Bible in 90 Days

¹ From Jude [Mark 6:3; Acts 1:14], a ·servant [slave; bondservant] of Jesus ·Christ [the Messiah] and a brother of James [^Cthe half-brother of Jesus; James 1:1].

To all who have been ·called [chosen] by God. God the Father loves you, and you have been kept safe ·in [or for; or by] Jesus Christ:

² Mercy, peace, and love be yours ·richly [in abundance; more and more].

God Will Punish Sinners

³ ·Dear friends [Loved ones; Beloved], I ·wanted very much [or was making every effort; or was just about] to write you about ·the salvation we all share [our common salvation]. But I felt the need to write you about something else: I want to ·encourage [exhort; urge; appeal to] you to ·fight hard for [earnestly contend for; defend] the faith [^Cthe authentic gospel message] that was ·given [handed down to; entrusted to] the ·holy people of God [^Tsaints] once and for all time. ⁴ [^LFor] Some people have ·secretly entered [sneaked in; infiltrated; wormed their way into] your group [2 Pet. 2:1]. Long ago ·the prophets wrote about these people who will be judged guilty [their condemnation was written about/predetermined]. They are ·against God [ungodly] and have ·changed [perverted; distorted] the grace of our God [^Cwith its freedom from legalistic rules] into ·a reason for sexual sin [^Ldebauchery; licentiousness; immorality]. They also ·refuse to accept [deny; have turned against] our only Master and Lord, Jesus Christ.

⁵ I want to remind you of some things you already know ·well [fully]: Remember that the Lord^[a] ·saved [rescued; delivered] his people by bringing them out of the land of Egypt. But later he destroyed all those who ·did not believe [were unfaithful]. ⁶ And remember the angels who did not keep their ·place of power [position of authority; ^Lown domain/rule] but left their proper ·home [dwelling place]. The Lord has kept these angels in ·darkness [gloom; ^Cthe nether world or underworld; the place of the dead], bound with everlasting chains, to be judged on the great day [^Cthe final day of judgment; 2 Pet. 2:4]. ⁷ Also remember the cities of Sodom and Gomorrah [^Cdestroyed by God for their evil; Gen. 19; 2 Pet. 2:6] and the other towns around them. In the same way they were full of sexual sin and people who ·desired sexual relations that God does not allow [pursued sexual perversion; ^Ldeparted after different flesh]. They suffer the punishment of eternal fire, as an ·example [warning] for all to see.

⁸ It is the same with these people [^Cthe false teachers; v. 4]. They are guided by dreams ·and make themselves filthy with sin [and live immoral lives/pollute their bodies; or to defile the flesh]. They ·reject [despise] ·God’s authority [^Lauthority] and ·speak against [insult; slander; blaspheme] ·the angels [celestial beings; ^Lglorious ones; 2 Pet. 2:10–11]. ⁹ Not even the archangel Michael [^Ca leader among God’s angels; Dan. 10:13, 21; 12:1; Rev. 12:7], when he ·argued [contended] with the devil ·about who would have [^Labout] the body of Moses, dared to ·judge the devil guilty [^Lbring a slanderous/blasphemous judgment]. Instead, he said, “The Lord ·punish [rebuke] you [^Cprobably a story told in the Testament of Moses, a Jewish writing of the early first century ad].” ¹⁰ But these people ·speak against [slander; blaspheme] things they do not understand [2 Pet. 2:12]. And what they do know, ·by feeling [instinctively], like ·dumb [unreasoning; irrational] animals, are the very things that destroy them. ¹¹ ·It will be terrible for them [^LWoe to them!]. They have followed the way of Cain [^Cwho murdered his brother Abel; Gen. 4], and ·for money [because of greed; ^Lfor wages] they have ·given themselves [poured themselves out] to doing the ·wrong [error] that Balaam did [Num. 22—24; 2 Pet. 2:15–16]. ·They have rebelled against God as Korah did, and like Korah, they surely will be destroyed [^LIn the rebellion of Korah, they were destroyed; Num. 16]. ¹² They are like ·dirty spots [blemishes; or dangerous hidden reefs/rocks] in your ·special Christian meals you share [fellowship meals; love feasts]. They eat with you and have no ·fear [qualms; or shame], ·caring only for themselves [or shepherds feeding themselves]. They are clouds without ·rain [^Lwater], which the wind blows around [2 Pet. 2:17]. They are autumn trees without fruit that are ·pulled out of the ground [uprooted]. So they are twice dead [^Cbecause they are both barren and uprooted; or perhaps a reference to both the physical and spiritual death of the false teachers]. ¹³ They are like wild waves of the sea, ·tossing up their own shameful actions like foam [^Lfoaming up their own shame]. They are like ·stars that wander in the sky [^Cperhaps a reference to planets, whose variable positions, unlike those of the stars, provide mariners no guidance]. A place in the ·blackest darkness [^Lgloom of darkness; v. 7] has been kept for them forever [2 Pet. 2:17].

¹⁴ Enoch, the seventh descendant from Adam [^Ccounting Adam first; Gen. 5:18–24], ·said [^Lprophesied] about these people: “·Look [^TBehold], the Lord is coming with many thousands of his ·holy angels [^Lholy ones] to ¹⁵ judge every person. He is coming to ·punish [convict] ·all [every person/soul] who are against God for all ·the evil they have done against him [^Ltheir ungodly deeds committed in an ungodly manner]. And he will punish the ·sinners who are against God [ungodly sinners] for all the ·evil [harsh/defiant words; insults] they have said against him.” [^CJude appears to be quoting here from the nonbiblical Jewish book of 1 Enoch (1:9), although he may be drawing generally from Jewish tradition.]

¹⁶ These people ·complain and blame others [are grumblers and fault-finders], ·doing the evil things they want to do [^Lpursuing their own desires/lusts]. ·They brag about themselves [^LTheir mouths speak boastful words], and they ·flatter [impress; astound] others ·to get what they want [to gain an advantage; ^Lfor the sake of gain].

A Warning and Things to Do

¹⁷ [^LBut you] ·Dear friends [Beloved], remember what the apostles of our Lord Jesus Christ ·said before [predicted; prophesied; foretold; 2 Pet. 3:2]. ¹⁸ [^LFor] They said to you, “In the ·last times [end time] there will be ·people who laugh about God [scoffers; mockers], ·following [pursuing] their own ·evil [ungodly] ·desires [passions; lusts; 2 Pet. 3:3].” ¹⁹ These are the people who ·divide you [cause divisions], people ·whose thoughts are only of this world [who are worldly; or who live by natural instincts/desires], who do not have the Spirit [^Cliving within them and guiding them].

²⁰ But [^Lyou] ·dear friends [beloved], ·use your most holy faith to build yourselves up [or build yourselves up on the foundation of your most holy faith; ^Cthe whole body of true Christian doctrine and practice], praying ·in [in dependence on; or as directed by; or according to the will of] the Holy Spirit. ²¹ Keep yourselves in God’s love as you wait for the mercy of the Lord Jesus Christ ·to give you [that leads to] ·life forever [eternal life].

²² Show mercy to ·some people who have doubts [those who waver; ^Cin their faith]. ²³ ·Take others out of the fire, and save them [^LSave/Rescue others by snatching them from the fire; ^Cfire represents judgment]. Show mercy mixed with fear to others [^Cfear inspired by God’s righteous judgment against sin], hating even their clothes which are ·dirty from sin [^Lstained by the sinful nature/flesh].

Praise God

²⁴ ·God is strong and can [^LNow to the one who is able to] ·help you not to fall [keep/guard you from falling/stumbling]. ·He can bring you [^L…and to present you] before his ·glory [glorious presence] ·without any wrong in you [faultless; blameless; spotless] and ·can give you great joy [with gladness/jubilation/rejoicing]. ²⁵ To the only God, ·the One who saves us [^Lour Savior], be glory, ·greatness [majesty], ·power [might], and authority through Jesus Christ our Lord for all ·time past [the ages], now, and forever. Amen.

John Tells About This Book

1 This is the revelation ·of Jesus Christ [about Jesus Christ; or given by Jesus Christ; ^Cthe author could be intentionally ambiguous], which God gave to him, to show his servants what must ·soon [quickly] happen. And Jesus sent his angel to ·show it [make it known] to his servant John, ² who has ·told [witnessed; testified to] everything he has seen. It is the word of God; it is the ·message [witness; testimony] from Jesus Christ. ³ ·Blessed [Happy] is the one who reads the words of ·God’s message [^Lthe prophecy], and ·blessed [happy] are the people who hear this message and ·do [keep; obey] what is written in it [^Cthe context envisioned is a leader reading to a congregation]. ·The time is near when all of this will happen [^LFor the time is near].

Jesus’ Message to the Churches

⁴ From John.

To the seven churches in Asia [^Cthe Roman province of Asia, today part of western Turkey]:

Grace and peace to you from the One who is and [the One who] was and [the One who] is coming [^Cthese three descriptions function like titles for God; Ex. 3:14–15], and from ·the seven spirits [^Creferring either to angels or to the “sevenfold Spirit”—the Holy Spirit portrayed in his perfection (the number seven indicating completeness)] before his throne, ⁵ and from Jesus Christ. Jesus is ·the faithful witness [or the faithful one, the witness], the ·first among those raised from [^Lfirstborn of/from among] the dead. He is the ruler of the kings of the earth.

·He is the One [^LTo him] who loves us, who made us free^[b] from our sins ·with the blood of his death [^Lby his blood]. ⁶ He made us to be a ·kingdom of priests [or kingdom and priests; or kingdom, that is, priests; Ex. 19:6] who serve ·God his Father [^Lhis God and Father]. To ·Jesus Christ [^Lhim] be glory and ·power [dominion] forever and ever! Amen.

⁷ Look [^TBehold], Jesus is coming with the clouds [Dan. 7:13–14], and ·everyone [^Levery eye] will see him, even those who ·stabbed [pierced] him [^Ca reference to the crucifixion; Zech. 12:10]. And all ·peoples [people groups; tribes] of the earth will ·cry loudly [wail; mourn] because of him. ·Yes, this will happen [So it shall be; ^LYes]! Amen.

⁸ The Lord God says, “I am the Alpha and the Omega [^Cthe first and last letters of the Greek alphabet; 21:6; 22:13]. I am the One who is and [the One who] was and [the One who] is coming [see 1:4]. I am the ·Almighty [All-powerful].”

⁹ I, John, ·am your brother. All of us share [^Lyour brother and partner] ·with Jesus [or in Jesus; ^Creferring to salvation as joining oneself to Christ] in ·suffering [persecution], in the kingdom, and in ·patience to continue [perseverance]. I was on the island of Patmos [^Ca small island in the Aegean Sea near Asia Minor, present-day Turkey], because ·I had preached [^Lof] the word of God and the ·message [witness; testimony] about Jesus. ¹⁰ On the Lord’s day [^Cprobably a reference to the first day of the week, Sunday, when Christians met for worship] I was in the ·Spirit [or spirit; ^Ca state of deep spiritual communion with God], and I heard a loud voice behind me that sounded like a trumpet [^Ctrumpet blasts often precede a divine appearance or speech; Ex. 19:16, 19]. ¹¹ The voice said, “Write what you see in a ·book [scroll] and send it to the seven churches: to Ephesus, Smyrna, Pergamum, Thyatira, Sardis, Philadelphia, and Laodicea [^Clocations in western Asia Minor, present-day Turkey].”

¹² I turned to see who was talking to me. When I turned, I saw seven golden lampstands ¹³ and someone among the lampstands who was “like a Son of Man [^Creferring to Jesus; the title he most often used to refer to himself; Dan. 7:13–14].” He was dressed in a long robe and had a gold ·band [sash] around his chest [^Cthe clothes of a dignitary; Dan. 10:5]. ¹⁴ His head and hair were white like wool, as white as snow [Dan. 7:9], and his eyes were like ·flames of [blazing] fire [Dan. 10:6]. ¹⁵ His feet were like bronze ·that glows hot [refined; fired] in a furnace [Dan. 10:6], and his voice was like the noise of ·flooding water [rushing water; ^Lmany waters; Ezek. 43:2]. ¹⁶ He held seven stars in his right hand, and a sharp double-edged sword came out of his mouth. ·He [^LHis face] looked like the sun shining ·at its brightest time [or with full power/force; ^Lin its strength].

¹⁷ When I saw him, I fell down at his feet like a dead man. He put his right hand on me and said, “Do not be afraid. I am the First and the Last. ¹⁸ I am the One who lives; I was dead, but ·look [^Tbehold], I am alive forever and ever! And I hold the keys to death and ·to the place of the dead [^LHades]. ¹⁹ So write the things you ·see [or have seen], ·what is now [^Lwhat is] and what will happen ·later [^Lafter these things]. ²⁰ Here is the ·secret [mystery] of the seven stars that you saw in my right hand and the seven golden lampstands: The seven stars are the ·angels [or messengers; ^Cthese may be guardian angels, human leaders, or the personified “spirit” of each church] of the seven churches, and the seven lampstands are the seven churches.

To the Church in Ephesus

2 “Write this to the ·angel [or messenger; see 1:20] of the church in Ephesus [^Can important city in western Asia Minor]:

“The One who holds the seven stars in his right hand and walks among the seven golden lampstands [^Cthe resurrected Jesus; 1:16, 20] says ·this [^Lthese things]: ² I know ·what you do [^Lyour works], ·how you work hard [^Lyour toil] and ·never give up [^Lyour perseverence/endurance]. I know you do not put up with ·the false teachings of evil people [^Levildoers; or evil]. You have tested those who say they are apostles but really are not, and you found they are ·liars [or false]. ³ You have ·patience [perseverance; endurance] and have ·suffered troubles [endured much] for my name and have not ·given up [^Lgrown weary].

⁴ “But I have this against you: You have ·left [abandoned] ·the love you had in the beginning [or your first love]. ⁵ So ·remember [consider] ·where you were before you fell [^Lhow far you have fallen]. ·Change your hearts [Repent] and do ·what [^Lthe works] you did at first. If you do not ·change [repent], I will come to you and will take away your lampstand from its place. ⁶ But ·there is something you do that is right [^Lthis you have]: You hate what the Nicolaitans do [^Cwe know little about this heresy, which possibly entailed false worship and immorality], as much as I.

⁷ “Every person who has ears should ·listen to [hear; obey] what the Spirit says to the churches. To those who ·win the victory [overcome; conquer] I will give the right to eat the fruit from the ·tree of life, which is in the ·garden [or paradise] of God [22:2; Gen. 2:9].

To the Church in Smyrna

⁸ “Write this to the ·angel [or messenger; see 1:20] of the church in Smyrna [^Ca major city in western Asia Minor, identified with present-day Izmir, Turkey]:

“The One who is the First and the Last, who died and came to life again [^Cthe resurrected Jesus; 1:17–18], says ·this [^Lthese things]: ⁹ I know your ·troubles [persecution; affliction] and that you are poor, but really you are rich! I know the ·bad things [slander; blasphemy] some people say about you. They say they are Jews, but they are not true Jews. They are a synagogue ·that belongs to [^Lof] Satan. ¹⁰ Do not be afraid of what you are about to suffer. I tell you, the devil will put some of you in prison to test you, and you will ·suffer [be persecuted/afflicted] for ten days [^Cperhaps a symbolic number meaning a significant and definite time]. But be faithful, even if you have to die, and I will give you the ·crown [^Ca wreath worn to indicate high status or as a reward] of life.

¹¹ “Everyone who has ears should ·listen to [hear; obey] what the Spirit says to the churches. Those who ·win the victory [overcome; conquer] will not be hurt by the second death [^Cthe spiritual death after physical death; 20:6, 14; 21:8].

To the Church in Pergamum

¹² “Write this to the ·angel [messenger; see 1:20] of the church in Pergamum [^Ca rich city in western Asia Minor]:

“The One who has the sharp, double-edged sword [^Cthe resurrected Jesus; 1:16] says this [^Lthese things]: ¹³ I know where you live. It is where Satan has his throne [^Ca reference to false worship; Pergamum was a center of emperor worship]. But you ·are true to me [^Lhold fast to my name]. You did not ·refuse to tell about [deny] your faith in me even during the time of Antipas, my faithful witness who was killed ·in your city [^Lamong you; ^Cwe know nothing further about Antipas], where Satan lives.

¹⁴ “But I have a few things against you: You have some there who follow the teaching of Balaam. He taught Balak how to ·cause the people of Israel to sin [^Lput a stumbling block before the children of Israel] by eating food offered to idols and by taking part in sexual sins [Num. 22—24; 31:8; Deut. 23:4–5; 2 Pet. 2:15; Jude 11]. ¹⁵ You also have some who follow the teaching of the Nicolaitans [see 2:6]. ¹⁶ So ·change your hearts and lives [repent]. If you do not, I will come to you quickly and ·fight [make war] against them with the sword that comes out of my mouth [^Cthe judgment he enacts by merely speaking; 1:16].

¹⁷ “Everyone who has ears should ·listen to [hear; obey] what the Spirit says to the churches.

“I will give some of the hidden manna [^Cperhaps alluding to a Jewish tradition that the manna placed in the ark is hidden until the messianic age; ultimately referring to the spiritual life Christ provides; John 6:32–35] to everyone who ·wins the victory [overcomes; conquers]. I will also give to each one who ·wins the victory [overcomes; conquers] a white stone with a new name written on it [^Can unknown cultural image, which, along with the manna, points to salvation in Christ]. No one knows this new name except the one who receives it [^Cthe name could be God’s or Christ’s, but more likely refers to a new name given to the people of God].

To the Church in Thyatira

¹⁸ “Write this to the ·angel [messenger; see 1:20] of the church in ·Thyatira [^Ca small city in western Asia Minor]:

“The Son of God, who has eyes that blaze like fire [1:14] and feet like shining bronze [1:15; ^Cthe resurrected Jesus], says ·this [^Lthese things]: ¹⁹ I know ·what you do [your works]. I know about your love, your faith, your service, and your ·patience [endurance; perseverance]. I know that ·you are doing more now than you did at first [^Lyour last works are greater than the first].

²⁰ “But I have this against you: You ·let that woman Jezebel spread false teachings [^Ltolerate the woman Jezebel; ^Cprobably the leader of the Nicolaitans, here given the name of the notorious Baal-worshiping queen; 1 Kin. 16:31–34; 21:25–26; 2 Kin. 9:22]. She ·says she is [calls herself] a prophetess, but ·by her teaching she leads [teaches and misleads/deceives] my ·people [^Lservants] to take part in sexual sins and to eat food that is offered to idols. ²¹ I have given her time to ·change her heart and turn away from her sin [repent of her sexual immorality], but she does not want to ·change [repent]. ²² ·So [^LLook!] I will throw her on ·a bed of suffering [or a sickbed; ^Cthe bed used for sexual sin is now a bed of suffering]. And all those who take part in adultery with her will suffer greatly if they do not ·turn away from the wrongs she does [repent of her works/deeds]. ²³ I will also kill her ·followers [^Lchildren]. Then all the churches will know I am the One who searches hearts and minds, and I will repay each of you for ·what you have done [your works/deeds].

²⁴ “But ·others [the rest] of you in Thyatira have not followed her teaching and have not learned what some call Satan’s deep secrets. I say to you that I will not put any other ·load [burden] on you. ²⁵ Only ·continue in your loyalty [^Lhold fast to what you have] until I come.

²⁶ “I will give ·power [authority] over the nations to everyone who ·wins the victory [overcomes; conquers] and ·continues to be obedient to me [or keeps working for me; ^Lkeeps/obeys my works] until the end.

²⁸ This is the same ·power [authority] I received from my Father. I will also give him the morning star [^Cusually the planet Venus as seen before sunrise, but here symbolically Christ at his return; 22:16; Num. 24:17; 2 Pet. 1:19]. ²⁹ Everyone who has ears should ·listen to [hear; obey] what the Spirit says to the churches.

To the Church in Sardis

3 “Write this to the ·angel [messenger; see 1:20] of the church in ·Sardis [^Cthe capital of the Roman province of Lydia in western Asia Minor]:

“The One [^Cthe resurrected Jesus] who has the ·seven spirits [^Creferring either to angels or to the “sevenfold Spirit”—the Holy Spirit portrayed in his perfection; 1:4] and the seven stars [1:16] says ·this [^Lthese things]: I know ·what you do [your works]. ·People say [^LYou have a name/reputation] that you are alive, but really you are dead. ² Wake up! Strengthen what you have left ·before it dies completely [or which is about to die]. I have found that ·what you are doing is less than what my God wants [^Lyour works are incompleted/unfulfilled before my God]. ³ So ·do not forget [^Lremember] what you have received and heard. Obey it, and ·change your hearts and lives [repent]. ·So you must wake up, or [^LBut if you do not wake up,] I will come like a thief, and you will not know ·when [^Lat what hour] I will come ·to [upon; against] you. ⁴ But you have a ·few [few people; ^Lfew names] there in Sardis who have kept their clothes ·unstained [unsoiled; undefiled], so they will walk with me ·and will wear white clothes [^Lin white], because they are worthy. ⁵ Those who ·win the victory [overcome; conquer] will be dressed in white clothes like them. And I will ·not [never; ^Can emphatic negation] erase [wipe out; blot out] their names from the ·book [scroll] of life [Ex. 32:32–33; Ps. 69:28; Dan. 12:1], but I will ·say they belong to me [^Lconfess their names] before my Father and before his angels. ⁶ Everyone who has ears should ·listen to [hear; obey] what the Spirit says to the churches.

To the Church in Philadelphia

⁷ “Write this to the ·angel [messenger; see 1:20] of the church in ·Philadelphia [a city in the Roman province of Lydia in western Asia Minor]:

“This is what the One who is holy and true, who holds the key of David [^Cthe resurrected Jesus; holding the key of David signifies access to the king; Is. 22:22], says. When he opens a door, no one can close it. And when he closes it, no one can open it [^CJesus controls access to God]. ⁸ I know ·what you do [your works]. I have put an open door before you, which no one can close. I know you have little ·strength [power], but you have ·obeyed my teaching [^Lkept my word] and ·were not afraid to speak [^Lhave not denied] my name. ⁹ Those in the synagogue ·that belongs to Satan [^Lof Satan] say they are Jews, but they are not true Jews; they are liars. I will make them come before you and bow at your feet, and they will ·know [acknowledge; learn] that I have loved you. ¹⁰ You have ·obeyed my teaching [^Lkept my word] about ·not giving up your faith [endurance; perseverance]. So I will keep you from the ·time [hour] of ·trouble [trial; testing] that ·will come [or is about to come] to the whole world to test those who live on earth.

¹¹ “I am coming ·soon [quickly]. ·Continue strong in your faith [^LHold on to what you have] so no one will take away your crown [^Cwreath indicating honor or victory; 2:10]. ¹² I will make those who ·win the victory [overcome; conquer] pillars in the temple of my God [^Can image of stability and security close to the glory of God], and they will never have to leave it [^Cfrequent earthquakes often forced Philadelphians to live outdoors]. I will write on them the name of my God and the name of the city of my God, the new Jerusalem, that comes down out of heaven from my God [^Cthe believers’ eternal dwelling place; see chs. 21—22]. I will also write on them my new name. ¹³ Everyone who has ears should ·listen to [hear; obey] what the Spirit says to the churches.

To the Church in Laodicea

¹⁴ “Write this to the ·angel [or messenger; see 1:20] of the church in Laodicea [^Ca city in Phrygia, a mountainous province of western Asia]:

“The Amen [^CHebrew for “so be it”; here referring to Jesus], the faithful and true witness, ·the ruler of all God has made [1:5; Prov. 8:30–31; ^Cthe resurrected Jesus], says this [^Lthese things]: ¹⁵ I know ·what you do [your works], that you are not hot or cold. I wish that you were hot or cold [^Cboth positive images, alluding to cold refreshing mountain streams and healing hot springs near Laodicea]! ¹⁶ But because you are lukewarm—neither hot, nor cold—I am ready to ·spit [vomit] you out of my mouth. ¹⁷ [^LFor] You say, ‘I am rich, and I have become wealthy and do not need anything.’ But you do not know that you are really ·miserable [wretched], pitiful, poor, blind, and naked. ¹⁸ I advise you to buy from me gold ·made pure in [refined by] fire so you can be truly rich. Buy from me white clothes [^Cindicating purity] so you can be clothed and so you can cover your shameful nakedness. Buy from me ·medicine [salve; ointment] to put on your eyes so you can truly see.

¹⁹ “I ·correct [rebuke] and ·punish [discipline] those whom I love. So be ·eager to do right [zealous; earnest], and ·change your hearts and lives [repent]. ²⁰ ·Here I am [^LLook; ^TBehold]! I stand at the door and knock. If ·you [^Lanyone] hear my voice and open the door, I will come in and eat with you, and you will eat with me.

²¹ “Those who ·win the victory [overcome; conquer] will sit with me on my throne in the same way that I ·won the victory [overcame; conquered; ^Cover death, by his resurrection] and sat down with my Father on his throne. ²² Everyone who has ears should ·listen to [hear; obey] what the Spirit says to the churches.”

John Sees Heaven

4 After the vision of these things I looked, and [^Llook; ^Tbehold] there before me was an open door in heaven. And the ·same [^Lfirst] voice that spoke to me before, that sounded like a trumpet [1:8], said, “Come up here, and I will show you what must happen after this.” ² Immediately I was in the ·Spirit [or spirit; ^Ca state of deep spiritual communion with God; 1:10], and [^Llook; ^Tbehold] before me was a throne in heaven, and someone was sitting on it. ³ The One who sat on the throne looked like precious stones, like jasper and carnelian [^Ca symbol of great beauty, purity and value]. All around the throne was a ·rainbow [or halo] ·the color of [or that looked like] an emerald. ⁴ Around the throne there were twenty-four other thrones with twenty-four elders sitting on them [^Cprobably angelic leaders]. They were dressed in white and had golden crowns [^Cwreaths symbolizing honor or victory; see 2:10] on their heads. ⁵ Lightning flashes and ·noises and thunder [or the rumbling of thunder; ^Cphenomena associated with God’s appearance at Mount Sinai; Ex. 19:16–18] came from the throne. Before the throne seven lamps were burning, which are the seven spirits [^Ceither angels or the “sevenfold Spirit”—the Holy Spirit portrayed in his perfection; 3:1] of God. ⁶ Also before the throne there was something that looked like a sea of glass, clear like crystal.

In the center and around the throne were four living creatures ·with eyes all over them [full of eyes], in front and in back. ⁷ The first living creature was like a lion. The second was like an ·ox [or calf]. The third had a face like a man. The fourth was like a flying eagle [Ezek. 1:10; ^Cangelic beings identified with the most powerful example of various species]. ⁸ Each of these four living creatures had six wings and was ·covered all over with eyes [full of eyes], inside and out. Day and night they never ·stop [rest from] saying:

⁹ [^LWhenever] These living creatures give glory, honor, and thanks to the One who sits on the throne, who lives forever and ever. ¹⁰ Then the twenty-four elders bow down before the One who sits on the throne, and they worship him who lives forever and ever. They ·put their crowns down [cast/lay their crowns; 4:4] before the throne and say:

5 Then I saw a scroll in the right hand of the One sitting on the throne. The scroll had writing on both sides and was ·kept closed [^Lsealed] with seven seals [^Ca wax stamp that sealed a document shut]. ² And I saw a ·powerful [mighty] angel ·calling [proclaiming] in a loud voice, “Who is worthy to break the seals and open the scroll?” ³ But there was no one in heaven or on earth or under the earth who could open the scroll or look inside it. ⁴ I cried ·bitterly [^Lmuch] because there was no one who was worthy to open the scroll or look inside. ⁵ But one of the elders said to me, “Do not cry! [^LLook; ^TBehold] The Lion from the tribe of Judah [^Ca messianic title; Gen. 49:9–10], ·David’s descendant [^Lthe root of David; ^Ca messianic title applied to Christ; Is. 11:10], has ·won the victory [overcome; conquered] so that he is able to open the scroll and its seven seals.”

⁶ Then I saw a Lamb [^CJesus] standing ·in the center of the throne and in the middle of the four living creatures and the elders [or between the throne and the living creatures and among the elders]. The Lamb looked as if he had been ·killed [slaughtered; slain]. He had seven horns and seven eyes, which are the seven spirits of God [^Ceither angels or the “sevenfold Spirit”; see 1:4] that were sent into all the world. ⁷ The Lamb came and ·took [received] the scroll from the right hand of the One sitting on the throne. ⁸ When he took the scroll, the four living creatures and the twenty-four elders [4:4] ·bowed down [fell] before the Lamb. Each one of them had a harp and golden bowls full of incense, which are the prayers of God’s holy people [Ps. 141:2]. ⁹ And they all sang a new song [Ps. 33:3; 40:3; 98:1] to the Lamb:

¹¹ Then I looked, and I heard the voices of many angels around the throne, and the four living creatures, and the elders. There were ·thousands and thousands [^Lmyriads of myriads and thousands of thousands; ^Ca myriad can mean either ten thousand or many thousands; here means “countless”] of angels, ¹² saying in a loud voice:

¹³ Then I heard all creatures in heaven and on earth and under the earth and in the sea saying:

¹⁴ The four living creatures said, “Amen [^CHebrew for “so be it”],” and the elders ·bowed down [fell] and worshiped.

6 Then I watched while the Lamb opened the first of the seven seals [5:1]. I heard one of the four living creatures say with a voice like thunder, “·Come [or Go; ^CChrist, the Lamb, calls forth the four riders who bring bloody judgment on the world]!” ² I looked, and ·there before me was [^Llook; ^Tbehold] a white horse. The rider on the horse held a bow [^Csignifying war], and he was given a crown [^Cindicating victory; see 2:10], and he rode out, ·determined to win the victory [^Lconquering and in order to conquer].

³ When the Lamb opened the second seal, I heard the second living creature say, “·Come [or Go; 6:1]!” ⁴ Then another horse came out, a ·red [^Lfiery/bright red; ^Cpossibly signifying blood] one. Its rider was given ·power [permission] to take away peace from the earth and to make people ·kill [slaughter] each other, and he was given a ·big [great] sword [^Csignifying civil war].

⁵ When the Lamb opened the third seal, I heard the third living creature say, “·Come [or Go]!” I looked, and ·there before me was [^Llook; ^Tbehold] a black horse [^Cindicating mourning brought on by the rider], and its rider held a pair of scales in his hand [^Cfor use in commerce; Prov. 11:1; 16:11]. ⁶ Then I heard something that sounded like a voice coming from the middle of the four living creatures. The voice said, “A quart of wheat for a ·day’s pay [^Ldenarius; ^Ca Roman coin equal to a day’s wage], and three quarts of barley for a ·day’s pay [^Ldenarius; ^Cinflated prices caused by famine], and do not damage the olive oil and wine [^Cindicates only partial destruction; vines and olive trees endured drought better than wheat and barley]!”

⁷ When the Lamb opened the fourth seal, I heard the voice of the fourth living creature say, “·Come [or Go; 6:1]!” ⁸ I looked, and ·there before me was [^Llook; ^Tbehold] a ·pale [or pale green] horse. Its rider was named death, and Hades [^Cthe realm of the dead, also known as Sheol] was following close behind him. They were given ·power [authority] over a fourth of the earth to kill people by ·war [^Lthe sword], by ·starvation [famine], by ·disease [pestilence; plague], and by the wild animals of the earth.

⁹ When the Lamb opened the fifth seal, I saw under the altar [^Cprobably the bronze altar where sacrifices were offered] the souls of those who had been ·killed [slaughtered; slain] because ·they were faithful to [^Lof] the word of God and to the ·message [witness; testimony] they had ·received [or given; or maintained]. ¹⁰ These souls ·shouted [cried out] in a loud voice, “Holy and true ·Lord [Master], how long until you judge the people of the earth and ·punish them for killing us [^Lavenge our blood]?” ¹¹ Then each one of them was given a white robe [^Csignifying high status and purity] and was told to ·wait [or rest] a short time longer. There were still some of their fellow servants and ·brothers and sisters in the service of Christ [^Ltheir brothers; ^Cthe Greek term may include men and women] who ·must be [were soon to be] killed as they were. They had to wait until all of this was ·finished [fulfilled; completed].

¹² Then I watched while the Lamb opened the sixth seal, and there was a great earthquake. The sun became black like ·rough black cloth [^Lsackcloth made of goat hair; ^Cclothing used in mourning], and the whole moon became red like blood [^Csignifying destruction; apocalyptic literature often describes nature falling apart at the end time; Joel 2:31]. ¹³ And the stars in the sky fell to the earth like ·figs [or unripe figs] falling from a fig tree when ·the wind blows [^Lshaken by a strong wind/gale]. ¹⁴ The sky ·disappeared [vanished] as a scroll when it is rolled up [Is. 34:4], and every mountain and island was moved from its place.

¹⁵ Then the kings of the earth, the ·rulers [princes; nobles; magnates], the generals, the rich people, the powerful people, ·the slaves, and the free people [^Land everyone, both slave and free; ^Cpeople of every status and economic level] hid themselves in caves and in the rocks on the mountains. ¹⁶ They called to the mountains and the rocks, “Fall on us. Hide us from the face of the One who sits on the throne and from the ·anger [wrath] of the Lamb! ¹⁷ [^LBecause] The great day for their ·anger [wrath] has come [^Cthe final judgment], and who can stand against it [^Ca rhetorical question]?”

The 144,000 People of Israel

7 After ·the vision of these things [^Lthis] I saw four angels standing at the four corners [^Cfrom every direction] of the earth. The angels were ·holding [restraining] the four winds [Dan. 7:2; 8:8; 11:4] of the earth to keep them from blowing on the land or on the sea or on any tree. ² Then I saw another angel coming up from the ·east [^Lrising of the sun] who had the seal [5:1] of the living God. And he ·called out [cried out; shouted] in a loud voice to the four angels to whom God had given power to ·harm [damage] the earth and the sea. ³ He said to them, “Do not ·harm [damage] the land or the sea or the trees until we ·mark with a sign [place a seal upon] the foreheads [^Cto spare them from harm; Ezek. 9:4–6] of the ·people who serve [^Lthe slaves/servants of] our God.” ⁴ Then I heard how many people were ·marked with the sign [sealed]. There were one hundred forty-four thousand [^Cthe square of 12 multiplied by 1000; a symbolic number indicating completeness] from every tribe of the ·people [children; sons] of Israel.

The Great Crowd Worships God

⁹ After ·the vision of these things [^Lthese things] I looked, and ·there was a great number of people [^Lbehold a great crowd/multitude], so many that no one could count them. They were from every nation, tribe, people, and language of the earth. They were all standing before the throne and before the Lamb, wearing white robes [^Csignifying high status and purity] and holding palm branches [^Cused to celebrate a festive occasion, specifically a victory] in their hands. ¹⁰ They were ·shouting [crying out] in a loud voice, “Salvation belongs to our God, who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb.” ¹¹ [^LAnd] All the angels were standing around the throne and the elders [4:4] and the four living creatures. They all ·bowed [fell] down on their faces before the throne and worshiped God, ¹² saying, “Amen [^CHebrew for “so be it”]! ·Praise [Blessing], glory, wisdom, thanks, honor, power, and ·strength [might] belong to our God forever and ever. Amen!”

¹³ Then one of the elders asked me, “Who are these people dressed in white robes? Where did they come from?”

¹⁴ I answered, “You know, ·sir [or my lord].”

And the elder said to me, “These are the people who have come out of the great ·distress [persecution; tribulation]. They have washed their robes and made them white in the blood of the Lamb [^Chaving believed in Jesus, their sins are forgiven through Christ’s death and resurrection]. ¹⁵ Because of this, they are before the throne of God. They worship him day and night in his temple. And the One who sits on the throne will ·be present with [dwell with; or shelter; spread his tent over] them. ¹⁶ Those people will never be hungry again, and they will never be thirsty again. The sun will not ·hurt [strike; beat on; Is. 49:10] them, and no [scorching] heat will burn them, ¹⁷ because the Lamb at the center of the throne will be their shepherd [Ps. 23; John 10]. He will ·lead [guide] them to springs of ·water that give life [living water; the water of life; John 4:14]. And God will wipe away every tear from their eyes [21:4; Is. 25:8].”

The Seventh Seal

8 When the Lamb opened the seventh seal [^Cthe final and climactic seal; 5:1], there was silence in heaven for about half an hour [^Ca dramatic pause induced by awe]. ² And I saw the seven angels who stand before God and to whom were given seven trumpets [^Ctrumpets often announce God’s appearance, accompanied by judgment and victory; Josh. 6].

³ Another angel came and stood at the altar, holding a golden ·pan for incense [censer; incense burner]. He was given much incense to offer with the prayers of all ·God’s holy people [^Tthe saints; Ps. 141:2]. The angel put this offering on the golden altar before the throne. ⁴ The smoke from the incense went up from the angel’s hand ·to [in the presence of] God with the prayers of ·God’s people [^Tthe saints]. ⁵ Then the angel filled the ·incense pan [censer; incense burner] with fire from the altar and threw it on the earth, and there ·were thunder and loud noises [was rumbling thunder], flashes of lightning, and an earthquake [4:5].

⁶ Then the seven angels who had the seven trumpets prepared to blow them [8:2].

⁷ The first angel blew his trumpet, and hail and fire mixed with blood were ·poured [thrown; hurled] down on the earth [^Csimilar to the seventh plague against Egypt; Ex. 9:13–35; Joel 2:30–31]. And a third of the earth [^Lwas burned up], and a third of the trees [^Lwas burned up], and all the green grass were burned up.

The Seven Angels and Trumpets

⁸ Then the second angel blew his trumpet, and something that looked like a ·big [great] mountain, burning with fire, was thrown into the sea [^Cperhaps referring to a volcano or a flaming meteorite; Jer. 51:25]. And a third of the sea became blood [^Cechoes the first plague against Egypt; Ex. 7:14–21], ⁹ a third of the living ·things [creatures] in the sea died, and a third of the ships were destroyed.

¹⁰ Then the third angel blew his trumpet, and a ·large [great] star, burning like a torch, fell from ·the sky [or heaven; ^Cperhaps a meteorite]. It fell on a third of the rivers and on the springs of water. ¹¹ [^LAnd] The name of the star is Wormwood [^Ca plant with a greenish, bitter oil; a symbol of bitter sorrow; Prov. 5:4; Jer. 9:15; 23:15]. And a third of all the water became ·bitter [^Lwormwood; ^Cagain an allusion to the first Egyptian plague], and many people died from ·drinking the water [^Lthe water] that ·was [became; was made] bitter.

¹² Then the fourth angel blew his trumpet, and a third of the sun, and a third of the moon, and a third of the stars were struck. So a third of them became dark, and a third of the day was ·without light [kept from shining], and also the night [^Cechoing the ninth Egyptian plague; Ex. 10:21–23].

¹³ While I watched, I heard an ·eagle [or vulture] that was flying ·high in the air [^Lin mid-heaven] cry out in a loud voice, “·Trouble! Trouble! Trouble [ ^LWoe! Woe! Woe; ^Creminiscent of OT funeral laments, signifying their doom; Nah. 3:1] for those who live on the earth because of the remaining ·sounds [blasts] of the trumpets that the other three angels are about to blow!”

9 Then the fifth angel blew his trumpet, and I saw a star fall from ·the sky [or heaven] to the earth. The star was given the key to the ·deep hole [shaft] ·that leads to the bottomless pit [^Lof the Abyss; ^Cthe place of the dead and/or a prison for fallen angels; Luke 8:31; Rom. 10:7]. ² Then ·it [or he] opened up the ·hole that leads to the bottomless pit [shaft of the Abyss], and smoke came up from the ·hole [shaft] like smoke from a ·big [great; giant] furnace. Then the sun and ·sky [air] became dark because of the smoke from the ·hole [shaft]. ³ Then locusts came down to the earth out of the smoke [^Csimilar to the eighth Egyptian plague; Ex. 10:1–20; see also Joel 1:2—2:10], and they were given the power ·to sting like [^Llike the power of] scorpions [^Lof the earth]. ⁴ They were told not to ·harm [damage] the grass on the earth or any ·plant [greenery] or tree. They could ·harm [damage] only the people who did not have the ·sign [seal] of God on their foreheads [7:3]. ⁵ These locusts were not ·given the power [permitted] to kill anyone, but to ·cause pain to [torture; torment] the people for five months [^Cperhaps referring to the limited life span of a locust]. And ·the pain they felt was like the pain a scorpion gives [^Ltheir torture/torment was like the torture/torment of a scorpion] when it stings someone. ⁶ During those days people will ·look for a way to die [^Lseek death], but they will not find it. They will ·want [long; desire] to die, but death will ·run away [flee] from them.

⁷ The locusts looked like horses ·prepared [equipped; trained] for battle [Joel 2:4]. On their heads they wore what looked like crowns of gold [^Cindicating their victory; 2:10], and their faces looked like human faces. ⁸ Their hair was like women’s hair, and their teeth were like lions’ teeth [Joel 1:6]. ⁹ Their chests looked like iron breastplates, and the sound of their wings was like the noise of many horses and chariots ·hurrying [charging; running] into battle [Joel 2:5]. ¹⁰ The locusts had tails with stingers like scorpions, and in their tails was their ·power [authority] to ·hurt [damage; harm] people for five months. ¹¹ The locusts had a king who was the ·angel [or messenger] of the ·bottomless pit [^LAbyss; 9:1]. His name in the Hebrew language is Abaddon and in the Greek language is Apollyon [^Cboth mean “Destroyer”; perhaps a reference to Satan].

¹² The first ·trouble [^Lwoe] is past; there are still two other ·troubles [^Lwoes] that will come [8:13].

¹³ Then the sixth angel blew his trumpet, and I heard a voice coming from the horns [^Csome ancient manuscripts specify that there are four horns; protrusions on the four corners of the altar symbolizing God’s strength] on the golden altar [^Cthe incense altar; Ex. 30:1–10] that is before God. ¹⁴ The voice said to the sixth angel who had the trumpet, “·Free [Release] the four angels who are ·tied [bound] at the great river Euphrates [7:1].” ¹⁵ And they ·let loose [released] the four angels who had been ·kept ready [prepared] for this hour and day and month and year so they could kill a third of ·all people on the earth [^Lhumanity; mankind]. ¹⁶ I heard how many troops on horses were in their army—two hundred million.

¹⁷ The horses and their riders I saw in the vision looked like this: They had breastplates that were fiery red, dark blue [^Lhyacinth-colored], and yellow like sulfur [brimstone]. The heads of the horses looked like heads of lions, with fire, smoke, and sulfur coming out of their mouths. ¹⁸ A third of ·all the people on earth [humanity; mankind] were killed by these three ·terrible disasters [plagues] coming out of the horses’ mouths: the fire, the smoke, and the sulfur. ¹⁹ The horses’ ·power [authority] was in their mouths and in their tails; their tails were like snakes with heads [12:9; Gen. 3:1–7], and with them they ·hurt [damaged; injured; wounded] people.

²⁰ The ·other [rest of the] people who were not killed by these ·terrible disasters [plagues] still did not ·change their hearts and turn away from what they had made with their own hands [^Lrepent from the works of their hands]. They did not stop worshiping demons and idols made of gold, silver, bronze, stone, and wood—things that cannot see or hear or walk [Ps. 115:4–7; 135:17; Jer. 10:1–16]. ²¹ These people did not ·change their hearts and turn away from [repent of] murder or ·evil magic [sorcery], from their ·sexual sins [fornication] or stealing.

The Angel and the Small Scroll

10 Then I saw another ·powerful [mighty; strong] ·angel [messenger; 5:2] coming down from heaven ·dressed [wrapped; robed] in a cloud with a ·rainbow [or halo] over his head. His face was like the sun, and his ·legs [or feet] were like pillars of fire. ² The angel was holding a small scroll open in his hand. He put his right foot on the sea and his left foot on the land. ³ Then he ·shouted [cried out] loudly like the roaring of a lion [Hos. 11:10; Amos 3:8]. And when he ·shouted [cried out], the voices of seven thunders [Ps. 29] spoke. ⁴ When the seven thunders spoke, I ·started [was about] to write. But I heard a voice from heaven say, “·Keep hidden [^LSeal up; Dan. 12:4] what the seven thunders said, and do not write them down.”

⁵ Then the angel I saw standing on the sea and on the land raised his right hand to heaven [^Cas when taking an oath; Ex. 6:8; Deut. 32:40], ⁶ and he ·made a promise [swore an oath] ·by the power of the One [^Lby the One] who lives forever and ever [Dan. 12:7]. He is the One who ·made [created] the ·skies [or heavens] and all that is in them, the earth and all that is in it, and the sea and all that is in it [Gen. 1]. The angel ·promised [swore an oath], “There will be no ·more waiting [delay; ^Ltime]! ⁷ [^LBut] In the days when the seventh angel is ready to blow his trumpet, God’s ·secret [mystery; hidden plan] will be ·finished [completed]. This ·secret [mystery; hidden plan] is ·the Good News God told [or just as he announced] to his servants, the prophets [Amos 3:7; 1 Pet. 1:10–12].”

⁸ Then I heard the same voice from heaven again, saying to me: “Go and take the open scroll that is in the hand of the angel that is standing on the sea and on the land.”

⁹ So I went to the angel and told him to give me the small scroll. And he said to me, “Take the scroll and eat it [^Ca symbol of internalizing the word]. It will be ·sour [bitter] in your stomach [^Cbecause it is a message of judgment], but in your mouth it will be sweet as honey [^Cbecause it is God’s word and because it brings salvation and vindication to his people; Ps. 119:103; Jer. 15:16; Ezek. 2:8—3:3].” ¹⁰ So I took the small scroll from the angel’s hand and ate it. In my mouth it tasted sweet as honey, but after I ate it, it was ·sour [bitter] in my stomach. ¹¹ Then I was told, “You must prophesy again about many peoples, nations, languages, and kings [^Che must share the word he just received].”

The Two Witnesses

11 I was given a ·measuring stick [^Ca reed or cane used for measuring] like a ·rod [staff; walking stick], and I was told, ·Go [Get up] and measure the temple of God and the altar, ·and count [or including] the people worshiping there [^Cprobably to show God’s control and protection of his people; Ezek. 40:3, 5]. ² But do not measure the ·yard [courtyard] outside the temple. Leave it ·alone [out], because it has been given to ·those who are not God’s people [the Gentiles; the nations]. And they will trample on the holy city [^CJerusalem] for forty-two months [^Ca period of oppression—either literal or symbolic—equal to three and a half years; see Dan. 7:25; 12:7, 11–12]. ³ And I will ·give power to [or appoint; ^Lgive to] my two witnesses to prophesy for one thousand two hundred sixty days [^C42 months reckoned as 30 days each], ·and they will be dressed in rough cloth to show their sadness [^Ldressed in sackcloth; ^Cmourning clothes].”

⁴ These two witnesses are the two olive trees and the two lampstands that stand before the Lord of the earth [^Creminiscent of Zerubbabel and Joshua whom God used to build the second temple in spite of opposition; Zech. 4:2–6]. ⁵ And if anyone ·tries [wants] to ·hurt [harm; damage] them, fire comes from their mouths and ·kills [consumes; devours] their enemies [Jer. 5:14]. And if anyone ·tries [wants] to ·hurt [harm; damage] them in whatever way, in that same way that person ·will [or must] die. ⁶ These witnesses have the ·power [authority] to ·stop the sky [close the heavens] from raining during the time they are prophesying [1 Kin. 17:1]. And they have ·power [authority] to make the waters become blood [8:8; 16:3–4; Ex. 7:17–21], and they have ·power [authority] to send every kind of ·trouble [plague] to the earth as many times as they want.

⁷ When the two witnesses have finished ·telling their message [giving their witness/testimony], the beast [^Cprobably the Antichrist; 13:1; 17:8; Dan. 7] that comes up from the ·bottomless pit [Abyss; 9:1] will fight a war against them. He will ·defeat [conquer] them and kill them. ⁸ The ·bodies [corpses] of the two witnesses will lie in the ·street [public square; ^Cto be left unburied as a sign of disdain] of the great city where the Lord was ·killed [^Lcrucified; ^CJerusalem, perhaps here symbolic of the world’s opposition to God]. ·This city is named Sodom and Egypt, which has a spiritual meaning [^L…which is figuratively/symbolically/spiritually called Sodom and Egypt; ^CJerusalem is symbolically named after places judged by God for wickedness (Sodom) and for oppressing God’s people (Egypt); Gen. 19; Ex. 7—12]. ⁹ Those from every race of people, tribe, language, and nation will look at the bodies of the two witnesses for three and one-half days, and they will ·refuse to bury them [^Lnot let them be placed in a tomb]. ¹⁰ People who live on the earth will rejoice and ·be happy [celebrate] because these two are dead. They will send each other gifts, because these two prophets brought much ·suffering [torment] to those who live on the earth.

¹¹ But after [^Lthe] three and one-half days, ·God put the breath of life into the two prophets again [^La breath/spirit of life from God entered them; Gen. 2:7]. They stood on their feet, and everyone who saw them became very afraid. ¹² Then the two prophets heard a loud voice from heaven saying, “Come up here!” And they went up into heaven in a cloud as their enemies watched.

¹³ In the same hour there was a ·great [violent] earthquake, and a tenth of the city ·was destroyed [collapsed; ^Lfell]. Seven thousand people were killed in the earthquake, and those who did not die were very afraid and gave glory to the God of heaven [Ezek. 38:19–20; Zech. 14:4].

¹⁴ The second ·trouble [^Lwoe] is finished. ·Pay attention [Look; ^TBehold]: The third ·trouble [^Lwoe] is coming ·soon [quickly; 8:13].

The Seventh Trumpet

¹⁵ Then the seventh angel blew his trumpet. And there were loud voices in heaven, saying:

¹⁶ Then the twenty-four elders [4:4], who sit on their thrones before God, ·bowed down [fell] on their faces and worshiped God. ¹⁷ They said:

¹⁹ Then God’s temple in heaven was opened. The ·Ark that holds the agreement God gave to his people [^LArk of his Covenant] could be seen in his temple. Then there were flashes of lightning, ·noises, thunder [rumbling thunder], an earthquake, and a great hailstorm [^Ctypical accompaniments to the arrival of God; 4:5].

The Woman and the Dragon

12 And then a great ·wonder [sign; portent; ^Csymbolic descriptions of heavenly/spiritual realities] appeared in heaven: A woman was clothed with the sun, and the moon was under her feet [^Cindicating authority or victory; Gen. 37:9], and a crown [^Ca reward of victory] of twelve stars was on her head [^Crepresenting the twelve tribes of Israel; the woman is a symbol of the persecuted people of God]. ² She was ·pregnant [^Lin the womb] and cried out with [^Llabor] pain, because she was about to give birth [^Cto the Messiah]. ³ Then another ·wonder [sign; portent; 12:1] appeared in heaven: There was a giant red dragon with seven heads [^Creminiscent of the many-headed Leviathan representing evil and chaos, here representing Satan; Ps. 74:14; Is. 27:1; Dan. 7:1–9] and seven ·crowns [diadems; royal crowns] on each head. He [or It; ^Cthe Greek masculine pronoun can refer to a person or thing] also had ten horns [^Csymbols of strength and power; Dan. 7:7–8, 20, 24]. ⁴ His tail swept a third of the stars out of ·the sky [or heaven] and ·threw [cast; hurled; Dan. 8:10] them down to the earth [^Crepresenting an early victory against God’s people; 12:1]. He stood in front of the woman who was ready to give birth so he could ·eat [devour] her ·baby [child; ^CJesus the Messiah] as soon as it was born. ⁵ Then the woman gave birth to ·a son [^La son, a male child,] who will ·rule [or shepherd] all the nations with an iron ·rod [sceptre; 19:15; Ps. 2:9]. And her child was ·taken up [or snatched away; ^Cprobably a symbolic reference to the resurrection, where Satan’s victory was thwarted] to God and to his throne. ⁶ The woman ·ran away [fled] into the ·desert [wilderness] to a place God prepared for her where she would ·be taken care of [nourished; fed] for one thousand two hundred sixty days [^Cequal to three and one-half years; see 11:3].

⁷ Then there was a war in heaven. Michael [^Can archangel and protector of God’s people; Dan. 10:13, 21; 12:1; Jude 9] and his angels fought against the dragon, and the dragon and his angels fought back. ⁸ But the dragon was not strong enough, and he and his angels lost their place in heaven. ⁹ The ·giant [great] dragon was ·thrown down [cast; hurled] out of heaven. (He is that ·old snake [ancient serpent] called the devil or Satan [Gen. 3:1, 15], who ·tricks [deceives; leads astray] the whole world.) The dragon with his angels was ·thrown down [cast; hurled] to the earth.

¹⁰ Then I heard a loud voice in heaven saying:

[^LFor] The accuser [^Cthe name Satan means “Accuser” in Hebrew; Job 1:6–12; 2:1–6; Zech. 3:1–2] of our brothers and sisters,

¹³ When the dragon saw he had been ·thrown [cast; hurled] down to the earth, he ·hunted for [pursued; or persecuted] the woman who had given birth to the ·son [boy; ^Lmale]. ¹⁴ But the woman was given the two wings of a great ·eagle [or vulture; Ex. 19:4; Deut. 32:10–11; Is. 40:31] so she could fly to the place prepared for her in the ·desert [wilderness]. There she would be ·taken care of [nourished; fed] for ·three and one-half years [^La time, times, and half a time; 11:2, 3; 13:5; Dan. 7:25; 12:7], away from the ·snake [serpent; ^CGod will spiritually nourish his people though they are persecuted]. ¹⁵ Then the ·snake [serpent] ·poured [spewed; ^Lthrew] water out of its mouth like a river ·toward [after] the woman so the flood would ·carry [sweep] her away [^Coverwhelming water signifies overwhelming trouble; Ps. 18:4; 69:2]. ¹⁶ But the earth ·helped [rescued] the woman by opening its mouth and swallowing the river that ·came [spewed; ^Lwas thrown] from the mouth of the dragon. ¹⁷ Then the dragon was ·very angry [furious; full of wrath] at the woman, and he went off to make war against ·all her other children [^Lthe rest of her seed/offspring]—those who obey God’s commands and who ·have the message Jesus taught [or hold fast to their testimony about Jesus].

¹⁸ And the dragon^[c] stood on the ·seashore [^Lsand of the sea; ^Csome commentators and translations take this verse as the introduction to the episode in chapter 13].

The Two Beasts

13 Then I saw a beast coming up out of the sea [^Cthe sea was a symbol of chaos in the ancient world; Dan. 7:1–8]. It [or He] had ten horns [^Csymbols of power and strength] and seven heads [12:3], and there was a ·crown [diadem; royal crown; ^Cindicating a king of evil] on each horn. A ·name against God [^Lblasphemous name; some manuscripts read the plural “names”] was written on each head. ² This beast looked like a leopard, with feet like a bear’s feet and a mouth like a lion’s mouth. And the dragon gave the beast all of his ·power [authority] and his throne and great authority. ³ One of the heads of the beast looked as if it ·had been killed by a wound [had a fatal/mortal wound; ^Lwas slain to death; ^Can evil imitation of the Lamb that was slain; 5:6], but this ·death wound [fatal/mortal wound; ^Lwound of its death] was healed [^Ca false imitation of the resurrection]. Then the whole world was amazed and followed the beast. ⁴ People worshiped the dragon because he had given his ·power [authority] to the beast. And they also worshiped the beast, asking, “Who is like the beast [Ex. 15:11]? Who can make war against ·it [or him]?”

⁵ The beast was ·allowed [^Lgiven a mouth] to say ·proud words [^Lgreat things; Dan. 7:8, 11, 20] and ·words against God [^Lblasphemies; Dan. 11:36], and it was allowed to ·use [exercise] its ·power [authority] for forty-two months [11:2]. ⁶ It ·used [opened] its mouth ·to speak [blaspheme] against God, against God’s name, against ·the place where God lives [his dwelling/tabernacle], and against all those who ·live [dwell] in heaven. ⁷ It was given ·power [authority] to make war against ·God’s holy people [^Tthe saints] and to ·defeat [conquer] them. It was given ·power [authority] over every tribe, people, language, and nation [Dan. 7:21]. ⁸ And all who live on earth will worship ·the beast [^Lit; or him]—all the people since the ·beginning [foundation] of the world whose names are not written in the Lamb’s book [scroll] of life [3:5; 17:8; Ex. 32:32–33]. ·The Lamb is the One who was killed [or The Lamb who was killed/slaughtered before the creation/foundation of the earth]. [^CSome commentators link the phrase “since the beginning/foundation of the world” with “all who live on the earth”; others link it with “written in the Lamb’s book of life”; and still others with “the Lamb who was slain.”]

⁹ Anyone who has ears should ·listen [hear; obey]:

This means that ·God’s holy people [^Tthe saints] must have ·patience [perseverance; endurance] and faith.

¹¹ Then I saw another beast ·coming up [rising] out of the earth [Dan. 7:17]. It [or He] had two horns like a ·lamb [or ram; Dan. 8:3], but it spoke like a dragon [^Cacting like a prophetic spokesperson for the dragon (see 16:13); along with the dragon and the first beast, this second beast forms an evil trinity]. ¹² This beast ·stands before the first beast and uses the same power the first beast has [or uses all the authority of the first beast on its behalf]. By this ·power [authority] it makes ·everyone living on earth [^Lthe earth and its inhabitants] worship the first beast, who had the ·death wound [fatal/mortal wound; ^Lwound of its death] that was healed. ¹³ And the second beast ·does great miracles [performs great signs] so that it even makes fire come down from heaven to earth [1 Kin. 18:38; 2 Kin. 1:10, 12] ·while people are watching [^Lbefore people]. ¹⁴ It ·fools [deceives; tricks] those who live on earth by the ·miracles [signs; ^Cthese are counterfeit miracles] it has been given the power to do. It does these ·miracles [signs] ·to serve the first beast [^Lbefore/in the presence of the first beast]. The second beast orders [tells] people to make an ·idol [image] to honor the first beast, the one that ·was wounded by the deadly [^Lhas the wound of the] sword but ·sprang to life again [lives]. ¹⁵ The second beast was ·given power [or allowed] to give ·life [breath; a spirit] to the idol of the first one so that the idol could speak. And the second beast was ·given power [allowed] to ·command [cause; make] all who will not worship the ·image [idol] of the beast to be killed. ¹⁶ The second beast also ·forced [caused; made] all people, small and great, rich and poor, free and slave, to have a ·mark [brand; stamp; ^Cto show allegiance to the first beast] on their right hand or on their forehead [compare 7:2–4; 14:1]. ¹⁷ [^LSo that] No one could buy or sell without this mark, which is the name of the beast or the number of its name [^CGreek and Hebrew letters had a numerical equivalent, and so could represent names—a practice known as gematria]. ¹⁸ This ·takes [calls for; ^Lis] wisdom [Dan. 12:10]. Let the one who has understanding ·find the meaning of [calculate; figure out] the number [^Lof the beast], which is the number of a ·person [or man]. Its number is 666^[d] [^Ca symbolic number signifying imperfection and sin; some speculate it represents the name of a Roman emperor, perhaps Nero or Domitian].

The Song of the Saved

14 Then I looked, and there before me was the Lamb standing on Mount Zion [^Ca mountain near Jerusalem where the temple was located, representing the presence of God]. With him were one hundred forty-four thousand people [7:4] who had his name and his Father’s name written on their foreheads [13:16]. ² And I heard a sound from heaven like the noise of ·flooding water [rushing water; ^Lmany waters; 1:15] and like the ·sound [peal] of loud thunder [19:6]. The sound I heard was like ·people [^Lharpists] playing harps. ³ And they sang a new song [^Ca song celebrating divine deliverance; 5:9; Ps. 33:3; 40:3; 96:1; 98:1; 144:9; 149:1] before the throne and before the four living creatures and the elders [4:4]. No one could learn the new song except the one hundred forty-four thousand [7:4] who had been ·bought [redeemed] from the earth. ⁴ These are the ones who did not ·do sinful things [defile themselves] with women, because they ·kept themselves pure [^Lare virgins]. They follow the Lamb every place he goes. ·These one hundred forty-four thousand [^LThey] were ·bought [redeemed] from ·among the people of the earth [^Lhumanity; mankind] as ·people to be offered [^Lfirstfruits; ^Cthe earliest part of the harvest was offered to God] to God and the Lamb. ⁵ ·They were not guilty of telling lies [^LNo lie was found in their mouth]; they are ·without fault [blameless].

The Three Angels

⁶ Then I saw another angel flying ·high in the air [^Lin mid-heaven; 8:13]. He had the eternal ·Good News [Gospel] to preach to those who ·live [dwell] on earth—to every nation, tribe, language, and people. ⁷ He ·preached [^Lspoke] in a loud voice, “Fear God and give him ·praise [glory], because the ·time has come for God to judge all people [^Lhour of his judgment has come]. So worship God who made the heavens, and the earth, and the sea, and the springs of water.”

⁸ Then the second angel followed the first angel and said, “·Ruined, ruined [^LFallen, fallen] is ·the great city of Babylon [^LBabylon the Great; ^Cthe capital of the empire that destroyed Jerusalem in 586 bc, a symbol for the evil world system opposing God; 2 Kin. 24—25; Is. 21:9; Dan. 4:30]! She made all the nations drink the wine of the ·anger [or passion; ^Cthe Greek word thymos can mean either anger or passion; see v. 10 for a possible play on words] of her ·adultery [or sexual immorality].”

⁹ Then a third angel followed the first two angels, saying in a loud voice: “If anyone worships the beast and his ·idol [image] and ·gets [receives; takes] the beast’s ·mark [brand; stamp] on the forehead or on the hand, ¹⁰ that one also will drink the wine of God’s anger [^Cperhaps a play on words with v. 8; Babylon’s “passion” will bring on God’s “wrath”], which is prepared ·with all its strength [undiluted; ^Lunmixed; ^Cwine was often mixed with water] in the cup of his anger [^CGod’s judgment is often portrayed in the OT as a “cup” of wine poured out; Jer. 25:15–29]. And that person will be ·put in pain [tortured; tormented] with ·burning sulfur [^Lfire and sulfur] before the holy angels and the Lamb. ¹¹ And the smoke from their ·burning pain [torture; torment] will rise forever and ever. There will be no rest, day or night, for those who worship the beast and his ·idol [image] or who get the ·mark [brand; stamp] of his name.” ¹² This means ·God’s holy people [^Tthe saints] must ·be patient [persevere; endure]. They must ·obey [keep] God’s commands and ·keep their faith in [remain faithful to] Jesus.

¹³ Then I heard a voice from heaven saying, “Write this: ·Blessed [or Happy] are the dead who die from now on in the Lord.”

The Spirit says, “Yes, they will rest from their hard work, ·and the reward of all they have done stays with them [^Lfor their deeds will follow them].”

The Earth Is Harvested

¹⁴ Then I looked, and there before me was a white cloud, and sitting on the white cloud was One who looked like a ·Son of Man [or human being; ^Ca designation Jesus applied to himself; Dan. 7:13–14]. He had a gold crown on his head and a sharp sickle [^Ca curved blade used to harvest grain] in his hand. ¹⁵ Then another angel came out of the temple and called out in a loud voice to the One who was sitting on the cloud, “Take your sickle and ·harvest [reap] from the earth, because the time to ·harvest [reap] has come, ·and [^Lbecause] the ·fruit [^Lharvest] of the earth is ripe.” ¹⁶ So the One who was sitting on the cloud swung his sickle over the earth, and the earth was ·harvested [reaped].

¹⁷ Then another angel came out of the temple in heaven, and he also had a sharp sickle. ¹⁸ And then another angel, who has ·power [authority; charge] over the fire, came from the altar. This angel called to the angel with the sharp sickle, saying, “Take your sharp sickle and gather the bunches [clusters] of grapes from the earth’s vine, because its grapes are ripe.” ¹⁹ Then the angel swung his sickle over the earth. He gathered the earth’s grapes and threw them into the great winepress of God’s ·anger [wrath; Is. 63:2–3, 6; Lam. 1:15]. ²⁰ They were trampled in the winepress outside the city, and blood flowed out of the winepress as high as horses’ bridles for a distance of about ·one hundred eighty miles [^Lone thousand six hundred stadia].

The Last Troubles

15 Then I saw another ·wonder [sign; miracle; portent] in heaven that was great and amazing. There were seven angels bringing seven ·disasters [plagues]. These are the last ·disasters [plagues], because ·after [or in] them, God’s ·anger [wrath] is ·finished [completed; ended].

² I saw what looked like a sea of glass [1 Kin. 7:23–26; Ezek. 1:22] mixed with fire [19:20; 20:10]. All of those who had ·won the victory over [conquered] the beast and his ·idol [image] and over the number of his name [13:17] were standing by the sea of glass. They had harps ·that God had given them [^Lof/from God]. ³ They sang the song of Moses [Ex. 15:1; Deut. 31:30], the servant of God, and the song of the Lamb:

⁵ After ·this [^Lthese things] I saw that the temple (the ·Tent [Tabernacle] of the ·Agreement [Testimony; Covenant Law]) in heaven was opened. ⁶ And the seven angels bringing the seven ·disasters [plagues] came out of the temple. They were dressed in ·clean [pure], ·shining [bright] linen and wore golden ·bands [sashes] tied around their chests [^Cgarments worn by priests]. ⁷ Then one of the four living creatures gave to the seven angels seven golden bowls filled with the ·anger [wrath] of God, who lives forever and ever. ⁸ The temple was filled with smoke [^Csmoke often symbolizes the presence of God; Ex. 40:34–38] from the glory and the power of God, and no one could enter the temple until the seven ·disasters [plagues] of the seven angels were ·finished [completed; ended; ^Caccomplished their purpose].

The Bowls of God’s Anger

16 Then I heard a loud voice from the temple saying to the seven angels, “Go and pour out the seven bowls of God’s ·anger [wrath] on the earth.”

² The first angel left and poured out his bowl on the land. Then ·ugly [foul] and painful sores [^Creminiscent of the sixth Egyptian plague; Ex. 9:9–11; Job 2] came upon all those who had the ·mark [brand] of the beast and who worshiped his ·idol [image].

³ The second angel poured out his bowl on the sea, and it became blood like that of a ·dead man [corpse; ^Creminiscent of the first Egyptian plague; Ex. 7:14–21; see also 8:8–9], and every living thing in the sea died.

⁴ The third angel poured out his bowl on the rivers and the springs of water, and they became blood [^Calso similar to the first Egyptian plague]. ⁵ Then I heard the angel of the waters saying:

  ⁷ And I heard ·a voice coming from the altar [^Lthe altar] saying:

⁸ The fourth angel poured out his bowl on the sun, and ·he [or it; ^Ceither the sun or the angel] was given ·power [authority] to ·burn [scorch] the people with fire. ⁹ They were ·burned [scorched] by the great heat, and they ·cursed [blasphemed] the name of God, who had ·control [authority; power] over these ·disasters [plagues]. But the people ·refused to change their hearts and lives [^Ldid not repent] and give ·glory [honor] to God.

¹⁰ The fifth angel poured out his bowl on the throne of the beast, and darkness covered its kingdom [8:12; ^Creminiscent of the ninth Egyptian plague; Ex. 10:21–29]. People ·gnawed [bit] their tongues because of the ·pain [agony]. ¹¹ They also cursed the God of heaven because of their pain and the sores they had, but they refused to ·change their hearts and turn away [repent] from ·the evil things they did [^Ltheir deeds].

¹² The sixth angel poured out his bowl on the great river Euphrates so that the water in the river was dried up to prepare the way for the kings from the east to come [^Creminiscent of the splitting of the Red Sea and the Jordan; Ex. 14:21–22; Josh. 3:13–17]. ¹³ Then I saw three ·evil [^Lunclean] spirits that looked like frogs [^Creminiscent of the second Egyptian plague; Ex. 8:1–15] coming out of the mouth of the dragon, out of the mouth of the beast, and out of the mouth of the false prophet. ¹⁴ [^LFor] These evil spirits are the spirits of demons, ·which have power to do miracles [^Lthat perform signs]. They go out to the kings of the whole world to gather them together for the battle on the great day of God ·Almighty [All-powerful].

¹⁵ “Listen [^LLook; ^TBehold]! I will come as a thief comes [^Cthat is, without warning]! ·Blessed [Happy] are those who stay ·awake [alert] and keep their clothes on [^Ca metaphor for staying faithful and pure] so that they will not walk around naked and have people see their shame.”

¹⁶ Then ·the evil spirits [^Lthey] gathered the kings together to the place that is called Armageddon in the Hebrew language [^Cmeaning “Mountain of Megiddo,” a strategic pass in northern Israel].

¹⁷ The seventh angel poured out his bowl into the air. Then a loud voice came out of the temple from the throne, saying, “It ·is finished [is done; has come to pass]!” ¹⁸ Then there were flashes of lightning, ·noises, thunder [rumbling thunder], and a ·big [great] earthquake [4:5; 11:19]—the ·worst [greatest; most violent] earthquake that has ever happened since people have been on earth. ¹⁹ The great city split into three parts, and the cities of the nations ·were destroyed [fell; collapsed]. And God remembered ·the sins of Babylon [^LBabylon] the Great, so he gave that city the cup filled with the wine of ·his terrible anger [^Lthe anger/fury of his wrath; 14:8]. ²⁰ Then every island ·ran away [fled], and mountains ·disappeared [^Lwere not to be found]. ²¹ Giant hailstones, each weighing about ·a hundred pounds [^La talent], fell from the sky upon people [^Creminiscent of the seventh Egyptian plague; 11:19; Ex. 9:13–35]. People ·cursed [blasphemed] God for the ·disaster [plague] of the hail, because this ·disaster [plague] was so terrible.

The Woman on the Animal

17 Then one of the seven angels who had the seven bowls came and spoke to me. He said, “Come, and I will show you the ·punishment [judgment] that will be given to the great ·prostitute [whore], the one sitting [or ruling] over many waters [^Creferring to the Euphrates River and its many waterways (Jer. 51:13), or symbolically to the cosmic forces of evil]. ² The kings of the earth ·sinned sexually [prostituted themselves; committed fornication] with her, and the people of the earth became drunk from the wine of her ·sexual sin [prostitution; fornication; 14:8].”

³ Then the angel carried me away ·by the Spirit [or in the spirit] to the ·desert [wilderness]. There I saw a woman sitting on a ·red [scarlet] beast. It was covered with ·names against God written on it [blasphemous names], and it had seven heads and ten horns. ⁴ The woman was dressed in purple and ·red [scarlet] and was ·shining [glittering; adorned] with the gold, precious jewels, and pearls she was wearing. She had a golden cup in her hand, a cup filled with ·evil [abominable; detestable] things and the uncleanness of her ·sexual sin [prostitution; fornication]. ⁵ On her forehead a ·title [name] was written that was ·secret [a mystery]. This is what was written:

⁶ Then I saw that the woman was drunk with the blood of ·God’s holy people [^Tthe saints] and with the blood of ·those who were killed because of their faith in [witnesses to; or martyrs for] Jesus.

When I saw the woman, I was ·very amazed [greatly astonished; ^Lamazed with great amazement]. ⁷ Then the angel said to me, “Why are you amazed [astonished]? I will tell you the ·secret [mystery] of this woman and the beast ·she rides [that carries her]—the one with seven heads and ten horns. ⁸ The beast you saw ·was once alive but is not alive now [^Lwas, and is not; 13:3, 12, 14]. But soon it will come up out of the ·bottomless pit [Abyss; 9:1] and go away to ·be destroyed [its destruction]. There are people who live on earth whose names have not been written in the ·book [scroll] of life [3:5] since the ·beginning [foundation; creation] of the world. They will be amazed when they see the beast, because he was ·once alive, is not alive now, but will come again [^Lwas, is not, but is to come; ^Cimitating the divine title of the Lamb (1:18; 2:8) and God (1:4, 8; 4:8)].

⁹ “You need a wise mind to understand this. The seven heads on the beast are seven ·mountains [or hills; ^CRome was built on seven hills] where the woman sits. ¹⁰ ·And they are seven kings. Five of the kings have ·already been destroyed [^Lfallen], one of the kings ·lives now [^Lis], and another has not yet come. When he comes, he must stay a short time. ¹¹ The beast that ·was once alive [^Lwas], but ·is not alive now [^Lis not], is also an eighth king. He belongs to the first seven kings, and he ·will go away to be destroyed [is heading to destruction].

¹² “The ten horns [Dan. 7:7–8, 20–25] you saw are ten kings who have not yet ·begun to rule [received a kingdom], but they will receive ·power [authority] to rule with the beast for one hour [^Ca short time]. ¹³ All ten of these kings have ·the same [^Lone] ·purpose [intention], and they will give their power and authority to the beast. ¹⁴ They will make war against the Lamb [^CJesus], but the Lamb will ·defeat [conquer; be victorious over] them, because he is Lord of lords and King of kings. ·He will defeat them with his called, chosen, and faithful followers [or Those with him are called, chosen and faithful].”

¹⁵ Then the angel said to me, “The waters that you saw, where the ·prostitute [whore] sits, are peoples, ·races [multitudes; crowds], nations, and languages. ¹⁶ The ten horns and the beast you saw will hate the ·prostitute [whore]. They will ·take everything she has [make her desolate] and leave her naked. They will eat her body and burn her with fire [Ezek. 23:25–29]. ¹⁷ [^LFor] God ·made the ten horns want [^Lput it into their hearts] to carry out his ·purpose [intention] by agreeing to give the beast their ·power to rule [kingdom], until ·what God has said comes about [^Lthe word of God has been fulfilled/completed]. ¹⁸ The woman you saw is the great city that rules over the kings of the earth.” [^CWhether symbolized by Rome, Babylon, Sodom or apostate Jerusalem, this city is ultimately the human world system ruled by Satan standing in opposition to the city of God, the new Jerusalem.]