[Table of Contents]
[Previous]
Ashley S. Johnson
The Self-Interpreting New Testament (1898)

 

THE REVELATION
OF
JESUS THE CHRIST.

[1] [2] [3] [4] [5] [6] [7] [8] [9] [10] [11] [12]
[13] [14] [15] [16] [17] [18] [19] [20] [21] [22]

 

CHAPTER 1.

T HE Revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave unto him, to shew unto his servants things which must shortly come to pass; and he sent and signified it by his angel unto his servant John:
      2   Who bare record of the word of God, and of the testimony of Jesus Christ, and of all things that he saw.
      "And he that saw it bare record, and his record is true: and he knoweth that he saith true, that ye might believe (Jno., 19:35)."
      3   Blessed is he that readeth, and they that hear the words of this prophecy, and keep those things which are written therein: for the time is at hand.
      "But he said, Yea rather, blessed are they that hear the word of God, and keep it (Luke, 11:28)."
      4 J
OHN to the seven churches which are in Asia: Grace be unto you, and peace, from him which is, and which was, and which is to come; and from the seven Spirits which are before his throne;
      5   And from Jesus Christ, who is the faithful witness, and the first begotten of the dead, and the prince of the kings of the earth. Unto him that loved us, and washed us from our sins in his own blood,
      "But now is Christ risen from the dead, and become the firstfruits of them that slept (I. Cor., 15:20)."
      "For this is my blood of the new testament, which is shed for many for the remission of sins (Matt., 26:28)."
      6   And hath made us kings and priests unto God and his Father; to him be glory and dominion for ever and ever. Amen.
      7   Behold, he cometh with clouds; and every eye shall see him, and they also which pierced him: and all kindreds of the earth shall wail because of him. Even so, Amen.
      "When the Son of man shall come in his glory, and all the holy angels with him, then shall he sit upon the throne of his glory:
      And before him shall be gathered all nations: and he shall separate them one from another, as a shepherd divideth his sheep from the goats (Matt., 25:31, 32)."
      8   I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the ending, saith the Lord, which is, and which was, and which is to come, the Almighty.
      9   I John, who also am your brother, and companion in tribulation, and in the kingdom and patience of Jesus Christ, was in the isle that is called Patmos, for the word of God, and for the testimony of Jesus Christ.
      10   I was in the Spirit on the Lord's day, and heard behind me a great voice, as of a trumpet,
      "And upon the first day of the week, when the disciples came together to break bread, Paul preached unto them, ready to depart on the morrow; and continued his speech until midnight (Acts, 20:7)."
      11   Saying, I am Alpha and Omega, the first and the last: and, What thou seest, write in a book, and send it unto the seven churches which are in Asia; unto Ephesus, and unto Smyrna, and unto Pergamos, and unto Thyatira, and unto Sardis, and unto Philadelphia, and unto Laodicea.
      12   And I turned to see the voice that spake with me. And being turned, I saw seven golden candlesticks;
      13   And in the midst of the seven candlesticks one like unto the Son of man, clothed with a garment down to the foot, and girt about the paps with a golden girdle. [398]
      14   His head and his hairs were white like wool, as white as snow; and his eyes were as a flame of fire;
      15   And his feet like unto fine brass, as if they burned in a furnace; and his voice as the sound of many waters.
      16   And he had in his right hand seven stars: and out of his mouth went a sharp twoedged sword: and his countenance was as the sun shineth in his strength.
      "These words spake Jesus, and lifted up his eyes to heaven, and said, Father, the hour is come; glorify thy Son, that thy Son also may glorify thee (John, 17:1)."
      "And after six days Jesus taketh Peter, James, and John his brother, and bringeth them up into an high mountain apart,
      And was transfigured before them: and his face did shine as the sun, and his raiment was white as the light (Matt., 17:1, 2)."
      17   And when I saw him, I fell at his feet as dead. And he laid his right hand upon me, saying unto me, Fear not; I am the first and the last:
      18   I am he that liveth, and was dead; and, behold, I am alive for evermore, Amen; and have the keys of hell and of death.
      "Knowing that Christ being raised from the dead dieth no more; death hath no more dominion over him (Rom., 6:9)."
      19   Write the things which thou hast seen, and the things which are, and the things which shall be hereafter;
      20   The mystery of the seven stars which thou sawest in my right hand, and the seven golden candlesticks. The seven stars are the angels of the seven churches: and the seven candlesticks which thou sawest are the seven churches.

 

CHAPTER 2.

U NTO the angel of the church of Ephesus write; These things saith he that holdeth the seven stars in his right hand, who walketh in the midst of the seven golden candlesticks;
      2   I know thy works, and thy labour, and thy patience, and how thou canst not bear them which are evil: and thou hast tried them which say they are apostles, and are not, and hast found them liars:
      "But wilt thou know, O vain man, that faith without works is dead (Jas., 2:20)."
      3   And hast borne, and hast patience, and for my name's sake hast laboured, and hast not fainted.
      "And ye shall be hated of all men for my name's sake: but he that endureth to the end shall be saved (Matt., 10:22)."
      4   Nevertheless I have somewhat against thee, because thou hast left thy first love.
      5   Remember therefore from whence thou art fallen, and repent, and do the first works; or else I will come unto thee quickly, and will remove thy candlestick out of his place, except thou repent.
      "But when they believed Philip preaching the things concerning the kingdom of God, and the name of Jesus Christ, they were baptized, both men and women.
      And when Simon saw that through laying on of the apostles' hands the Holy Spirit was given, he offered them money,
      Saying, Give me also this power, that on whomsoever I lay hands, he may receive the Holy Spirit.
      But Peter said unto him, Thy money perish with thee, because thou hast thought that the gift of God may be purchased with money.
      Thou hast neither part nor lot in this matter: for thy heart is not right in the sight of God.
      Repent therefore of this thy wickedness, and pray God, if perhaps the thought of thine heart may be forgiven thee.
      For I perceive that thou art in the gall of bitterness, and in the bond of iniquity.
      Then answered Simon, and said, Pray ye to the Lord for me, that none of these things which ye have spoken come upon me (Acts, 8:12, 18-24)."
      6   But this thou hast, that thou hatest the deeds of the Nicolaitans, which I also hate.
      7   He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches; To him that overcometh will I give to eat of the tree of life, which is in the midst of the paradise of God.
      "But thanks be to God, which giveth us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ (I. Cor., 15:57)."
      8   And unto the angel of the church in Smyrna write; These things saith the first and the last, which was dead, and is alive;
      9   I know thy works, and tribulation, and poverty, (but thou art rich) and I know the blasphemy of them which say they are Jews, and are not, but are the synagogue of Satan. [399]
      10   Fear none of those things which thou shalt suffer: behold, the devil shall cast some of you into prison, that ye may be tried; and ye shall have tribulation ten days: be thou faithful unto death, and I will give thee a crown of life.
      11   He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches; He that overcometh shall not be hurt of the second death.
      "Who is he that overcometh the world, but he that believeth that Jesus is the Son of God (I. Jno., 5:5)?"
      12   And to the angel of the church in Pergamos write; These things saith he which hath the sharp sword with two edges;
      13   I know thy works, and where thou dwellest, even where Satan's seat is: and thou holdest fast my name, and hast not denied my faith, even in those days wherein Antipas was my faithful martyr, who was slain among you, where Satan dwelleth.
      14   But I have a few things against thee, because thou hast there them that hold the doctrine of Balaam, who taught Balac to cast a stumblingblock before the children of Israel, to eat things sacrificed unto idols, and to commit fornication.
      "Behold, these caused the children of Israel, through the counsel of Balaam, to commit trespass against the Lord in the matter of Peor, and there was a plague among the congregation of the Lord (Num., 31:16)."
      15   So hast thou also them that hold the doctrine of the Nicolaitans, which thing I hate.
      16   Repent; or else I will come unto thee quickly, and will fight against them with the sword of my mouth.
      17   He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches; To him that overcometh will I give to eat of the hidden manna, and will give him a white stone, and in the stone a new name written, which no man knoweth saving he that receiveth it.
      "I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith:
      Henceforth there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, shall give me at that day: and not to me only, but unto all them also that love his appearing (II. Tim., 4:7, 8)."
      18   And unto the angel of the church in Thyatira write; These things saith the Son of God, who hath his eyes like unto a flame of fire, and his feet are like fine brass;
      19   I know thy works, and charity, and service, and faith, and thy patience, and thy works; and the last to be more than the first.
      20   Notwithstanding I have a few things against thee, because thou sufferest that woman Jezebel, which calleth herself a prophetess, to teach and to seduce my servants to commit fornication, and to eat things sacrificed unto idols.
      "What say I then? that the idol is any thing, or that which is offered in sacrifice to idols is any thing?
      But I say, that the things which the Gentiles sacrifice, they sacrifice to devils, and not to God: and I would not that ye should have fellowship with devils.
      Ye cannot drink the cup of the Lord, and the cup of devils: ye cannot be partakers of the Lord's table, and of the table of devils.
      Do we provoke the Lord to jealousy? are we stronger than he (I. Cor., 10:19-22)?"
      21   And I gave her space to repent of her fornication; and she repented not.
      22   Behold, I will cast her into a bed, and them that commit adultery with her into great tribulation, except they repent of their deeds.
      23   And I will kill her children with death; and all the churches shall know that I am he which searcheth the reins and hearts: and I will give unto every one of you according to your works.
      "But Jesus did not commit himself unto them, because he knew all men,
      And needed not that any should testify of man: for he knew what was in man (Jno., 2:24, 25)."
      "And he that searcheth the hearts knoweth what is the mind of the Spirit, because he maketh intercession for the saints according to the will of God (Rom., 8:27)."
      "For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ; that every one may receive the things done in his body, according to that he hath done, whether it be good or bad (II. Cor., 5:10)."
      24   But unto you I say, and unto the rest in Thyatira, as many as have not this doctrine, and which have not known the depths of Satan, as they speak; I will put upon you none other burden.
      25   But that which ye have already hold fast till I come.
      26   And he that overcometh, and [400] keepeth my works unto the end, to him will I give power over the nations:
      "But Christ as a son over his own house; whose house are we, if we hold fast the confidence and the rejoicing of the hope firm unto the end (Heb., 3:6)."
      27   And he shall rule them with a rod of iron; as the vessels of a potter shall they be broken to shivers: even as I received of my Father.
      28   And I will give him the morning star.
      29   He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches.

 

CHAPTER 3.

A ND unto the angel of the church in Sardis write; These things saith he that hath the seven Spirits of God, and the seven stars; I know thy works, that thou hast a name that thou livest, and art dead.
      "Even so faith, if it hath not works, is dead, being alone (Jas., 2:17)."
      2   Be watchful, and strengthen the things which remain, that are ready to die: for I have not found thy works perfect before God.
      3   Remember therefore how thou hast received and heard, and hold fast, and repent. If therefore thou shalt not watch, I will come on thee as a thief, and thou shalt not know what hour I will come upon thee.
      "But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night; in the which the heavens shall pass away with a great noise, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat, the earth also and the works that are therein shall be burned up (II. Pet., 3:10)."
      4   Thou hast a few names even in Sardis which have not defiled their garments; and they shall walk with me in white: for they are worthy.
      "And others save with fear, pulling them out of the fire; hating even the garment spotted by the flesh (Jude, 1:23)."
      5   He that overcometh, the same shall be clothed in white raiment; and I will not blot out his name out of the book of life, but I will confess his name before my Father, and before his angels.
      "Whosoever therefore shall confess me before men, him will I confess also before my Father which is in heaven.
      But whosoever shall deny me before men, him will I also deny before my Father which is in heaven (Matt., 10:32, 33)."
      6   He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches.
      7   And to the angel of the church in Philadelphia write; These things saith he that is holy, he that is true, he that hath the key of David, he that openeth, and no man shutteth; and shutteth, and no man openeth;
      "And I will give unto thee the keys of the kingdom of heaven: and whatsoever thou shalt bind on earth shall be bound in heaven: and whatsoever thou shalt loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven (Matt., 16:19)."
      "I am he that liveth, and was dead; and, behold, I am alive for evermore, Amen; and have the keys of hell and of death (Rev., 1:18)."
      8   I know thy works: behold, I have set before thee an open door, and no man can shut it: for thou hast a little strength, and hast kept my word, and hast not denied my name.
      "I am the door: by me if any man enter in, he shall be saved, and shall go in and out, and find pasture (Jno., 10:9)."
      9   Behold, I will make them of the synagogue of Satan, which say they are Jews, and are not, but do lie; behold, I will make them to come and worship before thy feet, and to know that I have loved thee.
      10   Because thou hast kept the word of my patience, I also will keep thee from the hour of temptation, which shall come upon all the world, to try them that dwell upon the earth.
      11   Behold, I come quickly: hold that fast which thou hast, that no man take thy crown.
      12   Him that overcometh will I make a pillar in the temple of my God, and he shall go no more out: and I will write upon him the name of my God, and the name of the city of my God, which is new Jerusalem, which cometh down out of heaven from my God: and I will write upon him my new name.
      "Blessed is the man that endureth temptation: for when he is tried, he shall receive the crown of life, which the Lord hath promised to them that love him (Jas., 1:12)."
      13   He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches.
      14   And unto the angel of the church of the Laodiceans write; These things [401] saith the Amen, the faithful and true witness, the beginning of the creation of God;
      15   I know thy works, that thou art neither cold nor hot: I would thou wert cold or hot.
      16   So then because thou art lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will spue thee out of my mouth.
      17   Because thou sayest, I am rich, and increased with goods, and have need of nothing; and knowest not that thou art wretched, and miserable, and poor, and blind, and naked:
      "And Ephraim said, Yet I am become rich, I have found me out substance: in all my labours they shall find none iniquity in me that were sin (Hos., 12:8)."
      "Now ye are full, now ye are rich, ye have reigned as kings without us: and I would to God ye did reign, that we also might reign with you (I. Cor., 4:8)."
      "And Jesus looked round about, and saith unto his disciples, How hardly shall they that have riches enter into the kingdom of God!
      And the disciples were astonished at his words. But Jesus answereth again, and saith unto them, Children, how hard is it for them that trust in riches to enter into the kingdom of God!
      It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle, than for a rich man to enter into the kingdom of God.
      And they were astonished out of measure, saying among themselves, Who then can be saved (Mark., 10:23-26)?"
      18   I counsel thee to buy of me gold tried in the fire, that thou mayest be rich; and white raiment, that thou mayest be clothed, and that the shame of thy nakedness do not appear; and anoint thine eyes with eyesalve, that thou mayest see.
      "Ho, every one that thirsteth, come ye to the waters, and he that hath no money; come ye, buy, and eat; yea, come, buy wine and milk without money and without price (Isa., 55:1)."
      "If so be that being clothed we shall not be found naked.
      For we that are in this tabernacle do groan, being burdened: not for that we would be unclothed, but clothed upon, that mortality might be swallowed up of life (II. Cor., 5:3, 4)."
      19   As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten: be zealous therefore, and repent.
      "For whom the Lord loveth he chasteneth, and scourgeth every son whom he receiveth (Heb., 12:6)."
      20   Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with me.
      "And I say unto you, Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you.
      For every one that asketh receiveth; and he that seeketh findeth; and to him that knocketh it shall be opened (Luke, 11:9, 10)."
      21   To him that overcometh will I grant to sit with me in my throne, even as I also overcame, and am set down with my Father in his throne.
      "In my Father's house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you.
      And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also (Jno., 14:2, 3)."
      22   He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches.

 

CHAPTER 4.

A FTER this I looked, and, behold, a door was opened in heaven: and the first voice which I heard was as it were of a trumpet talking with me; which said, Come up hither, and I will shew thee things which must be hereafter.
      "Write the things which thou hast seen, and the things which are, and the things which shall be hereafter (Rev., 1:19)."
      2   And immediately I was in the spirit: and, behold, a throne was set in heaven, and one sat on the throne.
      "In the year that king Uzziah died I saw also the Lord sitting upon a throne, high and lifted up, and his train filled the temple (Isa., 6:1)."
      "A glorious high throne from the beginning is the place of our sanctuary (Jer., 17:12)."
      "And above the firmament that was over their heads was the likeness of a throne, as the appearance of a sapphire stone: and upon the likeness of the throne was the likeness as the appearance of a man above upon it (Ezek., 1:26)."
      "Then I looked, and, behold, in the firmament that was above the head of the cherubims there appeared over them as it were a sapphire stone, as the appearance of the likeness of a throne (Ezek., 10:1)."
      "I beheld till the thrones were cast down, and the Ancient of days did sit, whose garment was white as snow, and the hair of his head like the pure wool: his throne was like the fiery flame, and his wheels as burning fire.
      A fiery stream issued and came forth from before him: thousand thousands ministered [402] unto him, and ten thousand times ten thousand stood before him (Dan., 7:9, 10)."
      3   And he that sat was to look upon like a jasper and a sardine stone: and there was a rainbow round about the throne, in sight like unto an emerald.
      4   And round about the throne were four and twenty seats: and upon the seats I saw four and twenty elders sitting, clothed in white raiment; and they had on their heads crowns of gold.
      5   And out of the throne proceeded lightnings and thunderings and voices: and there were seven lamps of fire burning before the throne, which are the seven Spirits of God.
      6   And before the throne there was a sea of glass like unto crystal: and in the midst of the throne, and round about the throne, were four beasts full of eyes before and behind.
      "In the year that king Uzziah died I saw also the Lord sitting upon a throne, high and lifted up, and his train filled the temple.
      Above it stood the seraphims: each one had six wings; with twain he covered his face, and with twain he covered his feet, and with twain he did fly.
      And one cried unto another, and said, Holy, holy, holy, is the Lord of hosts: the whole earth is full of his glory.
      And the posts of the door moved at the voice of him that cried, and the house was filled with smoke (Isa., 6:1-4)."
      7   And the first beast was like a lion, and the second beast like a calf, and the third beast had a face as a man, and the fourth beast was like a flying eagle.
      8   And the four beasts had each of them six wings about him; and they were full of eyes within: and they rest not day and night, saying, Holy, holy, holy, Lord God Almighty, which was, and is, and is to come.
      "But with righteousness shall he judge the poor, and reprove with equity for the meek of the earth: and he shall smite the earth with the rod of his mouth, and with the breath of his lips shall he slay the wicked.
      And righteousness shall be the girdle of his loins, and faithfulness the girdle of his reins.
      The wolf also shall dwell with the lamb, and the leopard shall lie down with the kid; and the calf and the young lion and the fatling together; and a little child shall lead them.
      And the cow and the bear shall feed; their young ones shall lie down together: and the lion shall eat straw like the ox.
      And the sucking child shall play on the hole of the asp, and the weaned child shall put his hand on the cockatrice' den.
      They shall not hurt nor destroy in all my holy mountain: for the earth shall be full of the knowledge of the Lord, as the waters cover the sea (Isa., 11:4-9)."
      "And he shall judge among many people, and rebuke strong nations afar off; and they shall beat their swords into plowshares, and their spears into pruninghooks: nation shall not lift up a sword against nation, neither shall they learn war any more.
      But they shall sit every man under his vine and under his fig tree; and none shall make them afraid: for the mouth of the Lord of hosts hath spoken it.
      For all people will walk every one in the name of his god, and we will walk in the name of the Lord our God for ever and ever (Mic., 4:3-5)."
      9   And when those beasts give glory and honour and thanks to him that sat on the throne, who liveth for ever and ever,
      10   The four and twenty elders fall down before him that sat on the throne, and worship him that liveth for ever and ever, and cast their crowns before the throne, saying,
      11   Thou art worthy, O Lord, to receive glory and honour and power: for thou hast created all things, and for thy pleasure they are and were created.

 

CHAPTER 5.

A ND I saw in the right hand of him that sat on the throne a book written within and on the backside, sealed with seven seals.
      2   And I saw a strong angel proclaiming with a loud voice, Who is worthy to open the book, and to loose the seals thereof?
      3   And no man in heaven, nor in earth, neither under the earth, was able to open the book, neither to look thereon.
      4   And I wept much, because no man was found worthy to open and to read the book, neither to look thereon.
      5   And one of the elders saith unto me, Weep not: behold, the Lion of the tribe of Juda, the Root of David, hath prevailed to open the book, and to loose the seven seals thereof.
      "The sceptre shall not depart from Judah, nor a lawgiver from between his feet, until Shiloh come; and unto him shall the gathering of the people be (Gen., 49:10)."
      "For it is evident that our Lord sprang out of Juda; of which tribe Moses spake nothing concerning priesthood (Heb., 7:14)." [403]
      6   And I beheld, and, lo, in the midst of the throne and of the four beasts, and in the midst of the elders, stood a Lamb as it had been slain, having seven horns and seven eyes, which are the seven Spirits of God sent forth into all the earth.
      "But with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot (I. Pet., 1:19)."
      7   And he came and took the book out of the right hand of him that sat upon the throne.
      8   And when he had taken the book, the four beasts and four and twenty elders fell down before the Lamb, having every one of them harps, and golden vials full of odours, which are the prayers of saints.
      9   And they sung a new song, saying, Thou art worthy to take the book, and to open the seals thereof: for thou wast slain, and hast redeemed us to God by thy blood out of every kindred, and tongue, and people, and nation;
      "And he hath put a new song in my mouth, even praise unto our God: many shall see it, and fear, and shall trust in the Lord (Ps., 40:3)."
      10   And hast made us unto our God kings and priests: and we shall reign on the earth.
      11   And I beheld, and I heard the voice of many angels round about the throne and the beasts and the elders: and the number of them was ten thousand times ten thousand, and thousands of thousands;
      12   Saying with a loud voice, Worthy is the Lamb that was slain to receive power, and riches, and wisdom, and strength, and honour, and glory, and blessing.
      "Wherefore God also hath highly exalted him, and given him a name which is above every name:
      That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth;
      And that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father (Phil., 2:9-11)."
      13   And every creature which is in heaven, and on the earth, and under the earth, and such as are in the sea, and all that are in them, heard I saying, Blessing, and honour, and glory, and power, be unto him that sitteth upon the throne, and unto the Lamb for ever and ever.
      14   And the four beasts said, Amen. And the four and twenty elders fell down and worshipped him that liveth for ever and ever.

 

CHAPTER 6.

A ND I saw when the Lamb opened one of the seals, and I heard, as it were the noise of thunder, one of the four beasts saying, Come and see.
      2   And I saw, and behold a white horse: and he that sat on him had a bow; and a crown was given unto him: and he went forth conquering, and to conquer.
      3   And when he had opened the second seal, I heard the second beast say, Come and see.
      4   And there went out another horse that was red: and power was given to him that sat thereon to take peace from the earth, and that they should kill one another: and there was given unto him a great sword.
      5   And when he had opened the third seal, I heard the third beast say, Come and see. And I beheld, and lo a black horse; and he that sat on him had a pair of balances in his hand.
      6   And I heard a voice in the midst of the four beasts say, A measure of wheat for a penny, and three measures of barley for a penny; and see thou hurt not the oil and the wine.
      7   And when he had opened the fourth seal, I heard the voice of the fourth beast say, Come and see.
      8   And I looked, and behold a pale horse: and his name that sat on him was Death, and Hell followed with him. And power was given unto them over the fourth part of the earth, to kill with sword, and with hunger, and with death, and with the beasts of the earth.
      9   And when he had opened the fifth seal, I saw under the altar the souls of them that were slain for the word of God, and for the testimony which they held:
      "He that hath received his testimony hath set to his seal that God is true (Jno., 3:33)."
      10   And they cried with a loud voice, saying, How long, O Lord, holy and true, dost thou not judge and avenge our blood on them that dwell on the earth?
      11   And white robes were given unto every one of them; and it was said unto them, that they should rest yet for a little [404] season, until their fellowservants also and their brethren, that should be killed as they were, should be fulfilled.
      12   And I beheld when he had opened the sixth seal, and, lo, there was a great earthquake; and the sun became black as sackcloth of hair, and the moon became as blood;
      13   And the stars of heaven fell unto the earth, even as a fig tree casteth her untimely figs, when she is shaken of a mighty wind.
      14   And the heaven departed as a scroll when it is rolled together; and every mountain and island were moved out of their places.
      "Of old hast thou laid the foundation of the earth: and the heavens are the work of thy hands.
      They shall perish, but thou shalt endure: yea, all of them shall wax old like a garment; as a vesture shalt thou change them, and they shall be changed (Ps., 102:25, 26)."
      "And all the host of heaven shall be dissolved, and the heavens shall be rolled together as a scroll: and all their host shall fall down, as the leaf falleth off from the vine, and as a falling fig from the fig tree (Isa., 34:4)."
      15   And the kings of the earth, and the great men, and the rich men, and the chief captains, and the mighty men, and every bondman, and every free man, hid themselves in the dens and in the rocks of the mountains;
      16   And said to the mountains and rocks, Fall on us, and hide us from the face of him that sitteth on the throne, and from the wrath of the Lamb:
      17   For the great day of his wrath is come; and who shall be able to stand?

 

CHAPTER 7.

A ND after these things I saw four angels standing on the four corners of the earth, holding the four winds of the earth, that the wind should not blow on the earth, nor on the sea, nor on any tree.
      2   And I saw another angel ascending from the east, having the seal of the living God: and he cried with a loud voice to the four angels, to whom it was given to hurt the earth and the sea,
      3   Saying, Hurt not the earth, neither the sea, nor the trees, till we have sealed the servants of our God in their foreheads.
      "Behold, the days come, saith the Lord, that I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel, and with the house of Judah:
      Not according to the covenant that I made with their fathers in the day that I took them by the hand to bring them out of the land of Egypt; which my covenant they brake, although I was an husband unto them, saith the Lord:
      But this shall be the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel; After those days, saith the Lord, I will put my law in their inward parts, and write it in their hearts; and will be their God, and they shall be my people (Jer., 31:31-33)."
      4   And I heard the number of them which were sealed: and there were sealed an hundred and forty and four thousand of all the tribes of the children of Israel.
      5   Of the tribe of Juda were sealed twelve thousand. Of the tribe of Reuben were sealed twelve thousand. Of the tribe of Gad were sealed twelve thousand.
      6   Of the tribe of Aser were sealed twelve thousand. Of the tribe of Nepthalim were sealed twelve thousand. Of the tribe of Manasses were sealed twelve thousand.
      7   Of the tribe of Simeon were sealed twelve thousand. Of the tribe of Levi were sealed twelve thousand. Of the tribe of Issachar were sealed twelve thousand.
      8   Of the tribe of Zabulon were sealed twelve thousand. Of the tribe of Joseph were sealed twelve thousand. Of the tribe of Benjamin were sealed twelve thousand.
      "For I would not, brethren, that ye should be ignorant of this mystery, lest ye should be wise in your own conceits; that blindness in part is happened to Israel, until the fulness of the Gentiles be come in.
      And so all Israel shall be saved: as it is written, There shall come out of Sion the Deliverer, and shall turn away ungodliness from Jacob:
      For this is my covenant unto them, when I shall take away their sins (Rom., 11:25-27)."
      9   After this I beheld, and, lo, a great multitude, which no man could number, of all nations, and kindreds, and people, and tongues, stood before the throne, and before the Lamb, clothed with white robes, and palms in their hands;
      10   And cried with a loud voice, saying, Salvation to our God which sitteth upon the throne, and unto the Lamb. [405]
      11   And all the angels stood round about the throne, and about the elders and the four beasts, and fell before the throne on their faces, and worshipped God,
      12   Saying, Amen: Blessing, and glory, and wisdom, and thanksgiving, and honour, and power, and might, be unto our God for ever and ever. Amen.
      13   And one of the elders answered, saying unto me, What are these which are arrayed in white robes? and whence came they?
      14   And I said unto him, Sir, thou knowest. And he said to me, These are they which came out of great tribulation, and have washed their robes, and made them white in the blood of the Lamb.
      "But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin (I. Jno., 1:7)."
      15   Therefore are they before the throne of God, and serve him day and night in his temple: and he that sitteth on the throne shall dwell among them.
      16   They shall hunger no more, neither thirst any more; neither shall the sun light on them, nor any heat.
      "They shall not hunger nor thirst; neither shall the heat nor sun smite them: for he that hath mercy on them shall lead them, even by the springs of water shall he guide them (Isa., 49:10)."
      "The sun shall not smite thee by day, nor the moon by night (Ps., 121:6)."
      17   For the Lamb which is in the midst of the throne shall feed them, and shall lead them unto living fountains of waters: and God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes.

 

CHAPTER 8.

A ND when he had opened the seventh seal, there was silence in heaven about the space of half an hour.
      2   And I saw the seven angels which stood before God; and to them were given seven trumpets.
      3   And another angel came and stood at the altar, having a golden censer; and there was given unto him much incense, that he should offer it with the prayers of all saints upon the golden altar which was before the throne.
      "For from the rising of the sun even unto the going down of the same my name shall be great among the Gentiles; and in every place incense shall be offered unto my name, and a pure offering: for my name shall be great among the heathen, saith the Lord of hosts (Mal., 1:11)."
      4   And the smoke of the incense, which came with the prayers of the saints, ascended up before God out of the angel's hand.
      5   And the angel took the censer, and filled it with fire of the altar, and cast it into the earth: and there were voices, and thunderings, and lightnings, and an earthquake.
      "He saw in a vision evidently about the ninth hour of the day an angel of God coming in to him, and saying unto him, Cornelius.
      And when he looked on him, he was afraid, and said, What is it, Lord? And he said unto him, Thy prayers and thine alms are come up for a memorial before God (Acts, 10:3, 4)."
      6   And the seven angels which had the seven trumpets prepared themselves to sound.
      7   The first angel sounded, and there followed hail and fire mingled with blood, and they were cast upon the earth: and the third part of trees was burnt up, and all green grass was burnt up.
      8   And the second angel sounded, and as it were a great mountain burning with fire was cast into the sea: and the third part of the sea became blood;
      9   And the third part of the creatures which were in the sea, and had life, died; and the third part of the ships were destroyed.
      10   And the third angel sounded, and there fell a great star from heaven, burning as it were a lamp, and it fell upon the third part of the rivers, and upon the fountains of waters;
      11   And the name of the star is called Wormwood: and the third part of the waters became wormwood; and many men died of the waters, because they were made bitter.
      12   And the fourth angel sounded, and the third part of the sun was smitten, and the third part of the moon, and the third part of the stars; so as the third part of them was darkened, and the day shone not for a third part of it, and the night likewise.
      13   And I beheld, and heard an angel [406] flying through the midst of heaven, saying with a loud voice, Woe, woe, woe, to the inhabiters of the earth by reason of the other voices of the trumpet of the three angels, which are yet to sound!

 

CHAPTER 9.

A ND the fifth angel sounded, and I saw a star fall from heaven unto the earth: and to him was given the key of the bottomless pit.
      "And Jesus asked him, saying, What is thy name? And he said, Legion: because many devils were entered into him.
      And they besought him that he would not command them to go out into the deep (Luke, 8:30, 31)."
      "A day of darkness and of gloominess, a day of clouds and of thick darkness, as the morning spread upon the mountains: a great people and a strong; there hath not been ever the like, neither shall be any more after it, even to the years of many generations.
      The earth shall quake before them; the heavens shall tremble: the sun and the moon shall be dark, and the stars shall withdraw their shining (Joel, 2:2, 10)."
      2   And he opened the bottomless pit; and there arose a smoke out of the pit, as the smoke of a great furnace; and the sun and the air were darkened by reason of the smoke of the pit.
      3   And there came out of the smoke locusts upon the earth: and unto them was given power, as the scorpions of the earth have power.
      4   And it was commanded them that they should not hurt the grass of the earth, neither any green thing, neither any tree; but only those men which have not the seal of God in their foreheads.
      5   And to them it was given that they should not kill them, but that they should be tormented five months: and their torment was as the torment of a scorpion, when he striketh a man.
      6   And in those days shall men seek death, and shall not find it; and shall desire to die, and death shall flee from them.
      7   And the shapes of the locusts were like unto horses prepared unto battle; and on their heads were as it were crowns like gold, and their faces were as the faces of men.
      8   And they had hair as the hair of women, and their teeth were as the teeth of lions.
      9   And they had breastplates, as it were breastplates of iron; and the sound of their wings was as the sound of chariots of many horses running to battle.
      10   And they had tails like unto scorpions, and there were stings in their tails: and their power was to hurt men five months.
      11   And they had a king over them, which is the angel of the bottomless pit, whose name in the Hebrew tongue is Abaddon, but in the Greek tongue hath his name Apollyon.
      12   One woe is past; and, behold, there come two woes more hereafter.
      13   And the sixth angel sounded, and I heard a voice from the four horns of the golden altar which is before God,
      14   Saying to the sixth angel which had the trumpet, Loose the four angels which are bound in the great river Euphrates.
      15   And the four angels were loosed, which were prepared for an hour, and a day, and a month, and a year, for to slay the third part of men.
      16   And the number of the army of the horsemen were two hundred thousand thousand: and I heard the number of them.
      17   And thus I saw the horses in the vision, and them that sat on them, having breastplates of fire, and of jacinth, and brimstone: and the heads of the horses were as the heads of lions; and out of their mouths issued fire and smoke and brimstone.
      18   By these three was the third part of men killed, by the fire, and by the smoke, and by the brimstone, which issued out of their mouths.
      19   For their power is in their mouth, and in their tails: for their tails were like unto serpents, and had heads, and with them they do hurt.
      20   And the rest of the men which were not killed by these plagues yet repented not of the works of their hands, that they should not worship devils, and idols of gold, and silver, and brass, and stone, and of wood: which neither can see, nor hear, nor walk:
      21   Neither repented they of their murders, nor of their sorceries, nor of their fornication, nor of their thefts. [407]

 

CHAPTER 10.

A ND I saw another mighty angel come down from heaven, clothed with a cloud: and a rainbow was upon his head, and his face was as it were the sun, and his feet as pillars of fire:
      2   And he had in his hand a little book open: and he set his right foot upon the sea, and his left foot on the earth,
      "And I saw in the right hand of him that sat on the throne a book written within and on the backside, sealed with seven seals.
      And I saw a strong angel proclaiming with a loud voice, Who is worthy to open the book, and to loose the seals thereof?
      And no man in heaven, nor in earth, neither under the earth, was able to open the book, neither to look thereon.
      And I wept much, because no man was found worthy to open and to read the book, neither to look thereon.
      And one of the elders saith unto me, Weep not: behold, the Lion of the tribe of Juda, the Root of David, hath prevailed to open the book, and to loose the seven seals thereof.
      And I beheld, and, lo, in the midst of the throne and of the four beasts, and in the midst of the elders, stood a Lamb as it had been slain, having seven horns and seven eyes, which are the seven Spirits of God sent forth into all the earth (Rev., 5:1-6)."
      3   And cried with a loud voice, as when a lion roareth: and when he had cried, seven thunders uttered their voices.
      4   And when the seven thunders had uttered their voices, I was about to write: and I heard a voice from heaven saying unto me, Seal up those things which the seven thunders uttered, and write them not.
      5   And the angel which I saw stand upon the sea and upon the earth lifted up his hand to heaven,
      6   And sware by him that liveth for ever and ever, who created heaven, and the things that therein are, and the earth, and the things that therein are, and the sea, and the things which are therein, that there should be time no longer:
      "Thou, even thou, art Lord alone; thou hast made heaven, the heaven of heavens, with all their host, the earth, and all things that are therein, the seas, and all that is therein, and thou preservest them all; and the host of heaven worshippeth thee (Neh., 9:6)."
      7   But in the days of the voice of the seventh angel, when he shall begin to sound, the mystery of God should be finished, as he hath declared to his servants the prophets.
      "And the seventh angel sounded; and there were great voices in heaven, saying, The kingdoms of this world are become the kingdoms of our Lord, and of his Christ; and he shall reign for ever and ever (Rev., 11:15)."
      8   And the voice which I heard from heaven spake unto me again, and said, Go and take the little book which is open in the hand of the angel which standeth upon the sea and upon the earth.
      9   And I went unto the angel, and said unto him, Give me the little book. And he said unto me, Take it, and eat it up; and it shall make thy belly bitter, but it shall be in thy mouth sweet as honey.
      "Thy words were found, and I did eat them; and thy word was unto me the joy and rejoicing of mine heart: for I am called by thy name, O Lord God of hosts (Jer., 15:16)."
      "But thou, son of man, hear what I say unto thee; Be not thou rebellious like that rebellious house: open thy mouth, and eat that I give thee (Ezek., 2:8)."
      "Moreover he said unto me, Son of man, eat that thou findest; eat this roll, and go speak unto the house of Israel.
      So I opened my mouth, and he caused me to eat that roll.
      And he said unto me, Son of man, cause thy belly to eat, and fill thy bowels with this roll that I give thee. Then did I eat it; and it was in my mouth as honey for sweetness (Ezek., 3:1-3)."
      10   And I took the little book out of the angel's hand, and ate it up; and it was in my mouth sweet as honey: and as soon as I had eaten it, my belly was bitter.
      11   And he said unto me, Thou must prophesy again before many peoples, and nations, and tongues, and kings.

 

CHAPTER 11.

A ND there was given me a reed like unto a rod: and the angel stood, saying, Rise, and measure the temple of God, and the altar, and them that worship therein.
      "In the visions of God brought he me into the land of Israel, and set me upon a very high mountain, by which was as the frame of a city on the south.
      And he brought me thither, and, behold, there was a man, whose appearance was like the appearance of brass, with a line of flax in his hand, and a measuring reed; and he stood in the gate (Ezek., 40:2, 3)."
      2   But the court which is without the temple leave out, and measure it not; for it is given unto the Gentiles: and the [408] holy city shall they tread under foot forty and two months.
      "Behold, the days come, saith the Lord, that I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel, and with the house of Judah:
      Not according to the covenant that I made with their fathers in the day that I took them by the hand to bring them out of the land of Egypt; which my covenant they brake, although I was an husband unto them, saith the Lord:
      But this shall be the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel; After those days, saith the Lord, I will put my law in their inward parts, and write it in their hearts; and will be their God, and they shall be my people.
      And they shall teach no more every man his neighbour, and every man his brother, saying, Know the Lord: for they shall all know me, from the least of them unto the greatest of them, saith the Lord: for I will forgive their iniquity, and I will remember their sin no more (Jer., 31:31-34)."
      "But now hath he obtained a more excellent ministry, by how much also he is the mediator of a better covenant, which was established upon better promises (Heb., 8:6)."
      3   And I will give power unto my two witnesses, and they shall prophesy a thousand two hundred and threescore days, clothed in sackcloth.
      4   These are the two olive trees, and the two candlesticks standing before the God of the earth.
      "And two olive trees by it, one upon the right side of the bowl, and the other upon the left side thereof.
      So I answered and spake to the angel that talked with me, saying, What are these, my lord?
      Then the angel that talked with me answered and said unto me, Knowest thou not what these be? And I said, No, my lord.
      Then he answered and spake unto me, saying, This is the word of the Lord unto Zerubbabel, saying, Not by might, nor by power, but by my spirit, saith the Lord of hosts (Zech., 4:3-6)."
      5   And if any man will hurt them, fire proceedeth out of their mouth, and devoureth their enemies: and if any man will hurt them, he must in this manner be killed.
      "For the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any twoedged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart (Heb., 4:12)."
      6   These have power to shut heaven, that it rain not in the days of their prophecy: and have power over waters to turn them to blood, and to smite the earth with all plagues, as often as they will.
      7   And when they shall have finished their testimony, the beast that ascendeth out of the bottomless pit shall make war against them, and shall overcome them, and kill them.
      8   And their dead bodies shall lie in the street of the great city, which spiritually is called Sodom and Egypt, where also our Lord was crucified.
      9   And they of the people and kindreds and tongues and nations shall see their dead bodies three days and an half, and shall not suffer their dead bodies to be put in graves.
      10   And they that dwell upon the earth shall rejoice over them, and make merry, and shall send gifts one to another; because these two prophets tormented them that dwelt on the earth.
      11   And after three days and an half the Spirit of life from God entered into them, and they stood upon their feet; and great fear fell upon them which saw them.
      12   And they heard a great voice from heaven saying unto them, Come up hither. And they ascended up to heaven in a cloud; and their enemies beheld them.
      13   And the same hour was there a great earthquake, and the tenth part of the city fell, and in the earthquake were slain of men seven thousand: and the remnant were affrighted, and gave glory to the God of heaven.
      14   The second woe is past; and, behold, the third woe cometh quickly.
      15   And the seventh angel sounded; and there were great voices in heaven, saying, The kingdoms of this world are become the kingdoms of our Lord, and of his Christ; and he shall reign for ever and ever.
      "And in the days of these kings shall the God of heaven set up a kingdom, which shall never be destroyed: and the kingdom shall not be left to other people, but it shall break in pieces and consume all these kingdoms, and it shall stand for ever (Dan., 2:44)."
      "He shall be great, and shall be called the Son of the Highest: and the Lord God shall give unto him the throne of his father David:
      And he shall reign over the house of Jacob for ever; and of his kingdom there shall be no end (Luke, 1:32, 33)."
      "Wherefore God also hath highly exalted him, and given him a name which is above every name: [409]
      That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth;
      And that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father (Phil., 2:9-11)."
      "And when those beasts give glory and honour and thanks to him that sat on the throne, who liveth for ever and ever,
      The four and twenty elders fall down before him that sat on the throne, and worship him that liveth for ever and ever, and cast their crowns before the throne, saying,
      Thou art worthy, O Lord, to receive glory and honour and power: for thou hast created all things, and for thy pleasure they are and were created (Rev., 4:9-11)."
      16   And the four and twenty elders, which sat before God on their seats, fell upon their faces, and worshipped God,
      17   Saying, We give thee thanks, O Lord God Almighty, which art, and wast, and art to come; because thou hast taken to thee thy great power, and hast reigned.
      18   And the nations were angry, and thy wrath is come, and the time of the dead, that they should be judged, and that thou shouldest give reward unto thy servants the prophets, and to the saints, and them that fear thy name, small and great; and shouldest destroy them which destroy the earth.
      19   And the temple of God was opened in heaven, and there was seen in his temple the ark of his testament: and there were lightnings, and voices, and thunderings, and an earthquake, and great hail.

 

CHAPTER 12.

A ND 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:
      2   And she being with child cried, travailing in birth, and pained to be delivered.
      "Hear the word of the Lord, ye that tremble at his word; Your brethren that hated you, that cast you out for my name's sake, said, Let the Lord be glorified: but he shall appear to your joy, and they shall be ashamed.
      A voice of noise from the city, a voice from the temple, a voice of the Lord that rendereth recompence to his enemies.
      Before she travailed, she brought forth; before her pain came, she was delivered of a man child.
      Who hath heard such a thing? who hath seen such things? Shall the earth be made to bring forth in one day? or shall a nation be born at once? for as soon as Zion travailed, she brought forth her children.
      Shall I bring to the birth, and not cause to bring forth? saith the Lord: shall I cause to bring forth, and shut the womb? saith thy God (Isa., 66:5-9)."
      "Sing, O barren, thou that didst not bear; break forth into singing, and cry aloud, thou that didst not travail with child: for more are the children of the desolate than the children of the married wife, saith the Lord (Isa., 54:1)."
      "My little children, of whom I travail in birth again until Christ be formed in you (Gal., 4:19)."
      3   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.
      "So he carried me away in the spirit into the wilderness: and I saw a woman sit upon a scarlet coloured beast, full of names of blasphemy, having seven heads and ten horns.
      And the woman was arrayed in purple and scarlet colour, and decked with gold and precious stones and pearls, having a golden cup in her hand full of abominations and filthiness of her fornication:
      And upon her forehead was a name written, MYSTERY, BABYLON THE GREAT, THE MOTHER OF HARLOTS AND ABOMINATIONS OF THE EARTH.
      And I saw the woman drunken with the blood of the saints, and with the blood of the martyrs of Jesus: and when I saw her, I wondered with great admiration (Rev., 17:3-6)."
      4   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.
      5   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.
      6   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.
      7   And there was war in heaven: Michael and his angels fought against the dragon; and the dragon fought and his angels,
      8   And prevailed not; neither was their place found any more in heaven.
      9   And the great dragon was cast out, that old serpent, called the Devil, and [410] Satan, which deceiveth the whole world: he was cast out into the earth, and his angels were cast out with him.
      "And the God of peace shall bruise Satan under your feet shortly. The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you. Amen (Rom., 16:20)."
      "He that committeth sin is of the devil; for the devil sinneth from the beginning. For this purpose the Son of God was manifested, that he might destroy the works of the devil (I. Jno., 3:8)."
      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.
      "Forasmuch as ye know that ye were not redeemed with corruptible things, as silver and gold, from your vain conversation received by tradition from your fathers;
      But with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot (I. Pet., 1:18, 19)."
      "But what things were gain to me, those I counted loss for Christ.
      Yea doubtless, and I count all things but loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord: for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and do count them but dung, that I may win Christ (Phil., 3:7, 8)."
      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.
      "But the court which is without the temple leave out, and measure it not; for it is given unto the Gentiles: and the holy city shall they tread under foot forty and two months.
      And I will give power unto my two witnesses, and they shall prophesy a thousand two hundred and threescore days, clothed in sackcloth (Rev., 11:2, 3)."
      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.

 

CHAPTER 13.

A ND 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.
      "After this I saw in the night visions, and behold a fourth beast, dreadful and terrible, and strong exceedingly; and it had great iron teeth: it devoured and brake in pieces, and stamped the residue with the feet of it: and it was diverse from all the beasts that were before it; and it had ten horns (Dan., 7:7)."
      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 seat, and great authority.
      3   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.
      4   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?
      5   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.
      "But the court which is without the temple leave out, and measure it not; for it is given unto the Gentiles: and the holy city shall they tread under foot forty and two months.
      And I will give power unto my two witnesses, and they shall prophesy a thousand two hundred and threescore days, clothed in sackcloth (Rev., 11:2, 3)."
      6   And he opened his mouth in [411] blasphemy against God, to blaspheme his name, and his tabernacle, and them that dwell in heaven.
      "Let no man deceive you by any means: for that day shall not come, except there come a falling away first, and that man of sin be revealed, the son of perdition;
      Who opposeth and exalteth himself above all that is called God, or that is worshipped; so that he as God sitteth in the temple of God, shewing himself that he is God (II. Thess., 2:3, 4)."
      "Little children, it is the last time: and as ye have heard that antichrist shall come, even now are there many antichrists; whereby we know that it is the last time.
      They went out from us, but they were not of us; for if they had been of us, they would no doubt have continued with us: but they went out, that they might be made manifest that they were not all of us (I. Jno., 2:18, 19)."
      7   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.
      "Now the Spirit speaketh expressly, that in the latter times some shall depart from the faith, giving heed to seducing spirits, and doctrines of devils;
      Speaking lies in hypocrisy; having their conscience seared with a hot iron;
      Forbidding to marry, and commanding to abstain from meats, which God hath created to be received with thanksgiving of them which believe and know the truth (I. Tim., 4:1-3)."
      8   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.
      9   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.
      "Woe to thee that spoilest, and thou wast not spoiled; and dealest treacherously, and they dealt not treacherously with thee! when thou shalt cease to spoil, thou shalt be spoiled; and when thou shalt make an end to deal treacherously, they shall deal treacherously with thee (Isa., 33:1)."
      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.
      "And here is the mind which hath wisdom. The seven heads are seven mountains, on which the woman sitteth.
      And there are seven kings: five are fallen, and one is, and the other is not yet come; and when he cometh, he must continue a short space (Rev., 17:9, 10)."

 

CHAPTER 14.

A ND 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.
      "After those days, saith the Lord, I will put my law in their inward parts, and write it in their hearts; and will be their God, and they shall be my people (Jer., 31:33)."
      "And the Lord said unto him, Go through the midst of the city, through the midst of Jerusalem, and set a mark upon the foreheads of the men that sigh and that cry for all the abominations that be done in the midst thereof (Ezek., 9:4)."
      "And I saw another angel ascending from the east, having the seal of the living God: and he cried with a loud voice to the four angels, to whom it was given to hurt the earth and the sea,
      Saying, Hurt not the earth, neither the sea, nor the trees, till we have sealed the servants of our God in their foreheads (Heb., 7:2, 3)." [412]
      2   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:
      3   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.
      4   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.
      "For I am jealous over you with godly jealousy: for I have espoused you to one husband, that I may present you as a chaste virgin to Christ (II. Cor., 11:2)."
      5   And in their mouth was found no guile: for they are without fault before the throne of God.
      "Blessed is the man unto whom the Lord imputeth not iniquity, and in whose spirit there is no guile (Ps., 32:2)."
      "The remnant of Israel shall not do iniquity, nor speak lies; neither shall a deceitful tongue be found in their mouth: for they shall feed and lie down, and none shall make them afraid (Zeph., 3:13)."
      6   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,
      "Yet have I set my king upon my holy hill of Zion.
      I will declare the decree: the Lord hath said unto me, Thou art my Son; this day have I begotten thee.
      Ask of me, and I shall give thee the heathen for thine inheritance, and the uttermost parts of the earth for thy possession (Ps., 2:6-8)."
      "And this gospel of the kingdom shall be preached in all the world for a witness unto all nations; and then shall the end come (Matt., 24:14)."
      7   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.
      8   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.
      "Be ye not unequally yoked together with unbelievers: for what fellowship hath righteousness with unrighteousness? and what communion hath light with darkness?
      And what concord hath Christ with Belial? or what part hath he that believeth with an infidel?
      And what agreement hath the temple of God with idols? for ye are the temple of the living God; as God hath said, I will dwell in them, and walk in them; and I will be their God, and they shall be my people.
      Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing; and I will receive you,
      "And will be a Father unto you, and ye shall be my sons and daughters, saith the Lord Almighty (II. Cor., 6:14-18)."
      9   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:
      "For in the hand of the Lord there is a cup, and the wine is red; it is full of mixture; and he poureth out of the same: but the dregs thereof, all the wicked of the earth shall wring them out, and drink them (Ps., 75:8)."
      "Awake, awake, stand up, O Jerusalem, which hast drunk at the hand of the Lord the cup of his fury; thou hast drunken the dregs of the cup of trembling, and wrung them out (Isa., 51:17)."
      "For thus saith the Lord God of Israel unto me; Take the wine cup of this fury at my hand, and cause all the nations, to whom I send thee, to drink it (Jer., 25:15)."
      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.
      "And if thy right eye offend thee, pluck it out, and cast it from thee: for it is profitable for thee that one of thy members should perish, and not that thy whole body should be cast into hell.
      And if thy right hand offend thee, cut it off, and cast it from thee: for it is profitable for thee that one of thy members should perish, and not that thy whole body should be cast into hell (Matt., 5:29, 30)."
      12   Here is the patience of the saints: here are they that keep the commandments of God, and the faith of Jesus. [413]
      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.
      "And if Christ be not raised, your faith is vain; ye are yet in your sins.
      Then they also which are fallen asleep in Christ are perished.
      If in this life only we have hope in Christ, we are of all men most miserable.
      But now is Christ risen from the dead, and become the firstfruits of them that slept (I. Cor., 15:17-20)."
      "For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first (I. Thess., 4:16)."
      "There remaineth therefore a rest to the people of God.
      For he that is entered into his rest, he also hath ceased from his own works, as God did from his (Heb., 4:9, 10)."
      "Some men's sins are open beforehand, going before to judgment; and some men they follow after.
      Likewise also the good works of some are manifest beforehand; and they that are otherwise cannot be hid (I. Tim., 5:24, 25)."
      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.
      "But when he saw the multitudes, he was moved with compassion on them, because they fainted, and were scattered abroad, as sheep having no shepherd.
      Then saith he unto his disciples, The harvest truly is plenteous, but the labourers are few;
      Pray ye therefore the Lord of the harvest, that he will send forth labourers into his harvest (Matt., 9:36-38)."
      "Say not ye, There are yet four months, and then cometh harvest? behold, I say unto you, Lift up your eyes, and look on the fields; for they are white already to harvest.
      And he that reapeth receiveth wages, and gathereth fruit unto life eternal: that both he that soweth and he that reapeth may rejoice together.
      And herein is that saying true, One soweth, and another reapeth.
      I sent you to reap that whereon ye bestowed no labour: other men laboured, and ye are entered into their labours (Jno., 4:35-38)."
      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.
      "For Moses truly said unto the fathers, A prophet shall the Lord your God raise up unto you of your brethren, like unto me; him shall ye hear in all things whatsoever he shall say unto you.
      And it shall come to pass, that every soul, which will not hear that prophet, shall be destroyed from among the people (Acts, 3:22, 23)."
      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.

 

CHAPTER 15.

A ND I saw another sign in heaven, great and marvellous, seven angels having the seven last plagues; for in them is filled up the wrath of God.
      "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 (Rev., 14:10)."
      2   And I saw as it were a sea of glass mingled with fire: and them that had gotten the victory over the beast, and over his image, and over his mark, and over the number of his name, stand on the sea of glass, having the harps of God.
      3   And they sing the song of Moses the servant of God, and the song of the Lamb, saying, Great and marvellous are thy works, Lord God Almighty; just and true are thy ways, thou King of saints.
      "And when he had taken the book, the four beasts and four and twenty elders fell down [414] before the Lamb, having every one of them harps, and golden vials full of odours, which are the prayers of saints.
      And they sung a new song, saying, Thou art worthy to take the book, and to open the seals thereof: for thou wast slain, and hast redeemed us to God by thy blood out of every kindred, and tongue, and people, and nation;
      And hast made us unto our God kings and priests: and we shall reign on the earth.
      And I beheld, and I heard the voice of many angels round about the throne and the beasts and the elders: and the number of them was ten thousand times ten thousand, and thousands of thousands;
      Saying with a loud voice, Worthy is the Lamb that was slain to receive power, and riches, and wisdom, and strength, and honour, and glory, and blessing.
      And every creature which is in heaven, and on the earth, and under the earth, and such as are in the sea, and all that are in them, heard I saying, Blessing, and honour, and glory, and power, be unto him that sitteth upon the throne, and unto the Lamb for ever and ever.
      And the four beasts said, Amen. And the four and twenty elders fell down and worshipped him that liveth for ever and ever (Rev., 5:8-14)."
      4   Who shall not fear thee, O Lord, and glorify thy name? for thou only art holy: for all nations shall come and worship before thee; for thy judgments are made manifest.
      "But in the last days it shall come to pass, that the mountain of the house of the Lord shall be established in the top of the mountains, and it shall be exalted above the hills; and people shall flow unto it.
      And many nations shall come, and say, Come, and let us go up to the mountain of the Lord, and to the house of the God of Jacob; and he will teach us of his ways, and we will walk in his paths: for the law shall go forth of Zion, and the word of the Lord from Jerusalem (Mic., 4:1, 2)."
      5   And after that I looked, and, behold, the temple of the tabernacle of the testimony in heaven was opened:
      "And the temple of God was opened in heaven, and there was seen in his temple the ark of his testament: and there were lightnings, and voices, and thunderings, and an earthquake, and great hail (Rev., 11:19)."
      6   And the seven angels came out of the temple, having the seven plagues, clothed in pure and white linen, and having their breasts girded with golden girdles.
      7   And one of the four beasts gave unto the seven angels seven golden vials full of the wrath of God, who liveth for ever and ever.
      8   And the temple was filled with smoke from the glory of God, and from his power; and no man was able to enter into the temple, till the seven plagues of the seven angels were fulfilled.

 

CHAPTER 16.

A ND I heard a great voice out of the temple saying to the seven angels, Go your ways, and pour out the vials of the wrath of God upon the earth.
      2   And the first went, and poured out his vial upon the earth; and there fell a noisome and grievous sore upon the men which had the mark of the beast, and upon them which worshipped his image.
      3   And the second angel poured out his vial upon the sea; and it became as the blood of a dead man: and every living soul died in the sea.
      4   And the third angel poured out his vial upon the rivers and fountains of waters; and they became blood.
      5   And I heard the angel of the waters say, Thou art righteous, O Lord, which art, and wast, and shalt be, because thou hast judged thus.
      6   For they have shed the blood of saints and prophets, and thou hast given them blood to drink; for they are worthy.
      "Wherefore, behold, I send unto you prophets, and wise men, and scribes: and some of them ye shall kill and crucify; and some of them shall ye scourge in your synagogues, and persecute them from city to city:
      That upon you may come all the righteous blood shed upon the earth, from the blood of righteous Abel unto the blood of Zacharias son of Barachias, whom ye slew between the temple and the altar (Matt., 23:34, 35)."
      7   And I heard another out of the altar say, Even so, Lord God Almighty, true and righteous are thy judgments.
      "Therefore thou art inexcusable, O man, whosoever thou art that judgest: for wherein thou judgest another, thou condemnest thyself; for thou that judgest doest the same things.
      But we are sure that the judgment of God is according to truth against them which commit such things (Rom., 2:1, 2)."
      8   And the fourth angel poured out his vial upon the sun; and power was given unto him to scorch men with fire.
      9   And men were scorched with great heat, and blasphemed the name of God, [415] which hath power over these plagues: and they repented not to give him glory.
      10   And the fifth angel poured out his vial upon the seat of the beast; and his kingdom was full of darkness; and they gnawed their tongues for pain,
      11   And blasphemed the God of heaven because of their pains and their sores, and repented not of their deeds.
      "Let no man deceive you by any means: for that day shall not come, except there come a falling away first, and that man of sin be revealed, the son of perdition;
      Who opposeth and exalteth himself above all that is called God, or that is worshipped; so that he as God sitteth in the temple of God, shewing himself that he is God (II. Thess., 2:3, 4)."
      12   And the sixth angel poured out his vial upon the great river Euphrates; and the water thereof was dried up, that the way of the kings of the east might be prepared.
      13   And I saw three unclean spirits like frogs come out of the mouth of the dragon, and out of the mouth of the beast, and out of the mouth of the false prophet.
      14   For they are the spirits of devils, working miracles, which go forth unto the kings of the earth and of the whole world, to gather them to the battle of that great day of God Almighty.
      15   Behold, I come as a thief. Blessed is he that watcheth, and keepeth his garments, lest he walk naked, and they see his shame.
      "Therefore be ye also ready: for in such an hour as ye think not the Son of man cometh.
      Who then is a faithful and wise servant, whom his lord hath made ruler over his household, to give them meat in due season?
      Blessed is that servant, whom his lord when he cometh shall find so doing (Matt., 24:44-46)."
      16   And he gathered them together into a place called in the Hebrew tongue Armageddon.
      17   And the seventh angel poured out his vial into the air; and there came a great voice out of the temple of heaven, from the throne, saying, It is done.
      "And the seventh angel sounded; and there were great voices in heaven, saying, The kingdoms of this world are become the kingdoms of our Lord, and of his Christ; and he shall reign for ever and ever.
      And the four and twenty elders, which sat before God on their seats, fell upon their faces, and worshipped God,
      Saying, We give thee thanks, O Lord God Almighty, which art, and wast, and art to come; because thou hast taken to thee thy great power, and hast reigned (Rev., 11:15-17)."
      18   And there were voices, and thunders, and lightnings; and there was a great earthquake, such as was not since men were upon the earth, so mighty an earthquake, and so great.
      19   And the great city was divided into three parts, and the cities of the nations fell: and great Babylon came in remembrance before God, to give unto her the cup of the wine of the fierceness of his wrath.
      20   And every island fled away, and the mountains were not found.
      21   And there fell upon men a great hail out of heaven, every stone about the weight of a talent: and men blasphemed God because of the plague of the hail; for the plague thereof was exceeding great.

 

CHAPTER 17.

A ND there came one of the seven angels which had the seven vials, and talked with me, saying unto me, Come hither; I will shew unto thee the judgment of the great whore that sitteth upon many waters:
      "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 (Rev., 13:1-7)." [416]
      2   With whom the kings of the earth have committed fornication, and the inhabitants of the earth have been made drunk with the wine of her fornication.
      3   So he carried me away in the spirit into the wilderness: and I saw a woman sit upon a scarlet coloured beast, full of names of blasphemy, having seven heads and ten horns.
      4   And the woman was arrayed in purple and scarlet colour, and decked with gold and precious stones and pearls, having a golden cup in her hand full of abominations and filthiness of her fornication:
      5   And upon her forehead was a name written, MYSTERY, BABYLON THE GREAT, THE MOTHER OF HARLOTS AND ABOMINATIONS OF THE EARTH.
      6   And I saw the woman drunken with the blood of the saints, and with the blood of the martyrs of Jesus: and when I saw her, I wondered with great admiration.
      7   And the angel said unto me, Wherefore didst thou marvel? I will tell thee the mystery of the woman, and of the beast that carrieth her, which hath the seven heads and ten horns.
      8   The beast that thou sawest was, and is not; and shall ascend out of the bottomless pit, and go into perdition: and they that dwell on the earth shall wonder, whose names were not written in the book of life from the foundation of the world, when they behold the beast that was, and is not, and yet is.
      "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 (Rev., 13:8)."
      9   And here is the mind which hath wisdom. The seven heads are seven mountains, on which the woman sitteth.
      10   And there are seven kings: five are fallen, and one is, and the other is not yet come; and when he cometh, he must continue a short space.
      11   And the beast that was, and is not, even he is the eighth, and is of the seven, and goeth into perdition.
      12   And the ten horns which thou sawest are ten kings, which have received no kingdom as yet; but receive power as kings one hour with the beast.
      13   These have one mind, and shall give their power and strength unto the beast.
      14   These shall make war with the Lamb, and the Lamb shall overcome them: for he is Lord of lords, and King of kings: and they that are with him are called, and chosen, and faithful.
      "For he must reign, till he hath put all enemies under his feet (I. Cor., 15:25)."
      15   And he saith unto me, The waters which thou sawest, where the whore sitteth, are peoples, and multitudes, and nations, and tongues.
      16   And the ten horns which thou sawest upon the beast, these shall hate the whore, and shall make her desolate and naked, and shall eat her flesh, and burn her with fire.
      17   For God hath put in their hearts to fulfil his will, and to agree, and give their kingdom unto the beast, until the words of God shall be fulfilled.
      18   And the woman which thou sawest is that great city, which reigneth over the kings of the earth.

 

CHAPTER 18.

A ND after these things I saw another angel come down from heaven, having great power; and the earth was lightened with his glory.
      2   And he cried mightily with a strong voice, saying, Babylon the great is fallen, is fallen, and is become the habitation of devils, and the hold of every foul spirit, and a cage of every unclean and hateful bird.
      3   For all nations have drunk of the wine of the wrath of her fornication, and the kings of the earth have committed fornication with her, and the merchants of the earth are waxed rich through the abundance of her delicacies.
      4   And I heard another voice from heaven, saying, Come out of her, my people, that ye be not partakers of her sins, and that ye receive not of her plagues.
      "Be ye not unequally yoked together with unbelievers: for what fellowship hath righteousness with unrighteousness? and what communion hath light with darkness?
      And what concord hath Christ with Belial? or what part hath he that believeth with an infidel?
      And what agreement hath the temple of [417] God with idols? for ye are the temple of the living God; as God hath said, I will dwell in them, and walk in them; and I will be their God, and they shall be my people.
      Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing; and I will receive you,
      And will be a Father unto you, and ye shall be my sons and daughters, saith the Lord Almighty (II. Cor., 6:14-18)."
      5   For her sins have reached unto heaven, and God hath remembered her iniquities.
      6   Reward her even as she rewarded you, and double unto her double according to her works: in the cup which she hath filled fill to her double.
      7   How much she hath glorified herself, and lived deliciously, so much torment and sorrow give her: for she saith in her heart, I sit a queen, and am no widow, and shall see no sorrow.
      8   Therefore shall her plagues come in one day, death, and mourning, and famine; and she shall be utterly burned with fire: for strong is the Lord God who judgeth her.
      9   And the kings of the earth, who have committed fornication and lived deliciously with her, shall bewail her, and lament for her, when they shall see the smoke of her burning,
      10   Standing afar off for the fear of her torment, saying, Alas, alas, that great city Babylon, that mighty city! for in one hour is thy judgment come.
      11   And the merchants of the earth shall weep and mourn over her; for no man buyeth their merchandise any more:
      12   The merchandise of gold, and silver, and precious stones, and of pearls, and fine linen, and purple, and silk, and scarlet, and all thyine wood, and all manner vessels of ivory, and all manner vessels of most precious wood, and of brass, and iron, and marble,
      13   And cinnamon, and odours, and ointments, and frankincense, and wine, and oil, and fine flour, and wheat, and beasts, and sheep, and horses, and chariots, and slaves, and souls of men.
      "Now the Spirit speaketh expressly, that in the latter times some shall depart from the faith, giving heed to seducing spirits, and doctrines of devils;
      Speaking lies in hypocrisy; having their conscience seared with a hot iron;
      Forbidding to marry, and commanding to abstain from meats, which God hath created to be received with thanksgiving of them which believe and know the truth (I. Tim., 4:1-3)."
      "This know also, that in the last days perilous times shall come.
      For men shall be lovers of their own selves, covetous, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy,
      Without natural affection, trucebreakers, false accusers, incontinent, fierce, despisers of those that are good,
      Traitors, heady, highminded, lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God;
      Having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof: from such turn away.
      For of this sort are they which creep into houses, and lead captive silly women laden with sins, led away with divers lusts,
      Ever learning, and never able to come to the knowledge of the truth (II. Tim., 3:1-7)."
      "But there were false prophets also among the people, even as there shall be false teachers among you, who privily shall bring in damnable heresies, even denying the Lord that bought them, and bring upon themselves swift destruction.
      And many shall follow their pernicious ways; by reason of whom the way of truth shall be evil spoken of.
      And through covetousness shall they with feigned words make merchandise of you: whose judgment now of a long time lingereth not, and their damnation slumbereth not (II. Pet., 2:1-3)."
      14   And the fruits that thy soul lusted after are departed from thee, and all things which were dainty and goodly are departed from thee, and thou shalt find them no more at all.
      15   The merchants of these things, which were made rich by her, shall stand afar off for the fear of her torment, weeping and wailing,
      16   And saying, Alas, alas, that great city, that was clothed in fine linen, and purple, and scarlet, and decked with gold, and precious stones, and pearls!
      17   For in one hour so great riches is come to nought. And every shipmaster, and all the company in ships, and sailors, and as many as trade by sea, stood afar off,
      18   And cried when they saw the smoke of her burning, saying, What city is like unto this great city!
      19   And they cast dust on their heads, and cried, weeping and wailing, saying, Alas, alas, that great city, wherein were made rich all that had ships in the sea by reason of her costliness! for in one hour is she made desolate.
      20   Rejoice over her, thou heaven, and [418] ye holy apostles and prophets; for God hath avenged you on her.
      21   And a mighty angel took up a stone like a great millstone, and cast it into the sea, saying, Thus with violence shall that great city Babylon be thrown down, and shall be found no more at all.
      22   And the voice of harpers, and musicians, and of pipers, and trumpeters, shall be heard no more at all in thee; and no craftsman, of whatsoever craft he be, shall be found any more in thee; and the sound of a millstone shall be heard no more at all in thee;
      23   And the light of a candle shall shine no more at all in thee; and the voice of the bridegroom and of the bride shall be heard no more at all in thee: for thy merchants were the great men of the earth; for by thy sorceries were all nations deceived.
      24   And in her was found the blood of prophets, and of saints, and of all that were slain upon the earth.

 

CHAPTER 19.

A ND after these things I heard a great voice of much people in heaven, saying, Alleluia; Salvation, and glory, and honour, and power, unto the Lord our God:
      2   For true and righteous are his judgments: for he hath judged the great whore, which did corrupt the earth with her fornication, and hath avenged the blood of his servants at her hand.
      3   And again they said, Alleluia. And her smoke rose up for ever and ever.
      4   And the four and twenty elders and the four beasts fell down and worshipped God that sat on the throne, saying, Amen; Alleluia.
      "And when he had taken the book, the four beasts and four and twenty elders fell down before the Lamb, having every one of them harps, and golden vials full of odours, which are the prayers of saints (Rev., 5:8)."
      5   And a voice came out of the throne, saying, Praise our God, all ye his servants, and ye that fear him, both small and great.
      6   And I heard as it were the voice of a great multitude, and as the voice of many waters, and as the voice of mighty thunderings, saying, Alleluia: for the Lord God omnipotent reigneth.
      "And the Lord shall be king over all the earth: in that day shall there be one Lord, and his name one (Zech., 14:9)."
      7   Let us be glad and rejoice, and give honour to him: for the marriage of the Lamb is come, and his wife hath made herself ready.
      "And Jesus answered and spake unto them again by parables, and said,
      The kingdom of heaven is like unto a certain king, which made a marriage for his son,
      And sent forth his servants to call them that were bidden to the wedding: and they would not come (Matt., 22:1-3)."
      "For I am jealous over you with godly jealousy: for I have espoused you to one husband, that I may present you as a chaste virgin to Christ (II. Cor., 11:2)."
      8   And to her was granted that she should be arrayed in fine linen, clean and white: for the fine linen is the righteousness of saints.
      "Let thy priests be clothed with righteousness; and let thy saints shout for joy (Ps., 132:9)."
      "Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ also loved the church, and gave himself for it;
      That he might sanctify and cleanse it with the washing of water by the word,
      That he might present it to himself a glorious church, not having spot, or wrinkle, or any such thing; but that it should be holy and without blemish (Eph., 5:25-27)."
      9   And he saith unto me, Write, Blessed are they which are called unto the marriage supper of the Lamb. And he saith unto me, These are the true sayings of God.
      10   And I fell at his feet to worship him. And he said unto me, See thou do it not: I am thy fellowservant, and of thy brethren that have the testimony of Jesus: worship God: for the testimony of Jesus is the spirit of prophecy.
      11   And I saw heaven opened, and behold a white horse; and he that sat upon him was called Faithful and True, and in righteousness he doth judge and make war.
      "And shall make him of quick understanding in the fear of the Lord: and he shall not judge after the sight of his eyes, neither reprove after the hearing of his ears:
      But with righteousness shall he judge the poor, and reprove with equity for the meek of the earth: and he shall smite the earth with the rod of his mouth, and with the breath of his lips shall he slay the wicked.
      And righteousness shall be the girdle of his loins, and faithfulness the girdle of his reins (Isa., 11:3-5)." [419]
      12   His eyes were as a flame of fire, and on his head were many crowns; and he had a name written, that no man knew, but he himself.
      13   And he was clothed with a vesture dipped in blood: and his name is called The Word of God.
      "In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.
      And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth (Jno., 1:1, 14)."
      14   And the armies which were in heaven followed him upon white horses, clothed in fine linen, white and clean.
      15   And out of his mouth goeth a sharp sword, that with it he should smite the nations: and he shall rule them with a rod of iron: and he treadeth the winepress of the fierceness and wrath of Almighty God.
      16   And he hath on his vesture and on his thigh a name written, KING OF KINGS, AND LORD OF LORDS.
      "Therefore let all the house of Israel know assuredly, that God hath made that same Jesus, whom ye have crucified, both Lord and Christ (Acts, 2:36)."
      17   And I saw an angel standing in the sun; and he cried with a loud voice, saying to all the fowls that fly in the midst of heaven, Come and gather yourselves together unto the supper of the great God;
      18   That ye may eat the flesh of kings, and the flesh of captains, and the flesh of mighty men, and the flesh of horses, and of them that sit on them, and the flesh of all men, both free and bond, both small and great.
      19   And I saw the beast, and the kings of the earth, and their armies, gathered together to make war against him that sat on the horse, and against his army.
      20   And the beast was taken, and with him the false prophet that wrought miracles before him, with which he deceived them that had received the mark of the beast, and them that worshipped his image. These both were cast alive into a lake of fire burning with brimstone.
      21   And the remnant were slain with the sword of him that sat upon the horse, which sword proceeded out of his mouth: and all the fowls were filled with their flesh.

 

CHAPTER 20.

A ND I saw an angel come down from heaven, having the key of the bottomless pit and a great chain in his hand.
      "I am he that liveth, and was dead; and, behold, I am alive for evermore, Amen; and have the keys of hell and of death (Rev., 1:18)."
      "And the fifth angel sounded, and I saw a star fall from heaven unto the earth: and to him was given the key of the bottomless pit (Rev., 9:1)."
      2   And he laid hold on the dragon, that old serpent, which is the Devil, and Satan, and bound him a thousand years,
      "For if God spared not the angels that sinned, but cast them down to hell, and delivered them into chains of darkness, to be reserved unto judgment (II. Pet., 2:4)."
      "Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour (I. Pet., 5:8)."
      3   And cast him into the bottomless pit, and shut him up, and set a seal upon him, that he should deceive the nations no more, till the thousand years should be fulfilled: and after that he must be loosed a little season.
      4   And I saw thrones, and they sat upon them, and judgment was given unto them: and I saw the souls of them that were beheaded for the witness of Jesus, and for the word of God, and which had not worshipped the beast, neither his image, neither had received his mark upon their foreheads, or in their hands; and they lived and reigned with Christ a thousand years.
      5   But the rest of the dead lived not again until the thousand years were finished. This is the first resurrection.
      6   Blessed and holy is he that hath part in the first resurrection: on such the second death hath no power, but they shall be priests of God and of Christ, and shall reign with him a thousand years.
      "That I may know him, and the power of his resurrection, and the fellowship of his sufferings, being made conformable unto his death;
      If by any means I might attain unto the resurrection of the dead (Phil., 3:10, 11)."
      7   And when the thousand years are expired, Satan shall be loosed out of his prison,
      8   And shall go out to deceive the nations which are in the four quarters of [420] the earth, Gog and Magog, to gather them together to battle: the number of whom is as the sand of the sea.
      9   And they went up on the breadth of the earth, and compassed the camp of the saints about, and the beloved city: and fire came down from God out of heaven, and devoured them.
      10   And the devil that deceived them was cast into the lake of fire and brimstone, where the beast and the false prophet are, and shall be tormented day and night for ever and ever.
      "And these shall go away into everlasting punishment: but the righteous into life eternal (Matt., 25:40)."
      11   And I saw a great white throne, and him that sat on it, from whose face the earth and the heaven fled away; and there was found no place for them.
      "For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first (I. Thess., 4:16)."
      "But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night; in the which the heavens shall pass away with a great noise, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat, the earth also and the works that are therein shall be burned up (II. Pet., 3:10)."
      12   And I saw the dead, small and great, stand before God; and the books were opened: and another book was opened, which is the book of life: and the dead were judged out of those things which were written in the books, according to their works.
      13   And the sea gave up the dead which were in it; and death and hell delivered up the dead which were in them: and they were judged every man according to their works.
      "And many of them that sleep in the dust of the earth shall awake, some to everlasting life, and some to shame and everlasting contempt.
      And they that be wise shall shine as the brightness of the firmament; and they that turn many to righteousness as the stars for ever and ever (Dan., 12:2, 3)."
      "Marvel not at this: for the hour is coming, in the which all that are in the graves shall hear his voice,
      And shall come forth; they that have done good, unto the resurrection of life; and they that have done evil, unto the resurrection of damnation (Jno., 5:28, 29)."
      "Like sheep they are laid in the grave; death shall feed on them; and the upright shall have dominion over them in the morning; and their beauty shall consume in the grave from their dwelling.
      But God will redeem my soul from the power of the grave: for he shall receive me. Selah (Ps., 49:14, 15)."
      "Behold, I shew you a mystery; We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed,
      In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump: for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed (I. Cor., 15:51, 52)."
      14   And death and hell were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death.
      15   And whosoever was not found written in the book of life was cast into the lake of fire.
      "Let them be blotted out of the book of the living, and not be written with the righteous (Ps., 69:28)."
      "A fiery stream issued and came forth from before him: thousand thousands ministered unto him, and ten thousand times ten thousand stood before him: the judgment was set, and the books were opened (Dan., 7:10)."
      "When the Son of man shall come in his glory, and all the holy angels with him, then shall he sit upon the throne of his glory:
      And before him shall be gathered all nations: and he shall separate them one from another, as a shepherd divideth his sheep from the goats:
      And he shall set the sheep on his right hand, but the goats on the left (Matt., 25:31-33)."
      "He that rejecteth me, and receiveth not my words, hath one that judgeth him: the word that I have spoken, the same shall judge him in the last day (Jno., 12:48)."
      "And the times of this ignorance God winked at; but now commandeth all men every where to repent:
      Because he hath appointed a day, in the which he will judge the world in righteousness by that man whom he hath ordained; whereof he hath given assurance unto all men, in that he hath raised him from the dead (Acts, 17:30, 31)."
      "For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ; that every one may receive the things done in his body, according to that he hath done, whether it be good or bad (II. Cor., 5:10)."
      "And the beast was taken, and with him the false prophet that wrought miracles before him, with which he deceived them that had received the mark of the beast, and them that worshipped his image. These both were cast alive into a lake of fire burning with brimstone (Rev., 19:20)."

 

CHAPTER 21.

A ND I saw a new heaven and a new earth: for the first heaven and the first earth were passed away; and there was no more sea.
      "And I saw a great white throne, and him [421] that sat on it, from whose face the earth and the heaven fled away; and there was found no place for them (Rev., 20:11)."
      "For, behold, I create new heavens and a new earth: and the former shall not be remembered, nor come into mind (Isa., 65:17)."
      "For as the new heavens and the new earth, which I will make, shall remain before me, saith the Lord, so shall your seed and your name remain (Isa., 66:22)."
      "Nevertheless we, according to his promise, look for new heavens and a new earth, wherein dwelleth righteousness (II. Pet., 3:13)."
      2   And I John saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down from God out of heaven, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband.
      3   And I heard a great voice out of heaven saying, Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, and he will dwell with them, and they shall be his people, and God himself shall be with them, and be their God.
      4   And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain: for the former things are passed away.
      "He will swallow up death in victory; and the Lord God will wipe away tears from off all faces; and the rebuke of his people shall he take away from off all the earth: for the Lord hath spoken it (Isa., 25:8)."
      5   And he that sat upon the throne said, Behold, I make all things new. And he said unto me, Write: for these words are true and faithful.
      6   And he said unto me, It is done. I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end. I will give unto him that is athirst of the fountain of the water of life freely.
      7   He that overcometh shall inherit all things; and I will be his God, and he shall be my son.
      "Who is he that overcometh the world, but he that believeth that Jesus is the Son of God (I. Jno., 5:5)?"
      8   But the fearful, and unbelieving, and the abominable, and murderers, and whoremongers, and sorcerers, and idolaters, and all liars, shall have their part in the lake which burneth with fire and brimstone: which is the second death.
      "I was in the Spirit on the Lord's day, and heard behind me a great voice, as of a trumpet (Rev., 1:10)."
      9   And there came unto me one of the seven angels which had the seven vials full of the seven last plagues, and talked with me, saying, Come hither, I will shew thee the bride, the Lamb's wife.
      10   And he carried me away in the spirit to a great and high mountain, and shewed me that great city, the holy Jerusalem, descending out of heaven from God,
      11   Having the glory of God: and her light was like unto a stone most precious, even like a jasper stone, clear as crystal;
      12   And had a wall great and high, and had twelve gates, and at the gates twelve angels, and names written thereon, which are the names of the twelve tribes of the children of Israel:
      13   On the east three gates; on the north three gates; on the south three gates; and on the west three gates.
      14   And the wall of the city had twelve foundations, and in them the names of the twelve apostles of the Lamb.
      15   And he that talked with me had a golden reed to measure the city, and the gates thereof, and the wall thereof.
      16   And the city lieth foursquare, and the length is as large as the breadth: and he measured the city with the reed, twelve thousand furlongs. The length and the breadth and the height of it are equal.
      17   And he measured the wall thereof, an hundred and forty and four cubits, according to the measure of a man, that is, of the angel.
      18   And the building of the wall of it was of jasper: and the city was pure gold, like unto clear glass.
      19   And the foundations of the wall of the city were garnished with all manner of precious stones. The first foundation was jasper; the second, sapphire; the third, a chalcedony; the fourth, an emerald;
      20   The fifth, sardonyx; the sixth, sardius; the seventh, chrysolite; the eighth, beryl; the ninth, a topaz; the tenth, a chrysoprasus; the eleventh, a jacinth; the twelfth, an amethyst.
      21   And the twelve gates were twelve pearls; every several gate was of one pearl: and the street of the city was pure gold, as it were transparent glass.
      22   And I saw no temple therein: for [422] the Lord God Almighty and the Lamb are the temple of it.
      23   And the city had no need of the sun, neither of the moon, to shine in it: for the glory of God did lighten it, and the Lamb is the light thereof.
      "Then the moon shall be confounded, and the sun ashamed, when the Lord of hosts shall reign in mount Zion, and in Jerusalem, and before his ancients gloriously (Isa., 24:23)."
      "The sun shall be no more thy light by day; neither for brightness shall the moon give light unto thee: but the Lord shall be unto thee an everlasting light, and thy God thy glory.
      Thy sun shall no more go down; neither shall thy moon withdraw itself: for the Lord shall be thine everlasting light, and the days of thy mourning shall be ended (Isa., 60:19, 20)."
      24   And the nations of them which are saved shall walk in the light of it: and the kings of the earth do bring their glory and honour into it.
      25   And the gates of it shall not be shut at all by day: for there shall be no night there.
      26   And they shall bring the glory and honour of the nations into it.
      27   And there shall in no wise enter into it any thing that defileth, neither whatsoever worketh abomination, or maketh a lie: but they which are written in the Lamb's book of life.
      "And an highway shall be there, and a way, and it shall be called The way of holiness; the unclean shall not pass over it; but it shall be for those: the wayfaring men, though fools, shall not err therein (Isa., 35:8)."
      "Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me (Jno., 14:6)."
      "And every man that hath this hope in him purifieth himself, even as he is pure (I. Jno., 3:3)."
      "And I entreat thee also, true yokefellow, help those women which laboured with me in the gospel, with Clement also, and with other my fellowlabourers, whose names are in the book of life (Phil., 4:3)."
      "He that overcometh, the same shall be clothed in white raiment; and I will not blot out his name out of the book of life (Rev., 3:5)."

 

CHAPTER 22.

A ND he shewed me a pure river of water of life, clear as crystal, proceeding out of the throne of God and of the Lamb.
      2   In the midst of the street of it, and on either side of the river, was there the tree of life, which bare twelve manner of fruits, and yielded her fruit every month: and the leaves of the tree were for the healing of the nations.
      "And the Lord God said, Behold, the man is become as one of us, to know good and evil: and now, lest he put forth his hand, and take also of the tree of life, and eat, and live for ever (Gen., 3:22)."
      3   And there shall be no more curse: but the throne of God and of the Lamb shall be in it; and his servants shall serve him:
      4   And they shall see his face; and his name shall be in their foreheads.
      "Blessed are the pure in heart: for they shall see God (Matt., 5:8)."
      "For now we see through a glass, darkly; but then face to face: now I know in part; but then shall I know even as also I am known (I. Cor., 13:12)."
      "Beloved, now are we the sons of God, and it doth not yet appear what we shall be: but we know that, when he shall appear, we shall be like him; for we shall see him as he is (I. Jno., 3:2)."
      5   And there shall be no night there; and they need no candle, neither light of the sun; for the Lord God giveth them light: and they shall reign for ever and ever.
      6   And he said unto me, These sayings are faithful and true: and the Lord God of the holy prophets sent his angel to shew unto his servants the things which must shortly be done.
      7   Behold, I come quickly: blessed is he that keepeth the sayings of the prophecy of this book.
      "Behold, he cometh with clouds; and every eye shall see him, and they also which pierced him: and all kindreds of the earth shall wail because of him. Even so, Amen (Rev., 1:7)."
      8   And I John saw these things, and heard them. And when I had heard and seen, I fell down to worship before the feet of the angel which shewed me these things.
      9   Then saith he unto me, See thou do it not: for I am thy fellowservant, and of thy brethren the prophets, and of them which keep the sayings of this book: worship God.
      "And I fell at his feet to worship him. And he said unto me, See thou do it not: I am thy fellowservant, and of thy brethren that have the testimony of Jesus: worship God: for the testimony of Jesus is the spirit of prophecy (Rev., 19:10)." [423]
      10   And he saith unto me, Seal not the sayings of the prophecy of this book: for the time is at hand.
      11   He that is unjust, let him be unjust still: and he which is filthy, let him be filthy still: and he that is righteous, let him be righteous still: and he that is holy, let him be holy still.
      12   And, behold, I come quickly; and my reward is with me, to give every man according as his work shall be.
      13   I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end, the first and the last.
      "I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the ending, saith the Lord, which is, and which was, and which is to come, the Almighty (Rev., 1:8)."
      14   Blessed are they that do his commandments, that they may have right to the tree of life, and may enter in through the gates into the city.
      "And he that keepeth his commandments dwelleth in him, and he in him. And hereby we know that he abideth in us, by the Spirit which he hath given us (I. Jno., 3:24)."
      "And there shall in no wise enter into it any thing that defileth, neither whatsoever worketh abomination, or maketh a lie: but they which are written in the Lamb's book of life (Rev., 21:27)."
      15   For without are dogs, and sorcerers, and whoremongers, and murderers, and idolaters, and whosoever loveth and maketh a lie.
      16   I Jesus have sent mine angel to testify unto you these things in the churches. I am the root and the offspring of David, and the bright and morning star.
      17   And the Spirit and the bride say, Come. And let him that heareth say, Come. And let him that is athirst come. And whosoever will, let him take the water of life freely.
      "Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.
      Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls.
      For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light (Matt., 11:28-30)."
      18   For I testify unto every man that heareth the words of the prophecy of this book, If any man shall add unto these things, God shall add unto him the plagues that are written in this book:
      19   And if any man shall take away from the words of the book of this prophecy, God shall take away his part out of the book of life, and out of the holy city, and from the things which are written in this book.
      "Ye shall not add unto the word which I command you, neither shall ye diminish ought from it, that ye may keep the commandments of the Lord your God which I command you (Deut., 4:2)."
      "And ye shall observe to do all the statutes and judgments which I set before you this day (Deut., 11:32)."
      "Every word of God is pure: he is a shield unto them that put their trust in him.
      Add thou not unto his words, lest he reprove thee, and thou be found a liar (Prov., 30:5, 6)."
      "But though we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel unto you than that which we have preached unto you, let him be accursed.
      As we said before, so say I now again, If any man preach any other gospel unto you than that ye have received, let him be accursed (Gal., 1:8, 9)."
      20   He which testifieth these things saith, Surely I come quickly. Amen. Even so, come, Lord Jesus.
      21   The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all. Amen.
      "Now unto him that is able to keep you from falling, and to present you faultless before the presence of his glory with exceeding joy,
      To the only wise God our Saviour, be glory and majesty, dominion and power, both now and ever. Amen (Jude, 1:24, 25)."

 

THE END.

 

[TSINT 398-424]


[Table of Contents]
[Previous]
Ashley S. Johnson
The Self-Interpreting New Testament (1898)

Send Addenda, Corrigenda, and Sententiae to the editor