(8)And the voice which I heard out of heaven again spoke to me, and said, Go take the little book which is open in the hand of the angel that standeth upon the sea and upon the land. (9)And I went up to the angel, saying unto him, Give me that little book. And he saith to me, Take it, and eat it up; and it will make thy belly bitter, though in thy mouth it will be sweet as honey. (10)And I took the little book out of the angel"s hand, and ate it up; and it was in my mouth as honey sweet; yet when I had eaten it, my belly was made bitter. (11)And he said to me, Thou must prophesy again before many people, and nations, and tongues, and monarchs.
CHAP. XI.
AND there was given me a cane like a measuring staff; and the angel stood by, saying, Arise, and measure the temple of G.o.d, and the altar, and those who worship therein. (2)But the exterior court of the temple leave out, and measure it not; because it is given to the Gentiles: and they shall trample under foot the holy city forty-two months. (3)And I will give charge to my two witnesses, and they shall prophesy a thousand two hundred and sixty days, clothed in sackcloth. (4)These are the two olive trees, and the two lamps which stand before the face of the G.o.d of the earth. (5)And if any person attempts to hurt them, fire proceedeth out of their mouth, and devoureth their enemies: and if any person attempts to injure them, he must thus be slain. (6)These have power to shut up the heaven, that no rain water the earth during the days of their prophecy: and they have power over the waters to turn them into blood, and to smite the earth with every plague, as often as they will. (7)And when they shall have finished their testimony, the beast which ascendeth out of h.e.l.l shall make war with them, and shall overcome them, and put them to death. (8)And their corpses shall be exposed in the streets of the great city, which is called spiritually Sodom and Egypt, where also our Lord was crucified. (9)And they of the people and tribes and tongues and nations will look upon their corpses three days and half, and they will not permit their corpses to be laid in sepulchres. (10)And the dwellers upon earth will rejoice over them, and be very glad, and will send gifts to each other; because these two prophets were a torment to those who dwell on the earth. (11)And after three days and half, the spirit of life from G.o.d entered into them, and they stood up on their feet; and great terror fell on those who beheld them. (12)And they heard a great voice out of heaven, saying unto them, Ascend up hither. And they ascended into heaven in a cloud: and their enemies beheld them. (13)And in the same hour there was a great earthquake, and the tenth part of the city fell, and there were slain in the earthquake seven thousand men of note: and the rest were affrighted, and gave glory to the G.o.d of heaven. (14)The second woe is past; behold the third woe is coming quickly.
(15)And the seventh angel sounded; and there were great voices in heaven, saying, The kingdoms of the world are become our Lord"s, and his Messiah"s, and he shall reign for ever and ever. (16)And the four and twenty presbyters, who were seated before G.o.d upon their thrones, fell upon their faces, and worshipped G.o.d, (17)saying, We give thanks to thee, Lord the Almighty G.o.d, who is and who was, and who is coming, because thou hast a.s.sumed thy great power, and hast set up the throne of thy kingdom. (18)Though the nations were incensed, yet thy wrath came, and the time of the dead to be judged, and to give the reward to thy servants the prophets, and to the saints, and to all who fear thy name, to the small and to the great; and to destroy those who have destroyed the earth.
(19)And the temple of G.o.d was opened in the heaven, and there appeared the ark of his covenant in his temple: and there were lightnings, and voices, and thunders, and earthquake, and a great hail.
CHAP. XII.
AND there appeared a great sign in the heaven; a woman clothed with the sun, and the moon under her feet, and upon her head a crown of twelve stars: (2)and being with child, she cried out in travailing pain, and in anguish to be delivered.
(3)And there appeared another sign in the heaven; and lo! a great fiery dragon, having seven heads and ten horns, and upon his heads seven crowns. (4)And his tail drew a third part of the stars of heaven, and cast them on the earth: and the dragon placed himself before the woman who was ready to be delivered, that when she should bring forth, he might devour her babe. (5)And she brought forth a male child, who should rule the nations with an iron sceptre: and her infant was caught up to G.o.d, and his throne. (6)And the woman fled into the wilderness, where she hath a place prepared of G.o.d, that she might there be fed during a thousand two hundred and sixty days.
(7)Then was there war in the heaven: Michael and his angels warred against the dragon; and the dragon warred and his angels, (8)and they could not prevail; neither was there any more place found for them in the heaven. (9)And the great dragon was cast out, that old serpent, who is called the Devil, and Satan, who deceiveth the whole world: he was cast out into the earth, and his angels were cast out with him. (10)And I heard a great voice saying in the heaven, Now is come the salvation, and the power, and the kingdom of our G.o.d, and the authority of his Christ; because the accuser of our brethren is cast down, who accused them before our G.o.d day and night. (11)And they have vanquished him by the blood of the Lamb, and by the word of their testimony; and they loved not their lives unto death. (12)Therefore be exceeding glad ye heavens, and ye who dwell in them. Wo to the inhabitants of the earth and the sea! for the devil is come down unto you, having great wrath, knowing that he hath but a short time.
(13)And when the dragon saw that he was cast out into the earth, he persecuted the woman which had brought forth the male child. (14)And there were given to the woman two wings of a great eagle, that she should fly into the wilderness, unto her place, where she is supported there for a time, and times, and half a time, from the face of the serpent. (15)And the serpent cast out after the woman, from his mouth water, as a river, that he might sweep her away with the flood. (16)And the earth helped the woman, and the earth opened her mouth, and swallowed up the river which the dragon cast out of his mouth. (17)And the dragon was incensed against the woman, and went forth to make war against the remnant of her seed, who keep the commandments of G.o.d, and hold the testimony of Jesus Christ.
CHAP. XIII.
AND I stood upon the sand of the sea, and I saw a beast rising up out of the sea, having seven heads and ten horns, and upon the horns ten diadems, and upon the heads a t.i.tle of blasphemy. (2)And the beast which I saw was like unto a leopard, and his feet were as the feet of a bear, and his mouth as the mouth of a lion: and the dragon gave him his power, and his throne, and great authority. (3)And I saw one of his heads as if wounded unto death; and his deadly wound was healed: and all the earth wondered after the beast. (4)And they worshipped the dragon who had given authority to the beast: and they worshipped the beast, saying, Who is like to the beast? who is able to wage war with him? (5)And there was given to him a mouth speaking great things and blasphemies; and there was given to him authority to make war forty-two months.
(6)And he opened his mouth in blasphemy against G.o.d, to blaspheme his name, and his tabernacle, and those who dwell in heaven. (7)And it was given to him to make war with the saints, and to overcome them: and authority was given to him over every tribe, and tongue, and nation.
(8)And all the inhabitants who dwell upon the earth shall worship him, whose names are not written in the book of life of the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world. (9)He that hath an ear, let him hear.
(10)If any person leads _others_ into captivity, he shall be led into captivity; if any person kills with the sword, he must be slain by the sword. Here is the patience and the faith of the saints.
(11)And I saw another beast rising up out of the earth, and he had two horns like a lamb, though he spake as the dragon. (12)And he exerciseth all the authority of the first beast before him, and causeth the earth, and those who inhabit therein, to worship the first beast whose deadly wound was healed. (13)And he performeth great signs, so that he even causeth fire to come down from heaven to the earth, in the sight of men, (14)and deceiveth the inhabitants of the earth by the signs, which he is enabled to perform before the beast, saying to the dwellers upon the earth, that they should make an image for the beast who had the stroke of the sword, and survived. (15)And he is enabled to impart life to the image of the beast that even the image of the beast should speak, and cause as many as will not worship the image of the beast to be put to death. (16)And he causeth all the small and the great, the rich and the poor, the freemen and the slaves, to receive a brand upon their right hand, and upon their foreheads: (17)and that no man may buy or sell, but he that hath the mark impressed, or the name of the beast, or the number of his name. (18)Here is wisdom. Let him that hath understanding calculate the number of the beast: for it is the number of a man; and his number is six hundred sixty-six.
CHAP. XIV.
AND I saw, and lo, a lamb stood upon the mount Zion, and with him an hundred forty-four thousand, having the name of his Father inscribed on their foreheads. (2)And I heard a voice from heaven, as the sound of many waters, and as the roar of loud thunder; and I heard the sound of harpers harping on their harps: (3)and they sang as it were a new song before the throne, and before the four living beings, and the presbyters: and no person could learn that song, but the hundred forty-four thousand, who were redeemed from the earth. (4)These are they who have not defiled themselves with women; for they are virgins: these are they who follow the Lamb whithersoever he goeth: these have been redeemed among men, as first-fruits to G.o.d, and to the Lamb.
(5)And in their mouth no guile is found; for they are blameless before the throne of G.o.d.
(6)And I saw another angel flying in the midst of heaven, having the everlasting gospel to preach the glad tidings to the inhabitants of the earth, to every nation, and tribe, and tongue, and people, (7)saying with a loud voice, Fear G.o.d, and give him glory; for the hour of his judgment is come; and worship him that made the heaven and the earth, and the sea, and the fountains of waters.
(8)And another angel followed, saying, Babylon is fallen, is fallen, that great city, because all nations have been made to drink of the wine of the wrath of her wh.o.r.edom.
(9)And a third angel followed them, saying with a loud voice, If any person worship the beast, and his image, and receive the brand upon his forehead, and upon his right hand, (10)he also shall drink of the wine of the fury of G.o.d, which is mixed undiluted with water in the cup of his wrath; and he shall be tormented with fire and brimstone in the presence of the holy angels, and in the presence of the Lamb: (11)and the smoke of their torment ascendeth for ever and ever: and they have no respite day nor night, who worship the beast and his image, and whosoever receiveth the brand of his name. (12)Here is the patience of the saints: here are they who keep the commandments of G.o.d, and the faith of Jesus. (13)And I heard a voice from heaven saying to me, Write, Blessed are the dead who die in the Lord, from henceforward: yea, saith the Spirit, that they may have rest from their labours; but their works follow after them.
(14)And I saw, and, lo! a white cloud, and upon the cloud sat one like to a son of man, having on his head a golden crown, and in his hand a sharp sickle. (15)And anther angel came forth out of the temple, crying with a loud voice to him that sat upon the cloud, Put in thy sickle, and reap: for the hour is come for thee to reap; because the harvest of the earth is fully ripe. (16)And he who sat on the cloud thrust in his sickle upon the earth, and the earth was reaped.
(17)And another angel came forth out of the temple which is in heaven, having also himself a sharp sickle. (18)And another angel came forth from the altar, having authority over fire; and he cried with a loud voice to him who held the sharp sickle, saying, Put in thy sharp sickle, and gather the bunches of the vine of the earth; for her cl.u.s.ters are ripe. (19)And the angel thrust in his sickle upon the earth, and gathered the grapes of the vine of the earth, and cast them into the great winepress of the wrath of G.o.d. (20)And the wine-press was trodden without the city, and blood issued from the wine-press, as high as the horses" bridles, for the s.p.a.ce of a thousand and six hundred furlongs.
CHAP. XV.
AND I saw another sign in the heaven, great and wonderful, seven angels having the seven last plagues because by them is the wrath of G.o.d completely executed. (2)And I saw as it were a sea of gla.s.s mingled with fire; and those who had obtained the victory over the beast, and over his image, and over his mark, and over the number of his name standing upon the sea of gla.s.s, holding the harps of G.o.d. (3)And they sung the sacred ode of Moses the servant of the Lord, and the song of the Lamb, saying, Great and marvellous are thy works, O Lord G.o.d Almighty; righteous and true are thy ways, O King of saints. (4)Who should not fear thee, O Lord, and glorify thy name? because thou only art holy: for all nations shall come and worship before thee, because thy righteous judgments are made evident. (5)And after these things I beheld, and, lo! the temple of the tabernacle of witness in heaven was opened: (6)and the seven angels having the seven plagues came forth out of the temple, clothed in linen white and shining, and girded about the b.r.e.a.s.t.s with golden girdles. (7)And one of the four living beings gave unto the seven angels seven golden vases full of the wrath of G.o.d, who liveth for ever and ever. (8)And the temple was filled with smoke from the glory of G.o.d, and from his power; and no person was able to enter into the temple, until the seven plagues of the seven angels were completely executed.
CHAP. XVI.
AND I heard a loud voice out of the temple, saying to the seven angels, Go and pour out the vases of the wrath of G.o.d upon the earth. (2)And the first angel went, and poured out his vase upon the earth; and there came an ulcer malignant and painful upon the men that had the brand of the beast, and upon those who worshipped his image.
(3)And the second angel poured his vase upon the sea and it became blood as of a dead man: and every living creature died in the sea.
(4)And the third angel poured out his vase upon the rivers and upon the fountains of waters; and they became blood. (5)And I heard the angel of the waters saying, Righteous art thou, O Lord, who art, and who wast, even the holy one, because thou hast judged these things. (6)For they have shed the blood of saints and prophets, and thou hast given them blood to drink; for they are worthy. (7)And I heard another angel from the altar saying, Yea, Lord G.o.d Almighty, true and just are thy judgments.
(8)And the fourth angel poured out his vase upon the sun; and there was given to it a charge to burn men with fire. (9)And the men were scorched with a fierce heat, and they blasphemed the name of G.o.d, who had power over these plagues: and they repented not, to give him glory.
(10)And the fifth angel poured out his vase upon the throne of the beast; and his kingdom was full of darkness, and they gnawed their own tongues from anguish, (11)and they blasphemed the G.o.d of heaven, in the midst of their anguish, and of their ulcers, and repented not of their works.
(12)And the sixth angel poured out his vase upon the great river Euphrates; and the water thereof was dried up, that the way of the kings who come from the rising of the sun might be prepared.
(13)And I saw coming out of the mouth of the dragon, and out of the mouth of the beast, and out of the mouth of the false prophet, three unclean spirits like frogs. (14)For they are the spirits of demons doing wonders, which go forth unto the kings of the earth, and of the whole habitable globe, to gather them together unto the battle of that great day of G.o.d Almighty. (15)Behold, I come as a thief. Blessed is he who watcheth, and keepeth his garments, that he walk not about naked, and men see his shame. (16)And he gathered them together into a place called in the Hebrew, Armageddon.
(17)And the seventh angel poured out his vase into the air; and a loud voice come out from the temple of heaven, from the throne, saying, It is done. (18)And there were voices, and thunders, and lightnings; and there was a great earthquake, such as was not from the day that men were upon the earth, an earthquake of such a kind, and so great.
(19)And the great city was cleft into three parts, and the cities of the nations fell: and Babylon the great came in remembrance before G.o.d, to give unto her the cup of the wine of the fury of his wrath. (20)And every island fled, and the mountains were no more found. (21)And a great storm of hail, each about a talent weight, fell from heaven upon men: and men blasphemed G.o.d for the plague of hail: for great was the plague of it, exceedingly great.
CHAP. XVII.
AND one of the seven angels who had the seven vases, came to me, and talked with me, saying to me, Come hither, I will shew thee the judgment of the great harlot, who sitteth upon many waters: (2)with whom the kings of the earth have committed wh.o.r.edom, and all the inhabitants of the world have intoxicated themselves with the wine of her wh.o.r.edom. (3)And he bore me away in spirit into the wilderness: and I saw a woman sitting on a scarlet beast, full of names of blasphemy, having seven heads, and ten horns. (4)And the woman was clothed in purple and scarlet, and all over decked with gold, precious stones, and pearls, holding a golden cup in her hand, full of abominations and of the impurity of her wh.o.r.edom. (5)And upon her forehead was there a name written, Mystery, Babylon the great, the mother or harlots, and of the abominations of the earth. (6)And I saw the woman drunk with the blood of saints, and with the blood of the martyrs of Jesus: and when I saw her, I wondered with great amazement. (7)And the angel said unto me, Wherefore dost thou wonder? I will tell thee the mystery of the woman, and of the beast which carrieth her, which hath seven heads and ten horns. (8)The beast which thou seest was, and is not; and shall come up out of the abyss _of h.e.l.l_, and shall go into perdition: and the dwellers upon earth will wonder, (whose names are not written in the book of life from the foundation of the world,) when they shall see the beast which was, and is not, though he is. (9)Here is the mind that hath wisdom. The seven heads are seven mountains, where the woman is seated even upon them. (10)And these are seven kings: five have fallen, and the one exists, the other is not yet come; and when he cometh, he must abide but a little while. (11)And the beast which was, and is not, though he is himself the eighth, yet is of the seven, and shall go away into perdition. (12)And the ten horns which thou sawest, are ten kings, who have not yet received their kingdoms; but will receive authority as kings for one hour with the beast. (13)They hold one sentiment, and will give their own power and authority to the beast. (14)They shall make war against the Lamb, and the Lamb shall overcome them: because he is Lord of lords, and King of kings and they that are with him, are called, and elect, and faithful. (15)And he saith to me, The waters which thou sawest, on which the wh.o.r.e sat, are people, and mult.i.tudes, and nations, and tongues. (16)And the ten horns which thou sawest upon the beast, they shall hate the wh.o.r.e, and make her desolate and naked, and shall eat her flesh, and shall burn her up with fire. (17)For G.o.d hath put it into their hearts to do his will, to perform one purpose, even to give their kingdom to the beast, until the words of G.o.d are fulfilled. (18)And the woman which thou sawest is the great city, which holds dominion over the kings of the earth.
CHAP. XVIII.
AND after these things I saw an angel descending from heaven, having great authority; and the earth was enlightened by his glory. (2)And he cried mightily with a great voice, saying, Babylon the great is fallen, is fallen, and is become the habitation of demons, and the hold of every impure spirit, and the cage of every unclean and hateful bird.
(3)Because all nations have drunk of the wine of the rage of her wh.o.r.edom, and the kings of the earth have committed wh.o.r.edom with her, and the merchants of the earth have been enriched by the excess of her profligate luxury.
(4)And I heard another voice from heaven, saying, Come forth out of her, my people, that ye have no share in her sins, and that so ye may not receive of her plagues. (5)For her sins have reached unto heaven, and G.o.d hath remembered her iniquities. (6)Render to her as she also hath done to you, and repay her double according to her works; in the cup which she hath mingled mingle for her double. (7)As much as she hath glorified herself, and rioted in luxury, so much torment and sorrow give her: because she hath said in her heart, I sit a queen, and am no widow, and shall see no sorrow. (8)Therefore in one hour shall all her plagues come, death, and mourning, and famine: and she shall be consumed with fire; because mighty is the Lord G.o.d, who judgeth her.
(9)And the kings of the earth who have committed wh.o.r.edom with her, and shared in her luxuries, shall bewail her, and lament bitterly over her, when they see the smoke of her burning, (10)standing afar off through terror of her torment, saying, Alas, alas, that great city Babylon, that strong city! how in one hour is thy judgment come upon thee!
(11)And the merchants of the earth wept and wailed over her: because no man buyeth their merchandise any more: (12)the merchandise of gold and of silver, and of precious stones, and of pearl, and of fine linen, and of purple, and of silk, and of scarlet, and every sweet scented wood, and every ivory vessel, and every vessel of most precious wood, and of gold, and of iron, and of marble, (13)and cinnamon, and perfumes, and myrrh, and libanum, and wine, and oil, and fine flour, and wheat, and cattle, and sheep, and of horses, and of chariots, and of bodies, and the souls of men. (14)And the delicate autumnal fruit of thy soul"s earner longing is gone from thee, and all things that are dainty and that are splendid are departed from thee, and never shalt thou find them any more.
(15)The merchants of these things who enriched themselves by her, shall stand afar off through terror of her torment, weeping and wailing, (16)and saying, Alas, alas, the great city, which was clothed in fine linen, and purple, and scarlet, and overlaid with gold, and precious stones, and pearls! how in one hour is so great wealth laid waste!
(17)And every pilot, and all the crew in the ships, and the mariners, and as many as exercise their labours on the sea, stood afar off, (18)and cried when they saw the smoke of her burning, saying, What is like that great city! (19)And they cast dust upon their heads, and cried, weeping and wailing, saying, Alas, alas, that great city, by which all who occupied ships on the sea were enriched from her opulence! how in one hour is she made desolate!
(20)Rejoice over her, thou heaven, and ye the holy apostles and prophets, for G.o.d hath adjudged her to punishment, for the judgment inflicted on you by her. (21)And a mighty angel took up a stone as a great milestone, and cast it into the sea, saying, So with rapidity shall the great city Babylon be hurled into the deep, and never shall be found more. (22)And the sound of harpers, and musicians, and flute players, and trumpeters, shall never be heard in thee more; and no artificer of whatever trade shall be found in thee any more; and the sound of a milstone shall be heard in thee no more; (23)and never shall the light of a lamp shine in thee any more; and the voice of the bridegroom and of the bride shall be heard in thee no more: because thy merchants were the grandees of the earth; because all nations were deluded by thy magical incantation. (24)And in her was found the blood of prophets, and holy men, and of all who have been slaughtered upon the earth.
CHAP. XIX.
AND after these things I heard a loud sound as of a vast mult.i.tude in heaven, saying, Hallelujah: Salvation, and glory, and honour, and power be to the Lord our G.o.d: (2)because true and righteous are his judgments; for he hath judged the great harlot, that corrupted the earth with her wh.o.r.edom, and hath avenged the blood of his servants shed by her hand. (3)And the second time they said, Hallelujah. And her smoke ascended up for ever and ever. (4)And the four and twenty presbyters fell prostrate, and the four living beings, and they worshipped G.o.d who was seated on the throne, saying, Amen; Hallelujah.
(5)And there came a voice out of the throne, saying, Praise our G.o.d, all ye servants of his, and all that fear him, both the small and the great. (6)And I heard as it were the voice of a vast mult.i.tude, and as the noise of many waters, and as the roar of mighty thunderings, saying, Hallelujah: for the Lord G.o.d omnipotent reigneth. (7)Let us rejoice and exult, and give him glory: because the marriage of the Lamb is come, and his bride hath made herself ready. (8)And it was granted her to be clothed in fine linen, clean and splendid: for the fine linen is _the emblem of_ the righteousness of the saints. (9)And he said to me, Write, Blessed are they that are invited to the marriage supper of the Lamb. And he said to me, These are the true sayings of G.o.d.
(10)And I fell down before his feet to worship him: and he said unto me, See thou dost not so: I am thy fellow-servant, and of thy brethren who hold the testimony of Jesus: worship G.o.d: for the spirit of prophecy is the testimony of Jesus.
(11)And I saw heaven opened, and lo a white horse; and he that sat upon it, is called Faithful and True, and with righteousness doth he judge and make war. (12)And his eyes were as a flame of fire, and upon his head were many diadems; and he hath a name inscribed which no man knoweth but himself. (13)And he was clothed in a garment dipt in blood, and his name is styled the word of G.o.d. (14)And the hosts which are in heaven followed him on white horses, clothed in fine linen, white and clean. (15)And out of his mouth proceeded a sharp sword, that therewith he may smite the heathen and he will rule them with an iron sceptre: and he will tread the wine-press of the fury and of the wrath of G.o.d Almighty. (16)And he hath upon his vesture and upon his thigh this name written, king of kings, and lord of lords.