Revelation holds a unique position textually among the writings of the New Testament, for several reasons. The prophecy often circulated alone. It was not universally accepted by the church in ancient times. These factors combine to yield a comparatively sparse set of manuscripts for the book. Kurt and Barbara Aland (Text of the New Testament, 2nd Edition) list a grand total of 287 Greek manuscripts containing Revelation or a portion thereof. Of these, only 2 manuscripts predate the development of text types (c.325 CE), these being p18, containing only 1:4-7, and
p47, which contains most of chapters 9-17. A heavy weight must therefore be placed on p47 when determining the text of Revelation.
Consideration must also be given to the following uncial manuscripts: (although its character is lesser in Revelation); A (whose character is superior here); and C (whose character is also superior). This is the consideration generally given by the Nestle-Aland text, and so it has been generally adopted as the basis for the new translation. Any point at which the Greek text deviates from the Nestle-Aland text, it will be following p 47, A, and/or C.
First of all, the “scroll of the prophecy” (22:19) needs to be fit into its appropriate social and historical context in order for the prophecy to be understood. Therefore, some words need to be said about the authorship and the date of the writing.
The book is ascribed to someone calling himself Johannes (1:4). He writes from the Isle of Patmos (1:9). From the style of the writing, the author is a Palestinian Jew, familiar with the style of Jewish apocalyptic. The use of Hebraisms throughout suggests that the author’s first language was probably Aramaic and not Greek. The author has knowledge of the goings-on at various Christian assemblies throughout Asia.
The above information seems to rule out any speculation that the book could have been written after AD 70. Not long after this time, gentiles began to dominate Christianity. That this book is written by a Jew and addressed primarily to Jewish Christians cannot be readily disputed. Such a thoroughly Jewish mindset would not have been present in some “John the Elder” who lived in the second century. So, while some have theorized that a late first century or second century “elder” wrote this prophecy, the internal evidence speaks against this theory. Since tradition speaks almost unanimously in favor of authorship by Johannes the envoy, and since that Johannes fits the description of the author given in the work itself, it seems likely that the son of Zebediah the fisherman was the author of the Revelation.
As to the date, there are numerous internal considerations (aside from the Jewish nature of the book) which give rise to the necessity for an early date. The book, Before Jerusalem Fell (by Kenneth Gentry), makes an excellent and well documented argument for the so-called early date, although John A.T. Robinson’s Redating the New Testament must be recognized as the seminal work on the subject. Some of these internal considerations must and will be dealt with in the present book.
To summarize, we place Johannes the envoy, the son of Zebediah, as the author of the work. Patmos was the place of writing. The date of composition was c.64-67 CE, before the death of Emperor Nero, and possibly, as we shall see, before the deaths of Peter and Paulus.
Revelation borrows heavily from the former Jewish writings. Isaiah, Zechariah, Daniel, and Amos are cited, to name just a few. The visions seen by the author are not equated with those of the former prophets; that is, they are not referring necessarily to the same events. However, in each case, the use of images from the former prophets indicates that the subject matter is similar in nature.
The structure of the writing appears somewhat complex to the person not accustomed to apocalyptic style. It is complicated by the introductory letters, which normally did not accompany a prophetic work. Nevertheless, we can perceive a structure as follows:
| INTRODUCTION | 1:1-1:3 |
| LETTERS | 1:4-3:22 |
| SYMBOLS OF JUDGMENT | 4:1-11:18 |
| FINAL EXPLANATION, on earth | 11:19-22:5 |
| CONCLUDING REMARKS | 22:6-22:21 |
These major sections are divided into smaller parts throughout the book.
The introduction and conclusion are both important in the sense that they set the stage for the rest of the work. What is coming is to take place soon (“in a short time,” 1:1, 22:6, 7). The “time is near” (1:4). Because the events are to take place so soon, Johannes is not to “seal up the words of the prophecy” (22:10). This is to be contrasted with the conclusion to Daniel, where Daniel is told, “seal up the words, and seal the scroll, until the time of the completion” (12:4). The content of Daniel’s own interpretation of the vision (11:1-12:4) shows that the conclusion of the matter was circa 164 BCE, at the end of the reign of Antiochus IV, less than 400 years from when Daniel received his vision. By contrast, the events of Revelation would happen soon. The urgency of Revelation is continued to the end, where we are again told that the matters in the prophecy would happen soon (22:20).
The letters to the assemblies continue to convey this temporal urgency. He addresses seven very real and specific groups of Christians, making warnings where appropriate. He refers to local matters for which the communities were known and formulates guidance based on these things.
The symbolic judgment sections are meant to add to this sensation that a swift and powerful judgment is on the horizon for the readers. Some will be spared from this judgment against Israel, but the sense conveyed in the sections is that nothing will be the same for Israel after the judgment takes place. While some of the specific symbols are meaningful, they have little to no bearing on the overall meaning of the book.
7 ""Look! He is coming with the clouds," and every eye will see him, even
the ones who pierced him, "and all the tribes of the land will lament over him."
"Yes indeed.
"I am the Alpha and the Omega," says Yahweh God: the one who is, and who was, and
who is coming; the Almighty."
9 I, Johannes, your brother and co-partner in the affliction and the endurance in Jesus happened to be on that island that is called Patmos on account of God's message and the testimony of Jesus. It happened that I was with the breath during the Lord's day, and behind me I heard a loud voice, like a trumpet, saying, "Write on a scroll what you see, and send it to the seven assemblies: to Ephesus; and to Smurna; and to Pergamum; and to Thuateira; and to Sardis; and to Philadelphia; and to Laodikeia."
And I turned around to look at the voice that was speaking with me. And after turning around, I noticed seven gold lampstands, and in the midst of the lampstands was someone similar to a mortal, clothed in a foot-length garment and having a golden belt wrapped around his breasts. Now his head and hairs were white like white wool, like snow, and his eyes were like a flame of fire, and his feet were similar to fine brass (fiery like a furnace), and his voice was like a voice of many waters. And in his right hand he had seven stars, and from his mouth came out a sharp, two-edged, broad sword, and his appearance was like the sun appears in its power.
And when I saw him, I fell to his feet like a dead man, and he placed his right hand on me, saying, "Don't be afraid. I am the First and the Last and the one who is alive. And I became dead, and look, I am alive for ever and ever! And I have the keys of death and Hades. Therefore, write what you saw, even what is and what is about to happen after these things.
20 "This is the secret of the seven stars that you saw at my right side and the seven gold lampstands: The seven stars are messengers of the seven assemblies, and the seven lampstands are the seven assemblies."
2:1 "To the messenger of the assembly in Ephesus, write:
"Now the one who holds the seven stars in his right hand, the one who walks in the midst of the seven gold lampstands says these things:
"'I know your deeds and labor, and your endurance, and that you are unable to bear bad
people, and that you have tested those who say themselves to be envoys and are not, and you have
found them to be liars. And you have endurance and have borne on account of my name, and you
have not been made weary.
"'But I have it against you that you have left your first love. Therefore, remember where you fell from, and change your minds, and do the first deeds. But if you don't, I am coming to you, and I will remove your lampstand from its place, if you do not change your minds.
"'But you have this: that you hate the deeds of the Nikolaitans, which I too hate.'"
The one who has an ear should hear what the spirit says to the assemblies.
"To the victor I will give him to eat from the forest of life, which is in God's Paradise.
8 "And to the messenger of the assembly in Smurna, write:
"Now the First and the Last, who became dead and is alive, says these things:
"'I know your affliction and poverty (but you are wealthy), and the evil speaking from
those who say themselves to be Jews and are not (but they are the Enemy's gathering). Don't
fear the things that you are about to suffer. Look, the accuser is about to throw some of you
into jail, so that you might be tested, and you will have affliction for ten days. Become
trustworthy until death, and I will give you the crown of life.'"
The one who has ears should hear what the spirit says to the assemblies.
"The victor will by no means suffer injustice from the second death.
12 "And to the messenger of the assembly in Pergamum, write:
"Now the one who has the two-edged broad sword says these things:
"'I know where you live--where the enemy's throne is--and you hold fast to my name and
did not deny my trust, even in the days of Antipas my witness, my faithful one, who was killed
near you, where the enemy lives.
"'But I have a few things against you: that you have there ones who hold fast to the
teaching of Balaam, who taught Balak to cast a stumbling block in front of the sons of Israel,
to eat idol-sacrifices and to sin sexually. Just as you also have and similarly hold fast to
the teaching of the Nikolaitans.
"'Therefore, change your minds. But if you don't, I am coming to you quickly, and I will make war with them with my mouth's broad sword.'"
The one who has an ear should hear what the spirit says to the assemblies.
"To the victor I will give him the manna that was hidden, and I will give him a white pebble, and on the pebble a new name will have been written, which no one knows except the one who receives it.
18 "And to the messenger of the assembly in Thuateira, write:
"Now God's son, the one who has his eyes like a flame of fire and his feet similar to fine brass, says these things:
"'I know your deeds, and love, and trust, and service, and your endurance. And your last deeds are more than the first ones.
"'But I have it against you that you have accepted the woman Jezabel, the one who says herself to be a prophet and who teaches and leads astray my slaves, to sin sexually and to eat idol-sacrifices. And I gave her time, so that she might change her mind, and she did not want to change her mind from her prostitution. Look, I am casting her into a bed, and those who commit adultery with her I am casting into great affliction, if they do not change their minds from her deeds. And I will kill her children with death, and all the assemblies will know that I am the one who searches kidneys and hearts, and I will give to each of you according to your deeds.
"'But I am telling you--the rest of those who are in Thuateira--as many as do not have this teaching, who don't know the depths of the Enemy (as they say), I am not throwing another burden on you. However, hold fast to what you have until I come.'
"And the victor, that is, the one who keeps my deeds until the end, I will give him authority over the nations, and "He will feed them with an iron rod, like those earthen vessels that it breaks together," as I also obtained from my Father. And I will give him the morning star."
The one who has an ear should hear what the spirit says to the assemblies.
3:1 "And to the messenger of the assembly in Sardis, write:
"Now the one who has the seven spirits of God; that is, the seven stars, says these things:
"'I know your deeds, that you have a name, that you are alive and are dead. Become watchful, and strengthen the remaining things that were about to die. For I have not found your deeds to be full in the presence of my God.
"'Therefore, remember how you received and heard, and keep and change your minds. Therefore, if you are not watchful, I will have come like a thief, and by no means will you have known at what hour I will have come upon you. But you have a few names in Sardis that have not soiled their clothes, and they will walk with me in white ones, because they are worthy.'
"The victor will have white clothes cast around him, and by no means will I blot out his name from the scroll of life, and I will acknowledge his name in my Father's presence and in the presence of his messengers."
The one who has an ear should hear what the spirit says to the assemblies.
7 "And to the messenger of the assembly in Philadelphia, write:
"Now the holy one, the true one, the one who has David's key, the one who opens (and
no one will shut) and who shuts (and no one opens), says these things:
"'I know your deeds. Look, I have given an open door in your presence, which no one
is able to shut, because you have a little power, and have kept my message, and did not deny
my name. Look, I am giving from those of the enemy's gathering who say themselves to be Jews
and are not. (On the contrary, they are lying). Look, I will make them so that they come and
bow down in the presence of your feet, and they will know that I loved you. Because you have
kept the message of my endurance, I will also keep you from the hour of trial that is about to
come upon the whole Empire, to test those who dwell on the land. I am coming quickly. Hold
fast to what you have, so that no one may take your crown.'
"The victor, I will make him a pillar in my God's temple, and by no means will he go
outside. Yet I will also write my God's name on him, and the name of my God's city, the new
Jerusalem which is descending from the sky from my God, and my new name."
The one who has an ear should hear what the spirit says to the assemblies.
14 "And to the messenger of the assembly in Laodikeia, write:
"Now the A-mein, the trustworthy and true witness, the beginning of God's creation, says
these things:
"'I know your deeds, that you are neither cold nor hot. Since it was bound for you to
be cold or hot, just as you are lukewarm, and neither hot nor cold, I am about to vomit you
from my mouth, because you say that, "I am wealthy and full, and I have need of nothing.
And you don't know that you are the lamentable one, and the pitied one, and the poor one,
and the blind one, and the naked one. I counsel you to buy from me
4:1 After these things, I saw. And look, a door opened in the sky, and the first sound that I heard was like a trumpet speaking with me, saying, "Come up here, and I will show you what things are necessary to happen after these things."
Immediately, I became spiritual, and look, a throne was placed in heaven, and someone was sitting on the throne. The one who was seated was similar visually to a stone of diamond and a ruby. And a rainbow, similar visually to an emerald, was encircling the throne.
Also encircling the throne were twenty four thrones, and on the twenty four thrones were seated old people who were wrapped in white clothes, and on their heads were gold crowns. And lightning bolts, and sounds, and thunders went out from the throne. And seven lamps of fire were aflame in the presence of the throne. They are the seven spirits of God. And in front of the throne was something like a sea of glass, similar to crystal.
And in the middle of the throne, and around the throne, were four animals that were full of eyes in front and in the back. And the first animal was like a lion, and the second animal was like a young bull, and the third animal had a face like a person, and the fourth animal was like a flying eagle.
And the four animals, one by one, had six wings each. Encircling and within them, they are full of eyes. And they have no rest, day and night, saying, ""Holy, holy, holy is Yahweh, the Almighty God:" the one who was, and who is, and who is coming."
9 And when the animals give glory, and honor, and thanks to the one who is sitting on the throne--to the one who lives for ever and ever--the twenty four old people fall down in the presence of the one who is sitting on the throne, and they bow down to the one who lives for ever and ever, and they throw down their crowns in the presence of the throne, saying, "You are worthy, Lord and our God, to receive the glory, and the honor, and the power, because you created all things, and they were and were created through your wishes."
5:1 And at the right side of the one who was sitting on the throne I saw a scroll that was written inside and on the back, fully sealed with seven seals. And I saw a strong messenger heralding with a loud voice, "Who is worthy to open the scroll and to loose its seals?" And no one in heaven, nor on earth, nor underground, was able to open the scroll or to look at it. And I cried a lot, because no one was found worthy to open the scroll or to look at it. And one of the old people said to me, "Don't cry. Look, that lion from the tribe of Judah, the root of David, has been victorious. He is opening the scroll and its seven seals."
6 And I saw in the midst of the throne and the four animals, and in the midst of the old people, that a lamb was standing, like it had been slaughtered. It had seven horns and seven eyes, which are the seven spirits of God that were sent out into all the land. And he came and took it from the right hand of the one who was sitting on the throne.
And when he took the scroll, the four animals and the twenty four old people fell down in front of the lamb, each one having a harp and a golden bowl that was full of incense (which is the prayers of the holy ones). And they sang a new song, saying, "You are worthy to take the scroll and to open its seals, because you were slaughtered, and you redeemed for God with your blood, people from every tribe, and tongue, and people, and nation. And you made them royalty and a priesthood for our God, and they will reign on the land."
And I saw, and I heard many messengers' voices encircling the throne, and the animals, and the old people. And their number was tens of thousands upon tens of thousands, and thousands upon thousands. With a loud voice, they were saying, "The lamb that was slaughtered is worthy to receive the power, and wealth, and wisdom, and strength, and honor, and glory, and praise!"
And every creature that is in the sky, and on the land, and underground, and on the sea, and the things that are in them--I heard all things saying, "To the one who is sitting on the throne and to the lamb be praise, and honor, and glory, and might, forever and ever. And the four animals said, "A-mein." And the old people fell and bowed down.
6:1 And I saw when the lamb opened one of the seven seals, and I heard one of the four animals saying (as with the sound of thunder), "Come." And I saw, and look, there was a white horse, and the one who was sitting on it had a bow. And a crown was given to him, and he went out victoriously and so that he might be victorious.
3 And when he opened the second seal, I heard the second animal saying, "Come." And and another horse, a red one, came out, and to the one who was sitting on it, it was given to take peace from the land, and so that they would slaughter one another. And a great sword was given to him.
5 And when he opened the third seal, I heard the third animal saying, "Come." And I saw, and look, there was a black horse, and the one who was sitting on it held a scale in his hand. And I heard something like a voice in the midst of the four animals, saying, "A chonix of wheat for a denarius, and three chonixes of barley for a denarius. And you may not do harm to the oil and the wine."
7 And when he opened the fourth seal, I heard the voice of the fourth animal, saying, "Come." And I saw, and look, there was a pale horse, and the one who was sitting on top of it was named Death, and Hades was following with him. And authority was given to them over one fourth of the land to kill with a broad sword, and with famine, and with death, and by the wild animals of the land.
9 And when he opened the fifth seal, I saw under the altar the souls of those who had been slaughtered on account of God's message and on account of the testimony that they held. And they called out with a loud voice, saying, "Holy and True Sovereign, until when are you not judging and vindicating our blood from those who dwell on the land.
And white robes were given to them, and it was declared to them that they would rest for still a time, until both their fellow slaves and their brothers were completed--those who were about to be killed, as they had been also.
12 And I saw when he opened the sixth seal. And a great earthquake happened, and the sun became black like
sackcloth made of hair, and the whole moon became like blood, and the stars of the sky fell to the ground like a fig tree
casts its unseasonal figs when shaken by a great wind. And the sky was separated, like when a scroll is rolled up,
and every mountain and every island was moved from its place.
And the kings of the land, and the magistrates, and the commanders, and the wealthy, and the strong, and every
slave and free person hid themselves in the caves and in the rocks of the mountains. "And they said to the mountains
and to the rocks, "Fall on us,"" and "Hide us" from the presence of the one who is sitting on the throne, and from the
lamb's anger! Because the great day of their wrath has come, and who is able to stand?"
7:1 After this, I saw four messengers standing on the four corners of the land, holding fast the four winds
of the land, so that the wind would not blow on the land, nor on the sea, nor on any tree.
And I saw another messenger, ascending from the sunrise, who had a seal of the living God. And with a loud
voice he called out to the four messengers to whom it had been given to do injustice to the land and the sea, saying,
"Do not do harm to the land, or to the sea, or to the trees, until we seal our God's slaves on their foreheads."
And I heard the number of those who were sealed: one hundred and forty-four thousand, sealed from every
tribe of the sons of Israel:
From the tribe of Judah, there twelve thousand who were sealed.
From the tribe of Reuben there were twelve thousand.
From the tribe of Gad there were twelve thousand.
From the tribe of Asher there were twelve thousand.
From the tribe of Naftali there were twelve thousand.
From the tribe of Manasseh there were twelve thousand.
From the tribe of Simeon there were twelve thousand.
From the tribe of Levi there were twelve thousand.
From the tribe of Issachar there were twelve thousand.
From the tribe of Zebulun there were twelve thousand.
From the tribe of Yosef there were twelve thousand.
From the tribe of Ben-Yamin, there were twelve thousand who were sealed.
9 After these things, I saw. And look, there was a great crowd, which no one is able to number, from all nations,
and tribes, and peoples, and tongues, standing in the presence of the throne and in the presence of the lamb. They were
wrapped in white robes, and there were palm branches in their hands. And they called out with a loud voice, saying,
"Salvation is our God's, who is sitting on the throne, and our lamb's!"
And all the messengers stood encircling the throne, and the old people, and the four animals, and they fell
on their faces in the presence of the throne, and they worshiped God, saying, "A-mein. The blessing, and the glory,
and the wisdom, and the thanks, and the honor, and the power, and the strength be to God for ever and ever. A-mein."
And one of the old people answered, saying to me, "These who have been wrapped in the white robes,
who are they? And where did they come from?" And I answered him, "My lord, you know." And he said to me,
"These are the ones who are coming out of the great affliction, and they have washed their robes and have whitened
them with the lamb's blood. On account of this, they are in the presence of God's throne and do religious service to
him day and night in his temple. And the one who is sitting on the throne will pitch his tent over them.
"They will not still hunger, nor will they still thirst, nor will the sun fall on them, nor any heat." Because the
lamb that is in the middle of the throne will feed them and will lead them to fountains of waters of life.
"And God will wipe away every tear from their eyes.""
8:1 And when he opened the seventh seal, silence happened in heaven for about one half hour. And I saw the seven messengers who stood in God's presence, and seven trumpets were given to them. And another messenger came and stood at the altar. He had a golden brazier, and a lot of incense was given to him, so that he would give it for the prayers of all the holy ones on that golden altar that is in front of the throne. And the smoke of the incense sticks went up for the prayers of the holy ones, out of the hand of the messenger, in God's presence. And the messenger took the brazier, and he filled it from the fire of the altar, and he threw it to the ground. And thunderings, and sounds, and lightnings, and earthquakes happened.
6 And those seven messengers who had the seven trumpets prepared them, so that they would blow them.
7 And the first one blew, and hail and fire happened, mixed with blood, and they were cast into the land. And one third of the land was burnt up, and one third of the trees were burnt up, and every green grass was burnt up.
8 And the second messenger blew, and something like a great fiery burning mountain was cast into the sea. And one third of the sea became blood, and one third of the creatures of the sea (those which have lives) died, and one third of the ships decayed.
10 And the third messenger blew, and a great star fell from the sky, burning like a lamp, and it fell on one third of the rivers and on the fountains of the waters. And the star's name was called Wormwood. And one third of the waters became wormwood, and many of the people died from the waters, because they were bitter.
12 And the fourth messenger blew, and one third of the sun, and a third of the moon, and a third of the stars were plagued, so that one third of them would be darkened and day would not appear (one third of it), and night likewise. And I saw, and I heard one eagle flying in the middle of the sky, saying with a loud voice, "Woe, woe, woe to those who dwell on the land, from the remaining soundings of the trumpets of the three messengers who are about to blow!"
9:1 And the fifth messenger blew. And I saw a star falling from the sky to the land. And to him was
given the key to the pit of the deep waters. And he opened the pit of the deep waters, and smoke went up from the
pit like the smoke of a great furnace. And the sun and the air were darkened by the pit's smoke. And locusts came out
of the smoke into the land. And authority was given to them, like the scorpions of the land have authority. And it was
declared to them that they might not do harm to the land's grass, nor to any green thing, nor to any tree, to nothing
except the people who did not have God's seal on their foreheads. And it was given to them that they not kill them,
but that the people would be tormented for five months. And their torment was like the torment of when a scorpion
stings a person. And during those days, the people will seek death and will not find it, and they will strongly desire
death, and death will flee from them.
And the likenesses of the locusts were like horses prepared for war, and on their heads was something like
crowns, similar to gold. And their faces were like human beings' faces. And they had hair like women's hair. And
their teeth were like a lion's. And they had breastplates like iron breastplates, and the sound of their wings was like
the sound of many chariots of horses rushing into a war. And they have tails similar to scorpions' tails, and
stingers, and in their tails was the authority to do harm to people for five months. They have a king over them, the
messenger of the deep, whose name in Hebrew is Abaddon, and in Greek his name is Destroyer.
12 One woe has gone away. Look, two woes are still coming after these things!
13 And the sixth messenger blew, and I heard a voice, one of the four horns of that golden altar which is in God's
presence, saying to the sixth messenger who had the trumpet, "Let loose those four messengers who have been bound
at the great river Eufrates". And those four messengers, the ones who had been prepared for the hour, and day, and
month, and year, were loosed, so that they would kill one third of the people. And the number of the armies of the
cavalry was twenty thousand times ten thousand. I heard their number.
And I saw the horses in the vision that way, and those who were sitting on them. They had breastplates of fire
and hyacinth and sulphur, and the horses' heads were like the heads of lions; and fire, and smoke, and sulphur went
out from their mouths. One third of the people were killed by these three plagues: from the fire, and the smoke, and
the sulphur that went out from their mouths. For the authority of the horses is in their mouths and in their tails, for their
tails are similar to serpents: they have heads and do harm with them.
And the rest of the people, those who were not killed in these plagues, did not even change their minds away
from the deeds of their hands, so that they would not worship the spirit beings, [and the idols], and the golden things,
and the silver things, and the bronze things, and the wooden things which are able neither to see, nor to hear, nor to
walk. And they did not change their minds away from their murders, nor from their alchemies, nor from their sexual
sins, nor from their thefts.
10:1 And I saw another strong messenger descending from the sky, wrapped in a cloud, and the rainbow
was on his head, and his face was like the sun, and his feet were like pillars of fire. And he had in his hand a small
scroll, opened. And he placed his right foot on the sea and the left on the land, and he called out with a loud voice,
just like a lion roars. And when he called out, the seven thunders spoke their sounds.
And when the seven thunders spoke, I was about to write. And I heard a voice from heaven, saying, "Seal up
the things that the seven thunders spoke, and don't write them."
And the messenger, the one I had seen standing on the sea and on the land, lifted up his right hand into the
sky. And he took an oath by the one who lives for ever and ever, the one who created the sky (and the things that
are in it), and the land (and the things that are in it), and the sea (and the things that are in it), that "The time still
will not be. But during the days of the sound of the seventh messenger, when he is about to blow, God's secret will
also be completed, as he announced the good message to his slaves, the prophets."
8 And the voice from heaven that I heard was again speaking with me, and it was saying, "Go. Take the scroll
that is opened in the hand of that messenger who is standing on the sea and on the land." And I went away to the
messenger, saying to him, "Give me the small scroll." And he said to me, "Take and devour it, and it will make your
belly bitter, but in your mouth it will be as sweet as honey."
And I took the small scroll from the messenger's hand, and I devoured it, and in my mouth it was like honey,
sweet, and when I ate it, my belly was made bitter.
11 And they said to me, "It is necessary for you to prophesy again to the peoples, and nations, and tongues,
and many kings." And a reed (similar to a rod) was given to me, as he said, "Get up and measure God's temple,
and the altar, and those who are worshiping in it. And cast out that court which is outside the temple, and don't
measure it, because was given to the gentiles, and they will set foot in the holy city for forty two months.
11:3 "And I will give my two witnesses, and they will prophesy for one thousand two hundred and sixty
days, wrapped in sackcloth. These are the two olive trees--those two lampstands that are standing in the presence
of the Lord of the Land. And if anyone wants to do them harm, fire will go out from their mouths and devour their
enemies. And if anyone wants to do them harm, it is necessary that they be killed this way.
"These people have the authority to shut the sky, so that it would not bring forth rain during the days of their
prophesying, and they have authority over the waters, to turn them into blood and to strike the land with every
plague, as often as they want.
"And when they have completed their testimony, the wild animal that ascends from the deep will make
war with them, and will be victorious over them, and with kill them. And their corpses will be on the street
of the great city (which is called, spiritually, 'Sodom' and 'Egypt'), where also the Lord was crucified. And those
from the peoples, and tribes, and tongues, and nations will see their corpses for three and a half days, and they will
not allow their corpses to be placed into a tomb. And those who dwell on the land will rejoice over them and will
be glad, and they will send gifts to one another, because these two prophets tormented those who dwell on the land."
And after the three and one half days, "the breath of life" from God "entered into them, and they stood up
on their feet," and great fear fell upon those who were watching them. And I heard a loud voice from the sky
telling them, "Come up here." And they ascended into the sky in a cloud, and their enemies watched them. And
during that hour, a great earthquake happened, and one tenth of the city fell, and the names of seven thousand people
were killed in the earthquake, and the rest became afraid and gave glory to the God of heaven.
14 The second woe has gone away. Look, the third woe is coming quickly!
15 And the seventh messenger blew, and a loud voice happened in the sky. It said, "The kingdom of our
Lord's universe has also become the kingdom of his Anointed One, and he will reign for ever and ever!"
And the twenty four old people who were sitting on their thrones in God's presence fell on their faces and
worshiped God, saying, "We thank you, Yahweh God, the Almighty One, who is and who was--because you have
taken your great power and have reigned. And the nations became angry, and your anger came. And the season
came for the dead to be judged and to give the reward to your slaves, the prophets, and to the holy ones, and to those
who fear your name--to the little ones and the great ones--and to make those people decay who are making the
land decay."
19 And God's temple, the one in heaven, was opened, and the ark of his covenant was seen in his temple,
and lightnings, and sounds, and thunderings, and earthquakes, and great hail happened. And a great sign was seen
in the sky: a woman wrapped in the sun. And the moon was under her feet, and on her head was a crown of twelve
stars. And since she had a baby in her belly, she also called out, laboring and being tormented to bear a child.
12:3 And another sign was seen in the sky: and look, a great red dragon who had seven heads and ten
horns. And on his head were seven diadems. And his tail was dragging one third of the stars of the sky, and he cast
them into the land. And the dragon stood in the presence of the woman who was about to bear a child, so that when
she gave birth, he would devour her child. And she gave birth to a male son, who is about to shepherd all the nations
with an iron rod, and her child was snatched away to God and to his throne. And the woman fled into the desert, where
she has a place there prepared by God, so that they would nourish her there for one thousand two hundred sixty days.
God’s true temple is opened, making the mysteries of the previous visions (and those still to come) known. This is where the most careful discussion must begin.
7 And a war in the sky happened. Michael and his messengers made war with the dragon. And the dragon
and his messengers made war, and they were not strong enough, neither was their place still found in the sky.
And the great dragon was cast down; the serpent, the ancient one, the one called Accuser and Enemy, the one who
deceives the whole empire was cast into the land, and his messengers were cast down with him. And I heard a loud
voice in the sky saying, "Salvation has now happened, and the power, and our God's kingdom, and the authority of his
Anointed One, because the accuser of our brothers has been cast down--the one who accuses them in our God's
presence day and night!
"And they were victorious over him through the lamb's blood and through the message of their testimony.
And they did not love their lives, until death. On account of this, be glad: the heavens and the things that make their
tents in them!
"Woe to the land and the sea, because the Accuser has been cast down to you. He has great rage, knowing
that he has a short season."
And when the dragon saw that he had been cast into the land, he pursued the woman who had given birth to
the male child. And the two wings of the great eagle were given to the woman, so that she might fly into the desert,
into her place, where she would be nourished there away from the serpent's presence for a season, and seasons,
and half a season.
And the serpent cast water like a river from his mouth after the woman, so that he might make her be carried
away in the river. And the land helped the woman, and it opened its mouth and drank up the water that the dragon had
cast from its mouth. And the dragon was angered at the woman, and he went away to make war with the remainder of
her seed who keep God's precepts and who have the testimony of Jesus.
13:1 And I was placed on the sand of the sea, and I saw a wild animal ascending from the sea, which had
ten horns and seven heads. And on its horns were ten diadems, and on its heads were names that were evil speakings.
And the wild animal that I saw was similar to a leopard, and its feet were like a bear's, and its mouth was like a
lion's mouth. And the dragon gave it its power and its throne and great authority.
And one of its heads was slaughtered to the point of death, and the plague of its death was cured.
And the whole land wondered after the wild animal, and they worshiped the dragon because he had given the
authority to the wild animal. And they worshiped the wild animal, saying, "Who is like the wild animal? And who
is able to make war with it?"
And a mouth was given to it that spoke great things and evil speech, and authority was given to it to do this
for forty two months. And it opened its mouth in evil speech toward God to speak evil of his name, and of his tent,
and of those who make their tents in heaven. [And it was given to it to make war with the holy ones and to be victorious
over them.] And authority was given to it over every tribe, and people, and tongue, and nation. And all those who
dwell on the land will worship it--those whose names have not been written in the scroll of life of the lamb that was
slaughtered from the laying down of creation.
If anyone has an ear, he should hear.
If anyone is for captivity, he will be led to it. If anyone kills with a sword, he will be killed with a sword.
Here is the endurance and the trust of the holy ones.
11 And I saw another wild animal ascending from the land. And he had two horns that were similar to a lamb's, and he spoke like a dragon. And he does all of the authority of the first wild animal in its presence. And he makes the land and those who dwell in it worship the first wild animal, whose plague of death was cured. And he does great signs, so that he would even make fire descend from the sky to the earth in the presence of people. And he deceives those who dwell on the land on account of the signs that it was given to him to do in the presence of the wild animal, as he tells those who dwell on the land to make an image for the wild animal (who had the plague of the sword and lived).
15 And it was given to him to give breath to the image of the wild animal, so that the image of the wild animal might also speak and act, so that as many people as would not worship the image of the wild animal would be killed. And he makes all people--the little ones and the great ones, and the wealthy and the poor, and the free and the slaves--that they would give themselves a mark on their right hand or on their forehead, and that no one would be able to buy or sell except for the one who has the mark, the name of the wild animal, or the number of his name. Here is wisdom. The one who has a mind should calculate the number of the wild animal, for it is the number of a person, and his number is six hundred sixty-six.
14:1 And I saw, and look: the lamb was standing on Mount Zion, and with him were one hundred forty-four
thousand who had his name and the name of his Father written on their foreheads. And I heard a sound from the sky,
like the sound of many waters and like the sound of loud thunder. And the sound that I was hearing was like harpers
playing their harps. And they were singing something like a new song in the presence of the throne and in the presence
of the four animals and the old people. And no one was able to learn the song except for the one hundred and forty-four
thousand who had been bought from the land.
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 bought from the people as a firstfruit to God and to the lamb. And falsehood
"was not found in their name;" they are blameless.
6 And I saw another messenger flying in the middle of the sky, who had an eternal good message to announce to
those who were sitting on the land and to every nation, and tribe, and tongue, and people. In a loud voice, he was
saying, "Fear God and give him glory, because the hour of his judgment has come. And worship the one who made
the sky, and the land, and the sea and fountains of the waters."
8 And another messenger, a second, followed, saying, "Fallen, fallen is the great Babylon! She gave all the
nations to drink of the wine of the rage, of her sexual sin."
9 And another messenger, a third, followed them, saying in a loud voice, "If anyone worships the wild animal
and his image and takes a mark on his forehead or on his right hand, he too will drink from the wine of God's rage,
which was mixed without control in the cup of his anger, and he will be tormented in fire and sulphur in the presence
of holy messengers and in the presence of the lamb. And the smoke of their torment will ascend forever and ever.
And those who worship the wild animal and his image (and if anyone takes the mark of his name) will have no rest
day and night." Here is the endurance of the holy ones, the ones who keep God's precepts and the trust of Jesus.
13 And I heard a voice from heaven saying, "Write. From now on, blessed are the dead who have died in the
Lord--'Yes,' says the spirit--that they might rest from their labors. For their deeds follow with them."
14 And I saw, and look: a white cloud. And on the cloud was seated someone similar to a mortal, who
had a gold crown on his head and a sharp sickle in his hand. And another messenger went out from the temple,
calling out with a loud voice to the one who was sitting on the cloud: "Send your sickle, and harvest, because the
hour to harvest has come. Because the harvest of the land is dry."
And the one who was sitting on the cloud cast his sickle at the land, and the land was harvested.
17 And another messenger, who also had a sharp sickle, went out of that temple that is in heaven. And another
messenger went out from the altar, having authority over the fire. And he sounded with a loud voice to the one who
had the large sickle, saying, "Send your sharp sickle, and cut off the clusters of the vine of the land, because its grapes
are ripe."
And the messenger cast his sickle into the land, and the vine of the land was cut, and he cast it into the great
winepress of God's rage. And the winepress was stepped on outside of the city, and blood went out from the winepress,
up to the bridles of the horses one thousand six hundred stadia away.
15:1 And I saw another great and wonderful sign in the sky: seven messengers who had the last seven
plagues, because God's rage was being finished in them.
And I saw something like a sea of glass mixed with fire. And the ones who were victorious over the wild
animal, and over his image, and over the number of his name, were standing on the glassy sea, holding God's
harps. And they were singing the song of Moses, God's slave, and the song of the lamb, saying, ""Great and wonderful
are your deeds, Yahweh God, the Almighty! Just and true are your ways, King of the Nations. Who will fear not at all,
Yahweh, and glorify your name?" Because you alone are godly, because "all the nations will come and
worship in your presence." Because your right deeds were made apparent."
And after these things, I saw. And the temple of the tent of the testimony in heaven was opened. And those
seven messengers who had the seven plagues went out from the temple, clothed in clean bright linen and wrapped
with golden belts around their chests. And one of the four animals gave the seven messengers seven golden bowls
filled with the rage of that God who lives forever and ever. And the temple was filled with smoke from God's glory
and from his power, and no one was able to enter into the temple until the seven plagues of the seven messengers
were completed.
16:1 And I heard a loud voice from the temple, saying to the seven messengers, "Go on and pour out into
the land the seven bowls of God's anger."
And the first one went out and poured out his bowl into the land. And a bad and evil ulcer happened to
those people who had the wild animal's mark and those who worshiped his image.
And the second one poured out his bowl into the sea, and blood like a dead person's happened. And every
living soul--the things that were in the sea--died.
And the third one poured out his bowl into the rivers and the fountains of the waters, and blood happened.
5 And I heard the messenger of the waters saying, "You are just: the one who is and who was, the
Pious One, you have judged these people. Because they poured out the blood of holy people and prophets, you also
gave them blood to drink. They are worthy of it."
And I heard the altar saying, "Yes, Yahweh God, the Almighty: your judgments are true and just."
8 And the fourth one poured out his bowl onto the sun, and it was given to him to scorch the people with
fire. And the people were scorched with a great scorching, and they spoke evil of the name of that God who has the
authority over these plagues, and they did not change their minds to give him glory.
And the fifth one poured out his bowl onto the wild animal's throne, and it happened that his kingdom was darkened. And they chewed their tongues from the pain, and from their pain and from their ulcers they spoke evil of the God of heaven, and they did not change their minds from their deeds.
And the sixth one poured out his bowl onto the great river Eufrates, and its water was dried up, so that the way
of those kings who are from the East would be prepared.
And I saw: from the mouth of the dragon, and from the mouth of the wild animal, and from the mouth of the
false prophet came three unclean spirits, like frogs. For they are the spirits of spirit beings which go out, making
signs, to the kings of the whole empire, to gather them into the war of the great day of God the Almighty.
"Look, I am coming like a thief. Blessed is the one who is watchful and keeps his clothes, so that he would
not walk around naked, and they would see his shame."
And he gathered them into the place called in Hebrew Har-Magedon.
17 And the seventh one poured out his bowl on the air, and a loud voice went out from the temple, from the throne, saying, "It has happened."
18 And lightnings, and sounds, and thunderings happened, and great earthquakes happened. Such a thing has not happened since humanity happened on the earth, such an earthquake, so great. And the great city became in three parts, and the cities of the nations fell. And the great Babylon was remembered in God's presence: to give it the cup of the wine of the rage of his anger. And every island fled, and not a mountain was found. And a great hail happened, as if weighing a talent, descended from the sky on the people, and the people spoke evil of God from the plague of the hail, because its plague was exceedingly great.
17:1 And one of those seven messengers who had the seven bowls came and spoke with me, saying,
"Come. I will show you the judgment of the great prostitute who sits on many waters. With her the kings of the land
sinned sexually, and those who dwell in the land became drunk with the wine of her sexual sin."
And he led me out, spiritually, into a desert. And I saw a woman sitting on a scarlet wild animal that was full
of the names of evil speakings and that had seven heads and ten horns. And the woman was wrapped in purple and
scarlet (plated with gold, and valuable stones, and pearls). She had in her hand a golden cup full of abominable
things and the unclean things of her sexual sins. And a name was written on her forehead, saying the secret, "Great
Babylon, the mother of the land's sexual sins and abominations." And I saw that the woman was drunk from the blood
of the holy ones and from the blood of Jesus' witnesses. And I wondered, having seen her with great wonder.
7 And the messenger said to me, "Why are you wondering? I will tell you the woman's secret, and that of the
wild animal which is bearing her, the one that has the seven heads and the ten horns.
"The wild animal that you saw was, and is not, and is about to ascend from the deep, and it is going on into
destruction. And those who dwell on the land (whose names have not been written on the scroll of life from the laying
down of creation) will wonder as they see the wild animal, because it was, and is not, and will be along.
"Here is the mind that has wisdom. The seven heads are seven mountains, on which the woman sits. And they
are seven kings: five have fallen, one is, the other has not yet come. And when he comes, it is necessary for him to
remain for a short time. And the wild animal that was and is not, it is both an eighth and is one of the seven, and it is
going on into destruction.
"And the ten horns that you saw are ten kings who have not yet received a kingdom. But they receive authority
like kings for one hour with the wild animal. These have one opinion, and they give their power and authority to the
wild animal. These people will make war with the lamb, and the lamb will be victorious over them, because he is the
most noble lord and the most royal king. And the ones who are with him are called, and chosen, and trusting."
And he said to me, "The waters that you saw, where the prostitute is sitting, they are the peoples, and crowds,
and nations, and tongues.
"And the ten horns that you saw, and the wild animal, these will hate the prostitute and will make her desolate
and naked, and they will eat her flesh and burn her with fire. For God gave it into their hearts to do his opinion, even
to do one opinion--and to give their kingdom to the wild animal until God's statements have been completed.
"And the woman that you saw is the great city that has kingship over the kings of the earth."
18:1 After these things, I saw another messenger descending from the sky who had great authority. And the land was illuminated with his glory. And he called out with a strong voice, saying, "Fallen, fallen is the great Babylon! And it has become an empire of spirit beings and a jail for every unclean spirit, and a jail for every unclean bird, and a jail for every unclean and hated wild animal! Because from the wine of the rage of her sexual sin, all the nations have fallen, and the kings of the land have sinned sexually with her, and the merchants of the land have been made wealthy out of the power of her luxuries."
4 And I heard another voice from heaven, saying, "My people, come out from her, so that you would not be partners together with her sins. And come out from her plagues, so that you would not receive them. Because her sins were built up to the sky, and God remembered her deeds of wrong. Give out to her as also she gave out, and give double according to her deeds: mix her double in the cup in which she mixed. As much as she glorified herself and was luxurious, give her that much torment and mourning. Because in her heart she says that, 'I am sitting as a queen, and by no means will I see mourning.'
"On account of this, her plagues will come on one day: death, and mourning, and famine, and she will be
burnt up in fire. Because Yahweh God, the one who has judged her, is strong.
"And the kings of the land who sinned sexually with her and were in luxury will cry and lament when they
see the smoke of her fire. From a large distance they will stand, on account of the fear of her torment, saying, 'Woe,
woe! The great city, Babylon, the strong city! Because your judgment came in one hour!'
"And the merchants of the land will cry and mourn over her, because no one buys their cargo any longer: cargo
of gold, and silver, and valuable stone, and pearls, and cotton, and purple cloth, and silk, and scarlet cloth, and every
kind of fragrant wood, and every vessel of ivory, and every vessel of valuable wood, and copper, and iron, and
marble, and cinnamon, and amomum, and incense, and balsam, and frankincense, and wine, and oil, and flour, and
wheat, and cattle, and sheep, and horses, and chariots, and people's bodies and souls.
"And your fruit season of the soul's strong desire has gone away from you, and all the fine things and splendid
things have gone away from you. And by no means will they find these things any longer.
"The merchants of these things that have become wealthy from her will stand at a large distance on account of
fear of her torment, crying and mourning, saying, 'Woe, Woe! The great city that was wrapped in cotton and purple cloth
and scarlet cloth, and was plated with gold, and valuable stones, and pearl. Because such wealth was desolated in
one hour!'
"And every sea captain, and everyone who is sailing to a place, and sailors, and as many as are working on the
sea, they stood at a large distance, and they called out as they saw the smoke of her fire, saying, 'What is similar to the
great city?' And they threw dust onto their heads and called out, crying and mourning, saying, 'Woe, Woe! The great
city, in which all those who have ships in the sea were made wealthy from her value! Because she was desolated in
one hour!'
"Have a good attitude about her, oh heaven, and the holy ones, and the envoys, and the prophets. Because God
has judged your judgment on her."
19:1 After these things, I heard something like a loud voice of a large crowd in heaven, saying,
"Hallelu-Jah! The salvation, and the glory, and the power is our God's, because he is true and his judgments are
just! Because he has judged the great prostitute who corrupted the land with her sexual sin, and he has vindicated the
blood of his slaves from her hands." And a second time they said, "Hallelu-Jah!"
And her smoke ascends for ever and ever.
And the twenty four old people and the four animals fell down and worshiped that God who was sitting on the
throne, saying, "A-mein. Hallelu-Jah."
And a voice came out from the throne, saying, "Praise our God, all of his slaves, and those who fear him--the
little ones and the great ones."
6 And I heard something like the sound of a large crowd, and like the sound of many waters, and like the sound of strong thunderings, saying, "Hallelu-Jah! Because Yahweh our God, the Almighty, has reigned! Let's rejoice and exult and give glory to him! Because the marriage feast of the lamb has come, and his wife has prepared herself." And it was given to her that she would be wrapped in cotton, splendid, pure. For the cotton is the right deeds of the holy ones.
9 And he said to me, "Write. Blessed are those who have been called into the supper of the lamb's wedding
feast." And he said to me, "These are the true words of God."
And I fell in front of his feet to worship him, and he said to me, "Look, no! I am your fellow slave and the
fellow slave of those brothers who hold to Jesus' testimony. Worship God." For Jesus' testimony is the spirit of
prophecy.
11 And I saw the sky opened, and look: a white horse. And the one who was sitting on it was called Trustworthy
and True. And he judges justly and makes war. Now his eyes were like a flame of fire, and on his head were many
diadems which had a name written on them that no one knows except himself. And he was wrapped in a cloak that
had been dipped in blood. And his name was called God's message.
And those armies that are in heaven followed him on white horses, clothed in clean white cotton. And a sharp
broad sword comes out of his mouth, so that he would strike the nations with it. And "he will shepherd them with an
iron rod," and he steps on the winepress of the wine of the rage of the anger of God the Almighty. And he has a name
written on his cloak and on his thigh, "Most Royal King and Most Noble Lord."
And I saw one messenger standing in the sun, and he called out with a loud voice, saying to all those birds that
fly in the middle of the sky, "Come gather at God's great supper, so that you might eat kings' flesh, and commanders'
flesh, and the flesh of strong people, and the flesh of horses and of those who sit on them, and the flesh of all people--both
free and slave, both little and great."
19 And I saw the wild animal, and the kings of the land, and their armies gathered to make war with the one who
was sitting on the horse and with his armies. And the wild animal was caught, and so was the false prophet who was
making the signs in his presence, with which he deceived the ones who took the mark of the wild animal and those who
worshiped his image. The two were cast, living, into the lake of that fire which burns with sulphur. And the rest were
killed with the broad sword of the one who was sitting on the horse, the one that went out from his mouth. And all the
birds were gorged on their flesh.
20:1 And I saw a messenger descending from the sky, which had the key to the deep and a great chain on
his hand. And he took hold of the dragon, the serpent, the ancient one, who is Accuser and the Enemy, and he bound
him for one thousand years. And he cast him into the deep, and shut him up, and sealed something over him, so that he
would not still deceive the nations--until the completion of the one thousand years. After these things, it is necessary
to let him loose for a short time.
And I saw thrones, and the souls of those who had been chopped up on account of Jesus' testimony and on
account of God's message, and who did not worship the wild animal nor his image, and who did not receive the mark
on their foreheads and on their hands--and they sat on the thrones. And they lived and reigned with the Anointed One
for one thousand years.
This is the first resurrection. Blessed and holy is the one who has a part in the first resurrection. The second
death has no authority over these people. On the contrary, they will be God's and the Anointed One's priests and will
reign with him for the one thousand years.
7 And when the thousand years are completed, the Enemy will be loosed from his jail. And he will go out to
deceive the nations that are in the four corners of the land--Gog and Magog--to gather them into war. Their number
is like the sands of the sea.
And they went up to the plain of the land and encircled the encampment of the holy ones and the beloved city.
And "fire descended from the sky and devoured them." And the Accuser that deceived them was cast into the
lake of fire and sulphur, where the wild animal and the false prophet also are. And they will be tormented day and
night forever and ever.
11 And I saw a great white throne and the one who was sitting on it, from whose face the land and the sky fled, and there was no place found for them. And I saw the dead, the great ones and the little ones, standing in the presence of the throne. And scrolls were opened, and another scroll was opened, which is the scroll of life. And the dead were judged out of what was written in those scrolls, according to their deeds. And the sea gave the dead that were in it, and death and Hades gave the dead that were in them. And everyone was judged according to their deeds. And death and Hades were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death, the lake of fire. And if someone was not found written in the scroll of life, he was cast into the lake of fire.
21:1 And I saw a new sky and a new land, for the first sky and the first land went away, and the sea is no
longer. And I saw that holy city, a new Jerusalem, descending from the sky from God, prepared like a bride that is
adorned for her husband. And I heard a loud voice from the throne, saying, "Look: God's tent is with people, and he
will pitch his tent with them. And they will be his people, and God himself with them will be their god. And "he will
wipe away every tear from their eyes," and death will be no longer, nor mourning, nor crying. Neither will pain
be any longer, because the first things have gone away."
And the one who was sitting on the throne said, "Look: I am making all things new," and he said, "Write,
because these sayings are trustworthy and true." And he said to me, "They have happened. I am the Alpha and the
Omega, the Beginning and the End. To the one who is thirsty I will give as a gift from the fountain of the water of life.
The one who is victorious will inherit these things and "I will be his god, and he will be my son."
"But to those who are cowards, and distrustful, and abominations, and murderers, and sexual sinners, and
alchemists, and idolaters, and all the liars--their part is in that lake that burns with fire and sulphur, which is the
second death."
9 And one of the seven messengers that had the seven bowls (which were full of those seven last plagues) came
and spoke with me, saying, "Come. I will show you the bride, the lamb's wife." And he led me away spiritually to
a great and high mountain, and he showed me that holy city, Jerusalem, descending from the sky from God and having
God's glory. Its luminary was similar to a most valuable stone, like a glassy diamond stone. It had a great and high
wall; it had twelve gates, and at the gates were twelve messengers. And names were written on the gates, which are
the twelve tribes of the sons of Israel--from the east, three gates; and from the north, three gates; and from the south,
three gates; and from the west, three gates. And the wall of the city had twelve foundations, and on them were twelve
names, of the lamb's twelve envoys.
And the one who was speaking with me had a measure, a golden reed, so that he might measure the city, and its
gates, and its walls. And the city lies four sided, and its length is as much as its width. And he measured the city with
the reed to be twelve thousand stadia. Its length, and width, and height are equal.
And he measured its wall: one hundred forty four pecus, a person's measure, which is a messenger's. And the
structure of its walls was of diamond, and the city was clean gold, similar to clean glass. The foundation of the wall
of the city was adorned with every valuable stone: the first foundation was diamond; the second was sapphire; the
third was chalcedony; the fourth was emerald; the fifth was sardonyx; the sixth was ruby; the seventh was chrysolite;
the eighth was beryl; the ninth was topaz; the tenth was chrysoprasos; the eleventh was hyacinth; the twelfth was
amethyst. And the twelve gates were twelve pearls. Each one of the gates was of one pearl. And the street of the city
was clean gold, like transparent glass.
And I saw no temple in it, for Yahweh God, the Almighty, is its temple, along with the lamb. And the city has
no need of the sun, nor of the moon, so that they would enlighten it. For God's glory enlightened it, and its lamp is the
lamb. And the nations will walk through its light, and the kings of the land will carry their glory into it. And its gates
will by no means be shut by day, for there will be no night there.
And they will bring the glory and the honor of the nations into it. And by no means will anything common enter
into it, or the one who does abominations and falsehood, no one except the ones who are written in the lamb's
scroll of life.
22:1 And he showed me a river of water of life, splendid like crystal, going out from God's and the lamb's
throne. In the midst of its plain, and on this and that side of the river, was a forest of life which produced twelve
fruits, giving out its fruit according to each month. And the leaves of the forest were for the curing of the nations.
And every curse will no longer be. And God's and the lamb's throne will be in it, and God's slaves will give
religious service to him. And they will see his face, and his name will be on their foreheads. And night will be no
longer, and they will not have a need of the light of a lamp and the light of the sun, because Yahweh God will shine
on them, and they will reign forever and ever.
6 And he said to me, "These words are trustworthy and true," and, "Yahweh, the God of the spirits of the
prophets sent out his messengers to show his slaves what things are necessary to happen in a short time." And,
"Look, I am coming quickly."
Blessed is the one who keeps the sayings of this scroll's prophecy. And I, Johannes, am the one who heard
and saw these things. And when I heard and saw, I fell to worship in front of the feet of the messenger who showed
me these things. And he said to me, "Look, no! I am your fellow slave and the fellow slave of your brothers the
prophets, and of those who keep the sayings of this scroll. Worship God."
And he said to me, "Don't seal the sayings of this scroll's prophecy, for the season is near. Let the one who is
unjust be unjust still, and let the one who is dirty be dirty still, and let the one who is just still do what is right, and let
the one who is holy be holy still. Look, I am coming quickly, and my reward is with me, to give to each one, as his
work is."
"I am the Alpha and the Omega, the First and the Last, the Beginning and the End. Blessed are those who wash their robes, so that their authority will be over the forest of life, and they will enter by the gates into the city. Outside are the dogs, and the alchemists, and the sexual sinners, and the murderers, and the idolaters, and everyone who is affectionate to and who does falsehood."
16 "I, Jesus, sent my messenger to testify these things to you at the assemblies. I am the root and the offspring
of David, the bright morning star. And the Spirit and the bride say, 'Come.' And the one who hears should say,
'Come.' And the one who is thirsty should come: the one who wants to may take water of life as a gift.
"I am testifying all things to the one who hears the sayings of this scroll's prophecy. If anyone should place
something onto them, God will place on him the plagues that are written in this scroll. And if anyone should take
away from the sayings of the scroll of this prophecy, God will take away his part from the forest of life, and from
the holy city, that are written about in this scroll. The one who testifies these things says, 'Yes.'"
"I am coming quickly." A-mein, Lord Jesus, come! The generosity of Lord Jesus be with all people.
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© 1995 Frank Daniels