1 I saw, and behold, the Lamb standing on Mount Zion, and with him a
number, one hundred forty-four thousand, having his name, and the name of his
Father, written on their foreheads. 2 I heard a sound from heaven, like
the sound of many waters, and like the sound of a great thunder. The sound
which I heard was like that of harpists playing on their harps. 3 They
sing a new song before the throne, and before the four living creatures and
the elders. No one could learn the song except the one hundred forty-four
thousand, those who had been redeemed out of the earth. 4 These are those
who were not defiled with women, for they are virgins. These are those who
follow the Lamb wherever he goes. These were redeemed by Jesus from among
men, the first fruits to God and to the Lamb. 5 In their mouth was found
no lie, for they are blameless.*1
6 I saw an angel flying in mid heaven, having an eternal gospel to
proclaim to those who dwell on the earth, and to every nation, tribe,
language, and people. 7 He said with a loud voice, “Fear the Lord, and
give him glory; for the hour of his judgment has come. Worship him who made
the heaven, the earth, the sea, and the springs of waters!”
8 Another, a second angel, followed, saying, “Babylon the great has
fallen, which has made all the nations to drink of the wine of the wrath of
her sexual immorality.”
9 Another angel, a third, followed them, saying with a great voice, “If
anyone worships the beast and his image, and receives a mark on his forehead,
or on his hand, 10 he also will drink of the wine of the wrath of God,
which is prepared unmixed in the cup of his anger. He will be tormented with
fire and sulfur in the presence of the holy angels, and in the presence of
the Lamb. 11 The smoke of their torment goes up forever and ever. They
have no rest day and night, those who worship the beast and his image, and
whoever receives the mark of his name. 12 Here is the patience of the
saints, those who keep the commandments of God, and the faith of Jesus.”
13 I heard the voice from heaven saying, “Write, ‘Blessed are the dead who
die in the Lord from now on.’”
“Yes,” says the Spirit, “that they may rest from their labors; for their
works follow with them.”
14 I looked, and behold, a white cloud; and on the cloud one sitting like
a son of man, having on his head a golden crown, and in his hand a sharp
sickle. 15 Another angel came out from the temple, crying with a loud
voice to him who sat on the cloud, “Send forth your sickle, and reap; for the
hour to reap has come; for the harvest of the earth is ripe!” 16 He who
sat on the cloud thrust his sickle on the earth, and the earth was reaped.
17 Another angel came out from the temple which is in heaven. He also had
a sharp sickle. 18 Another angel came out from the altar, he who has power
over fire, and he called with a great voice to him who had the sharp sickle,
saying, “Send forth your sharp sickle, and gather the clusters of the vine of
the earth, for the earth’s grapes are fully ripe!” 19 The angel thrust his
sickle into the earth, and gathered the vintage of the earth, and threw it
into the great winepress of the wrath of God. 20 The winepress was trodden
outside of the city, and blood came out from the winepress, even to the
bridles of the horses, as far as one thousand six hundred stadia.*2
1 TR adds “before the throne of God” 2 1600
stadia = 296 kilometers or 184 miles
World English Bible - Public Domain |
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