) ⁵The name written on her forehead was a mystery:^(BZ)

babylon the great^(CA)

the mother of prostitutes^(CB)

and of the abominations of the earth.

⁶I 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. ⁷Then 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) ⁸The 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. ¹⁰They 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. ¹¹The 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. ¹³They have one purpose and will give their power and authority to the beast.^(CP) ¹⁴They 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.”

¹⁵Then the angel said to me, “The waters^(CU) you saw, where the prostitute sits, are peoples, multitudes, nations and languages.^(CV) ¹⁶The 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) ¹⁷For 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) ¹⁸The 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) ²With 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)
³For 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

⁴Then 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)
⁵for her sins are piled up to heaven,^(DS)
    and God has remembered^(DT) her crimes.
⁶Give 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)
⁷Give 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)
⁸Therefore 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) ¹⁰Terrified at her torment, they will stand far off^(EF) and cry:

“‘Woe! Woe to you, great city,^(EG)
you mighty city of Babylon!
In one hour^(EH) your doom has come!’

¹¹“The merchants^(EI) of the earth will weep and mourn^(EJ) over her because no one buys their cargoes anymore^(EK)— ¹²cargoes 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) ¹³cargoes 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.’ ¹⁵The 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) ¹⁶and 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)
¹⁷In 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) ¹⁸When they see the smoke of her burning,^(EW) they will exclaim, ‘Was there ever a city like this great city^(EX)?’^(EY) ¹⁹They 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

²¹Then 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.
²²The 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)
²³The 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.
²⁴In her was found the blood of prophets and of God’s holy people,^(FN)
    of all who have been slaughtered on the earth.”^(FO)