The Woman and the Dragon

12 A great sign(A) appeared in heaven:(B) a woman clothed with the sun, with the moon under her feet and a crown of twelve stars(C) on her head. She was pregnant and cried out in pain(D) as she was about to give birth. Then another sign appeared in heaven:(E) an enormous red dragon(F) with seven heads(G) and ten horns(H) and seven crowns(I) on its heads. Its tail swept a third(J) of the stars out of the sky and flung them to the earth.(K) The dragon stood in front of the woman who was about to give birth, so that it might devour her child(L) the moment he was born. She gave birth to a son, a male child, who “will rule all the nations with an iron scepter.”[a](M) And her child was snatched up(N) to God and to his throne. The woman fled into the wilderness to a place prepared for her by God, where she might be taken care of for 1,260 days.(O)

Then war broke out in heaven. Michael(P) and his angels fought against the dragon,(Q) and the dragon and his angels(R) fought back. But he was not strong enough, and they lost their place in heaven. The great dragon was hurled down—that ancient serpent(S) called the devil,(T) or Satan,(U) who leads the whole world astray.(V) He was hurled to the earth,(W) and his angels with him.

10 Then I heard a loud voice in heaven(X) say:

“Now have come the salvation(Y) and the power
    and the kingdom of our God,
    and the authority of his Messiah.
For the accuser of our brothers and sisters,(Z)
    who accuses them before our God day and night,
    has been hurled down.
11 They triumphed over(AA) him
    by the blood of the Lamb(AB)
    and by the word of their testimony;(AC)
they did not love their lives so much
    as to shrink from death.(AD)
12 Therefore rejoice, you heavens(AE)
    and you who dwell in them!
But woe(AF) to the earth and the sea,(AG)
    because the devil has gone down to you!
He is filled with fury,
    because he knows that his time is short.”

13 When the dragon(AH) saw that he had been hurled to the earth, he pursued the woman who had given birth to the male child.(AI) 14 The woman was given the two wings of a great eagle,(AJ) so that she might fly to the place prepared for her in the wilderness, where she would be taken care of for a time, times and half a time,(AK) out of the serpent’s reach. 15 Then from his mouth the serpent(AL) spewed water like a river, to overtake the woman and sweep her away with the torrent. 16 But the earth helped the woman by opening its mouth and swallowing the river that the dragon had spewed out of his mouth. 17 Then the dragon was enraged at the woman and went off to wage war(AM) against the rest of her offspring(AN)—those who keep God’s commands(AO) and hold fast their testimony about Jesus.(AP)

The Beast out of the Sea

13 The dragon[b] stood on the shore of the sea. And I saw a beast coming out of the sea.(AQ) It had ten horns and seven heads,(AR) with ten crowns on its horns, and on each head a blasphemous name.(AS) The beast I saw resembled a leopard,(AT) but had feet like those of a bear(AU) and a mouth like that of a lion.(AV) The dragon gave the beast his power and his throne and great authority.(AW) One of the heads of the beast seemed to have had a fatal wound, but the fatal wound had been healed.(AX) The whole world was filled with wonder(AY) and followed the beast. People worshiped the dragon because he had given authority to the beast, and they also worshiped the beast and asked, “Who is like(AZ) the beast? Who can wage war against it?”

The beast was given a mouth to utter proud words and blasphemies(BA) and to exercise its authority for forty-two months.(BB) It opened its mouth to blaspheme God, and to slander his name and his dwelling place and those who live in heaven.(BC) It was given power to wage war(BD) against God’s holy people and to conquer them. And it was given authority over every tribe, people, language and nation.(BE) All inhabitants of the earth(BF) will worship the beast—all whose names have not been written in the Lamb’s book of life,(BG) the Lamb(BH) who was slain from the creation of the world.[c](BI)

Whoever has ears, let them hear.(BJ)

10 “If anyone is to go into captivity,
    into captivity they will go.
If anyone is to be killed[d] with the sword,
    with the sword they will be killed.”[e](BK)

This calls for patient endurance and faithfulness(BL) on the part of God’s people.(BM)

The Beast out of the Earth

11 Then I saw a second beast, coming out of the earth.(BN) It had two horns like a lamb, but it spoke like a dragon.(BO) 12 It exercised all the authority(BP) of the first beast on its behalf,(BQ) and made the earth and its inhabitants worship the first beast,(BR) whose fatal wound had been healed.(BS) 13 And it performed great signs,(BT) even causing fire to come down from heaven(BU) to the earth in full view of the people. 14 Because of the signs(BV) it was given power to perform on behalf of the first beast, it deceived(BW) the inhabitants of the earth.(BX) It ordered them to set up an image in honor of the beast who was wounded by the sword and yet lived.(BY) 15 The second beast was given power to give breath to the image of the first beast, so that the image could speak and cause all who refused to worship(BZ) the image to be killed.(CA) 16 It also forced all people, great and small,(CB) rich and poor, free and slave, to receive a mark on their right hands or on their foreheads,(CC) 17 so that they could not buy or sell unless they had the mark,(CD) which is the name of the beast or the number of its name.(CE)

18 This calls for wisdom.(CF) Let the person who has insight calculate the number of the beast, for it is the number of a man.[f](CG) That number is 666.

The Lamb and the 144,000

14 Then I looked, and there before me was the Lamb,(CH) standing on Mount Zion,(CI) and with him 144,000(CJ) who had his name and his Father’s name(CK) written on their foreheads.(CL) And I heard a sound from heaven like the roar of rushing waters(CM) and like a loud peal of thunder.(CN) The sound I heard was like that of harpists playing their harps.(CO) And they sang a new song(CP) before the throne and before the four living creatures(CQ) and the elders.(CR) No one could learn the song except the 144,000(CS) who had been redeemed from the earth. These are those who did not defile themselves with women, for they remained virgins.(CT) They follow the Lamb wherever he goes.(CU) They were purchased from among mankind(CV) and offered as firstfruits(CW) to God and the Lamb. No lie was found in their mouths;(CX) they are blameless.(CY)

The Three Angels

Then I saw another angel flying in midair,(CZ) and he had the eternal gospel to proclaim to those who live on the earth(DA)—to every nation, tribe, language and people.(DB) He said in a loud voice, “Fear God(DC) and give him glory,(DD) because the hour of his judgment has come. Worship him who made(DE) the heavens, the earth, the sea and the springs of water.”(DF)

A second angel followed and said, “‘Fallen! Fallen is Babylon the Great,’[g](DG) which made all the nations drink the maddening wine of her adulteries.”(DH)

A third angel followed them and said in a loud voice: “If anyone worships the beast(DI) and its image(DJ) and receives its mark on their forehead(DK) or on their hand, 10 they, too, will drink the wine of God’s fury,(DL) which has been poured full strength into the cup of his wrath.(DM) They will be tormented with burning sulfur(DN) in the presence of the holy angels and of the Lamb. 11 And the smoke of their torment will rise for ever and ever.(DO) There will be no rest day or night(DP) for those who worship the beast and its image,(DQ) or for anyone who receives the mark of its name.”(DR) 12 This calls for patient endurance(DS) on the part of the people of God(DT) who keep his commands(DU) and remain faithful to Jesus.

13 Then I heard a voice from heaven say, “Write this: Blessed are the dead who die in the Lord(DV) from now on.”

“Yes,” says the Spirit,(DW) “they will rest from their labor, for their deeds will follow them.”

Harvesting the Earth and Trampling the Winepress

14 I looked, and there before me was a white cloud,(DX) and seated on the cloud was one like a son of man[h](DY) with a crown(DZ) of gold on his head and a sharp sickle in his hand. 15 Then another angel came out of the temple(EA) and called in a loud voice to him who was sitting on the cloud, “Take your sickle(EB) and reap, because the time to reap has come, for the harvest(EC) of the earth is ripe.” 16 So he who was seated on the cloud swung his sickle over the earth, and the earth was harvested.

17 Another angel came out of the temple in heaven, and he too had a sharp sickle.(ED) 18 Still another angel, who had charge of the fire, came from the altar(EE) and called in a loud voice to him who had the sharp sickle, “Take your sharp sickle(EF) and gather the clusters of grapes from the earth’s vine, because its grapes are ripe.” 19 The angel swung his sickle on the earth, gathered its grapes and threw them into the great winepress of God’s wrath.(EG) 20 They were trampled in the winepress(EH) outside the city,(EI) and blood(EJ) flowed out of the press, rising as high as the horses’ bridles for a distance of 1,600 stadia.[i]

Footnotes

  1. Revelation 12:5 Psalm 2:9
  2. Revelation 13:1 Some manuscripts And I
  3. Revelation 13:8 Or written from the creation of the world in the book of life belonging to the Lamb who was slain
  4. Revelation 13:10 Some manuscripts anyone kills
  5. Revelation 13:10 Jer. 15:2
  6. Revelation 13:18 Or is humanity’s number
  7. Revelation 14:8 Isaiah 21:9
  8. Revelation 14:14 See Daniel 7:13.
  9. Revelation 14:20 That is, about 180 miles or about 300 kilometers

12 And there appeared a great wonder in heaven; a woman clothed with the sun, and the moon under her feet, and upon her head a crown of twelve stars:

And she being with child cried, travailing in birth, and pained to be delivered.

And there appeared another wonder in heaven; and behold a great red dragon, having seven heads and ten horns, and seven crowns upon his heads.

And his tail drew the third part of the stars of heaven, and did cast them to the earth: and the dragon stood before the woman which was ready to be delivered, for to devour her child as soon as it was born.

And she brought forth a man child, who was to rule all nations with a rod of iron: and her child was caught up unto God, and to his throne.

And the woman fled into the wilderness, where she hath a place prepared of God, that they should feed her there a thousand two hundred and threescore days.

And there was war in heaven: Michael and his angels fought against the dragon; and the dragon fought and his angels,

And prevailed not; neither was their place found any more in heaven.

And the great dragon was cast out, that old serpent, called the Devil, and Satan, which deceiveth the whole world: he was cast out into the earth, and his angels were cast out with him.

10 And I heard a loud voice saying in heaven, Now is come salvation, and strength, and the kingdom of our God, and the power of his Christ: for the accuser of our brethren is cast down, which accused them before our God day and night.

11 And they overcame him by the blood of the Lamb, and by the word of their testimony; and they loved not their lives unto the death.

12 Therefore rejoice, ye heavens, and ye that dwell in them. Woe to the inhabiters of the earth and of the sea! for the devil is come down unto you, having great wrath, because he knoweth that he hath but a short time.

13 And when the dragon saw that he was cast unto the earth, he persecuted the woman which brought forth the man child.

14 And to the woman were given two wings of a great eagle, that she might fly into the wilderness, into her place, where she is nourished for a time, and times, and half a time, from the face of the serpent.

15 And the serpent cast out of his mouth water as a flood after the woman, that he might cause her to be carried away of the flood.

16 And the earth helped the woman, and the earth opened her mouth, and swallowed up the flood which the dragon cast out of his mouth.

17 And the dragon was wroth with the woman, and went to make war with the remnant of her seed, which keep the commandments of God, and have the testimony of Jesus Christ.

13 And I stood upon the sand of the sea, and saw a beast rise up out of the sea, having seven heads and ten horns, and upon his horns ten crowns, and upon his heads the name of blasphemy.

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 seat, and great authority.

And I saw one of his heads as it were wounded to death; and his deadly wound was healed: and all the world wondered after the beast.

And they worshipped the dragon which gave power unto the beast: and they worshipped the beast, saying, Who is like unto the beast? who is able to make war with him?

And there was given unto him a mouth speaking great things and blasphemies; and power was given unto him to continue forty and two months.

And he opened his mouth in blasphemy against God, to blaspheme his name, and his tabernacle, and them that dwell in heaven.

And it was given unto him to make war with the saints, and to overcome them: and power was given him over all kindreds, and tongues, and nations.

And all that 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.

If any man have an ear, let him hear.

10 He that leadeth into captivity shall go into captivity: he that killeth with the sword must be killed with the sword. Here is the patience and the faith of the saints.

11 And I beheld another beast coming up out of the earth; and he had two horns like a lamb, and he spake as a dragon.

12 And he exerciseth all the power of the first beast before him, and causeth the earth and them which dwell therein to worship the first beast, whose deadly wound was healed.

13 And he doeth great wonders, so that he maketh fire come down from heaven on the earth in the sight of men,

14 And deceiveth them that dwell on the earth by the means of those miracles which he had power to do in the sight of the beast; saying to them that dwell on the earth, that they should make an image to the beast, which had the wound by a sword, and did live.

15 And he had power to give life unto the image of the beast, that the image of the beast should both speak, and cause that as many as would not worship the image of the beast should be killed.

16 And he causeth all, both small and great, rich and poor, free and bond, to receive a mark in their right hand, or in their foreheads:

17 And that no man might buy or sell, save he that had the mark, or the name of the beast, or the number of his name.

18 Here is wisdom. Let him that hath understanding count the number of the beast: for it is the number of a man; and his number is Six hundred threescore and six.

14 And I looked, and, lo, a Lamb stood on the mount Sion, and with him an hundred forty and four thousand, having his Father's name written in their foreheads.

And I heard a voice from heaven, as the voice of many waters, and as the voice of a great thunder: and I heard the voice of harpers harping with their harps:

And they sung as it were a new song before the throne, and before the four beasts, and the elders: and no man could learn that song but the hundred and forty and four thousand, which were redeemed from the earth.

These are they which were not defiled with women; for they are virgins. These are they which follow the Lamb whithersoever he goeth. These were redeemed from among men, being the firstfruits unto God and to the Lamb.

And in their mouth was found no guile: for they are without fault before the throne of God.

And I saw another angel fly in the midst of heaven, having the everlasting gospel to preach unto them that dwell on the earth, and to every nation, and kindred, and tongue, and people,

Saying with a loud voice, Fear God, and give glory to him; for the hour of his judgment is come: and worship him that made heaven, and earth, and the sea, and the fountains of waters.

And there followed another angel, saying, Babylon is fallen, is fallen, that great city, because she made all nations drink of the wine of the wrath of her fornication.

And the third angel followed them, saying with a loud voice, If any man worship the beast and his image, and receive his mark in his forehead, or in his hand,

10 The same shall drink of the wine of the wrath of God, which is poured out without mixture into the cup of his indignation; 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 up for ever and ever: and they have no rest day nor night, who worship the beast and his image, and whosoever receiveth the mark of his name.

12 Here is the patience of the saints: here are they that keep the commandments of God, and the faith of Jesus.

13 And I heard a voice from heaven saying unto me, Write, Blessed are the dead which die in the Lord from henceforth: Yea, saith the Spirit, that they may rest from their labours; and their works do follow them.

14 And I looked, and behold a white cloud, and upon the cloud one sat like unto the Son of man, having on his head a golden crown, and in his hand a sharp sickle.

15 And another angel came out of the temple, crying with a loud voice to him that sat on the cloud, Thrust in thy sickle, and reap: for the time is come for thee to reap; for the harvest of the earth is ripe.

16 And he that sat on the cloud thrust in his sickle on the earth; and the earth was reaped.

17 And another angel came out of the temple which is in heaven, he also having a sharp sickle.

18 And another angel came out from the altar, which had power over fire; and cried with a loud cry to him that had the sharp sickle, saying, Thrust in thy sharp sickle, and gather the clusters of the vine of the earth; for her grapes are fully ripe.

19 And the angel thrust in his sickle into the earth, and gathered the vine of the earth, and cast it into the great winepress of the wrath of God.

20 And the winepress was trodden without the city, and blood came out of the winepress, even unto the horse bridles, by the space of a thousand and six hundred furlongs.