¹ Jude,^(A) a servant of Jesus Christ^(B) and a brother of James,

To those who have been called,^(C) who are loved in God the Father and kept for^[a] Jesus Christ:^(D)

² Mercy, peace^(E) and love be yours in abundance.^(F)

The Sin and Doom of Ungodly People

³ Dear friends,^(G) although I was very eager to write to you about the salvation we share,^(H) I felt compelled to write and urge you to contend^(I) for the faith^(J) that was once for all entrusted to God’s holy people.^{(K) 4} For certain individuals whose condemnation was written about^[b] long ago have secretly slipped in among you.^(L) They are ungodly people, who pervert the grace of our God into a license for immorality and deny Jesus Christ our only Sovereign and Lord.^(M)

⁵ Though you already know all this,^(N) I want to remind you^(O) that the Lord^[c] at one time delivered his people out of Egypt, but later destroyed those who did not believe.^{(P) 6} And the angels who did not keep their positions of authority but abandoned their proper dwelling—these he has kept in darkness, bound with everlasting chains for judgment on the great Day.^{(Q) 7} In a similar way, Sodom and Gomorrah^(R) and the surrounding towns^(S) gave themselves up to sexual immorality and perversion. They serve as an example of those who suffer the punishment of eternal fire.^(T)

⁸ In the very same way, on the strength of their dreams these ungodly people pollute their own bodies, reject authority and heap abuse on celestial beings.^{(U) 9} But even the archangel^(V) Michael,^(W) when he was disputing with the devil about the body of Moses,^(X) did not himself dare to condemn him for slander but said, “The Lord rebuke you!”^{[d](Y) 10} Yet these people slander whatever they do not understand, and the very things they do understand by instinct—as irrational animals do—will destroy them.^(Z)

¹¹ Woe to them! They have taken the way of Cain;^(AA) they have rushed for profit into Balaam’s error;^(AB) they have been destroyed in Korah’s rebellion.^(AC)

¹² These people are blemishes at your love feasts,^(AD) eating with you without the slightest qualm—shepherds who feed only themselves.^(AE) They are clouds without rain,^(AF) blown along by the wind;^(AG) autumn trees, without fruit and uprooted^(AH)—twice dead. ¹³ They are wild waves of the sea,^(AI) foaming up their shame;^(AJ) wandering stars, for whom blackest darkness has been reserved forever.^(AK)

¹⁴ Enoch,^(AL) the seventh from Adam, prophesied about them: “See, the Lord is coming^(AM) with thousands upon thousands of his holy ones^{(AN) 15} to judge^(AO) everyone, and to convict all of them of all the ungodly acts they have committed in their ungodliness, and of all the defiant words ungodly sinners have spoken against him.”^{[e](AP) 16} These people are grumblers^(AQ) and faultfinders; they follow their own evil desires;^(AR) they boast^(AS) about themselves and flatter others for their own advantage.

A Call to Persevere

¹⁷ But, dear friends, remember what the apostles^(AT) of our Lord Jesus Christ foretold.^{(AU) 18} They said to you, “In the last times^(AV) there will be scoffers who will follow their own ungodly desires.”^{(AW) 19} These are the people who divide you, who follow mere natural instincts and do not have the Spirit.^(AX)

²⁰ But you, dear friends, by building yourselves up^(AY) in your most holy faith^(AZ) and praying in the Holy Spirit,^{(BA) 21} keep yourselves in God’s love as you wait^(BB) for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ to bring you to eternal life.^(BC)

²² Be merciful to those who doubt; ²³ save others by snatching them from the fire;^(BD) to others show mercy, mixed with fear—hating even the clothing stained by corrupted flesh.^[f](BE)

Doxology

²⁴ To him who is able^(BF) to keep you from stumbling and to present you before his glorious presence^(BG) without fault^(BH) and with great joy— ²⁵ to the only God^(BI) our Savior be glory, majesty, power and authority, through Jesus Christ our Lord, before all ages, now and forevermore!^(BJ) Amen.^(BK)

Threefold Hallelujah Over Babylon’s Fall

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

³ And again they shouted:

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

⁵ Then a voice came from the throne, saying:

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

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

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

¹⁰ At this I fell at his feet to worship him.^(AD) 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!^(AE) For it is the Spirit of prophecy who bears testimony to Jesus.”^(AF)

The Heavenly Warrior Defeats the Beast

¹¹ I saw heaven standing open^(AG) and there before me was a white horse, whose rider^(AH) is called Faithful and True.^(AI) With justice he judges and wages war.^{(AJ) 12} His eyes are like blazing fire,^(AK) and on his head are many crowns.^(AL) He has a name written on him^(AM) that no one knows but he himself.^{(AN) 13} He is dressed in a robe dipped in blood,^(AO) and his name is the Word of God.^{(AP) 14} The armies of heaven were following him, riding on white horses and dressed in fine linen,^(AQ) white^(AR) and clean. ¹⁵ Coming out of his mouth is a sharp sword^(AS) with which to strike down^(AT) the nations. “He will rule them with an iron scepter.”^[a](AU) He treads the winepress^(AV) of the fury of the wrath of God Almighty. ¹⁶ On his robe and on his thigh he has this name written:^(AW)

¹⁷ And I saw an angel standing in the sun, who cried in a loud voice to all the birds^(AY) flying in midair,^(AZ) “Come,^(BA) gather together for the great supper of God,^{(BB) 18} so that you may eat the flesh of kings, generals, and the mighty, of horses and their riders, and the flesh of all people,^(BC) free and slave,^(BD) great and small.”^(BE)

¹⁹ Then I saw the beast^(BF) and the kings of the earth^(BG) and their armies gathered together to wage war against the rider on the horse^(BH) and his army. ²⁰ But the beast was captured, and with it the false prophet^(BI) who had performed the signs^(BJ) on its behalf.^(BK) With these signs he had deluded^(BL) those who had received the mark of the beast^(BM) and worshiped its image.^(BN) The two of them were thrown alive into the fiery lake^(BO) of burning sulfur.^{(BP) 21} The rest were killed with the sword^(BQ) coming out of the mouth of the rider on the horse,^(BR) and all the birds^(BS) gorged themselves on their flesh.

The Thousand Years

20 And I saw an angel coming down out of heaven,^(BT) having the key^(BU) to the Abyss^(BV) and holding in his hand a great chain. ² He seized the dragon, that ancient serpent, who is the devil, or Satan,^(BW) and bound him for a thousand years.^{(BX) 3} He threw him into the Abyss,^(BY) and locked and sealed^(BZ) it over him, to keep him from deceiving the nations^(CA) anymore until the thousand years were ended. After that, he must be set free for a short time.

⁴ I saw thrones^(CB) on which were seated those who had been given authority to judge.^(CC) And I saw the souls of those who had been beheaded^(CD) because of their testimony about Jesus^(CE) and because of the word of God.^(CF) They^[b] had not worshiped the beast^(CG) or its image and had not received its mark on their foreheads or their hands.^(CH) They came to life and reigned^(CI) with Christ a thousand years. ⁵ (The rest of the dead did not come to life until the thousand years were ended.) This is the first resurrection.^{(CJ) 6} Blessed^(CK) and holy are those who share in the first resurrection. The second death^(CL) has no power over them, but they will be priests^(CM) of God and of Christ and will reign with him^(CN) for a thousand years.

The Judgment of Satan

⁷ When the thousand years are over,^(CO) Satan will be released from his prison ⁸ and will go out to deceive the nations^(CP) in the four corners of the earth^(CQ)—Gog and Magog^(CR)—and to gather them for battle.^(CS) In number they are like the sand on the seashore.^{(CT) 9} They marched across the breadth of the earth and surrounded^(CU) the camp of God’s people, the city he loves.^(CV) But fire came down from heaven^(CW) and devoured them. ¹⁰ And the devil, who deceived them,^(CX) was thrown into the lake of burning sulfur,^(CY) where the beast^(CZ) and the false prophet^(DA) had been thrown. They will be tormented day and night for ever and ever.^(DB)

The Judgment of the Dead

¹¹ Then I saw a great white throne^(DC) and him who was seated on it. The earth and the heavens fled from his presence,^(DD) and there was no place for them. ¹² And I saw the dead, great and small,^(DE) standing before the throne, and books were opened.^(DF) Another book was opened, which is the book of life.^(DG) The dead were judged^(DH) according to what they had done^(DI) as recorded in the books. ¹³ The sea gave up the dead that were in it, and death and Hades^(DJ) gave up the dead^(DK) that were in them, and each person was judged according to what they had done.^{(DL) 14} Then death^(DM) and Hades^(DN) were thrown into the lake of fire.^(DO) The lake of fire is the second death.^{(DP) 15} Anyone whose name was not found written in the book of life^(DQ) was thrown into the lake of fire.

A New Heaven and a New Earth

21 Then I saw “a new heaven and a new earth,”^[c](DR) for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away,^(DS) and there was no longer any sea. ² I saw the Holy City,^(DT) the new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God,^(DU) prepared as a bride^(DV) beautifully dressed for her husband. ³ And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, “Look! God’s dwelling place is now among the people, and he will dwell with them.^(DW) They will be his people, and God himself will be with them and be their God.^{(DX) 4} ‘He will wipe every tear from their eyes.^(DY) There will be no more death’^[d](DZ) or mourning or crying or pain,^(EA) for the old order of things has passed away.”^(EB)

⁵ He who was seated on the throne^(EC) said, “I am making everything new!”^(ED) Then he said, “Write this down, for these words are trustworthy and true.”^(EE)

⁶ He said to me: “It is done.^(EF) I am the Alpha and the Omega,^(EG) the Beginning and the End. To the thirsty I will give water without cost^(EH) from the spring of the water of life.^{(EI) 7} Those who are victorious^(EJ) will inherit all this, and I will be their God and they will be my children.^{(EK) 8} But the cowardly, the unbelieving, the vile, the murderers, the sexually immoral, those who practice magic arts, the idolaters and all liars^(EL)—they will be consigned to the fiery lake of burning sulfur.^(EM) This is the second death.”^(EN)

The New Jerusalem, the Bride of the Lamb

⁹ One of the seven angels who had the seven bowls full of the seven last plagues^(EO) came and said to me, “Come, I will show you the bride,^(EP) the wife of the Lamb.” ¹⁰ And he carried me away^(EQ) in the Spirit^(ER) to a mountain great and high, and showed me the Holy City, Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God.^{(ES) 11} It shone with the glory of God,^(ET) and its brilliance was like that of a very precious jewel, like a jasper,^(EU) clear as crystal.^{(EV) 12} It had a great, high wall with twelve gates,^(EW) and with twelve angels at the gates. On the gates were written the names of the twelve tribes of Israel.^{(EX) 13} There were three gates on the east, three on the north, three on the south and three on the west. ¹⁴ The wall of the city had twelve foundations,^(EY) and on them were the names of the twelve apostles^(EZ) of the Lamb.

¹⁵ The angel who talked with me had a measuring rod^(FA) of gold to measure the city, its gates^(FB) and its walls. ¹⁶ The city was laid out like a square, as long as it was wide. He measured the city with the rod and found it to be 12,000 stadia^[e] in length, and as wide and high as it is long. ¹⁷ The angel measured the wall using human^(FC) measurement, and it was 144 cubits^[f] thick.^{[g] 18} The wall was made of jasper,^(FD) and the city of pure gold, as pure as glass.^{(FE) 19} The foundations of the city walls were decorated with every kind of precious stone.^(FF) The first foundation was jasper,^(FG) the second sapphire, the third agate, the fourth emerald, ²⁰ the fifth onyx, the sixth ruby,^(FH) the seventh chrysolite, the eighth beryl, the ninth topaz, the tenth turquoise, the eleventh jacinth, and the twelfth amethyst.^{[h] 21} The twelve gates^(FI) were twelve pearls,^(FJ) each gate made of a single pearl. The great street of the city was of gold, as pure as transparent glass.^(FK)

²² I did not see a temple^(FL) in the city, because the Lord God Almighty^(FM) and the Lamb^(FN) are its temple. ²³ The city does not need the sun or the moon to shine on it, for the glory of God^(FO) gives it light,^(FP) and the Lamb^(FQ) is its lamp. ²⁴ The nations will walk by its light, and the kings of the earth will bring their splendor into it.^{(FR) 25} On no day will its gates^(FS) ever be shut,^(FT) for there will be no night there.^{(FU) 26} The glory and honor of the nations will be brought into it.^{(FV) 27} Nothing impure will ever enter it, nor will anyone who does what is shameful or deceitful,^(FW) but only those whose names are written in the Lamb’s book of life.^(FX)

Eden Restored

22 Then the angel showed me the river^(FY) of the water of life,^(FZ) as clear as crystal,^(GA) flowing^(GB) from the throne of God and of the Lamb ² down the middle of the great street of the city. On each side of the river stood the tree of life,^(GC) bearing twelve crops of fruit, yielding its fruit every month. And the leaves of the tree are for the healing of the nations.^{(GD) 3} No longer will there be any curse.^(GE) The throne of God and of the Lamb will be in the city, and his servants will serve him.^{(GF) 4} They will see his face,^(GG) and his name will be on their foreheads.^{(GH) 5} There will be no more night.^(GI) They will not need the light of a lamp or the light of the sun, for the Lord God will give them light.^(GJ) And they will reign for ever and ever.^(GK)

John and the Angel

⁶ The angel said to me,^(GL) “These words are trustworthy and true.^(GM) The Lord, the God who inspires the prophets,^(GN) sent his angel^(GO) to show his servants the things that must soon take place.”

⁷ “Look, I am coming soon!^(GP) Blessed^(GQ) is the one who keeps the words of the prophecy written in this scroll.”^(GR)

⁸ I, John, am the one who heard and saw these things.^(GS) And when I had heard and seen them, I fell down to worship at the feet^(GT) of the angel who had been showing them to me. ⁹ But he said to me, “Don’t do that! I am a fellow servant with you and with your fellow prophets and with all who keep the words of this scroll.^(GU) Worship God!”^(GV)

¹⁰ Then he told me, “Do not seal up^(GW) the words of the prophecy of this scroll,^(GX) because the time is near.^{(GY) 11} Let the one who does wrong continue to do wrong; let the vile person continue to be vile; let the one who does right continue to do right; and let the holy person continue to be holy.”^(GZ)

Epilogue: Invitation and Warning

¹² “Look, I am coming soon!^(HA) My reward is with me,^(HB) and I will give to each person according to what they have done.^{(HC) 13} I am the Alpha and the Omega,^(HD) the First and the Last,^(HE) the Beginning and the End.^(HF)

¹⁴ “Blessed are those who wash their robes,^(HG) that they may have the right to the tree of life^(HH) and may go through the gates^(HI) into the city.^{(HJ) 15} Outside^(HK) are the dogs,^(HL) those who practice magic arts, the sexually immoral, the murderers, the idolaters and everyone who loves and practices falsehood.

¹⁶ “I, Jesus,^(HM) have sent my angel^(HN) to give you^[i] this testimony for the churches.^(HO) I am the Root^(HP) and the Offspring of David,^(HQ) and the bright Morning Star.”^(HR)

¹⁷ The Spirit^(HS) and the bride^(HT) say, “Come!” And let the one who hears say, “Come!” Let the one who is thirsty come; and let the one who wishes take the free gift of the water of life.^(HU)

¹⁸ I warn everyone who hears the words of the prophecy of this scroll:^(HV) If anyone adds anything to them,^(HW) God will add to that person the plagues described in this scroll.^{(HX) 19} And if anyone takes words away^(HY) from this scroll of prophecy,^(HZ) God will take away from that person any share in the tree of life^(IA) and in the Holy City, which are described in this scroll.

²⁰ He who testifies to these things^(IB) says, “Yes, I am coming soon.”^(IC)

Amen. Come, Lord Jesus.^(ID)

²¹ The grace of the Lord Jesus be with God’s people.^(IE) Amen.