Revelation New Living Translation (NLT)

chapter 1

Prologue

1This is a revelation from Jesus Christ, which God gave him concerning the events that will happen soon. An

angel was sent to God's servant John so that John could share the revelation with God's other servants.

2John faithfully reported the word of God and the testimony of Jesus Christ--everything he saw.

3God blesses the one who reads this prophecy to the church, and he blesses all who listen to it and obey

what it says. For the time is near when these things will happen.

Johns Greeting to the Seven Churches

4This letter is from John to the seven churches in the province of Asia. Grace and peace from the one who is,

who always was, and who is still to come; from the sevenfold Spirit before his throne; 5and from Jesus Christ,

who is the faithful witness to these things, the first to rise from the dead, and the commander of all the rulers

of the world.

All praise to him who loves us and has freed us from our sins by shedding his blood for us. 6He has made us

his Kingdom and his priests who serve before God his Father. Give to him everlasting glory! He rules forever

and ever! Amen!

7Look! He comes with the clouds of heaven. And everyone will see him--even those who pierced him. And all

the nations of the earth will weep because of him. Yes! Amen!

8"I am the Alpha and the Omega--the beginning and the end," says the Lord God. "I am the one who is, who

always was, and who is still to come, the Almighty One."

Vision of the Son of Man

9I am John, your brother. In Jesus we are partners in suffering and in the Kingdom and in patient endurance. I

was exiled to the island of Patmos for preaching the word of God and speaking about Jesus. 10It was the

Lord's Day, and I was worshiping in the Spirit. Suddenly, I heard a loud voice behind me, a voice that sounded

like a trumpet blast. 11It said, "Write down what you see, and send it to the seven churches: Ephesus,

Smyrna, Pergamum, Thyatira, Sardis, Philadelphia, and Laodicea."

12When I turned to see who was speaking to me, I saw seven gold lampstands. 13And standing in the middle

of the lampstands was the Son of Man. He was wearing a long robe with a gold sash across his chest. 14His

head and his hair were white like wool, as white as snow. And his eyes were bright like flames of fire. 15His

feet were as bright as bronze refined in a furnace, and his voice thundered like mighty ocean waves. 16He

held seven stars in his right hand, and a sharp two-edged sword came from his mouth. And his face was as

bright as the sun in all its brilliance.

17When I saw him, I fell at his feet as dead. But he laid his right hand on me and said, "Don't be afraid! I am

the First and the Last. 18I am the living one who died. Look, I am alive forever and ever! And I hold the keys

of death and the grave. 19Write down what you have seen--both the things that are now happening and the

things that will happen later. 20This is the meaning of the seven stars you saw in my right hand and the

seven gold lampstands: The seven stars are the angels of the seven churches, and the seven lampstands are

the seven churches.

chapter 2

The Message to the Church in Ephesus

1"Write this letter to the angel of the church in Ephesus. This is the message from the one who holds the

seven stars in his right hand, the one who walks among the seven gold lampstands:

2"I know all the things you do. I have seen your hard work and your patient endurance. I know you don't

tolerate evil people. You have examined the claims of those who say they are apostles but are not. You have

discovered they are liars. 3You have patiently suffered for me without quitting. 4But I have this complaint

against you. You don't love me or each other as you did at first! 5Look how far you have fallen from your first

love! Turn back to me again and work as you did at first. If you don't, I will come and remove your lampstand

from its place among the churches. 6But there is this about you that is good: You hate the deeds of the

immoral Nicolaitans, just as I do.

7"Anyone who is willing to hear should listen to the Spirit and understand what the Spirit is saying to the

churches. Everyone who is victorious will eat from the tree of life in the paradise of God.

The Message to the Church in Smyrna

8"Write this letter to the angel of the church in Smyrna. This is the message from the one who is the First

and the Last, who died and is alive:

9"I know about your suffering and your poverty--but you are rich! I know the slander of those opposing

you. They say they are Jews, but they really aren't because theirs is a synagogue of Satan. 10Don't be afraid

of what you are about to suffer. The Devil will throw some of you into prison and put you to the test. You will

be persecuted for `ten days.' Remain faithful even when facing death, and I will give you the crown of life.

11"Anyone who is willing to hear should listen to the Spirit and understand what the Spirit is saying to the

churches. Whoever is victorious will not be hurt by the second death.

The Message to the Church in Pergamum

12"Write this letter to the angel of the church in Pergamum. This is the message from the one who has a

sharp two-edged sword:

13"I know that you live in the city where that great throne of Satan is located, and yet you have remained

loyal to me. And you refused to deny me even when Antipas, my faithful witness, was martyred among you by

Satan's followers. 14And yet I have a few complaints against you. You tolerate some among you who are like

Balaam, who showed Balak how to trip up the people of Israel. He taught them to worship idols by eating food

offered to idols and by committing sexual sin. 15In the same way, you have some Nicolaitans among

you--people who follow the same teaching and commit the same sins. 16Repent, or I will come to you

suddenly and fight against them with the sword of my mouth.

17"Anyone who is willing to hear should listen to the Spirit and understand what the Spirit is saying to the

churches. Everyone who is victorious will eat of the manna that has been hidden away in heaven. And I will

give to each one a white stone, and on the stone will be engraved a new name that no one knows except the

one who receives it.

The Message to the Church in Thyatira

18"Write this letter to the angel of the church in Thyatira. This is the message from the Son of God, whose

eyes are bright like flames of fire, whose feet are like polished bronze:

19"I know all the things you do--your love, your faith, your service, and your patient endurance. And I can

see your constant improvement in all these things. 20But I have this complaint against you. You are

permitting that woman--that Jezebel who calls herself a prophet--to lead my servants astray. She is

encouraging them to worship idols, eat food offered to idols, and commit sexual sin. 21I gave her time to

repent, but she would not turn away from her immorality. 22Therefore, I will throw her upon a sickbed, and

she will suffer greatly with all who commit adultery with her, unless they turn away from all their evil deeds.

23I will strike her children dead. And all the churches will know that I am the one who searches out the

thoughts and intentions of every person. And I will give to each of you whatever you deserve. 24But I also

have a message for the rest of you in Thyatira who have not followed this false teaching (`deeper truths,' as

they call them--depths of Satan, really). I will ask nothing more of you 25except that you hold tightly to

what you have until I come.

26"To all who are victorious, who obey me to the very end, I will give authority over all the nations.

27They will rule the nations with an iron rod and smash them like clay pots. 28They will have the same

authority I received from my Father, and I will also give them the morning star! 29Anyone who is willing to

hear should listen to the Spirit and understand what the Spirit is saying to the churches.

chapter 3

The Message to the Church in Sardis

1"Write this letter to the angel of the church in Sardis. This is the message from the one who has the

sevenfold Spirit of God and the seven stars:

"I know all the things you do, and that you have a reputation for being alive--but you are dead. 2Now

wake up! Strengthen what little remains, for even what is left is at the point of death. Your deeds are far

from right in the sight of God. 3Go back to what you heard and believed at first; hold to it firmly and turn to

me again. Unless you do, I will come upon you suddenly, as unexpected as a thief.

4"Yet even in Sardis there are some who have not soiled their garments with evil deeds. They will walk

with me in white, for they are worthy. 5All who are victorious will be clothed in white. I will never erase their

names from the Book of Life, but I will announce before my Father and his angels that they are mine. 6Anyone

who is willing to hear should listen to the Spirit and understand what the Spirit is saying to the churches.

The Message to the Church in Philadelphia

7"Write this letter to the angel of the church in Philadelphia. This is the message from the one who is holy and

true. He is the one who has the key of David. He opens doors, and no one can shut them; he shuts doors,

and no one can open them.

8"I know all the things you do, and I have opened a door for you that no one can shut. You have little

strength, yet you obeyed my word and did not deny me. 9Look! I will force those who belong to Satan--those

liars who say they are Jews but are not--to come and bow down at your feet. They will acknowledge that

you are the ones I love.

10"Because you have obeyed my command to persevere, I will protect you from the great time of testing

that will come upon the whole world to test those who belong to this world. 11Look, I am coming quickly. Hold

on to what you have, so that no one will take away your crown. 12All who are victorious will become pillars in

the Temple of my God, and they will never have to leave it. And I will write my God's name on them, and they

will be citizens in the city of my God--the new Jerusalem that comes down from heaven from my God. And

they will have my new name inscribed upon them. 13Anyone who is willing to hear should listen to the Spirit

and understand what the Spirit is saying to the churches.

The Message to the Church in Laodicea

14"Write this letter to the angel of the church in Laodicea. This is the message from the one who is the

Amen--the faithful and true witness, the ruler of God's creation:

15"I know all the things you do, that you are neither hot nor cold. I wish you were one or the other! 16But

since you are like lukewarm water, I will spit you out of my mouth! 17You say, `I am rich. I have everything I

want. I don't need a thing!' And you don't realize that you are wretched and miserable and poor and blind and

naked. 18I advise you to buy gold from me--gold that has been purified by fire. Then you will be rich. And

also buy white garments so you will not be shamed by your nakedness. And buy ointment for your eyes so

you will be able to see. 19I am the one who corrects and disciplines everyone I love. Be diligent and turn from

your indifference.

20"Look! Here I stand at the door and knock. If you hear me calling and open the door, I will come in, and

we will share a meal as friends. 21I will invite everyone who is victorious to sit with me on my throne, just as

I was victorious and sat with my Father on his throne. 22Anyone who is willing to hear should listen to the

Spirit and understand what the Spirit is saying to the churches."

chapter 4

Worship in Heaven

1Then as I looked, I saw a door standing open in heaven, and the same voice I had heard before spoke to me

with the sound of a mighty trumpet blast. The voice said, "Come up here, and I will show you what must

happen after these things." 2And instantly I was in the Spirit, and I saw a throne in heaven and someone

sitting on it! 3The one sitting on the throne was as brilliant as gemstones--jasper and carnelian. And the glow

of an emerald circled his throne like a rainbow. 4Twenty-four thrones surrounded him, and twenty-four elders

sat on them. They were all clothed in white and had gold crowns on their heads. 5And from the throne came

flashes of lightning and the rumble of thunder. And in front of the throne were seven lampstands with burning

flames. They are the seven spirits of God. 6In front of the throne was a shiny sea of glass, sparkling like

crystal.

In the center and around the throne were four living beings, each covered with eyes, front and back. 7The

first of these living beings had the form of a lion; the second looked like an ox; the third had a human face;

and the fourth had the form of an eagle with wings spread out as though in flight. 8Each of these living

beings had six wings, and their wings were covered with eyes, inside and out. Day after day and night after

night they keep on saying,

"Holy, holy, holy is the Lord God Almighty--

the one who always was, who is, and who is still to come."

9Whenever the living beings give glory and honor and thanks to the one sitting on the throne, the one who

lives forever and ever, 10the twenty-four elders fall down and worship the one who lives forever and ever.

And they lay their crowns before the throne and say,

"You are worthy, O Lord our God,

to receive glory and honor and power.

For you created everything,

and it is for your pleasure that they exist and were created."

chapter 5

The Lamb Opens the Scroll

1And I saw a scroll in the right hand of the one who was sitting on the throne. There was writing on the

inside and the outside of the scroll, and it was sealed with seven seals. 2And I saw a strong angel, who

shouted with a loud voice: "Who is worthy to break the seals on this scroll and unroll it?" 3But no one in

heaven or on earth or under the earth was able to open the scroll and read it.

4Then I wept because no one could be found who was worthy to open the scroll and read it. 5But one of the

twenty-four elders said to me, "Stop weeping! Look, the Lion of the tribe of Judah, the heir to David's throne,

has conquered. He is worthy to open the scroll and break its seven seals."

6I looked and I saw a Lamb that had been killed but was now standing between the throne and the four living

beings and among the twenty-four elders. He had seven horns and seven eyes, which are the seven spirits of

God that are sent out into every part of the earth. 7He stepped forward and took the scroll from the right

hand of the one sitting on the throne. 8And as he took the scroll, the four living beings and the twenty-four

elders fell down before the Lamb. Each one had a harp, and they held gold bowls filled with incense--the

prayers of God's people!

9And they sang a new song with these words:

"You are worthy to take the scroll

and break its seals and open it.

For you were killed, and your blood has ransomed people for God

from every tribe and language and people and nation.

And you have caused them to become God's Kingdom and his priests.

And they will reign on the earth."

11Then I looked again, and I heard the singing of thousands and millions of angels around the throne and

the living beings and the elders. 12And they sang in a mighty chorus:

"The Lamb is worthy--the Lamb who was killed.

He is worthy to receive power and riches

and wisdom and strength

and honor and glory and blessing."

13And then I heard every creature in heaven and on earth and under the earth and in the sea. They also

sang:

"Blessing and honor and glory and power

belong to the one sitting on the throne

and to the Lamb forever and ever."

14And the four living beings said, "Amen!" And the twenty-four elders fell down and worshiped God and the

Lamb.

chapter 6

The Lamb Breaks the First Six Seals

1As I watched, the Lamb broke the first of the seven seals on the scroll. Then one of the four living beings

called out with a voice that sounded like thunder, "Come!" 2I looked up and saw a white horse. Its rider

carried a bow, and a crown was placed on his head. He rode out to win many battles and gain the victory.

3When the Lamb broke the second seal, I heard the second living being say, "Come!" 4And another horse

appeared, a red one. Its rider was given a mighty sword and the authority to remove peace from the earth.

And there was war and slaughter everywhere.

5When the Lamb broke the third seal, I heard the third living being say, "Come!" And I looked up and saw a

black horse, and its rider was holding a pair of scales in his hand. 6And a voice from among the four living

beings said, "A loaf of wheat bread or three loaves of barley for a day's pay. And don't waste the olive oil and

wine."

7And when the Lamb broke the fourth seal, I heard the fourth living being say, "Come!" 8And I looked up and

saw a horse whose color was pale green like a corpse. And Death was the name of its rider, who was followed

around by the Grave. They were given authority over one-fourth of the earth, to kill with the sword and

famine and disease and wild animals.

9And when the Lamb broke the fifth seal, I saw under the altar the souls of all who had been martyred for the

word of God and for being faithful in their witness. 10They called loudly to the Lord and said, "O Sovereign

Lord, holy and true, how long will it be before you judge the people who belong to this world for what they

have done to us? When will you avenge our blood against these people?" 11Then a white robe was given to

each of them. And they were told to rest a little longer until the full number of their brothers and

sisters--their fellow servants of Jesus--had been martyred.

12I watched as the Lamb broke the sixth seal, and there was a great earthquake. The sun became as dark as

black cloth, and the moon became as red as blood. 13Then the stars of the sky fell to the earth like green

figs falling from trees shaken by mighty winds. 14And the sky was rolled up like a scroll and taken away. And

all of the mountains and all of the islands disappeared. 15Then the kings of the earth, the rulers, the

generals, the wealthy people, the people with great power, and every slave and every free person--all hid

themselves in the caves and among the rocks of the mountains. 16And they cried to the mountains and the

rocks, "Fall on us and hide us from the face of the one who sits on the throne and from the wrath of the

Lamb. 17For the great day of their wrath has come, and who will be able to survive?"

chapter 7

Gods People Will Be Preserved

1Then I saw four angels standing at the four corners of the earth, holding back the four winds from blowing

upon the earth. Not a leaf rustled in the trees, and the sea became as smooth as glass. 2And I saw another

angel coming from the east, carrying the seal of the living God. And he shouted out to those four angels who

had been given power to injure land and sea, 3"Wait! Don't hurt the land or the sea or the trees until we have

placed the seal of God on the foreheads of his servants."

4And I heard how many were marked with the seal of God. There were 144,000 who were sealed from all the

tribes of Israel:

5 from Judah . . . . . . . . . 12,000

from Reuben . . . . . . . . 12,000

from Gad . . . . . . . . . . . 12,000

6 from Asher . . . . . . . . . 12,000

from Naphtali . . . . . . . 12,000

from Manasseh . . . . . . 12,000

7 from Simeon . . . . . . . 12,000

from Levi . . . . . . . . . . . 12,000

from Issachar . . . . . . . . 12,000

8 from Zebulun . . . . . . . 12,000

from Joseph . . . . . . . . . 12,000

from Benjamin . . . . . . 12,000

Praise from the Great Multitude

9After this I saw a vast crowd, too great to count, from every nation and tribe and people and language,

standing in front of the throne and before the Lamb. They were clothed in white and held palm branches in

their hands. 10And they were shouting with a mighty shout, "Salvation comes from our God on the throne and

from the Lamb!"

11And all the angels were standing around the throne and around the elders and the four living beings. And

they fell face down before the throne and worshiped God. 12They said,

"Amen! Blessing and glory and wisdom

and thanksgiving and honor and power and strength

belong to our God forever and forever. Amen!"

13Then one of the twenty-four elders asked me, "Who are these who are clothed in white? Where do they

come from?"

14And I said to him, "Sir, you are the one who knows."

Then he said to me, "These are the ones coming out of the great tribulation. They washed their robes in the

blood of the Lamb and made them white. 15That is why they are standing in front of the throne of God,

serving him day and night in his Temple. And he who sits on the throne will live among them and shelter them.

16They will never again be hungry or thirsty, and they will be fully protected from the scorching noontime

heat. 17For the Lamb who stands in front of the throne will be their Shepherd. He will lead them to the

springs of life-giving water. And God will wipe away all their tears."

chapter 8

The Lamb Breaks the Seventh Seal

1When the Lamb broke the seventh seal, there was silence throughout heaven for about half an hour. 2And I

saw the seven angels who stand before God, and they were given seven trumpets.

3Then another angel with a gold incense burner came and stood at the altar. And a great quantity of incense

was given to him to mix with the prayers of God's people, to be offered on the gold altar before the throne.

4The smoke of the incense, mixed with the prayers of the saints, ascended up to God from the altar where

the angel had poured them out. 5Then the angel filled the incense burner with fire from the altar and threw it

down upon the earth; and thunder crashed, lightning flashed, and there was a terrible earthquake.

The First Four Trumpets

6Then the seven angels with the seven trumpets prepared to blow their mighty blasts.

7The first angel blew his trumpet, and hail and fire mixed with blood were thrown down upon the earth, and

one-third of the earth was set on fire. One-third of the trees were burned, and all the grass was burned.

8Then the second angel blew his trumpet, and a great mountain of fire was thrown into the sea. And

one-third of the water in the sea became blood. 9And one-third of all things living in the sea died. And

one-third of all the ships on the sea were destroyed.

10Then the third angel blew his trumpet, and a great flaming star fell out of the sky, burning like a torch. It

fell upon one-third of the rivers and on the springs of water. 11The name of the star was Bitterness. It made

one-third of the water bitter, and many people died because the water was so bitter.

12Then the fourth angel blew his trumpet, and one-third of the sun was struck, and one-third of the moon,

and one-third of the stars, and they became dark. And one-third of the day was dark and one-third of the

night also.

13Then I looked up. And I heard a single eagle crying loudly as it flew through the air, "Terror, terror, terror to

all who belong to this world because of what will happen when the last three angels blow their trumpets."

chapter 9

The Fifth Trumpet Brings the First Terror

1Then the fifth angel blew his trumpet, and I saw a star that had fallen to earth from the sky, and he was

given the key to the shaft of the bottomless pit. 2When he opened it, smoke poured out as though from a

huge furnace, and the sunlight and air were darkened by the smoke.

3Then locusts came from the smoke and descended on the earth, and they were given power to sting like

scorpions. 4They were told not to hurt the grass or plants or trees but to attack all the people who did not

have the seal of God on their foreheads. 5They were told not to kill them but to torture them for five months

with agony like the pain of scorpion stings. 6In those days people will seek death but will not find it. They will

long to die, but death will flee away!

7The locusts looked like horses armed for battle. They had gold crowns on their heads, and they had human

faces. 8Their hair was long like the hair of a woman, and their teeth were like the teeth of a lion. 9They wore

armor made of iron, and their wings roared like an army of chariots rushing into battle. 10They had tails that

stung like scorpions, with power to torture people. This power was given to them for five months. 11Their

king is the angel from the bottomless pit; his name in Hebrew is Abaddon, and in Greek, Apollyon--the

Destroyer.

12The first terror is past, but look, two more terrors are coming!

The Sixth Trumpet Brings the Second Terror

13Then the sixth angel blew his trumpet, and I heard a voice speaking from the four horns of the gold altar

that stands in the presence of God. 14And the voice spoke to the sixth angel who held the trumpet: "Release

the four angels who are bound at the great Euphrates River." 15And the four angels who had been prepared

for this hour and day and month and year were turned loose to kill one-third of all the people on earth.

16They led an army of 200 million mounted troops--I heard an announcement of how many there were.

17And in my vision, I saw the horses and the riders sitting on them. The riders wore armor that was fiery red

and sky blue and yellow. The horses' heads were like the heads of lions, and fire and smoke and burning sulfur

billowed from their mouths. 18One-third of all the people on earth were killed by these three plagues--by the

fire and the smoke and burning sulfur that came from the mouths of the horses. 19Their power was in their

mouths, but also in their tails. For their tails had heads like snakes, with the power to injure people.

20But the people who did not die in these plagues still refused to turn from their evil deeds. They continued

to worship demons and idols made of gold, silver, bronze, stone, and wood--idols that neither see nor hear

nor walk! 21And they did not repent of their murders or their witchcraft or their immorality or their thefts.

chapter 10

The Angel and the Small Scroll

1Then I saw another mighty angel coming down from heaven, surrounded by a cloud, with a rainbow over his

head. His face shone like the sun, and his feet were like pillars of fire. 2And in his hand was a small scroll,

which he had unrolled. He stood with his right foot on the sea and his left foot on the land. 3And he gave a

great shout, like the roar of a lion. And when he shouted, the seven thunders answered.

4When the seven thunders spoke, I was about to write. But a voice from heaven called to me: "Keep secret

what the seven thunders said. Do not write it down."

5Then the mighty angel standing on the sea and on the land lifted his right hand to heaven. 6And he swore

an oath in the name of the one who lives forever and ever, who created heaven and everything in it, the

earth and everything in it, and the sea and everything in it. He said, "God will wait no longer. 7But when the

seventh angel blows his trumpet, God's mysterious plan will be fulfilled. It will happen just as he announced it

to his servants the prophets."

8Then the voice from heaven called to me again: "Go and take the unrolled scroll from the angel who is

standing on the sea and on the land."

9So I approached him and asked him to give me the little scroll. "Yes, take it and eat it," he said. "At first it

will taste like honey, but when you swallow it, it will make your stomach sour!" 10So I took the little scroll

from the hands of the angel, and I ate it! It was sweet in my mouth, but it made my stomach sour. 11Then

he said to me, "You must prophesy again about many peoples, nations, languages, and kings."

chapter 11

The Two Witnesses

1Then I was given a measuring stick, and I was told, "Go and measure the Temple of God and the altar, and

count the number of worshipers. 2But do not measure the outer courtyard, for it has been turned over to the

nations. They will trample the holy city for 42 months. 3And I will give power to my two witnesses, and they

will be clothed in sackcloth and will prophesy during those 1,260 days."

4These two prophets are the two olive trees and the two lampstands that stand before the Lord of all the

earth. 5If anyone tries to harm them, fire flashes from the mouths of the prophets and consumes their

enemies. This is how anyone who tries to harm them must die. 6They have power to shut the skies so that no

rain will fall for as long as they prophesy. And they have the power to turn the rivers and oceans into blood,

and to send every kind of plague upon the earth as often as they wish.

7When they complete their testimony, the beast that comes up out of the bottomless pit will declare war

against them. He will conquer them and kill them. 8And their bodies will lie in the main street of Jerusalem, the

city which is called "Sodom" and "Egypt," the city where their Lord was crucified. 9And for three and a half

days, all peoples, tribes, languages, and nations will come to stare at their bodies. No one will be allowed to

bury them. 10All the people who belong to this world will give presents to each other to celebrate the death

of the two prophets who had tormented them.

11But after three and a half days, the spirit of life from God entered them, and they stood up! And terror

struck all who were staring at them. 12Then a loud voice shouted from heaven, "Come up here!" And they

rose to heaven in a cloud as their enemies watched.

13And in the same hour there was a terrible earthquake that destroyed a tenth of the city. Seven thousand

people died in that earthquake. And everyone who did not die was terrified and gave glory to the God of

heaven.

14The second terror is past, but look, now the third terror is coming quickly.

The Seventh Trumpet Brings the Third Terror

15Then the seventh angel blew his trumpet, and there were loud voices shouting in heaven: "The whole world

has now become the Kingdom of our Lord and of his Christ, and he will reign forever and ever."

16And the twenty-four elders sitting on their thrones before God fell on their faces and worshiped him. 17And

they said,

"We give thanks to you, Lord God Almighty,

the one who is and who always was,

for now you have assumed your great power

and have begun to reign.

The nations were angry with you,

but now the time of your wrath has come.

It is time to judge the dead and reward your servants.

You will reward your prophets and your holy people,

all who fear your name, from the least to the greatest.

And you will destroy all who have caused destruction on the earth."

19Then, in heaven, the Temple of God was opened and the Ark of his covenant could be seen inside the

Temple. Lightning flashed, thunder crashed and roared; there was a great hailstorm, and the world was

shaken by a mighty earthquake.

chapter 12

The Woman and the Dragon

1Then I witnessed in heaven an event of great significance. I saw a woman clothed with the sun, with the

moon beneath her feet, and a crown of twelve stars on her head. 2She was pregnant, and she cried out in

the pain of labor as she awaited her delivery.

3Suddenly, I witnessed in heaven another significant event. I saw a large red dragon with seven heads and

ten horns, with seven crowns on his heads. 4His tail dragged down one-third of the stars, which he threw to

the earth. He stood before the woman as she was about to give birth to her child, ready to devour the baby

as soon as it was born.

5She gave birth to a boy who was to rule all nations with an iron rod. And the child was snatched away from

the dragon and was caught up to God and to his throne. 6And the woman fled into the wilderness, where God

had prepared a place to give her care for 1,260 days.

7Then there was war in heaven. Michael and the angels under his command fought the dragon and his angels.

8And the dragon lost the battle and was forced out of heaven. 9This great dragon--the ancient serpent

called the Devil, or Satan, the one deceiving the whole world--was thrown down to the earth with all his

angels.

10Then I heard a loud voice shouting across the heavens,

"It has happened at last--the salvation and power and kingdom of our God, and the authority of his Christ!

For the Accuser has been thrown down to earth--the one who accused our brothers and sisters before our

God day and night. 11And they have defeated him because of the blood of the Lamb and because of their

testimony. And they were not afraid to die. 12Rejoice, O heavens! And you who live in the heavens, rejoice!

But terror will come on the earth and the sea. For the Devil has come down to you in great anger, and he

knows that he has little time."

13And when the dragon realized that he had been thrown down to the earth, he pursued the woman who

had given birth to the child. 14But she was given two wings like those of a great eagle. This allowed her to fly

to a place prepared for her in the wilderness, where she would be cared for and protected from the dragon for

a time, times, and half a time.

15Then the dragon tried to drown the woman with a flood of water that flowed from its mouth. 16But the

earth helped her by opening its mouth and swallowing the river that gushed out from the mouth of the

dragon. 17Then the dragon became angry at the woman, and he declared war against the rest of her

children--all who keep God's commandments and confess that they belong to Jesus.

The Beast out of the Sea

18Then he stood waiting on the shore of the sea.

chapter 13

1 And now in my vision I saw a beast rising up out of the sea. It had seven heads and ten horns, with ten

crowns on its horns. And written on each head were names that blasphemed God. 2This beast looked like a

leopard, but it had bear's feet and a lion's mouth! And the dragon gave him his own power and throne and

great authority.

3I saw that one of the heads of the beast seemed wounded beyond recovery--but the fatal wound was

healed! All the world marveled at this miracle and followed the beast in awe. 4They worshiped the dragon for

giving the beast such power, and they worshiped the beast. "Is there anyone as great as the beast?" they

exclaimed. "Who is able to fight against him?"

5Then the beast was allowed to speak great blasphemies against God. And he was given authority to do what

he wanted for forty-two months. 6And he spoke terrible words of blasphemy against God, slandering his name

and all who live in heaven, who are his temple. 7And the beast was allowed to wage war against God's holy

people and to overcome them. And he was given authority to rule over every tribe and people and language

and nation. 8And all the people who belong to this world worshiped the beast. They are the ones whose

names were not written in the Book of Life, which belongs to the Lamb who was killed before the world was

made.

9Anyone who is willing to hear should listen and understand. 10The people who are destined for prison will be

arrested and taken away. Those who are destined for death will be killed. But do not be dismayed, for here is

your opportunity to have endurance and faith.

The Beast out of the Earth

11Then I saw another beast come up out of the earth. He had two horns like those of a lamb, and he spoke

with the voice of a dragon. 12He exercised all the authority of the first beast. And he required all the earth

and those who belong to this world to worship the first beast, whose death-wound had been healed. 13He did

astounding miracles, such as making fire flash down to earth from heaven while everyone was watching.

14And with all the miracles he was allowed to perform on behalf of the first beast, he deceived all the people

who belong to this world. He ordered the people of the world to make a great statue of the first beast, who

was fatally wounded and then came back to life. 15He was permitted to give life to this statue so that it

could speak. Then the statue commanded that anyone refusing to worship it must die.

16He required everyone--great and small, rich and poor, slave and free--to be given a mark on the right hand

or on the forehead. 17And no one could buy or sell anything without that mark, which was either the name of

the beast or the number representing his name. 18Wisdom is needed to understand this. Let the one who has

understanding solve the number of the beast, for it is the number of a man. His number is 666.

chapter 14

The Lamb and the 144,000

1Then I saw the Lamb standing on Mount Zion, and with him were 144,000 who had his name and his Father's

name written on their foreheads. 2And I heard a sound from heaven like the roaring of a great waterfall or the

rolling of mighty thunder. It was like the sound of many harpists playing together.

3This great choir sang a wonderful new song in front of the throne of God and before the four living beings

and the twenty-four elders. And no one could learn this song except those 144,000 who had been redeemed

from the earth. 4For they are spiritually undefiled, pure as virgins, following the Lamb wherever he goes. They

have been purchased from among the people on the earth as a special offering to God and to the Lamb. 5No

falsehood can be charged against them; they are blameless.

The Three Angels

6And I saw another angel flying through the heavens, carrying the everlasting Good News to preach to the

people who belong to this world--to every nation, tribe, language, and people. 7"Fear God," he shouted. "Give

glory to him. For the time has come when he will sit as judge. Worship him who made heaven and earth, the

sea, and all the springs of water."

8Then another angel followed him through the skies, shouting, "Babylon is fallen--that great city is

fallen--because she seduced the nations of the world and made them drink the wine of her passionate

immorality."

9Then a third angel followed them, shouting, "Anyone who worships the beast and his statue or who accepts

his mark on the forehead or the hand 10must drink the wine of God's wrath. It is poured out undiluted into

God's cup of wrath. And they will be tormented with fire and burning sulfur in the presence of the holy angels

and the Lamb. 11The smoke of their torment rises forever and ever, and they will have no relief day or night,

for they have worshiped the beast and his statue and have accepted the mark of his name. 12Let this

encourage God's holy people to endure persecution patiently and remain firm to the end, obeying his

commands and trusting in Jesus."

13And I heard a voice from heaven saying, "Write this down: Blessed are those who die in the Lord from now

on. Yes, says the Spirit, they are blessed indeed, for they will rest from all their toils and trials; for their good

deeds follow them!"

The Harvest of the Earth

14Then I saw the Son of Man sitting on a white cloud. He had a gold crown on his head and a sharp sickle in

his hand.

15Then an angel came from the Temple and called out in a loud voice to the one sitting on the cloud, "Use

the sickle, for the time has come for you to harvest; the crop is ripe on the earth." 16So the one sitting on

the cloud swung his sickle over the earth, and the whole earth was harvested.

17After that, another angel came from the Temple in heaven, and he also had a sharp sickle. 18Then another

angel, who has power to destroy the world with fire, shouted to the angel with the sickle, "Use your sickle

now to gather the clusters of grapes from the vines of the earth, for they are fully ripe for judgment." 19So

the angel swung his sickle on the earth and loaded the grapes into the great winepress of God's wrath. 20And

the grapes were trodden in the winepress outside the city, and blood flowed from the winepress in a stream

about 180 miles long and as high as a horse's bridle.

chapter 15

The Song of Moses and of the Lamb

1Then I saw in heaven another significant event, and it was great and marvelous. Seven angels were holding

the seven last plagues, which would bring God's wrath to completion. 2I saw before me what seemed to be a

crystal sea mixed with fire. And on it stood all the people who had been victorious over the beast and his

statue and the number representing his name. They were all holding harps that God had given them. 3And

they were singing the song of Moses, the servant of God, and the song of the Lamb:

"Great and marvelous are your actions,

Lord God Almighty.

Just and true are your ways,

O King of the nations.

Who will not fear, O Lord, and glorify your name?

For you alone are holy.

All nations will come and worship before you,

for your righteous deeds have been revealed."

The Seven Bowls of the Seven Plagues

5Then I looked and saw that the Temple in heaven, God's Tabernacle, was thrown wide open! 6The seven

angels who were holding the bowls of the seven plagues came from the Temple, clothed in spotless white

linen with gold belts across their chests. 7And one of the four living beings handed each of the seven angels

a gold bowl filled with the terrible wrath of God, who lives forever and forever. 8The Temple was filled with

smoke from God's glory and power. No one could enter the Temple until the seven angels had completed

pouring out the seven plagues.

chapter 16

1 Then I heard a mighty voice shouting from the Temple to the seven angels, "Now go your ways and empty

out the seven bowls of God's wrath on the earth."

2So the first angel left the Temple and poured out his bowl over the earth, and horrible, malignant sores broke

out on everyone who had the mark of the beast and who worshiped his statue.

3Then the second angel poured out his bowl on the sea, and it became like the blood of a corpse. And

everything in the sea died.

4Then the third angel poured out his bowl on the rivers and springs, and they became blood. 5And I heard the

angel who had authority over all water saying, "You are just in sending this judgment, O Holy One, who is and

who always was. 6For your holy people and your prophets have been killed, and their blood was poured out

on the earth. So you have given their murderers blood to drink. It is their just reward." 7And I heard a voice

from the altar saying, "Yes, Lord God Almighty, your punishments are true and just."

8Then the fourth angel poured out his bowl on the sun, causing it to scorch everyone with its fire. 9Everyone

was burned by this blast of heat, and they cursed the name of God, who sent all of these plagues. They did

not repent and give him glory.

10Then the fifth angel poured out his bowl on the throne of the beast, and his kingdom was plunged into

darkness. And his subjects ground their teeth in anguish, 11and they cursed the God of heaven for their pains

and sores. But they refused to repent of all their evil deeds.

12Then the sixth angel poured out his bowl on the great Euphrates River, and it dried up so that the kings

from the east could march their armies westward without hindrance. 13And I saw three evil spirits that looked

like frogs leap from the mouth of the dragon, the beast, and the false prophet. 14These miracle-working

demons caused all the rulers of the world to gather for battle against the Lord on that great judgment day of

God Almighty.

15"Take note: I will come as unexpectedly as a thief! Blessed are all who are watching for me, who keep

their robes ready so they will not need to walk naked and ashamed."

16And they gathered all the rulers and their armies to a place called Armageddon in Hebrew.

17Then the seventh angel poured out his bowl into the air. And a mighty shout came from the throne of the

Temple in heaven, saying, "It is finished!" 18Then the thunder crashed and rolled, and lightning flashed. And

there was an earthquake greater than ever before in human history. 19The great city of Babylon split into

three pieces, and cities around the world fell into heaps of rubble. And so God remembered all of Babylon's

sins, and he made her drink the cup that was filled with the wine of his fierce wrath. 20And every island

disappeared, and all the mountains were leveled. 21There was a terrible hailstorm, and hailstones weighing

seventy-five pounds fell from the sky onto the people below. They cursed God because of the hailstorm,

which was a very terrible plague.

chapter 17

The Great Prostitute

1One of the seven angels who had poured out the seven bowls came over and spoke to me. "Come with me,"

he said, "and I will show you the judgment that is going to come on the great prostitute, who sits on many

waters. 2The rulers of the world have had immoral relations with her, and the people who belong to this world

have been made drunk by the wine of her immorality."

3So the angel took me in spirit into the wilderness. There I saw a woman sitting on a scarlet beast that had

seven heads and ten horns, written all over with blasphemies against God. 4The woman wore purple and

scarlet clothing and beautiful jewelry made of gold and precious gems and pearls. She held in her hand a gold

goblet full of obscenities and the impurities of her immorality. 5A mysterious name was written on her

forehead: "Babylon the Great, Mother of All Prostitutes and Obscenities in the World." 6I could see that she

was drunk--drunk with the blood of God's holy people who were witnesses for Jesus. I stared at her

completely amazed.

7"Why are you so amazed?" the angel asked. "I will tell you the mystery of this woman and of the beast with

seven heads and ten horns. 8The beast you saw was alive but isn't now. And yet he will soon come up out of

the bottomless pit and go to eternal destruction. And the people who belong to this world, whose names were

not written in the Book of Life from before the world began, will be amazed at the reappearance of this beast

who had died.

9"And now understand this: The seven heads of the beast represent the seven hills of the city where this

woman rules. They also represent seven kings. 10Five kings have already fallen, the sixth now reigns, and the

seventh is yet to come, but his reign will be brief. 11The scarlet beast that was alive and then died is the

eighth king. He is like the other seven, and he, too, will go to his doom. 12His ten horns are ten kings who

have not yet risen to power; they will be appointed to their kingdoms for one brief moment to reign with the

beast. 13They will all agree to give their power and authority to him. 14Together they will wage war against

the Lamb, but the Lamb will defeat them because he is Lord over all lords and King over all kings, and his

people are the called and chosen and faithful ones."

15And the angel said to me, "The waters where the prostitute is sitting represent masses of people of every

nation and language. 16The scarlet beast and his ten horns--which represent ten kings who will reign with

him--all hate the prostitute. They will strip her naked, eat her flesh, and burn her remains with fire. 17For God

has put a plan into their minds, a plan that will carry out his purposes. They will mutually agree to give their

authority to the scarlet beast, and so the words of God will be fulfilled. 18And this woman you saw in your

vision represents the great city that rules over the kings of the earth."

chapter 18

The Fall of Babylon

1After all this I saw another angel come down from heaven with great authority, and the earth grew bright

with his splendor. 2He gave a mighty shout, "Babylon is fallen--that great city is fallen! She has become the

hideout of demons and evil spirits, a nest for filthy buzzards, and a den for dreadful beasts. 3For all the

nations have drunk the wine of her passionate immorality. The rulers of the world have committed adultery

with her, and merchants throughout the world have grown rich as a result of her luxurious living."

4Then I heard another voice calling from heaven, "Come away from her, my people. Do not take part in her

sins, or you will be punished with her. 5For her sins are piled as high as heaven, and God is ready to judge her

for her evil deeds. 6Do to her as she has done to your people. Give her a double penalty for all her evil deeds.

She brewed a cup of terror for others, so give her twice as much as she gave out. 7She has lived in luxury

and pleasure, so match it now with torments and sorrows. She boasts, `I am queen on my throne. I am no

helpless widow. I will not experience sorrow.' 8Therefore, the sorrows of death and mourning and famine will

overtake her in a single day. She will be utterly consumed by fire, for the Lord God who judges her is mighty."

9And the rulers of the world who took part in her immoral acts and enjoyed her great luxury will mourn for her

as they see the smoke rising from her charred remains. 10They will stand at a distance, terrified by her great

torment. They will cry out, "How terrible, how terrible for Babylon, that great city! In one single moment God's

judgment came on her."

11The merchants of the world will weep and mourn for her, for there is no one left to buy their goods. 12She

bought great quantities of gold, silver, jewels, pearls, fine linen, purple dye, silk, scarlet cloth, every kind of

perfumed wood, ivory goods, objects made of expensive wood, bronze, iron, and marble. 13She also bought

cinnamon, spice, incense, myrrh, frankincense, wine, olive oil, fine flour, wheat, cattle, sheep, horses,

chariots, and slaves--yes, she even traded in human lives.

14"All the fancy things you loved so much are gone," they cry. "The luxuries and splendor that you prized so

much will never be yours again. They are gone forever."

15The merchants who became wealthy by selling her these things will stand at a distance, terrified by her

great torment. They will weep and cry. 16"How terrible, how terrible for that great city! She was so

beautiful--like a woman clothed in finest purple and scarlet linens, decked out with gold and precious stones

and pearls! 17And in one single moment all the wealth of the city is gone!"

And all the shipowners and captains of the merchant ships and their crews will stand at a distance. 18They

will weep as they watch the smoke ascend, and they will say, "Where in all the world is there another city like

this?" 19And they will throw dust on their heads to show their great sorrow. And they will say, "How terrible,

how terrible for the great city! She made us all rich from her great wealth. And now in a single hour it is all

gone."

20But you, O heaven, rejoice over her fate. And you also rejoice, O holy people of God and apostles and

prophets! For at last God has judged her on your behalf.

21Then a mighty angel picked up a boulder as large as a great millstone. He threw it into the ocean and

shouted, "Babylon, the great city, will be thrown down as violently as I have thrown away this stone, and she

will disappear forever. 22Never again will the sound of music be heard there--no more harps, songs, flutes, or

trumpets. There will be no industry of any kind, and no more milling of grain. 23Her nights will be dark, without

a single lamp. There will be no happy voices of brides and grooms. This will happen because her merchants,

who were the greatest in the world, deceived the nations with her sorceries. 24In her streets the blood of

the prophets was spilled. She was the one who slaughtered God's people all over the world."

chapter 19

Songs of Victory in Heaven

1After this, I heard the sound of a vast crowd in heaven shouting, "Hallelujah! Salvation is from our God. Glory

and power belong to him alone. 2His judgments are just and true. He has punished the great prostitute who

corrupted the earth with her immorality, and he has avenged the murder of his servants." 3Again and again

their voices rang, "Hallelujah! The smoke from that city ascends forever and forever!"

4Then the twenty-four elders and the four living beings fell down and worshiped God, who was sitting on the

throne. They cried out, "Amen! Hallelujah!"

5And from the throne came a voice that said, "Praise our God, all his servants, from the least to the greatest,

all who fear him."

6Then I heard again what sounded like the shout of a huge crowd, or the roar of mighty ocean waves, or the

crash of loud thunder: "Hallelujah! For the Lord our God, the Almighty, reigns. 7Let us be glad and rejoice and

honor him. For the time has come for the wedding feast of the Lamb, and his bride has prepared herself. 8She

is permitted to wear the finest white linen." (Fine linen represents the good deeds done by the people of

God.)

9And the angel said, "Write this: Blessed are those who are invited to the wedding feast of the Lamb." And he

added, "These are true words that come from God."

10Then I fell down at his feet to worship him, but he said, "No, don't worship me. For I am a servant of God,

just like you and other brothers and sisters who testify of their faith in Jesus. Worship God. For the essence

of prophecy is to give a clear witness for Jesus."

The Rider on the White Horse

11Then I saw heaven opened, and a white horse was standing there. And the one sitting on the horse was

named Faithful and True. For he judges fairly and then goes to war. 12His eyes were bright like flames of fire,

and on his head were many crowns. A name was written on him, and only he knew what it meant. 13He was

clothed with a robe dipped in blood, and his title was the Word of God. 14The armies of heaven, dressed in

pure white linen, followed him on white horses. 15From his mouth came a sharp sword, and with it he struck

down the nations. He ruled them with an iron rod, and he trod the winepress of the fierce wrath of almighty

God. 16On his robe and thigh was written this title: King of kings and Lord of lords.

17Then I saw an angel standing in the sun, shouting to the vultures flying high in the sky: "Come! Gather

together for the great banquet God has prepared. 18Come and eat the flesh of kings, captains, and strong

warriors; of horses and their riders; and of all humanity, both free and slave, small and great."

19Then I saw the beast gathering the kings of the earth and their armies in order to fight against the one

sitting on the horse and his army. 20And the beast was captured, and with him the false prophet who did

mighty miracles on behalf of the beast--miracles that deceived all who had accepted the mark of the beast

and who worshiped his statue. Both the beast and his false prophet were thrown alive into the lake of fire

that burns with sulfur. 21Their entire army was killed by the sharp sword that came out of the mouth of the

one riding the white horse. And all the vultures of the sky gorged themselves on the dead bodies.

chapter 20

The Thousand Years

1Then I saw an angel come down from heaven with the key to the bottomless pit and a heavy chain in his

hand. 2He seized the dragon--that old serpent, the Devil, Satan--and bound him in chains for a thousand

years. 3The angel threw him into the bottomless pit, which he then shut and locked so Satan could not

deceive the nations anymore until the thousand years were finished. Afterward he would be released again for

a little while.

4Then I saw thrones, and the people sitting on them had been given the authority to judge. And I saw the

souls of those who had been beheaded for their testimony about Jesus, for proclaiming the word of God. And I

saw the souls of those who had not worshiped the beast or his statue, nor accepted his mark on their

forehead or their hands. They came to life again, and they reigned with Christ for a thousand years. 5This is

the first resurrection. (The rest of the dead did not come back to life until the thousand years had ended.)

6Blessed and holy are those who share in the first resurrection. For them the second death holds no power,

but they will be priests of God and of Christ and will reign with him a thousand years.

The Defeat of Satan

7When the thousand years end, Satan will be let out of his prison. 8He will go out to deceive the nations from

every corner of the earth, which are called Gog and Magog. He will gather them together for battle--a mighty

host, as numberless as sand along the shore. 9And I saw them as they went up on the broad plain of the

earth and surrounded God's people and the beloved city. But fire from heaven came down on the attacking

armies and consumed them.

10Then the Devil, who betrayed them, was thrown into the lake of fire that burns with sulfur, joining the

beast and the false prophet. There they will be tormented day and night forever and ever.

The Final Judgment

11And I saw a great white throne, and I saw the one who was sitting on it. The earth and sky fled from his

presence, but they found no place to hide. 12I saw the dead, both great and small, standing before God's

throne. And the books were opened, including the Book of Life. And the dead were judged according to the

things written in the books, according to what they had done. 13The sea gave up the dead in it, and death

and the grave gave up the dead in them. They were all judged according to their deeds. 14And death and the

grave were thrown into the lake of fire. This is the second death--the lake of fire. 15And anyone whose name

was not found recorded in the Book of Life was thrown into the lake of fire.

chapter 21

The New Jerusalem

1Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the old heaven and the old earth had disappeared. And the

sea was also gone. 2And I saw the holy city, the new Jerusalem, coming down from God out of heaven like a

beautiful bride prepared for her husband.

3I heard a loud shout from the throne, saying, "Look, the home of God is now among his people! He will live

with them, and they will be his people. God himself will be with them. 4He will remove all of their sorrows, and

there will be no more death or sorrow or crying or pain. For the old world and its evils are gone forever."

5And the one sitting on the throne said, "Look, I am making all things new!" And then he said to me, "Write

this down, for what I tell you is trustworthy and true." 6And he also said, "It is finished! I am the Alpha and

the Omega--the Beginning and the End. To all who are thirsty I will give the springs of the water of life

without charge! 7All who are victorious will inherit all these blessings, and I will be their God, and they will be

my children. 8But cowards who turn away from me, and unbelievers, and the corrupt, and murderers, and the

immoral, and those who practice witchcraft, and idol worshipers, and all liars--their doom is in the lake that

burns with fire and sulfur. This is the second death."

9Then one of the seven angels who held the seven bowls containing the seven last plagues came and said to

me, "Come with me! I will show you the bride, the wife of the Lamb."

10So he took me in spirit to a great, high mountain, and he showed me the holy city, Jerusalem, descending

out of heaven from God. 11It was filled with the glory of God and sparkled like a precious gem, crystal clear

like jasper. 12Its walls were broad and high, with twelve gates guarded by twelve angels. And the names of

the twelve tribes of Israel were written on the gates. 13There were three gates on each side--east, north,

south, and west. 14The wall of the city had twelve foundation stones, and on them were written the names

of the twelve apostles of the Lamb.

15The angel who talked to me held in his hand a gold measuring stick to measure the city, its gates, and its

wall. 16When he measured it, he found it was a square, as wide as it was long. In fact, it was in the form of

a cube, for its length and width and height were each 1,400 miles. 17Then he measured the walls and found

them to be 216 feet thick (the angel used a standard human measure).

18The wall was made of jasper, and the city was pure gold, as clear as glass. 19The wall of the city was built

on foundation stones inlaid with twelve gems: the first was jasper, the second sapphire, the third agate, the

fourth emerald, 20the fifth onyx, the sixth carnelian, the seventh chrysolite, the eighth beryl, the ninth topaz,

the tenth chrysoprase, the eleventh jacinth, the twelfth amethyst.

21The twelve gates were made of pearls--each gate from a single pearl! And the main street was pure gold,

as clear as glass.

22No temple could be seen in the city, for the Lord God Almighty and the Lamb are its temple. 23And the city

has no need of sun or moon, for the glory of God illuminates the city, and the Lamb is its light. 24The nations

of the earth will walk in its light, and the rulers of the world will come and bring their glory to it. 25Its gates

never close at the end of day because there is no night. 26And all the nations will bring their glory and honor

into the city. 27Nothing evil will be allowed to enter--no one who practices shameful idolatry and

dishonesty--but only those whose names are written in the Lamb's Book of Life.

chapter 22

1 And the angel showed me a pure river with the water of life, clear as crystal, flowing from the throne of God

and of the Lamb, 2coursing down the center of the main street. On each side of the river grew a tree of life,

bearing twelve crops of fruit, with a fresh crop each month. The leaves were used for medicine to heal the

nations.

3No longer will anything be cursed. For the throne of God and of the Lamb will be there, and his servants will

worship him. 4And they will see his face, and his name will be written on their foreheads. 5And there will be

no night there--no need for lamps or sun--for the Lord God will shine on them. And they will reign forever and

ever.

6Then the angel said to me, "These words are trustworthy and true: `The Lord God, who tells his prophets

what the future holds, has sent his angel to tell you what will happen soon.' "

Jesus Is Coming

7"Look, I am coming soon! Blessed are those who obey the prophecy written in this scroll."

8I, John, am the one who saw and heard all these things. And when I saw and heard these things, I fell

down to worship the angel who showed them to me. 9But again he said, "No, don't worship me. I am a

servant of God, just like you and your brothers the prophets, as well as all who obey what is written in this

scroll. Worship God!"

10Then he instructed me, "Do not seal up the prophetic words you have written, for the time is near. 11Let

the one who is doing wrong continue to do wrong; the one who is vile, continue to be vile; the one who is

good, continue to do good; and the one who is holy, continue in holiness."

12"See, I am coming soon, and my reward is with me, to repay all according to their deeds. 13I am the

Alpha and the Omega, the First and the Last, the Beginning and the End."

14Blessed are those who wash their robes so they can enter through the gates of the city and eat the

fruit from the tree of life. 15Outside the city are the dogs--the sorcerers, the sexually immoral, the

murderers, the idol worshipers, and all who love to live a lie.

16"I, Jesus, have sent my angel to give you this message for the churches. I am both the source of David

and the heir to his throne. I am the bright morning star."

17The Spirit and the bride say, "Come." Let each one who hears them say, "Come." Let the thirsty ones

come--anyone who wants to. Let them come and drink the water of life without charge. 18And I solemnly

declare to everyone who hears the prophetic words of this book: If anyone adds anything to what is written

here, God will add to that person the plagues described in this book. 19And if anyone removes any of the

words of this prophetic book, God will remove that person's share in the tree of life and in the holy city that

are described in this book.

20He who is the faithful witness to all these things says, "Yes, I am coming soon!"

Amen! Come, Lord Jesus!

21The grace of the Lord Jesus be with you all.