New Catholic Bible/The Book of Revelation

**The Book of Revelation**, as translated by the Catholic Book Publishing Corp in the New Catholic Bible.

## NOTE

Although the New Catholic Bible has no separate Cross-References, it does contain cross-references within their footnotes: For the sake of completion, any and every book article of the New Catholic Bible on this wiki will have a Cross-References category based from the cross-references in the Footnotes. As such, all Cross-References tabs will also be in the same verses as the Footnotes from which the cross-references are found in.

## INTRODUCTION

###  **VISIONS OF HOPE**

“And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the world” (Mt 28:20). Each of the Gospels ends with a chapter that leads into the time of the Church. The Acts of the Apostles and the Letters, especially those of Paul, attest to the spread of the Good News, the presence of the Lord in the life of the communities, and the action of the Spirit. True enough, the Christian message ran into many difficulties and much opposition, but these enabled Christians to understand better the originality of their faith and the urgency of missionary work. Besides, had not Jesus often predicted persecution for his disciples?

At some moments, however, persecution took the form of a systematic political plan that was well organized and efficiently carried out throughout the vast empire subject to Rome. The aim was to exterminate the Christian movement everywhere and completely.

Would Christianity be able to weather the storm? How were people not to waver? What was to be thought of these events, and, above all, how were Christians to be steadfast in their faith in the face of oppression?

Here, in the Book of Revelation or the Apocalypse, we have a first effort to interpret the signs of a difficult time. In hours of crisis the need is to revive profound convictions; this Book sets forth these convictions in its own vigorous way, which takes the form of visions.

###  **THE BOOK OF REVELATION**

**The Age of the Martyrs**

The resistance of Christians to worship of the emperor was a sure sign to the Roman authorities that they were trying to draw people away from it! The result was persecution: it had already occurred at the end of Nero’s reign (the burning of Rome, A.D. 64), but now, and most especially, under Domitian (A.D. 81–96).

Was Christianity destined to disappear due to persecution by the public authorities? Or, at least, would not many Christians abandon the struggle? The time for protestations of loyalty to the Roman state was past (see Rom 13:1-7; Tit 3:1; 1 Pet 2:13-17); now it was necessary to resist, even to the acceptance of martyrdom.

A man, or group of people, experienced this anguish. Here he gives free rein to his protest against oppression and cries out a message of encouragement, and this on a grandiose stage: an enormous catastrophe strikes the earth, the present world disappears under the judgment of God, and a new world begins, the age of joy and God’s salvation.

The author uses images we find bewildering, for in them the substance and the details change continually, and the most glaring colors are set in contrast; there are numerical sayings, each of which is thick with hidden meanings: everything is symbolical.

This is the kind of literature that is born in periods of disturbance. It is at such times that people speak of “apocalypses.” The word means the act of revealing, of removing the veil. The author speaks on the basis of a vision that comes to him from above; the vision aims at unveiling the reality hidden in the future and the true meaning of what is coming, a meaning known only to God.

Understood in this way, an apocalypse is a special kind of prophecy. It is a reclusive literature because it is addressed to initiates and uses a mysterious language; it seeks to escape the surveillance of oppressors and of censors. It is a protest of conscience against intolerable pressures, a claim to a different vision of society and the world, a call to resistance in the midst of torment. The apocalyptic current entered the Bible beginning in the second century B.C.; at that time we find it especially in the Book of Daniel, in the Book of Joel, and in some passages of Isaiah (see chs. 24–27) and of Zechariah (chs. 9–11).

Furthermore, we must not forget the extraordinary descriptions given by Ezekiel. In the Jewish world all this material would be used in order to draw from it extremely subtle new constructs. We may recall the apocalypse in the Synoptic Gospels (Mk 13; Mt 24:10-36; Lk 17:22-37; 21:5-33) and certain passages of Paul (1 Thes 4:15-17; 2 Thes 2:1-12).

In this literary genre our Book of Revelation is a prime example. It was written at a difficult time, at the end of the first century, and aims, first, at quickening the life of the community in the face of internal crises (chs. 1–3).

Its primary purpose is to encourage these communities to stand up to the persecution that is inflicted on Christians when they refuse to offer sacrifice to the emperor (Rev 13:12-18; 14:9-13).

The author of this work calls himself “John” (Rev 1:1, 4, 9; 22:8) and describes himself to his readers as their “brother and partner in the suffering” (Rev 1:9), who has been exiled to the island of Patmos because of his faith.

He certainly belongs to the category of individuals whom the New Testament calls prophets (Rev 1:1-20; 22:9), and he enjoys great authority in the churches in the region of Asia Minor.

He does not, however, claim to be John the Apostle, son of Zebedee, with whom tradition has identified him; in fact, he never describes incidents of which he was an eyewitness, as the author of the fourth Gospel does.

There are undoubtedly many similarities with the Johannine writings, but the differences are even greater: the language is different; above all, the theological setting is different.

We do not, therefore, know anything specific about the author, whom the readers of his own time must have known. If we judge by the detailed knowledge and skill with which he handles the apocalyptic genre, he was, in all probability, of Jewish descent.

The Christian Apocalypse is not simply a song of God’s power, but a splendid praise of Christ, who brings to fulfillment the destiny of the world through a breaking off of history.

It is also a book about the Church. In this new People of God, who are characterized by attachment to Christ, fidelity, and resistance, the most fascinating figures that emerge are the martyrs.

###  **The Divisions of The Book of Revelation**

The Book of Revelation may be divided as follows:

**Prologue: (1:1-20)**

**I: Letters to the Churches (2:1—3:22)**

**II: Celestial Visions about What Is To Come (4:1—22:5)**

**Epilogue: (22:6-21)**

## CHAPTER 1

### The Revelation or Apocalypse of Jesus Christ.

**1** The revelation of Jesus Christ, which God entrusted to him so that he might show his servants what must soon take place. He made it known by sending his angel to his servant John, **2** who has borne witness to the word of God and to the testimony of Jesus Christ by reporting everything that he has seen.

**3** Blessed

is the one who reads the words of this prophecy, and blessed are those who keep what is written in it, for the appointed time is near.

### He Is, He Was, and He Will Return.

**4** John, to the seven Churches

in Asia: grace to you and peace from him who is, who was, and who is to come, and from the seven spirits before his throne, **5** and from Jesus Christ, the faithful witness,

the firstborn from the dead and the ruler of the kings of the earth. He loves us and has washed away our sins with his blood **6** and made us to be a kingdom and priests to serve his God and Father—to him be glory and power forever and ever. Amen.

**7** Behold, he is coming with the clouds;

every eye will see him,

even those who pierced him.

All the peoples of the earth will mourn him.

So shall it be. Amen.

**8** “I am the Alpha and the Omega,” says the Lord God, “the one who is, and who was, and who is to come, the Almighty.”

### “I Am the First and the Last.”

**9** I, John—your brother and partner in the suffering and the kingdom and the patient endurance that are ours in Jesus—was on the island of Patmos

because I had proclaimed the word of God and given testimony to Jesus. **10** On the Lord’s day, I was caught up in the spirit,

and I heard behind me a loud voice, like the sound of a trumpet, **11** that said, “Write down on a scroll

what you see and send it to the seven Churches: to Ephesus, Smyrna, Pergamum, Thyatira, Sardis, Philadelphia, and Laodicea.

**12** Then I turned to see whose voice it was that had spoken to me, and when I turned I beheld seven gold lampstands. **13**

And in the midst of the lampstands I saw one like a son of man,

dressed in a robe that reached down to his feet and with a golden breastplate around his chest. **14** His head and his hair were white with the whiteness of wool, like snow, and his eyes were like a burning flame. **15** His feet were like burnished bronze refined in a furnace, and his voice was like the sound of rushing waters. **16** In his right hand he held seven stars. From his mouth there protruded a sharp, two-edged sword, and his face shone like the sun in all its brilliance.

**17** When I saw him, I fell at his feet as though dead, but he laid his right hand on me and said, “Do not be afraid. I am the First and the Last. I am the Living One. 18 I was dead, but now I am alive forevermore, and I hold the keys to death and the netherworld.

**19** “Now write down what you have seen, what is happening now, and what will take place afterward. **20** The mystery of the seven stars that you saw in my right hand, and of the seven gold lampstands, is this: the seven stars are the angels of the seven Churches, and the seven lampstands are the seven Churches themselves.

## CHAPTER 2

### To Ephesus.

**1** “To the angel of the Church in Ephesus,

write:

“ ‘These are the words of the one who holds the seven stars in his right hand and who walks in the midst of the seven lampstands:
**2** “ ‘ “I know your deeds, your hard work, and your endurance. I know that you cannot tolerate wicked people, and how you have put to the test those who claim to be apostles but are not, and have found them to be impostors. **3** I am also aware of your perseverance and how you have toiled for my name without becoming weary.

**4** “ ‘ “However, I have this complaint against you: you have lost the love you had at first. **5** Remember from where you have fallen. Repent and do as you did originally. Otherwise, unless you repent, I will come to you and remove your lampstand from its place. **6** Nonetheless, this may be said in your favor: you detest the works of the Nicolaitans, which I also hate.

**7** “ ‘ “Whoever has ears should listen to what the Spirit says

to the Churches. To anyone who is victorious, I will give the right to eat from the tree of life that is in the paradise of God.” ’

### To Smyrna.

**8** “To the angel of the Church in Smyrna,

write:

“ ‘These are the words of the First and the Last, who was dead and came to life again:

**9** “ ‘ “I know of your hardships and your poverty, but in reality you are rich. I am aware of the slander of those who claim to be Jews but are actually members of the synagogue of Satan. **10** Do not be frightened when thinking about the sufferings that you will have to endure. The devil will throw some of you into prison so that you may be tested, and you will endure affliction for ten days. Remain faithful until death, and I will give you the crown of life.

**11** “ ‘ “Whoever has ears should listen to what the Spirit says to the Churches. Anyone who is victorious will not be harmed by the second death.” ’

**12**

### To Pergamum.

“To the angel of the Church in Pergamum,

write:

“ ‘These are the words of the one who has the sharp double-edged sword:

**13** “ ‘ “I know that you live in the place where Satan is enthroned. Yet you have remained firm in support of my name, and you did not deny your faith in me even at the time when Antipas,

my faithful witness, was put to death among you, where Satan lives.

**14** “ ‘ “Nevertheless, I have a few things against you. Some of you are holding to the teaching of Balaam,

who instructed Balak to place temptations in the path of the Israelites, encouraging them to eat food sacrificed to idols and to engage in fornication. **15** Likewise, there are some of you who follow the teaching of the Nicolaitans. **16** Therefore, repent. If you do not do so, I will come to you quickly and attack them with the sword of my mouth.

**17** “ ‘ “Whoever has ears should listen to what the Spirit says to the Churches. To anyone who is victorious I will give some of the hidden manna. I will also give him a white stone, upon which will be inscribed a new name, known only to the person who receives it.” ’

**18**

### To Thyatira.

“To the angel of the Church in Thyatira,

write:

“ ‘These are the words of the Son of God who has eyes like a burning flame and feet like burnished bronze:

**19** “ ‘ “I know your deeds—your love, your faithfulness, your service, and your endurance—and that you are doing greater works than you did at first. **20** Nevertheless, I have this against you, that you tolerate that woman Jezebel, who calls herself a prophetess and who by her teaching is luring my servants into acts of fornication and encouraging them to eat food that has been sacrificed to idols.

**21** “ ‘ “I have given her time to repent, but she refuses to repent of her fornication. **22** So I will cast her onto a bed of pain, and all those who commit adultery with her will suffer intensely unless they renounce her practices. **23** I will also strike her children dead. Thereby all the Churches will be shown that I am the one who searches minds and hearts and I will give to each of you what your works deserve.

**24** “ ‘ “And I say to the rest of you in Thyatira who have not accepted this teaching and who have no knowledge of what are designated as the deep secrets of Satan,

I shall not impose any further burden on you, **25** but hold firmly to what you have until I come.

**26** “ ‘ “To anyone who is victorious

and perseveres in doing my works until the end,

I will give authority over the nations,

**27** the same authority that I received from my Father,

to rule them with an iron rod

and shatter them like clay pots.

**28** And to such a person I will also give the morning star.

**29** “ ‘ “Whoever has ears should listen to what the Spirit says to the Churches.” ’

## CHAPTER 3

### To Sardis.

**1** “To the angel of the Church in Sardis,

write:

“ ‘These are the words of the one who has the seven spirits of God and the seven stars:

“ ‘ “I know your deeds. You have a reputation for being alive, but you are dead. **2** Be on guard and strengthen what remains and is at the point of death. For I have not found any of your deeds perfect in the sight of my God. **3** Therefore, remember the teaching that you have received and heard. Hold on to it and repent. If you do not wake up, I will come like a thief, and you will never know at what hour I will come upon you.

**4** “ ‘ “However, there are still a few in Sardis who have not soiled their robes, and they will walk with me dressed in white, for they are worthy. **5** Anyone who is victorious will be dressed like these in white robes, and I shall not blot his name from the book of life.

Rather, I shall acknowledge it in the presence of my Father and his angels.

**6** “ ‘ “Whoever has ears should listen to what the Spirit says to the Churches.” ’

### To Philadelphia.

**7** “To the angel of the Church in Philadelphia,

write:

“ ‘These are the words of the holy one,

the true one,

who has the key of David,

who opens the door,

and no one can shut it;

who closes the door,

and no one can open it:

**8** “ ‘ “I know your deeds. I have set before you an open door

that no one will be able to close. I know that your strength is limited, yet you have kept my word and have not disowned my name. **9** Behold, I will make those of the synagogue of Satan who claim to be Jews but are not, for they are lying—I will make them come and fall down at your feet and recognize that I have loved you.

**10** “ ‘ “Because you have kept my word to endure patiently, I will keep you safe during the time of trial that is going to come upon the whole world to put the inhabitants of the earth to the test. **11** I am coming soon. Hold fast to what you already have so that no one may rob you of your crown.

**12** “ ‘ “Anyone who is victorious I will make into a pillar in the temple of my God, and never again will he depart from it. I will inscribe on him the name of my God and the name of the city of my God, the new Jerusalem, which is coming down out of heaven from my God, as well as my own new name.

**13** “ ‘ “Whoever has ears should listen to what the Spirit says to the Churches.” ’

**14**

### To Laodicea.

“To the angel of the Church in Laodicea,

write:

“ ‘These are the words of the Amen, the faithful and true witness, the source of God’s creation:

**15** “ ‘ “I know your deeds, that you are neither cold nor hot. I wish you were either hot or cold. **16** As it is, since you are lukewarm, neither cold nor hot,

I will spit you out of my mouth. **17** For you say, ‘I am rich; I have prospered; I have everything I want,’ never realizing that you are wretched, pitiable, poor, blind, and naked.

**18** “ ‘ “I advise you to buy from me gold that has been refined by fire so that you will be truly rich, and white robes to clothe you so that you may keep the shame of your nakedness from being seen, and ointment to smear on your eyes so that you may see. **19** I reprove and discipline all those whom I love.

Therefore, be sincere in your desire to repent.

**20** “ ‘ “Behold, I am standing at the door, knocking. If one of you hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in and dine with that person and that person with me. **21** To anyone who is victorious, I will give the right to sit with me on my throne, as I myself overcame and sat with my Father on his throne.

**22** “ ‘ “Whoever has ears should listen to what the Spirit says to the Churches.” ’ ”

## CHAPTER 4

### Vision of the Throne.

**1** Following this, I had a vision of heaven with an open door, and I heard the voice like a trumpet that I had heard speaking to me before, saying, “Come up here, and I will show you what must take place after this.” **2** At once I was caught up in the spirit,

and there in heaven I beheld a throne. **3** Seated upon the throne was one whose appearance was similar to that of jasper and carnelian, and surrounding it was a rainbow that looked like an emerald.

**4** Encircling the throne were twenty-four thrones, and seated on them were twenty-four elders,

dressed in white with gold crowns on their heads. **5** Emanating from the throne were flashes of lightning and rumblings and peals of thunder. Burning in front of the throne were seven flaming lamps, the seven spirits of God, **6** and in front of the throne there was something like a sea of glass as transparent as crystal.

In the center of the throne and around it there were four living creatures,

and they were covered with eyes in front and in back. **7** The first living creature resembled a lion, the second resembled an ox, the third had a human face, and the fourth resembled an eagle in flight. **8** Each of the four living creatures had six wings, and all of them were covered with eyes all around and underneath their wings. Day and night they never stop saying:

“Holy, holy, holy

is the Lord God, the Almighty,

who was, and who is, and who is to come.”

**9** And whenever the living creatures give glory and honor and thanks to the one who sits on the throne, who lives forever and ever, **10** the twenty-four elders prostrate themselves before him who is seated on the throne and worship the one who lives forever and ever. As they lay down their crowns in front of the throne, they cry out:

**11** “Worthy are you, O Lord our God,

to receive glory and honor and power,

for you created all things;

by your will they were created

and have their being.”

## CHAPTER 5

### Vision of the Lamb.

**1** Then I saw in the right hand of the one who was seated on the throne a scroll with writing on both sides and sealed with seven seals. **2** And I beheld a mighty angel who proclaimed in a loud voice, “Who is worthy to open the scroll and break its seals?” **3** But there was no one in heaven or on earth or under the earth who was able to open the scroll and examine it.

**4** I began to weep bitterly because no one was found worthy to open the scroll and examine it. **5** Then one of the elders said to me, “Do not weep. The Lion of the tribe of Judah, the Root of David, has triumphed, and thus has won the right to open the scroll and its seven seals.”

**6** Then I saw, standing in the center of the throne, encircled by the four living creatures and the elders, a Lamb that had been slain. He had seven horns and seven eyes, which are the seven spirits of God sent forth into the entire world. **7** He came forward and took the scroll from the right hand of the one who was seated on the throne.

**8** When he had taken the scroll, the four living creatures and the twenty-four elders prostrated themselves before the Lamb. Each of the elders was holding a harp, and they had gold bowls filled with incense, which are the prayers of the saints. **9** They sang a new song:

“You are worthy to receive the scroll

and to open its seals,

for you were slain,

and with your blood you purchased for God

people of every tribe and language, nation and race.

**10** You have made them to be a kingdom and priests to serve our God,

and they will reign on earth.”

**11** In my vision, I heard the voices of a multitude of angels who surrounded the throne and the living creatures and the elders. These angels numbered thousands upon thousands and ten thousand times ten thousand of them. **12** And they cried out with a loud voice:

“Worthy is the Lamb that was sacrificed

to receive power and riches, wisdom and strength,

honor and glory and praise.”

**13** Then I heard every creature in heaven and on earth and under the earth and in the sea, and all that is in them, saying:

“To the one seated on the throne

and to the Lamb

be blessing and honor and glory and might

forever and ever.”

**14** The four living creatures said, “Amen,” and the elders prostrated themselves in worship.

## CHAPTER 6

### The First Four Seals and the Horsemen.

**1** Then, in my vision, I saw the Lamb break open the first of the seven seals, and I heard one of the four living creatures shout in a voice like thunder, “Come!” **2** I looked, and before my eyes I saw a white horse, and its rider was holding a bow. He was given a crown, and he rode forth as a victor to amass still further conquests.

**3** When he broke open the second seal, I heard the second living creature shout, “Come!” **4** And another horse came forth; it was red. Its rider was empowered to take away peace from the earth so that people would slay each other. He was given a large sword.

**5** When he broke open the third seal, I heard the third living creature shout, “Come!” I looked, and there was a black horse, and its rider was holding a pair of scales

in his hand. **6** Then I heard what sounded like a voice emanating from the midst of the four living creatures, saying, “A quart of wheat costs a day’s wages, and three quarts of barley cost a day’s wages. But do not damage the olive oil or the wine.”

**7** When he broke open the fourth seal, I heard the voice of the fourth living creature shout, “Come!” **8** I looked, and there was a pale green horse. Its rider was named Death, and Hades

followed close behind. They were given authority over a fourth of the earth, to kill with sword, famine, and plague, and by means of wild beasts.

### The Fifth Seal: Vision of the Martyrs.

**9** When he broke open the fifth seal, I saw underneath the altar the souls of those who had been slain on account of the word of God and for witnessing to it. **10** They shouted in a loud voice, “How long is it to be, holy and true Master, before you judge the inhabitants of the earth

and avenge our death?”

**11** Each of them was given a white robe,

and they were instructed to be patient for a little longer until the roll was completed of their fellow servants and brethren who were still to be killed as they themselves had been.

**12**

### The Sixth Seal: the Universe Disturbed.

In my vision, when he broke open the sixth seal, there was a violent earthquake. The sun turned as black as coarse sackcloth, the moon became as red as blood, **13** and the stars in the sky fell to earth like unripe figs dislodged from a tree when shaken by a strong wind. **14** The heavens were torn apart like a scroll being rolled up, and every mountain and island was dislodged from its place.

**15** Then the kings of the earth, the nobles, and the commanders, the rich and the powerful, and the whole population, both slaves and free, hid themselves in caves and among the rocks of the mountains. **16** They shouted to the mountains and the rocks, “Fall on us and hide us from the face of the one who sits on the throne, and from the wrath of the Lamb. **17** For the great day of their wrath has come, and who can endure it?”

## CHAPTER 7

### An Immense Crowd before God’s Throne.

**1** After this I saw four angels standing at the four corners of the earth, holding back the four winds of the earth so that no wind could blow on land or on the sea or on any tree. **2** Then I saw another angel rising from the east, bearing the seal of the living God. He cried out in a loud voice to the four angels who had been given the power to ravage the land and the sea, **3** “Do not damage the land or the sea or the trees until we have set the seal on the foreheads of the servants of our God.”

**4** Then I heard how many had been marked with the seal—one hundred and forty-four thousand from all the tribes of Israel:

**5** From the tribe of Judah,

twelve thousand,

from the tribe of Reuben, twelve thousand,

from the tribe of Gad, twelve thousand,

**6** from the tribe of Asher, twelve thousand,

from the tribe of Naphtali, twelve thousand,

from the tribe of Manasseh, twelve thousand,

**7** from the tribe of Simeon, twelve thousand,

from the tribe of Levi, twelve thousand,

from the tribe of Issachar, twelve thousand,

**8** from the tribe of Zebulun, twelve thousand,

from the tribe of Joseph, twelve thousand,

from the tribe of Benjamin, twelve thousand.

**9** After this, in my vision, I witnessed a vast throng that no one could count, from every nation, race, people, and language. They were standing before the throne and before the Lamb, dressed in white robes and holding palm branches in their hands. **10** They cried out in a loud voice:

“Salvation belongs to our God,

who sits on the throne,

and to the Lamb.”

**11** All the angels who were standing around the throne, and around the elders and the four living creatures, prostrated themselves before the throne and worshiped God, **12** saying:

“Amen. Praise and glory,

wisdom and thanksgiving,

honor and power and might,

be to our God forever and ever. Amen.”

**13** Then one of the elders spoke to me and inquired, “Who are these people, all dressed in white robes, and where have they come from?” **14** I replied, “My lord, you are the one who knows.” Then he said to me, “These are the ones who have survived the great tribulation. They have washed their robes and made them white in the blood of the Lamb.

**15** “That is why they stand before the throne of God

and worship him day and night in his temple,

and the one who sits on the throne will shelter them.

**16** They will never again experience hunger or thirst,

nor will the sun or any scorching heat cause them discomfort.

**17** For the Lamb who is at the center of the throne

will be their shepherd.

He will guide them to springs of living water,

and God will wipe away every tear from their eyes.”

## CHAPTER 8

### The Seventh Seal.

**1** When the Lamb broke open the seventh seal, there was silence in heaven for about half an hour. **2** And I saw that seven trumpets were given to the seven angels who stand in the presence of God.

**3** Another angel came forward with a gold censer and stood at the altar.

He was given a large quantity of incense to offer, with the prayers of all the saints, on the gold altar that stood before the throne.

**4** The smoke of the incense together with the prayers of the saints rose before God from the hand of the angel. **5** Then the angel took the censer, filled it with fire from the altar, and emptied it upon the earth. Immediately, there came peals of thunder, rumblings, flashes of lightning, and an earthquake.

**6** The seven angels who held the seven trumpets now made ready to blow them.

### The First Four Trumpets.

**7** When the first angel blew his trumpet, there was a storm of hail and fire, mixed with blood, and it fell upon the earth.

A third of the earth was burned up, as well as a third of the trees and all the green grass.

**8**

When the second angel blew his trumpet, something that looked like a huge mountain ablaze with fire was hurled into the sea. A third of the sea turned into blood, **9** a third of the creatures living in the sea died, and a third of the ships were destroyed.

**10** When the third angel blew his trumpet, a great star fell from the sky, burning like a torch. It came down on a third of the rivers and on the springs of water. **11** This star was called “Wormwood,” and a third of the waters turned to wormwood.

Great numbers of people died from the waters that had become bitter.

**12** When the fourth angel blew his trumpet, a third of the sun was struck, a third of the moon, and a third of the stars. As a result, a third of their light was darkened, and the day lost its illumination for a third of the time, and so did the night.

**13**

### The Cry of the Eagle.

In my vision, I heard an eagle cry out in a loud voice as it flew high overhead, “Woe! Woe! Woe to the inhabitants of the earth because of the other trumpet blasts that the three angels have not yet blown!”

## CHAPTER 9

### The Fifth Trumpet: the First Woe.

**1** Then the fifth angel blew his trumpet, and I saw a star that had fallen from the sky to the earth. He was given the key to the shaft leading down to the abyss. **2** When he unlocked the shaft of the abyss, smoke rose up from the abyss like smoke from a huge furnace, so that the sun and the sky were darkened by the smoke from the abyss. **3** And out of the smoke locusts dropped down onto the earth, and they were given the same powers that scorpions have on the earth. **4** They were commanded not to damage the grass or the earth or any plant or tree, and they were told to attack only those people who did not have God’s seal on their foreheads.

**5** They were given permission to torture these people for five months, but they were not allowed to kill them, and the torment they were to inflict was to be like that of a scorpion when it stings someone. **6** During that time, these people will seek death but will not find it; they will long to die, but death will elude them.

**7** In appearance the locusts were like horses equipped for battle. On their heads they wore what appeared to be gold crowns. Their faces were like human faces, **8** and their hair was like women’s hair. Their teeth were like lions’ teeth, **9** and their chests were like iron breastplates. The sound of their wings was like the rumble of many horses and chariots rushing into battle.

**10** These locusts had tails and stings like those of scorpions, and in their tails they had the power to torment people for five months. **11** They had as their king the angel of the abyss, whose name in Hebrew is Abaddon, and in Greek, Apollyon.

**12** The first woe has passed, but two more are still to come.

**13**

### The Sixth Trumpet: the Second Woe.

Then the sixth angel blew his trumpet, and I heard a voice

emanating from the horns of the gold altar that stood in the presence of God. **14** It said to the sixth angel who was holding the trumpet, “Release the four angels who are bound at the great river Euphrates.”

**15** And so the four angels, who had been held in readiness for this very hour, day, month, and year, were released to kill a third of mankind.

**16** The number of their cavalry troops was two hundred million. This was the number I heard.

**17** This is how I saw the horses and their riders in my vision. The riders wore breastplates in shades of red, blue, and yellow. The heads of the horses were like heads of lions, and issuing forth from their mouths were fire, smoke, and sulfur. **18** By these three plagues of fire, smoke, and sulfur that poured forth from their mouths, a third of mankind was killed. **19** The power of the horses was in their mouths and in their tails. Their tails were like serpents, with heads that inflicted harm.

**20** However, the rest of mankind who survived these plagues did not repent of the work of their hands or cease their worship of demons

and of idols of gold, silver, bronze, stone, and wood, which can neither see nor hear nor walk. **21** Nor did they repent of their murders, their sorcery, their sexual immorality, or their thefts.

## CHAPTER 10

### A Small Scroll: Sweet and Bitter.

**1** Then I saw another mighty angel coming down from heaven. He was wrapped in a cloud, with a rainbow over his head. His face was like the sun, his legs were like pillars of fire, **2** and his hand held a small scroll that had been opened.

Placing his right foot on the sea and his left foot on the land, 3 the angel gave forth a great shout like the roar of a lion. And when he shouted, the seven thunders spoke. **4** After the seven thunders had spoken, I was preparing to write when I heard a voice from heaven say, “Seal up what the seven thunders have spoken, but do not write it down.”

**5** Then the angel whom I had seen standing on the sea and on the land raised his right hand to heaven **6** and swore by him who lives forever and ever and who created heaven and earth and the sea and everything that is in them: “There will be no further delay. **7** When the time comes for the seventh angel to sound his trumpet, the mysterious purpose of God

will be fulfilled, just as he announced to his servants the Prophets.”

**8** Then I again heard the voice that had spoken to me from heaven, and it said, “Go and take that open scroll from the hand of the angel who is standing on the sea and on the land.” **9** Therefore, I went to the angel and asked him to give me the small scroll. He replied, “Take it and eat it. It will turn your stomach sour, but in your mouth it will taste as sweet as honey.”

**10** I took the small scroll from the angel’s hand and ate it. In my mouth it did taste as sweet as honey, but when I had eaten it my stomach turned sour. **11** Then I was told, “You must prophesy once again about many peoples, nations, languages, and kings.”

## CHAPTER 11

### The Two Witnesses and the Fate of Jerusalem.

**1** I was next given a staff to use as a measuring rod, and I was told, “Go forth and measure the temple of God and the altar, and count the people who are worshiping there. **2** However, exclude the outer court of the temple from your measurements, because it has been handed over to the Gentiles and they will trample on the holy city for forty-two months.

**3** I will grant my two witnesses authority to prophesy for those twelve hundred and sixty days, wearing sackcloth.”

**4** These are the two olive trees and the two lampstands that stand in the presence of the Lord of the earth. **5** If anyone tries to harm them, fire pours forth from their mouths and consumes their enemies. Anyone who attempts to harm them will surely be killed in this manner. **6** They have the power to shut up the sky so that it does not rain during the time they are prophesying. They also have the power to turn water into blood and to afflict the earth with every type of plague as often as they desire.

**7** When they have completed their testimony, the beast that comes up from the abyss will wage war against them and overpower and kill them. **8** Their corpses will lie in the street of the great city, known by the symbolic names of Sodom and Egypt, where their Lord was crucified.

**9** People of every race, tribe, nation, and language will gaze at their corpses for three and a half days and refuse to allow them to be buried. **10** The inhabitants of the earth will gloat over them as they celebrate and exchange gifts, because these two prophets had been a source of torment to them.

**11** However, after the three and a half days, the breath of life from God entered them, and when they rose to their feet, great terror filled those who saw them. **12** Then I heard a loud voice from heaven say to them, “Come up here,” and while their enemies were watching, they went up to heaven in a cloud.

**13** At that very hour there was a violent earthquake, and a tenth of the city was destroyed. Seven thousand people were killed during the earthquake. Those who survived were overcome with fear and gave glory to the God of heaven.

**14** The second woe has passed, but the third will come quickly.

**15**

### The Seventh Trumpet: the Third Woe.

The seventh angel blew his trumpet, and voices in heaven were heard crying loudly:

“The kingdom of the world belongs

to our Lord and his Messiah,

and he will reign forever and ever.”

**16** Then the twenty-four elders who sit on their thrones in the presence of God prostrated themselves and worshiped God, **17** saying:

“We give you thanks, Lord God Almighty,

who are and who were.

For you have taken your great power

and have begun to reign.

**18** The nations rose in rage,

but now your wrath has come.

It is the time for judging the dead

and for rewarding your servants the Prophets,

as well as the saints who revere your name,

both small and great,

and for destroying those who destroy the earth.”

**19** Then God’s temple in heaven was opened, and the ark of his covenant

was seen within his temple. There followed flashes of lightning, rumblings, peals of thunder, an earthquake, and a violent hailstorm.

## CHAPTER 12

### Two Signs in Heaven: the Woman and the Dragon.

**1** A great sign appeared in heaven: a woman clothed with the sun, with the moon beneath her feet, and a crown of twelve stars on her head. **2** She was with child and about to give birth, crying aloud in the anguish of her labor.

**3** Then another sign appeared in heaven: a huge red dragon with seven heads and ten horns, and seven diadems crowning his heads. **4** His tail swept away a third of the stars in the sky and hurled them to the earth.

The dragon stood in front of the woman who was about to give birth, so that it might devour her child as soon as it was born. **5** She gave birth to a son, a male child who is destined to rule all the nations with an iron rod. And her child was taken up directly to God and to his throne. **6** The woman herself fled into the wilderness where she would be looked after for twelve hundred and sixty days

in a place prepared for her by God.

**7** Next, war broke out in heaven, with Michael

and his angels in combat against the dragon. The dragon and his angels fought back, **8** but they were defeated, and they lost their place in heaven. **9** The great dragon—the ancient serpent who is called the devil, or Satan, the deceiver of the whole world—was hurled down to earth, and his angels were cast down with him.

**10** Then I heard a loud voice in heaven say:

“Now have come the salvation and the power

and the kingdom of our God

and the authority of his Messiah.

For the accuser

of our brethren has been cast out,

the one who accused them day and night before our God.

**11** They have conquered him

by the blood of the Lamb

and by the word of their testimony;

even in the face of death

they did not cling to life.

**12** Therefore rejoice, you heavens,

and you who dwell in them!

But woe to you, earth and sea,

because the devil has come down to you.

He is filled with rage,

for he knows that his time is short.”

**13** When the dragon realized that he had been hurled down to earth, he pursued the woman who had given birth to the male child. **14** But the woman was given the two wings of the great eagle so that she could fly away from the serpent into the wilderness, to the place where she was to be looked after for a year, two years, and a half year.

**15** Then from his mouth the serpent spewed out water like a river after the woman to sweep her away with the flood. **16** However, the earth came to the rescue of the woman: it opened its mouth and swallowed the river spewed from the dragon’s mouth.

**17** Then the dragon became enraged at the woman and went off to wage war on the rest of her offspring, those who keep God’s commandments and bear witness to Jesus.

**18**

### A Beast Rises from the Sea.

Meanwhile, I took my position

on the seashore.

## CHAPTER 13

**1** Then I saw a beast rising out of the sea. It had ten horns and seven heads. On its horns were ten diadems, and on its heads were blasphemous names. **2** The beast that I saw resembled a leopard, but it had feet like those of a bear, and its mouth was like the mouth of a lion. The dragon conferred on the beast his own power and his throne, as well as great authority.

**3** One of his heads appeared to me to have been mortally wounded, but its mortal wound had been healed. The whole world then became fascinated with the beast, **4** and they worshiped the dragon because he had conferred authority on the beast. They also worshiped the beast, saying, “Who can compare with the beast? Who can fight against it?”

**5** It was allowed to mouth its haughty and blasphemous words, and it was granted permission to exercise its authority for forty-two months.

**6** It opened its mouth to utter blasphemies against God, as well as against his name and his dwelling and all those who live in heaven.

**7** The beast was also allowed to wage war on the saints and conquer them, and it was given authority over every tribe, people, language, and nation. **8** All the inhabitants of the earth will worship it, all those whose names have not been written from the creation of the world

in the book of life belonging to the Lamb who was slain.

**9** Whoever has ears should listen to these words:

**10** “If anyone is to go into captivity,

into captivity he will go.

If anyone is destined to be slain by the sword,

by the sword he must be slain.”

This demands patient endurance and faithfulness on the part of the saints.

**11**

### A Beast Rises from the Earth.

Then I saw another beast, this one rising up out of the earth. It had two horns like those of a lamb, but it spoke like a dragon. **12** It wielded all the authority of the first beast on its behalf, and it forced the earth and all its inhabitants to worship the first beast, whose mortal wound had been healed. **13** It performed great signs, even making fire come down from heaven to earth in the sight of all.

**14** By the signs it was allowed to perform on behalf of the beast, it deceived the inhabitants of the earth, persuading them to erect an image for the beast that had been wounded by the sword and yet lived. **15** It was permitted to give life to the beast’s image so that it could even speak and cause all those to be put to death who would not worship the image of the beast.

**16** It also forced all the people, both small and great, both rich and poor, both free and slave, to be branded on the right hand or on the forehead. **17** No one could buy or sell anything except one who has been branded with the name of the beast or with the number of its name.

**18** There is wisdom here. Let anyone who has understanding calculate the number of the beast, for it is the number of a person. The number is six hundred and sixty-six.

## CHAPTER 14

### The Song of the Martyrs.

**1** Next in my vision, I saw the Lamb standing on Mount Zion, and with him were one hundred and forty-four thousand

people who had his name and his Father’s name written on their foreheads. **2** I heard a sound from heaven like that of a mighty torrent or a loud peal of thunder. It was like the sound of harpists playing their harps.

**3** They were singing a new song

before the throne and before the four living creatures and the elders. No one could learn this song except the one hundred and forty-four thousand who had been redeemed from the earth. **4** These are the ones who have not defiled themselves with women.

They are virgins, and they follow the Lamb wherever he goes. They have been redeemed as the firstfruits of mankind for God and for the Lamb. **5** No lie was found on their lips. They are irreproachable.

### The Nearness of the Judgment.

**6** Then I saw another angel flying in midair, with an eternal gospel to proclaim to all those who live on the earth, to every nation, race, language, and people. **7** He said in a loud voice, “Fear God and give him glory, for the time has come for his judgment. Worship him who made heaven and earth, the sea and the springs of water.”

**8** A second angel followed him, saying:

“Fallen, fallen is Babylon the great.

She has made all the nations drink

the wine of the wrath of her immorality.”

**9** A third angel followed them, crying out in a loud voice, “Anyone who worships the beast or its image and receives its mark on his forehead or hand **10** will also drink the wine of God’s wrath, poured undiluted into the cup of his wrath.

Such people will be tormented in burning sulfur in the presence of the holy angels and of the Lamb. **11** The smoke of their torment will rise forever and ever. There will be no respite day or night for those who worship the beast or its image or for those who receive the mark of its name.”

**12** This demands patient endurance on the part of the saints who keep the commandments of God and remain faithful to Jesus.

**13** Then I heard a voice from heaven say, “Write: Blessed

are those who die in the Lord from now on.”

“Yes,” says the Spirit, “they will find rest from their labors, for their deeds go with them.”

**14**

### One Like a Son of Man.

Now in my vision, I saw a white cloud, and seated on the cloud was one “like a son of man,”

with a gold crown on his head and a sharp sickle in his hand. **15** Another angel then came out of the temple and called out in a loud voice to the one seated on the cloud, “Use your sickle and reap, for the time to reap has come, because the harvest of the earth is fully ripe.” **16** So the one who was seated on the cloud swept over the earth with his sickle, and the earth was harvested.

**17** Another angel came out of the temple in heaven, and he, too, had a sharp sickle. **18** Then from the altar came forth still another angel who was in charge of the fire, and he cried out in a loud voice to the one who had the sharp sickle, “Take your sharp sickle and gather the clusters from the vines of the earth, for her grapes are ripe.”

**19** So the angel swung his sickle over the earth and gathered in its vintage, which he then cast into the great winepress of God’s wrath. **20** The winepress was trodden outside the city, and blood flowed from the winepress to the height of a horse’s bridle for a distance of two hundred miles.

## CHAPTER 15

### The Seven Angels and the Seven Plagues.

**1** Then I saw in heaven another great and wondrous sign: seven angels with the seven plagues, the last plagues of all, for through them the wrath of God is completed.

### The Song of Moses and the Song of the Lamb.

**2** I saw something that looked like a sea of glass mixed with fire. Standing beside the sea of glass and holding the harps that God had given them were those who had been victorious over the beast and its image and over the number of its name. They were holding harps given them by God **3** and singing the song of Moses, the servant of God, and the song of the Lamb:

“How great and wonderful are your works,

Lord God Almighty!

Just and true are your ways,

O King of the nations!

**4** Who shall not fear you, O Lord,

and bring glory to your name?

For you alone are holy.

All nations will come

and worship before you,

for your acts of justice have been revealed.”

### Vision of the Temple.

**5** After this, in my vision, the temple, that is, the tabernacle of the Testimony,

was opened in heaven, **6** and from the temple emerged the seven angels with the seven plagues. They were robed in clean, shining linen, and breastplates of gold were fastened around their chests.

**7** Then one of the four living creatures gave to the seven angels seven gold bowls full of the wrath of God, who lives forever and ever. **8** The temple was filled with the smoke from the glory of God and from his power, so that no one could enter the temple until the seven plagues of the seven angels were completed.

## CHAPTER 16

### The Seven Bowls of the Wrath of God.

**1** Then I heard a loud voice from the temple say to the seven angels, “Go forth and pour out on the earth the seven bowls of the wrath of God.”

**2** The first angel went forth and poured out his bowl on the earth. Immediately, foul and malignant sores broke out on those who had the mark of the beast and who worshiped its image.

**3**

The second angel poured out his bowl on the sea. It turned to blood, like the blood of a dead person, and every living thing in the sea died.

**4** The third angel poured out his bowl on the rivers and the springs of water, and they turned to blood. **5** Then I heard the angel in charge of the waters say:

“You are just, O Holy One,

who are and who were,

in these your judgments.

**6** For they have shed the blood

of the saints and the Prophets,

and you have given them blood to drink,

as they deserve.”

**7** And I heard the altar respond:

“Yes, Lord God Almighty,

true and just are your judgments.”

**8** The fourth angel poured out his bowl on the sun, and the sun was allowed to burn people with its flames. **9** They were scorched by the fierce heat, and they cursed the name of God who had the power to inflict those plagues, but they refused to repent and pay him homage.

**10** The fifth angel poured out his bowl on the throne of the beast, and its kingdom was plunged into darkness.

People gnawed their tongues in agony **11** and cursed the God of heaven because of their pains and sores, instead of repenting for what they had done.

**12** The sixth angel poured out his bowl on the great river Euphrates, and its water was dried up to prepare the way for the kings from the East. **13** I saw three unclean spirits like frogs

come forth from the mouth of the dragon, from the mouth of the beast, and from the mouth of the false prophet.

**14** These are demonic spirits with the power to work miracles. They were sent to the kings of the entire world to assemble them for battle on the great day of God the Almighty.

**15**

“Behold, I am coming like a thief! Blessed is the one who stays awake and keeps his clothes close by so that he will not have to go naked and be exposed to shame.” **16** These spirits then assembled the kings at the place that in Hebrew is called Armageddon.

**17** The seventh angel poured out his bowl into the air, and a loud voice came out of the temple from the throne, saying, “It is done!” **18** Then there followed flashes of lightning, rumblings, peals of thunder, and a violent earthquake—so violent that there has never been one like it since the human race has inhabited the earth.

**19** The great city was split into three parts, and the cities of the nations collapsed in ruin. Babylon the Great was also remembered by God, as he made her drink the cup filled with the wine of his fury and wrath. **20** Every island vanished, and no mountains were to be found. **21** Huge hailstones, each weighing about one hundred pounds, fell from the sky on the people, and they cursed God on account of the plague of hail that turned out to be so terrible.

## CHAPTER 17

### Babylon the Great, the Infamous Harlot.

**1** One of the seven angels who held the seven bowls approached me and said, “Come here and I will show you the judgment on the great harlot who is enthroned over many waters. **2** The kings of the earth have committed fornication with her, and the inhabitants of the earth have become drunk on the wine of her harlotry.”

**3** Then he carried me away in the spirit

into the wilderness, and I saw a woman seated on a scarlet beast that had seven heads and ten horns and was covered with blasphemous names. **4** The woman was clothed in purple and scarlet and adorned with gold and jewels and pearls. In her hand she held a gold cup filled with accursed things and the impurities of her harlotry.

**5** On her forehead was written a mysterious name: “Babylon the Great, the mother of harlots and of every abomination on the earth.” **6** And I noticed that the woman was drunk with the blood of the saints and the blood of those who had borne witness to Jesus.

When I saw her, I was utterly astounded. **7** But the angel said to me, “Why are you astounded? I will explain to you the mystery of the woman and of the beast with the seven heads and the ten horns that carries her. **8** The beast that you saw was once alive but is now alive no longer. It is about to ascend from the abyss and go to its destruction. All the inhabitants of the earth whose names have not been written in the book of life since the foundation of the world will be astonished when they see the beast, because it was once alive but is now alive no longer, and yet it is still to come.

**9** “This calls for a mind with wisdom. The seven heads represent seven hills upon which the woman is seated. They also represent seven kings. **10** Five have already fallen, one is still living, and the other has not yet come. When he does come, he must remain only for a short while. **11** As for the beast that was alive but is now alive no longer, it is at the same time the eighth and one of the seven, and it is headed for destruction.

**12** “The ten horns that you saw are ten kings who have not yet begun to reign. They will have royal authority for only a single hour together with the beast. **13** They are all of the same mind and will confer their power and authority on the beast. **14** They will wage war against the Lamb, but because the Lamb is Lord of lords and King of kings,

he will overcome them—he and those who are with him, the called, the chosen, and the faithful.”

**15** The angel continued, “The waters that you saw, where the harlot sits, represent peoples, multitudes, nations, and languages. **16** The ten horns that you saw and the beast will hate the harlot. They will render her desolate and naked; after they devour her flesh, they will burn her up with fire.

**17** “For God has influenced their hearts to carry out his purpose by agreeing to confer their royal powers upon the beast until the words of God will be fulfilled. **18** The woman you saw is the great city that has authority over the kings of the earth.”

## CHAPTER 18

### The Fall of Babylon the Great.

**1** After this I saw another angel coming down from heaven. He had great authority, and his splendor illumined the earth. **2** He cried out in a mighty voice:

“Fallen, fallen is Babylon the Great!

She has become a dwelling place for demons,

a haunt for every unclean spirit

and for every filthy and loathsome bird.

**3** For all the nations have drunk

the wine of the wrath of her harlotry.

The kings of the earth have committed fornication with her,

and the merchants of the earth have grown rich

from her wealth and luxury.”

**4** Then I heard another voice from heaven saying:

“Depart from her, my people,

so that you will not take part in her sins

and share in her plagues.

**5** For her sins are piled up as high as the heavens,

and God has remembered her crimes.

**6** Pay her back as she has done to others,

and repay her double for her deeds;

mix her a double portion of her own poison.

**7** Give her torment and grief

to equal the measure of her glory and luxury.

In her heart she says,

‘I rule as a queen.

I am not a widow,

and I will never experience grief.’

**8** Therefore, in a single day

her plagues will come upon her:

pestilence and mourning and famine.

And she will be consumed by fire,

for mighty is the Lord God who judges her.

### Funereal Ode over Rome.

**9** “The kings of the earth who committed fornication with her and shared in her luxury will weep and mourn over her when they behold the smoke of her immolation. **10** In terror at her torment, they will keep their distance and say:

“ ‘Woe, woe, O great city,

mighty city of Babylon.

In one hour your judgment has come.’

**11** “The merchants of the earth will weep and mourn over her, since no one buys their cargo anymore: **12** their cargo of gold, silver, precious stones, and pearls; purple and scarlet cloth, silks, and fine linens; all sorts of fragrant wood and all kinds of objects of ivory, all kinds of objects of expensive wood, bronze, iron, and marble; **13** cinnamon and spices; incense, myrrh, and frankincense; wine and olive oil; fine flour and wheat; cattle and sheep; horses and chariots; and slaves, that is, human lives. They will say:

**14** “ ‘The fruit you longed for

is no longer available to you.

All your riches and splendor are gone,

and you will never find them again.’

**15** “The merchants of these things who made a fortune from her will stand far off, weeping and mourning aloud, and terrified as they behold her torment:

**16** “ ‘Woe, woe, O great city,

clothed in fine linen and purple and scarlet,

adorned with gold, jewels, and precious stones!

**17** Within one hour

all this wealth has been destroyed.’

“All the ship captains and voyagers, all the sailors and those who make their living by trading upon the sea, will stand far off **18** and exclaim as they see the smoke caused by her immolation, ‘Has there ever been a city to compare with this great city?’ **19** Then they will throw dust on their heads and with mourning and weeping cry out:

“ ‘Woe, woe, O great city,

where all who had ships at sea

became rich through her wealth!

Within one hour

she has been brought to ruin.

**20** Rejoice over her, O heaven,

you holy ones, apostles, and prophets!

For God has passed judgment on her for you.’ ”

**21** Then a mighty angel picked up a stone the size of a large millstone and threw it into the sea, saying:

“This is how

the great city of Babylon will be thrown down,

never to be found again.

**22** The sound of harpists and minstrels,

flute players and trumpeters,

will never be heard in you again.

Craftsmen of every trade

never will be found in you again.

The sound of a millstone

will never be heard in you again.

**23** The light from a lamp

will never be seen in you again.

The voices of a bridegroom and bride

will never be heard in you again.

Since your merchants were the world’s great men,

all the nations were led astray by your enticements.

**24** In you

was found the blood of the Prophets,

of the saints,

and of all who have been slain on the earth.”

## CHAPTER 19

### Song of Victory and Wedding Day of the Lamb.

**1** After this I heard what sounded like the roar of a great multitude in heaven, shouting:

“Alleluia!

Salvation and glory and power belong to our God,

**2** for true and just are his judgments.

He has condemned the great harlot

who corrupted the earth with her harlotry.

And he has paid her back

for the blood of his servants.”

**3** Once again they shouted:

“Alleluia!

Her smoke will rise

forever and ever.”

**4** The twenty-four elders and the four living creatures threw themselves to the ground and worshiped God who was seated on the throne, and they cried:

“Amen. Alleluia!”

**5** Then a voice came from the throne, saying:

“Praise our God,

all you his servants,

and all who fear him,

small and great alike.”

**6** And I heard what seemed to be the sound of a vast multitude, like the sound of a torrential stream or of great peals of thunder, crying out:

“Alleluia.

The reign of the Lord our God,

the Almighty, has begun.

**7** Let us rejoice and be glad

and give him glory.

For the wedding day of the Lamb has come,

and the bride has made herself ready.

**8** She has been permitted to wear

a bright and clean garment of fine linen.”

(The fine linen represents the righteous deeds of the saints.)

**9** Then the angel said to me, “Write: ‘Blessed

are those who are invited to the wedding banquet of the Lamb.’ ” And he added, “These are the true words of God.”

**10** I fell at his feet to worship him, but he said to me, “You must not do that! I am a fellow servant with you and with your brethren who have given witness to Jesus.

Worship God! For the witness to Jesus is the spirit of prophecy.

### The White Horse and the King of Kings.

Now I saw heaven opened, and a white horse appeared. Its rider was called “Faithful and True,” for with righteousness he judges and wages war. **12** His eyes were like fiery flames, and on his head were many crowns. The name inscribed on him was known to no one but himself.

**13** He was clothed in a robe dipped in blood, and he was known by the name The Word of God. **14** The armies of heaven were following him, riding on white horses and dressed in fine linen, white and clean.

**15** Coming out of his mouth was a sharp sword with which to strike down the nations. He will rule them with an iron scepter, and he will tread the winepress

of the fury of the wrath of God the Almighty. **16** On his robe and on his thigh

he had a name inscribed: “King of kings and Lord of lords.”

**17**

### The Great Booty.

Then I saw an angel standing in the sun, and with a loud voice he cried out to all the birds flying in midair, “Come here! Gather together for the great supper of God, **18** to eat the flesh of kings, the flesh of commanders, and the flesh of warriors, the flesh of horses and their riders, the flesh of all, both free and slave, both small and great.”

**19**

### The Beast and the False Prophet.

Next I saw the beast and the kings of the earth and their armies gathered together to wage war against the one upon the horse and against his army. **20** The beast was captured, and with it the false prophet who in its presence had performed the signs by which he had deluded those who had received the mark of the beast and those who had worshiped its image.

These two were thrown alive into the fiery lake of burning sulfur. **21** The rest were killed by the sword that came forth from the mouth of the rider on the horse, and all the birds gorged themselves on their flesh.

## CHAPTER 20

### The Dragon.

**1** Then I saw an angel coming down from heaven, with the key to the abyss and a great chain in his hand. **2** He seized the dragon, that ancient serpent, who is the devil, or Satan, and chained him up for a thousand years. **3** He threw him into the abyss and locked and sealed it over him, so that he would not again deceive the nations until the thousand years were ended. After that he must be released, but only for a short time.

### The Reign of the Martyrs: Return and Destruction of Satan.

**4** Next, I saw thrones on which were seated those who had been given the authority to judge. I also saw the souls of those who had been beheaded for bearing witness to Jesus and the word of God. They had not worshiped the beast or its image and had not received its mark on their foreheads or their hands. They lived and reigned with Christ for a thousand years.

**5** The rest of the dead did not come to life until the thousand years were ended. This is the first resurrection. **6** Blessed

and holy are those who share in the first resurrection. The second death has no power over them. They will be priests of God and of Christ, and they will reign with him for a thousand years.

**7** When the thousand years are ended, Satan will be released from his prison **8** and will emerge to lead astray the nations in the four corners of the earth—Gog and Magog—in order to gather them for battle. They are as numerous as the sands of the sea.

**9** They marched across the breadth of the earth

and laid siege to the camp of the saints and the beloved city. However, fire came down from heaven and devoured them. **10** The devil who had led them astray was thrown into the fiery lake of burning sulfur, where the beast and the false prophet had been flung to be tormented day and night forever and ever.

**11**

### Preparation for the Judgment.

Then I saw a great white throne, and the one who was seated upon it. The earth and the sky fled so far from his presence that they could no longer be found.

**12**

### The Resurrection and Judgment.

And I saw the dead, great and small, standing before the throne, and the scrolls were opened. Then another scroll was opened, the book of life, and the dead were judged according to their deeds, as were recorded in the scrolls.

**13** The sea gave up all the dead who were in it, and Death and Hades gave up the dead that were in them. The dead were judged according to their deeds. **14** Then Death and Hades were hurled into the fiery lake. This fiery lake is the second death.

**15** Anyone who was not found written in the book of life was thrown into the fiery lake.

## CHAPTER 21

### The New Heaven and the New Earth.

**1** Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth. For the first heaven and the first earth had passed away, and there was no longer any sea.

**2** And I saw the holy city, the new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, like a bride adorned and ready for her husband. **3** And I heard a loud voice proclaim from the throne:

“Behold, God’s dwelling is with mankind;

he will dwell with them.

They will be his people,

and he will be their God,

God-with-them.

**4** He will wipe every tear from their eyes,

and there will no longer be death.

Neither will there be any mourning or crying or pain,

for the old order has passed away.”

**5** The one seated on the throne then said, “Behold, I am making all things new.” He also said, “Write this down, for these words are trustworthy and true.” **6** Then he said to me, “It is done. I am the Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the End.

To those who are thirsty I will give to drink without cost from the spring of life-giving water.

**7** “The one who is victorious will inherit these things, and I will be his God and he will be my son.

**8** But as for the cowardly, the faithless, the depraved, the murderers, the sexually immoral, the sorcerers, the idolaters, and liars of every kind, their place is the fiery lake of burning sulfur, which is the second death.”

### The New Jerusalem.

**9** One of the seven angels who had the seven bowls filled with the seven final plagues came forward and said to me, “Come, and I will show you the bride, the wife of the Lamb.” **10** Then he carried me away in the spirit

to the top of a very high mountain and showed me the holy city Jerusalem coming down out of heaven from God. **11** It possessed the glory of God and had the radiance of some priceless jewel, like jasper, clear as crystal.

**12** Its wall was of a great height, with twelve gates,

and at the gates there were twelve angels. On the gates were written the names of the twelve tribes of Israel. **13** There were three gates to the east, three to the north, three to the south, and three to the west. **14** The city wall had twelve foundation stones, and on them were the names of the twelve apostles of the Lamb. **15** The angel who was speaking to me was carrying a gold measuring rod to measure the city,

its gates, and its wall. **16** The city was laid out like a square, with its length and its width identical. He measured the city with his measuring rod: it was fifteen hundred miles

in length and width, and equal in height.

**17** Then he measured its wall, and it was one hundred and forty-four cubits

high by human measurements, which the angel employed. **18**

The wall was built of jasper, while the city itself was of pure gold, as bright as clear glass.

**19** The foundations of the city wall were adorned with precious stones of every kind. The first of the foundation stones was jasper, the second sapphire, the third turquoise, the fourth emerald, **20** the fifth onyx, the sixth carnelian, the seventh chrysolite, the eighth beryl, the ninth topaz, the tenth chrysoprase, the eleventh jacinth, and the twelfth amethyst. **21** The twelve gates were twelve pearls, each of the gates fashioned from a single pearl, and the street of the city was pure gold, like transparent glass.

**22** I did not see any temple there, for the Lord God Almighty and the Lamb are its temple. **23** And the city had no need for the sun or the moon to shine on it, for it was lit by the glory of God, and its lamp was the Lamb. **24**

The nations will walk by its light, and to it the kings of the earth will bring their treasures.

**25** The gates of the city will never be shut during the day—and there will be no night there. **26** The nations will come into it bringing their treasures and wealth. **27** However, nothing unclean will ever enter it, nor will anyone who does abominable or deceitful things, but only those who are written in the Lamb’s book of life.

## CHAPTER 22

**1** Then the angel showed me the river of the water of life, bright as crystal, flowing from the throne of God and of the Lamb

**2** down the middle of the street. On either side of the river was the tree of life

with its twelve crops of fruit, yielding fruit each month. The leaves of the trees are for the healing of the nations.

**3** Nothing accursed will be found there anymore. The throne of God and of the Lamb will be in it, and his servants will worship him. **4** They will see his face,

and his name will be on their foreheads. **5** And there will be no more night. They will have no need for light from a lamp or from the sun, for the Lord God will give them light, and they will reign

forever and ever.

### Worship God Alone.

The angel said to me, “These words are trustworthy and true, for the Lord God who inspires the prophets has sent his angel to show his servants what soon must take place.

**7** “ ‘Behold, I am coming soon!’

Blessed is the one who observes the words of prophecy contained in this book.”

**8** I, John, am the one who heard and saw these things. And when I had heard and seen them, I knelt at the feet of the angel who had shown them to me to worship him. **9** However, he said to me, “You must not do that. I am a fellow servant of you and of your brethren the prophets and of those who observe the words of this book. Worship God!”

**10**

### The Great Separation.

Then he said to me, “Do not seal up the words of prophecy that are in this book, for the time is near. **11** Let the wicked persist in acting wickedly, and let the vile continue in their vileness, but let the righteous persevere in righteousness, and let the holy continue to be holy.”

**12** “ ‘Behold, I am coming soon, and I will bring with me my reward to repay everyone as his deeds deserve. **13** I am the Alpha and the Omega, the First and the Last, the Beginning and the End.’

**14** “Blessed

are those who wash their robes clean so that they will be free to eat from the tree of life and may enter the city by the gates. **15** Others must remain outside: the dogs,

the sorcerers, the sexually immoral, the murderers, the idolaters, and everyone who loves and practices deceit.

**16**

### “Come, Lord Jesus!”“

‘I, Jesus, sent my angel to you with this testimony for the churches. I am the Root and the Offspring of David,

the bright Morning Star.’ ”

**17** The Spirit and the bride say, “Come!” Let each listener say, “Come!” Let everyone who thirsts come forward, and let the one who desires it receive the gift of life-giving water.

**18** I warn everyone who hears the words of prophecy in this book: if anyone adds to them, God will add to him the plagues written about in this book; **19** if anyone takes away from the words in this book of prophecy, God will take away his share in the tree of life and in the holy city, which are written about in this book.

**20** The one who gives this testimony says, “Yes, I am coming soon.”

Amen. Come, Lord Jesus!

The grace of the Lord Jesus be with you all.

## FOOTNOTES

**Revelation 1:1:**

Christians are living

in the last period

of history.

They are facing

difficult times,

and God’s plan

is questioned.

More than ever,

faithfulness to his plan

is required.

Here then is

a vision of faith

concerning what is happening.

The one who attests to it,

in the Name of Christ,

is prepared to

give testimony

for it

even by shedding his blood.
**Revelation 1:3:**
**Blessed:**

this is the first

of seven beatitudes

that appear

in the book

**(see**
**Revelation 14:13;** **Revelation 16:15;** **Revelation 19:9;** **Revelation 20:6;** **Revelation 22:7;** **And** **Revelation 22:14).**

The word

“blessed”

is more all-encompassing

than

“happy”;

it indicates

the favorable conditions

in which God

has placed a person

**(see**
**Psalms 1:1;** **And** **Matthew 5:3).**
**Prophecy:**

i.e.,

any word from God,

whether it

foretells

the

future,

commands,

instructs,

or

sets forth history.
**Revelation 1:4:**

The greeting

and

the address

introduce the work

as a letter.

**[He] who is:**

this is

how God revealed himself

to Moses

at the burning bush

**(Exodus 3:14);**

this time,

the divine name embraces

the past,

present,

and

future of humankind

and is

turned to the future,

to the

immediate fulfillment

of all things:

God,

**he who is to come.**

God is also described

with the first and last letters

of the Greek alphabet,

**Alpha**
**and**
**. . . Omega;**

he is

**the Beginning and the End,**

the origin

and

the completion

(a proper name of God

according to

**Isaiah 44:6;** **And** **Isaiah 48:12).**

In addition,

he is the master of

all historical events,

including the present ones,

which,

according to the author,

are decisive.

And Christ will appear

in all the glory

of his Resurrection

and in the grandeur

of the work accomplished

to save humankind,

comprising the

body of the Church

**(see**
**1 Peter 2:5,** **And** **1 Peter 2:9),**

in the imminence

of his coming

to judge the world.

In order to speak of him,

the author here

multiplies

Biblical reminiscences

**(Exodus 19:6;** **Psalms 89:28,** **Psalms 89:38;** **And** **Isaiah 55:3).**

The seven spirits before the throne

**(Revelation 1: v. 4)**

represent the Holy Spirit

in the many ways

that the Spirit manifests himself

in the world

**(e.g.,**
**Isaiah 11:2,** **And** **Isaiah 11:5).**
**Revelation 1:4:**
**Seven Churches:**

the Churches

**(named** **in** **Revelation 1: v. 11)**

formed a circle

in the province of Asia

and were separated

from one another

by some fifty miles.
**Revelation 1:5:**
**Faithful witness:**

the Messiah

is the witness

to the promise

the Lord made

to David

**(2 Samuel 7:1;** **Psalms 89;** **Isaiah 55:3-Isaiah 55:4;** **And** **Zechariah 12:8)**

in his person

as well as in his work.

He also fulfills this promise

and is thus the efficacious Word,

God’s Yes

**(see**
**Revelation 3:14;** **Revelation 19:11,** **Revelation 19:13;** **And** **2 Corinthians 1:20).**

He is the heir of David

**(see**
**Revelation 5:5;** **And** **Revelation 22:16)**

but also the firstborn

from the dead

because of his Resurrection

**(see**
**Colossians 1:18)**

who will rule the universe

after his enemies

have been overcome

**(see**
**Revelation 19:6;** **And** **Daniel 7:14).**
**Revelation 1:6:**

Those who follow Christ

will be part of a kingdom,

because they will rule

over all the nations

**(see**
**Isaiah 54:11-Isaiah 54:17;** **Daniel 7:22,** **Daniel 7:27;** **And** **Zechariah 12:1-Zechariah 12:3;**
**see**
**Revelation 2:26;** **Revelation 5:10;** **Revelation 20:6;** **And** **Revelation 22:5).**

They will also be priests

because like

Jesus the Priest

they offer up the sacrifice

of their own lives

as a burnt offering of love.
**Revelation 1:9:**

The author describes himself

as a Christian

who has been exiled

to a little island

that lay off

the coast of

Miletus

and

Ephesus

and was known as a prison island.

Before his eyes

the risen Christ appears.

The majestic description

derives its images

from the portrait of the Son of Man

in

**Chapters.** **Chapter 7** **and** **Chapter 10**

of the Book of Daniel.

The description of

his stance and clothing

suggests majesty and power;

this being

who is master of life

possesses

the secret of all things

and holds

even the realm of death

subject to him

**(Revelation 1: v. 18).**
**The netherworld,**

or the lower world

(Hebrew: **Sheol**;

not to be confused

with hell,

the place

of eternal damnation),

is a localization of the

realm of death,

where,

it is imagined,

the dead dwell,

deprived of the ability

to perform

any existential act.

Another term for it is

**Hades**.

Christ has the power

to release souls

from the netherworld

**(see** **John 5:26-John 5:28).**

The very figure of Christ

shows the judgment

to be imminent.

But he is also present

in the life

of the Churches,

and the author lists

seven of them

(seven is the number

symbolizing universality).

The text speaks

of the angels

of the Churches;

according to

the religious vision

of the world at that time,

some heavenly representatives

presided over the destinies

of cities,

peoples,

and

Churches.

The seer might be speaking

of the earthly persons

in charge of the Churches.

However,

the Churches are

also in

the power of Christ

and

under his protection.

**What is happening now, and what will take place afterward**
**(Revelation 1: v. 19):**

these words anticipate

the two main parts

of the work.
**Revelation 1:9:**
**Patmos:**

a small island

in the Aegean Sea

about 50 miles

from Ephesus.

According to

the third-century

Church historian

Eusebius,

John the Apostle

was released from Patmos

under the emperor

Nerva

(A.D. 96–98).
**Revelation 1:10:**
**In the spirit:**

i.e.,

in a state

of spiritual ecstasy

**(see**
**also**
**Revelation 4:2;** **Revelation 17:3;** **And** **Revelation 21:10).**
**The Lord’s day:**

Sunday.

In the Old Testament

the expression

“Day of the Lord”

signifies some

special intervention

of God in history.

For Christians,

the eschatological age

is the last times

that have begun with the

Resurrection of Christ;

to celebrate the Lord’s day

means therefore

to commemorate

his Paschal victory

and to hasten his return

**(see**
**Acts 20:7;** **1 Corinthians 11:26;** **And** **2 Peter 3:12;**
**see** **also** **the** **present-day** **liturgical** **acclamations** **after** **the** **consecration** **of** **the** **Eucharist).**
**Revelation 1:11:**
**Scroll:**

pieces of

papyrus

or

parchment

sewn together

and rolled up.

The book form came

into use some time

in the second century.
**Revelation 1:13:**

Jesus appears in garments

that are

priestly

(the habit or long tunic)

and

royal

(the golden breastplate).

The white hair

is a symbol of eternity;

the flaming eyes

signify omniscience,

and the bronze feet,

immutability.

He is also a Judge,

prepared to sentence those

who are unfaithful

**(see**
**Revelation 2:16;** **Revelation 19:15;** **Isaiah 49:2;** **Ephesians 6:17;** **And** **Hebrews 4:12).**

One or other of his attributes

as Judge

is used by the author

at the beginning of

each of the

seven letters

to indicate

the circumstances

of the Church addressed.
**Revelation 1:13:**
**Son of man:**
**see** **note** **on** **Matthew 8:20.**
**Revelation 2:1**

Christian communities

at the end of the

first century

found themselves

faced with difficulties

that were substantially

the same as those

faced by the Church

in every age,

from the Passover of Christ

to the end of history.

The real struggle

was and would be

that of fidelity

in the midst of

constant renewal.

The letters here

are addressed

to seven Churches

of Asia Minor;

the number seven

is symbolic,

in the sense that

these communities

represent

all the Churches

with their

difficulties

and

problems,

their efforts

to be faithful,

and their undertakings.

Each letter follows

the same pattern:

Christ comes on the scene

bearing one of the symbols

listed in the great vision of

**Revelation 1:9-Revelation 1:20;**

he judges the communities

according to

their deficiencies,

their fidelity,

and

their constancy;

then he concludes

with the promise

of final victory.

In every age

each community

and

each believer

will read these letters

in order to submit to the

Lord’s judgment

and to hear once again

his call.

Addressed

as they are to angels who,

according to the

religious thinking

of the time,

were regarded

as presiding over

the destiny of a community,

they envisage first of all

the leaders

of the communities.
**Revelation 2:1:**

Under the pretext

of Christian

spirituality

and

freedom,

a sect that,

certainly without

justification,

claims reliance

on one of

the first deacons,

Nicholas

**(see**
**Acts 6:5),**

allows itself

the most serious

moral deviations

and takes part

very freely

in pagan worship.

(A similar group

at Pergamum

holds

the

teaching of Balaam

**[Revelation 2: vv. 14-Revelation 2:15],**

and a third at Thyatira

follows the woman Jezebel

**[Revelation 2: v. 20].**

All three groups

are usually termed

Nicolaitans.)

The community of Ephesus

does resist the danger

that threatens it,

but unfortunately

in its effort

to be faithful

it has become

judgmental.

It has lost

its charity.

The time has come

for it

to be renewed.

Otherwise,

the community

will lose its place.

What a perspective

is thus

opened for fidelity!

A new access to

the tree of life

militates against

succumbing to sin

**(see**
**Genesis 2:9;** **And** **Genesis 3:22-Genesis 3:24);**

expressed

in Jewish language,

it is the hope

of an unending life.
**Revelation 2:1:**
**Ephesus:**
**see** **Introduction to the Letter to the Ephesians.**
**Revelation 2:7:**
**Whoever has ears should listen to what the Spirit says . . .:**

this formula

concludes

each of

the seven letters

and stresses the role

of the Spirit in

Christ’s relation

with his Church.

**Anyone who is victorious:**

i.e.,

anyone

who clings

to the faith

in the face

of persecution.

**Right to eat from the tree of life:**

a right

lost by

our first parents

but now

restored by Christ

who

abrogated the decree

that excluded

human beings

from

the tree of life.

God and humans

are restored to

the perfect fellowship

that existed before

the advent of sin.
**Revelation 2:8:**

Those Jews

who did not

acknowledge Christ

as the one

who fulfilled their hope,

nor the Church

as the true Israel,

slandered

the Christian community.

They were regarded

as partisans

of the forces

of opposition

represented by Satan.

However,

the Christians

must take courage,

for the trial

will last

only for ten days,

i.e.,

it will be

of short duration—

the reward

for a life

in God is near.

Believers will escape

the second death,

i.e.,

defeat

and

definitive

perdition

at

the judgment of God.
**Revelation 2:8:**
**Smyrna:**

a city

closely aligned

with Rome

that housed a

large Jewish population

hostile to Christians

**(see**
**Acts 14:2,** **Acts 14:19;** **Acts 17:5,** **And** **Acts 17:13).**

One of the most famous

early martyrs,

Polycarp,

was bishop of Smyrna.
**Revelation 2:12:**

In this city,

a main center

of emperor worship,

the presence

of Satan

is visible.

Deviant heresies,

like that of

the Nicolaitans,

glorify participation

in pagan forms

of worship

and in

the moral disorders

they represent,

which in the eyes of the

Old Testament

is tantamount to

prostitution.

The episode of Balaam

is evoked to stigmatize

these wanderings

of the conscience

of believers

**(see**
**Numbers 25:3;** **And** **Numbers 31:16).**

The reward is illustrated

by two symbols:

the

**manna**,

i.e.,

the food of life

**(see**
**Psalms 78:24f),**

evokes all

the blessings

God bestows

on those who remain

faithful to him,

blessings of which

the Eucharist

is the sign

**(see**
**Exodus 16:32-Exodus 16:34;** **2 Maccabees 2:4-2 Maccabees 2:8;** **And** **Hebrews 9:4);**

the

**white stone**

probably recalls

the stones

upon which Greeks

wrote the names

of the candidates

for whom

they were voting

in elections.

God chooses us.
**Revelation 2:12:**
**Pergamum:**

the ancient capital of Asia,

built on a hill.

Its name means

“citadel”

in Greek

and

is the origin of the word

“parchment.”

It was the center

of emperor worship

in Asia.
**Revelation 2:13:**
**Antipas:**

the first martyr of Asia,

who was put to death

under the emperor Domitian.
**Revelation 2:14:**
**Teaching of Balaam:**

Balaam counseled

the Midianite women

on how to lead

the Israelites

astray

**(see**
**Numbers 25:1-Numbers 25:2;** **And** **Numbers 31:16;**
**see**
**also**
**Jude 1:11);**

thus

he is the exemplar

of teachers

who lead the faithful

into becoming completely

worldly-minded.
**Revelation 2:18:**

A prophetess,

who is compared

to Jezebel

of sad memory

in the Books of

the Kings of Israel

**(see**
**1 Kings 16:31;** **And** **2 Kings 9:22),**

is inciting Christians

to take part

in idolatrous worship.

Some,

who are doubtless

Nicolaitans,

believed that

they could

obtain a deeper

religious knowledge

through a

mysterious initiation.

Believers cling to Christ.

He will be

at their side

on

the Day of Judgment,

according to

the classic images

of

**Psalm 2.**

The morning star

is the symbol of

the Resurrection

and its power—

for Jesus rose

from the dead

just before dawn,

the time when

the morning star

is visible.
**Revelation 2:18:**
**Thyatira:**

a military outpost

noted for its

trade guilds.
**Revelation 2:24:**
**The deep secrets of Satan:**

perhaps

the esoteric teaching

of

the Nicolaitans.
**Revelation 3:1:**

This community

seems to be dead!

Hence,

it is urged to change

and

become spiritually alive.

From now on

people must align themselves

with Christ

**(see**
**Matthew 10:32).**

Those who truly follow Jesus

will one day be clad

in a white garment,

which recalls

the white garment

worn by Jesus

at the

Transfiguration

and

Resurrection.

It was the garment

already being given

at Baptism.
**Revelation 3:1:**
**Sardis:**

capital

of the ancient kingdom

of Lydia,

it was a wealthy

and

famous

city.
**Revelation 3:5:**

Those who are victorious are promised three things:

**(1)**

they will receive white garments

like those Christ will give

to the faithful Sardinians;

**(2)**

their names

will never be

blotted out

of the book of life;

and

**(3)**

their names will be

acknowledged by Christ

in the presence

of

the Father

and his angels.

White garments

symbolize

God’s righteousness,

victory,

and

glory

**(see**
**Revelation 3:18;** **Revelation 6:11;** **Revelation 7:9,** **Revelation 7:13f;** **And** **Revelation 19:14).**

The book of life

is a reference

to

the divine register

in which the names

of the redeemed

are written

**(see**
**Revelation 13:8;** **Revelation 17:8;** **Revelation 20:12,** **Revelation 20:15;** **Revelation 21:27;** **Daniel 12:1;** **And** **Philippians 4:3).**

Christians

who were loyal

to Christ

were continually

threatened

with being

stripped of

their citizenship

in cities
they inhabited,

i.e.,

having their names

blotted out

of the city’s register.

Christ’s acknowledgment

of them in heaven

offers an eternal,

safe citizenship

in his

eternal Kingdom

**(see**
**Matthew 10:32;** **And** **Luke 12:8).**
**Revelation 3:7:**

The Messiah,

Son of David—

who holds all power

over the lot

of the People of God,

according to the image

of

**Isaiah 22:22**—

addresses himself to the

community of Philadelphia.

Like the

Church of Smyrna,

it was

suffering persecution,

but it remained faithful.

The reward of those

who are faithful

is evoked

in symbolic terms:

they will live

in God’s dwelling

and

meet God;

they will be members

of Christ’s Body,

bearing his name

and

sharing his lot.
**Revelation 3:7:**
**Philadelphia:**

the gateway

to the central plateau

in the

province of Asia.

**The holy one, the true one:**
**see**
**Revelation 6:10** **And** **Isaiah 40:25;**
**Habakkuk 3:2-Habbakuk 3:3;** **And** **Mark 1:24.**
**Key of David:**

Christ

is the

Davidic Messiah

empowered

to

control entrance

into the Kingdom

**(see**
**Isaiah 22:22;** **And** **Matthew 16:19).**
**Revelation 3:8:**

The open door

may refer to

the missionary apostolate.
**Revelation 3:12:**
**Inscribe on him . . . my own new name:**

this may be a name

that characterizes

his redemptive work

and will not be known

until the Second Coming

or the name

“the Word”

**(see**
**Revelation 19:13).**
**Revelation 3:14:**

Christ cannot

bear lukewarmness,

since he is the

“Amen,”

the one

who commits himself

completely

**(see**
**2 Corinthians 1:19-2 Corinthians 1:20).**

By his love

he urges people

to change

their lives.

He stands

at the door

and

knocks,

i.e.,

his coming

is imminent

**(see**
**Mark 13:29;** **Luke 12:35;** **And** **Luke 22:16).**

This may seem

to be a threat,

but it is

above all

a wonderful invitation—

the invitation

to share

the most

lovable intimacy

with Christ,

of which

the Eucharistic Banquet

is the inauguration.

He invites us

to be at his side

when the Judgment

and

the destiny

of the world

are fulfilled.
**Revelation 3:14:**
**Laodicea:**

a very wealthy city

known for its

banks,

medical school,

and

textile industry

as well

as its lack

of sufficient water,

to each of which

the letter alludes.

**Amen:**

a divine title

**(see**
**Isaiah 65:16)**

applied to Christ

**(see**
**2 Corinthians 1:20).**
**Source of God’s creation:**

a concept

that is

found in

**John 1:3;** **Colossians 1:16f;** **And** **Hebrews 1:2;**
**see**
**also**
**Proverbs 8:22-Proverbs 8:31;** **And** **Wisdom 9:1f.**
**Revelation 3:16:**
**Lukewarm, neither cold nor hot:**

i.e.,

complacent,

self-satisfied,

and

indifferent

to the real issues

of faith in Christ—

hence,

lacking in

zeal

and

useless.
**Revelation 3:17:**
**Never realizing that you are . . . naked:**

the spiritual wretchedness

of the community of Laodicea

in contrast to

its material prosperity.

The Laodiceans

may have interpreted

their material wealth

as a blessing from God

and were thus deceived

into thinking that

their spiritual state

was better than it truly was.
**Revelation 3:19:**
**I . . . discipline all those whom I love:**
**see**
**Job 5:17;** **Psalms 94:12;** **Proverbs 3:11f;** **1 Corinthians 11:32;** **And** **Hebrews 12:5-Hebrews 12:11.**
**Revelation 4:1:**

In antiquity,

books took the form

of large scrolls.

Thus,

the most important

and difficult part of

the Book of Revelation

is presented to us

as a

well-sealed scroll;

the seals

must be broken

and,

as they are,

the visions unfold

one after the other.

In their main lines

these visions intersect

according to

the classic plan

of an apocalypse.

After

a

grandiose

inaugural vision

**(Chapters.** **Chapter 4** **And** **Chapter 5),**

there is

the prelude

of events to come

**(Revelation 6:1—Revelation 11:9):**

it is

the history of Israel,

whose fall

under the blows

of the Roman armies

is regarded

as a judgment of God

on his people.

Then follow the

trials

and

confrontations

of

the decisive moment

**(Revelation 12:1—Revelation 20:15):**

the nations

come before us,

slaves

to the powers

of evil

that oppose

the plan of God,

who wants

to save

human beings.

The Roman empire

is certainly

in the forefront.

The Judgment

will be

even more terrible

than

that of Jerusalem

if they

remain hostile to

Christ the Lord,

to his Gospel,

and

to his Church.

In any case,

the great battle between

God

and

the wicked powers

will end with the

extermination

of these powers.

Then,

the drama

can be resolved

in

the final accomplishment

**(Revelation 21:1—Revelation 22:15):**

God creates

a new world

reserved

for his Elect.

But must we read,

in this succession

of numberless visions,

the sketches

of a mysterious calendar,

a succession

of events to come?

The whole would

then appears

terribly supercharged,

badly ordered,

and—

in a nutshell—

incoherent.

Doubtless,

one can imagine that

the elements

of

two different apocalypses—

each redacted according to

a similar movement—

have been

poorly coordinated,

in a single book.

But the author

multiplies

images

and

explanations

to such an extent

as to

disconcert

and

baffle

us.

Yet,

these events are described

in such

an ambiguous manner

that they could be applied

to all times.

These things

are always happening;

we should always be ready

for the end.
**Revelation 4:1:**

This is

a view of history

imparted by faith.

The Book

suggests it

by immediately

transporting us

to the

throne of God

where the destinies

of the universe

are decided.

Images are multiplied

to suggest in advance

and to represent

the hidden

meaning of history.

This inaugural vision

places the readers

in the

worship of God;

it confirms

the role of Christ

as Master

of the

history of the world.
**Revelation 4:1:**

Emperors

are entertained

like gods

and are thought

to have power

over

the world’s destiny.

The truth

is far different.

Who indeed

can open the door

of

the true

God’s dwelling

and express

the greatness

of his

life

and

plan?

Here are

innumerable symbols

orchestrated

like

a brilliant symphony.

Everything is

inaccessible greatness:

the peace of

the light,

the dread of

the All-powerful,

the power

that dominates the universe,

the perfect knowledge

of all things.

All this

is what

is proclaimed

in these images.

Already present around God

are the fathers,

those great ancestors

whose sacred history

faith

proclaims

**(see**
**Sirach 44–Sirach 50;** **And** **Hebrews 10–Hebrews 12);**

for He is

the God

of the living

and

not of the dead,

the

God

of

Abraham,

Isaac,

and

Jacob,

as Jesus attests

in the Gospel

**(see**
**Mark 12:26-Mark 12:27).**

The great manifestations

(or epiphanies)

of God

depicted in

the Old Testament

are an invitation

to adore God,

and the author

was inspired by them.

We recognize

the themes of Isaiah

in the temple

**(see**
**Isaiah 6)**

and

especially

the images of

Ezekiel

**(see**
**Ezekiel 1** **and** **Ezekiel 10).**

In this way,

the Jews were wont

to express

God’s domination

over the universe.

Thus,

the sea,

always felt

to be a

savage

and

hostile

power,

was itself tamed

by the

all-powerful God.

All the

forces of heaven

that can be imagined—

for example,

those to which

are attributed

the government

of the seasons

and

the rhythm of time,

the four living creatures

that represent

the best of creation—

are at

the service of God.

All these symbols

form a great hymn

to the Creator.
**Revelation 4:2:**
**In the spirit:**
**see** **note** **on**
**Revelation 1:10.**
**Revelation 4:4:**

The

**elders**

exercise a

priestly

and

royal

role:

they

praise

and

adore

God,

offer him

the prayers

of the faithful,

assist him

in governing the world,

and

share

in his power.

The number

twenty-four

corresponds

perhaps

to

the twenty-four

classes

or

divisions

of priests

in

**1 Chronicles 24:1-1 Chronicles 9,**

or to

the twelve patriarchs

plus

the twelve apostles.

They thus represent

salvation history.
**Revelation 4:6:**

The

**four living creatures**

represent

the created world

that reveals

God’s

goodness

and

power.

Their many eyes

symbolize

the universal

knowledge

and

providence

of God.

They continue

to give glory

to God through

their work

in creation.

Their forms

**(lion,** **ox,** **human,** **eagle)**

represent what is

noblest,

strongest,

wisest,

and

most

agile

in the created world.

Ever since

St. Irenaeus,

Christian tradition

had seen

in them

symbols of

the evangelists

Mark,

Luke,

Matthew,

and

John,

respectively.
**Revelation 5:1:**

As we have seen,

the whole universe

sings

of the

limitless power

of the Creator.

But he is also

the Master

of the universe,

and the book

he holds

in his hand

represents

the destiny

of the world.

The book

is held closed

by seven seals,

i.e.,

it contains

the totality

of the

events of history,

though in

a hidden fashion,

which no one

can unveil.

However,

a mediator of

the Revelation

does exist.

He is

the Messiah,

who is

designated here

by the

titles foretold of him

in

the Old Testament:

the lion of Judah

**(see**
**Genesis 49:9)**

to whom victory

is promised

**(see**
**Isaiah 11:1,** **And** **Isaiah 11:10;**
**see**
**also**
**2 Samuel 7),**

the Messiah King,

shoot of

the stock

from which David

was descended.

It is Christ

in the power of

his Resurrection

who receives

the mastery

over the destinies

of the

entire universe.

He is represented

in his glory

after the manner

of a Lamb

slain but standing

(the figure of

the Paschal Lamb

is the main title

for Christ

in this Book,

used

twenty-eight times).

This unusual expression

is intended to

recall

Passover,

the passover lamb,

and

the

sacrificial

Death of Christ

for the redemption

of the human race,

but also

to assert that

he is ever living

and

the conqueror of death.

The seven horns

symbolize

an infinite power.

The one with

infinite power

is the Redeemer

who has acquired

the people

by his Blood.

The Creator

ratifies this

and

places in

Christ’s hands

the succession

of events

until

their fulfillment.

Then

the angels,

the elders,

and

all the great figures

in heaven

that can

be imagined

will each come

in turn

to render

the worship due

to the

Master of time,

and

the entire universe

unites

to acclaim

the risen one.

Indeed,

the coming of Christ

is a

capital turning point,

and a new song

is required

to celebrate it

**(see**
**Philippians 2).**
**Revelation 5:9:**
**New song:**

a song

that celebrates

a new act of

divine deliverance

**(see**
**Revelation 14:3;** **Psalms 33:3;** **Psalms 96:1;** **Psalms 144:9;** **And** **Isaiah 42:10).**

With your blood

you purchased

for God people:

the theme of

Christ’s

sacrificial Death

**(see**
**Mark 10:45;** **And** **1 Corinthians 6:20).**
**Revelation 6:1:**

The book of destiny

is probably

not a scroll

in

the classical sense.

It is a document

that is folded

and

then sealed,

folded

and

sealed,

etc.,

seven times.

It resembles

a Roman

legal document.

Thus,

as each seal

is broken,

part of

the document

becomes legible.

When

the seventh seal

is broken

**(Revelation 8:1),**

the hour is

going to sound;

but we are still

living in suspense:

trumpets will sound,

one after another

until

the seventh one;

then the great act

will be played out

**(Revelation 11:15).**

Nonetheless,

the unfurling

of the wrath

is not described

to frighten believers;

the author

wants

to strengthen them,

to announce to them

that the

destiny of the world

has been

turned around

and

God’s plan

is on the way

to being fulfilled.

In accord with

the perspectives

of the prophecies

and

the Gospel,

a Remnant will be saved,

the community of Christ

and

the true

People of God

**(Revelation 7).**

All the chapters

that follow

seem to interpret

the history

of the world

in the perspective

of the destiny

reserved for

the Jewish people.

Yet the end

of Jerusalem

and

its destruction

are not

the end of history;

they are only

a turning point

**(Revelation 10:1—Revelation 11:13)**—

then the time

of the nations

can truly begin

**(Revelation 12:1—Revelation 19:10).**
**Revelation 6:1:**

The first secrets

are unveiled.

Already the images

are terrifying.

The colors

of the horses

suffice to

create fright.

Three horsemen

sow

war,

famine,

and

pestilence,

those

great scourges

in which

the ancients

see

God’s judgment

on

proud

and

indifferent ages

and

on unjust people

**(see,**
**e.g.,**
**Leviticus 26:21-Leviticus 26:26;** **Deuteronomy 32:34;** **Ezekiel 5:17;** **Ezekiel 6:11f;** **Ezekiel 7:14f;** **Ezekiel 12:16;** **Ezekiel 14:13-Ezekiel 14:21;** **Ezekiel 33:27;** **Jeremiah 15:2-Jeremiah 15:4;** **And** **Matthew 24:6f).**

Hades

follows

in the wake

of

the last horseman

to swallow

the victims

into

its gloomy abode.

There is some doubt

about the figure

of

the first horseman,

crowned

and

mounted

on a white horse.

Is it

Christ,

or

a false Messiah,

or simply

another scourge,

the well-known scourge

of

the voracious beasts

who

decimate travelers?

The allegory of

the

four

horses

and

horsemen

who ride out

into

the four quarters

of the world

is taken

from Zechariah

**(Zechariah 1:8-Zechariah 1:10;** **And** **Zechariah 6:1-Zechariah 6:8).**
**Revelation 6:4:**
**A large sword:**

symbol of war.
**Revelation 6:5:**
food is rationed

and

sold at

very high prices.

The rider

with the scales

probably represents

social injustice.

**A day’s wages:**

literally,

“a denarius.”
**Revelation 6:8:**
**Hades:**

personification

of the abode of the dead,

i.e.,

the netherworld

**(see**
**notes**
**on**
**Revelation 1:9-Revelation 1:20,** **And** **Matthew 16:18).**
**Revelation 6:9:**

Persecution

is unleashed.

The victims,

as though

immolated

in sacrifice,

are all reunited

around God

and

already clothed

in

the garment of joy.

This presence

of the victims

attests

that oppression

has been lifted

on earth.

For the people

of the Bible

possess too great

a sense of justice

to imagine

that

such violent injustices

as persecutions

constitute

an indifferent thing

in the

eyes of God

and

that they can

go

unpunished forever.

They are like

a challenge to God

**(see**
**Luke 18:7).**

God must intervene,

and

bloody persecutions

are among

the signs

of the end

**(see**
**Mark 13:9-Mark 13:13).**
**Revelation 6:10:**
**Inhabitants of the earth:**

i.e.,

humankind

in its hostility

to God

**(see**
**Revelation 3:10;** **Revelation 8:13;** **Revelation 11:10;** **Revelation 13:8,** **Revelation 13:12;** **Revelation 17:2,** **And** **Revelation 17:8).**
**Revelation 6:11:**
**White robe:**

symbol of the

joy

and

triumph

of the Resurrection

**(see**
**Revelation 3:5,** **Revelation 3:18;** **Revelation 11:10;** **Revelation 13:8,** **Revelation 13:12;** **Revelation 17:2,** **And** **Revelation 17:8).**
**Until the roll was completed of their fellow servants and brethren who were still to be killed:**

there was

an apocalyptic idea

in the air—

sparked

by

noncanonical literature—

that

God rules the world

according to a

predetermined

time schedule

**(see**
**2 Esdras 4:35-2 Esdras 4:37)**

and that

the death

of a

certain number

of

the righteous

must occur

before

the end

takes place

**(see**
**1 Enoch 47:4).**
**Revelation 6:12:**

The cosmic destruction

announces

the Day

of the Lord

**(see**
**Isaiah 34:4;** **Mark 13:6,** **And** **Mark 13:24f).**

It is

an

astonishing spectacle

that

this firmament

will be rolled up

like

a large scroll.

The cosmos

enters a phase

of

distortion

and

convulsion.

The threat

hangs over

everyone;

no one

escapes

the paralyzing fear.

The author

uses

to great advantage

many of the images

of the Old Testament

**(see**
**Isaiah 2:10,** **Isaiah 2:19;** **Isaiah 34:4;** **Hosea 10:8;** **Joel 2:11;** **And** **Joel 3:4).**
**Revelation 7:1:**

In 587 B.C.,

on the eve of

the

destruction

of Jerusalem,

the

survivors were,

so to speak,

marked

to be preserved

from

the catastrophe

**(see**
**Ezekiel 9).**

The great fear

is not

for the community

of the persecuted.

The calamities

that will overtake

the world

will not

touch them.

Thus,

God

gathers together

his Elect.

They may go through

the trial

of the years

A.D. 66 to 70

and

finally

the history

of the world,

which is that

of the sufferings

of the Church.

But they will

not fall prey

to condemnation.

This people

that is

gathered together

is first of all

the Remnant of Israel.

From each

of the twelve tribes

there will be

twelve thousand survivors:

this is a symbolic number

meaning

fullness

and

perfection.

Then the vision

is enlarged:

the Remnant

becomes

a multitude

without number,

gathered together

from amid all

the nations

of the earth.

From all sides

come forth

the martyrs

and

all those

who endured trials:

the whole Church.

This is

a

grandiose celebration

of

happiness

and

triumph.

In a

striking foreshortening,

the author sketches

a tableau

of the Church

in the grip of

tribulations

and

persecutions,

assisted by Christ,

her Shepherd,

and led

toward her

heavenly victory,

which anticipates

the splendid

final vision

of

the new Jerusalem

**(Revelation 21:1—Revelation 22:5).**
**Revelation 7:5:**

Judah is placed first

because of Christ,

who is

“the Lion of the tribe of Judah”

**(Revelation 5:5).**
**Manasseh:**

one of

the two halves

of the

tribe of Joseph

that are

both cited

(the other

being Ephraim

but called

“Joseph”

in

**Revelation 7:** **v.** 8**)—**

doubtless in order

to make up

twelve tribes.

Daniel is omitted

probably

because of

a late tradition

that the Antichrist

was

to arise

from that tribe.
**Revelation 7:17:**
**Springs of living water:**

i.e.,

the grace of God,

which flows

from Christ

**(see**
**Revelation 21:6;** **Revelation 22:1,** **Revelation 22:17;** **John 4:10,** **And** **John 4:14).**
**Revelation 8:1:**

We are now

at the great Day

of God’s Coming.

Everything

is unmoving

in a solemn silence.

It is the hour

when the prayer

of those persecuted—

which is symbolized

by the incense—

is going to be heard

**(see**
**Revelation 6:9-Revelation 6:11).**

Calamities

arise

to jostle the earth.

At the sound

of the trumpets,

which are part

of the scene

for the

Coming of God

**(see**
**1 Thessalonians 4:16),**

seven tableaus

will pass

before our eyes

in a dramatization

without letup.
**Revelation 8:3:**

The

**altar**

is

the

altar of incense

in

the

Jewish sanctuary;

the

**gold censer**

is the

thurible

or

fire-shovel

used to carry

the burning coals

from

the

altar of holocausts

to

the

altar of incense.
**Revelation 8:7:**

The

earth,

sea,

streams,

sources,

and

stars—

everything

is disfigured.

The universe

becomes chaos

and

lays itself waste.

The author

amplifies images

taken from

the Book of Exodus

**(Chapters.** **Chapter 7,** **Chapter 8,** **Chapter 9** **And** **Chapter 10).**
**Revelation 8:7:**

See

the

seventh plague

of Egypt

**(Exodus 9:23f)** **And** **Joel 3:3.**
**Revelation 8:8:**

See

the

first plague

of Egypt

**(Exodus 7:20f).**
**Revelation 8:11:**
**Wormwood:**

a bitter-tasting plant

that is

a metaphor

for

calamity,

sorrow,

and

death

**(see**
**Proverbs 5:3f;** **Jeremiah 9:15;** **And** **Lamentations 3:19).**
**Revelation 8:12:**

See

the darkness

that occurred

for three days

during

the ninth plague

of Egypt

**(Exodus 10:21-Exodus 10:23).**
**Revelation 8:13:**

After

the universe,

the human race

will itself

be struck.

The eagle

announces

the

three

calamities.
**Revelation 9:1:**

A fallen star,

doubtless

Satan himself,

opens the door

of the abyss,

which is regarded

as the prison

in which

the evil spirits

are held

while awaiting

their

final punishment.

An army of

strange locusts

escapes

**(see**
**the**
**eighth**
**and**
**ninth**
**plagues**
**of**
**Egypt—**
**Exodus 10:12-Exodus 10:15,** **And** **Exodus 10:21-Exodus 10:23—**
**as**
**well**
**as**
**the**
**invasion**
**of**
**locusts**
**in**
**Joel 1:4—Joel 2:10).**

These

do not devour

the harvest,

as one would expect,

but

attack humans.

It is

an invasion

of a fierce army,

led by

a satanic being,

whose name

in Hebrew

is

**Abaddon,**

meaning

perdition

or

ruin,

and in Greek

**Apollyon,**

meaning destroyer.

The writer

has not resisted

the enticing pleasure

of giving

this being

a name

that is

a caricature

of

the great Greek god

Apollo.

**Job 3:21**

is cited

in

**Revelation 9:** **v.** **6.**
**Revelation 9:13:**

These

ancient monsters

seem

to have

had an appointment

to meet

on the banks

of the Euphrates,

to be then

unleashed

as a savage horde

on the people.

The visionary

is undoubtedly thinking

of the four corps

of the military

that invaded

Judea from Syria

for the

second phase

of

the Jewish War

in an expedition

that was particularly

destructive

and

murderous.

The event

was always

supposed to be

a sign

that jump-started

consciences.

Alas,

it merely leads

to

bewilderment

and

decomposition!
**Revelation 9:13:**
**I heard a voice:**

to show

that

the punishment

inflicted

on the pagans

was the result of

the prayer

of the martyrs,

described

in

**Revelation 6:9-Revelation 6:10.**
**Revelation 9:15:**

For the day

of the

divine wrath,

**see**
**Revelation 6:17.**
**Revelation 9:20:**
**Demons:**

spiritual beings

allied

with Satan

and wielding

an evil influence

on human beings

**(see**
**Deuteronomy 4:28;** **Psalms 115:5-Psalms 115:7;** **And** **1 Corinthians 10:20).**
**Revelation 10:1:**

The large scroll,

whose seven seals

are being broken

one after another,

is said

to contain

the entire

History of Salvation,

which unfolds

from Christ’s

Death

and

Resurrection

to the day

of the final judgment.

This history

is brought

to mind

from

the viewpoint of

the destiny

of

the Jewish people,

but the

last episode

in this

history

includes the

judgment

and

salvation

of

the nations,

which are here

set forth.

An angel

brings forth

and

unrolls

another text;

the messenger

dominates

heaven

and

the sea,

i.e.,

his announcement

concerns

the whole universe.

The scroll that

the angel

is holding here

contains

the story of clashes

between

the Church

and

the forces

that control

the pagan world.

It is

a small scroll,

because

the events

told in it

are connected

with

the history

of Israel,

in which

the end

of Jerusalem

introduces

the era of

the nations.

There will be

no more delay.

Everything

remains secret,

yet everything

will be

played out

between

the sixth

and

the seventh

trumpet.

The scene

of the scroll

that is eaten

was inspired

by an account

of Ezekiel

**(Ezekiel 2:8—Ezekiel 3:3).**

The revelation

is

sweet

and

bitter:

sweet

because

it is a

word of salvation

and makes known

the final triumph

of Christ

and

his faithful;

bitter

because

it announces the

trials

and

tribulations

that

in so many texts

of the Bible

precede

the judgment of God.

The Gospel

speaks of the joy

of the woman

giving birth

in sorrow

**(John 16:21).**
**Revelation 10:7:**
**The mysterious purpose of God:**

literally,

“the mystery of God,”

i.e.,

the end of

the present age

when

the power of evil

will be overcome

**(see**
**Revelation 17:1—Revelation 19:4,** **Revelation 19:11-21;** **Revelation 20:7-10;** **Romans 16:25f;** **And** **2 Thessalonians 2:6-12)**

and

the Kingdom of God

is established

and

all creation

is renewed

**(see**
**Revelation 21:1—Revelation 22:5).**
**Revelation 11:1:**

The holy city

is crushed

under

the blows

of Titus,

but in

the Church,

the new Israel,

everything that

the temple,

the altar,

and

the worshipers

represent

will not cease;

true worship

will continue.

In a

hostile world,

the witnesses

of Christ

will continue

to spread

the

Word of God,

despite persecutions,

until

the Second Coming.

Let us try

to see

a bit more clearly

into the details

of the symbols

used by the author

to impart

this certitude

to believers

subjected to torture.

Measuring Jerusalem

calls to mind—

since Ezekiel

**(Ezekiel 40:3)**

And

Zechariah

**(Zechariah 2:5-Zechariah 2:6)**—

protection

and

reconstruction.

But

only the reserved part

of the temple

is spared,

i.e.,

while the Church

will be persecuted

and even give

forth martyrs,

the saints

will never be harmed.

While the bodies

of the holy ones

(represented

by the exterior

of the temple)

are crushed,

their souls

(represented

by the interior

of the temple)

are safe

in God’s hands.

The two witnesses—

perhaps

Peter

and

Paul—

combine the traits

of several persons,

especially

Moses

and

Elijah

(of whom Judaism

of that time

mentions

the ascension:

**Revelation 11: v. 11**)

and one

of whom

changed water

into blood

**(Exodus 7:17;** **And** **Exodus 10:11),**

while the other

predicted a drought

**(1 Kings 17:1).**

The Gospel

places both

at the side

of Christ

during the

Transfiguration

**(Mark 9:2-Mark 9:8).**

Next come

two

mysterious

personalities

who,

according to Zechariah

**(Zechariah 4:3, And Zechariah 4:14)**

cited

in

**Revelation 11:** **v.** **4**

of our text,

represent

the priesthood

and

the Kingdom

uniting their efforts

to guide

the people of God.

These are also

Christian figures,

of

Christ first

and

then of the apostles—

tradition names

Peter

and

Paul,

the two champions

of the early Church,

who died at Rome

under Nero

in

A.D. 64 or 67.

Finally,

these mysterious figures

stand for

the whole Church

bearing witness

to her

faith

and

suffering

for the sake

of the Gospel

even

until martyrdom.

It is

not permitted

to put their bones

in the grave

**(Revelation 11: v. 9),**

i.e.,

the testimony of

the martyr Church

cannot disappear

into oblivion.

Just as

the dry bones

of the people

of the

Old Testament

came to life

in the

eyes of the

Prophet Ezekiel

**(Ezekiel 37:5, And Ezekiel 37:10),**

so the

Christian martyrs

are destined

for

resurrection

and

glorification.

The great city

is symbolic

of the

high places

of infidelity

according to

the Bible.

In

**Revelation 16:19;** **Revelation 17:18;** **And** **Revelation 18:10,**

it is Rome;

here,

it is

Rome

or

Jerusalem

or any other city

that makes

itself omnipotent.

The beast cited

in

**Revelation 11: v. 7** **(see** **Daniel 7:21)**

represents

the imperial power,

destructive power,

that claimed

to be divine.

Speaking of survivors

**(Revelation 11: v. 13),**

the author thinks,

perhaps,

as did Paul

**(Romans 11:13-Romans 11:27),**

of a conversion

of the

Jewish people

preceding

Christ’s Return.
**Revelation 11:2:**
**Forty-two months . . . twelve hundred and sixty days . . . three and a half days . . . a year, two years, and a half year**
**(Revelation 12:14):**

symbolic durations,

designating

typical periods

of

persecution

according to

**Daniel 7:25.**
**Revelation 11:15:**

The seventh trumpet

sounds

to announce

the definitive restoration

of

the

Kingdom

of

God

and

Christ.

With

the resurrection

of the dead,

Israel sees

the completion

of its promises

of salvation:

there will be

reward

for

true worshipers

and

condemnation

for rebels.

The thanksgiving

of the elders

can rise

before

the throne of God.

According to

a Jewish tradition,

allusions to which

are found

in the

Second Book of Maccabees

**(2 Maccabees 2:5-2 Maccabees 2:8),**

the Ark of the Covenant,

which was destroyed

by the fire

in the temple

in 587 B.C.,

was to reappear

in the last times;

the hour for this

has come.

A new Sinai

arises in heaven

forever.

The hour of judgment is,

in the final analysis,

the judgment of the

definitive

and

perfect

Covenant.

Certainly,

the earthly temple

is destroyed,

but the

true

and

complete

worship

takes place in heaven.
**Revelation 11:19:**
**Ark of his covenant:**

the ark

of the Old Testament

was a chest

of acacia wood

**(see**
**Deuteronomy 10:1f)**

that symbolized

God’s throne

and

his presence

among his people.

It was probably destroyed

during

Neburazadan’s destruction

of the temple

in Jerusalem

**(see**
**2 Kings 25:8-2 Kings 25:10).**

The New Testament writers

use it

to symbolize

God’s faithfulness

to the Covenant

made with

his people.
**Revelation 12:1:**

The animosity

exhibited

by the

public authorities

against

Christian communities

has become

persecution.

Now the

grand declarations

of loyalty

toward the power

are ended

**(see**
**Romans 13:1-Romans 13:7;** **Titus 3:1;** **And** **1 Peter 2:13-1 Peter 2:17).**

The time has come,

not to organize

some armed defense

or

subversion

but

to resist

every pressure

and

to stand fast

in fidelity

to Christ

even to the

shedding of blood.

At this point,

the Roman empire

comes on

the scene

as the instrument

used by

all the forces

hostile to

Christ,

his Kingdom,

and his faithful.

The Roman empire

is a symbol

of

all earthly empires

with their claim

to impose their own

ideas

and

purposes

as a religion.

The struggle

will end with

the victory of

the risen Christ

and

those

who have put

their trust in him.

**1**

Here then

is the time

of the nations

or the pagans.

In the

previous chapters,

which envisaged

the last times

from the viewpoint

of Israel’s destiny,

its place

had already

been marked out

in anticipation

**(Revelation 10:1—Revelation 11:13).**

This is

the scene itself.

The structure of

the chapters

that follow

is less clear;

however,

we find once again

the same procedure

as in

the seven visions

and

the seven bowls.
**Revelation 12:1:**

Two types

play a role

in this

inaugural vision.

The ancient prophecy

of Genesis

**(Genesis 3:15)**

is fulfilled:

a struggle

in which

there is

no truce

opposes

the posterity

of

the chosen people

and

the

forces of evil.

The woman

who gives birth

personifies

first of all

the

chosen people,

from which

the Messiah

is to be born;

there is certainly

a reference to him

in

**Revelation 12:** **v.** **5,**

which cites some

classic

Messianic texts:

**Isaiah 66:7** **And** **Psalms 2:9.**

A long-standing

Christian tradition

also identifies

the woman

with the

Virgin Mary,

an exemplar

of the

chosen people.

Modern exegetes

rarely support

so explicit

an interpretation,

but

do not deny

that the role

of the one called

“woman”

in the

fourth Gospel

**(John 2:4;** **And** **John 19:26)**

may have

indirectly inspired,

at least partially,

this description

in

the Book of Revelation.

The dragon

**(see**
**Daniel 7;** **And** **Daniel 8:10)**

has all

the characteristics

of the power

that rises up

against God:

seven heads,

ten horns,

behavior capable

of

destroying the order

of

the universe

**(Revelation 12: v. 4,**
**citing**
**Daniel 8:10).**

The dragon is Satan,

the eternal accuser

of human beings

before God

**(see**
**Job 1:6-Job 1:11;** **And** **Job 2:1-Job 2:10).**

After this

“the rest of her

[the woman’s]

offspring”

**(Revelation 12: v. 17)**—

i.e.,

the faithful followers

of Christ—

suffer a period of

struggles

and

trials

in

“the wilderness”

**(Revelation 12: v. 6),**

i.e.,

on the earthly journey

of the Church.

In these trials

the Church

will not

lack the strength

given by the manna

**(see**
**Revelation 12: v. 6),**

an evident reference

to the Eucharist.

Hell can launch

against the Church

all the forces

unleashed by the Roman

political authorities.

In this scene

there is also

a struggle

between

Michael

and

the dragon

**(Revelation 12:** **v.** 7),

which illustrates

the victory of Christ;

the description

draws its inspiration

from

the Book of Daniel.
**Revelation 12:6:**
**Twelve hundred and sixty days:**
**see**
**note**
**on**
**Revelation 11:2-Revelation 11:3,** **And** **Revelation 11:11.**
**Revelation 12:7:**
**Michael:**

i.e.,

God’s champion

according to

Jewish tradition

**(see**
**Daniel 10:12-Daniel 10:21;** **And** **Daniel 12:1);**

his name means

“Who can compare with God?”

Revelation 12:10:

**Accuser:**

the translation

for the

Hebrew word

“Satan”

**(see**
**1 Chronicles 21:1;** **Job 1–Job 2;** **And** **Zechariah 3:1).**

In Hebrew scripture,

Satan

is a type of

district attorney

who accuses people

of their sins

at

the Last Judgment.
**Revelation 12:14:**
**A year, two years, and a half year:**
**see**
**note**
**on**
**Revelation 11:2.**
**Revelation 12:18:**

This beast

that is possessed

of extraordinary power

(seven heads

and

ten horns)

personifies

the Roman empire.

Its historical success

is a

blasphemous parody

of the

Christian mystery;

the emperors

have themselves

acclaimed

with divine titles,

while

for Christians

only

God

and

the

Lamb

have

a

right

to

the

title

“Lord”

(Kyrios).

The head

that was wounded

and

then healed

probably refers to Nero

who was

forced

to commit suicide

(by pushing a sword

into his head)

and was said

to have risen

from the dead

(again,

a blasphemous parody

of

Jesus’

Death

and

Resurrection).
**Revelation 12:18:**
“he took his position . . .”

—which would join

**Revelation 12: v. 18**

to the

preceding paragraph.
**Revelation 13:5:**
**Forty-two months:**
**see**
**note**
**on**
**Revelation 11:2-Revelation 11:3,** **And** **Revelation 11:11.**
**Revelation 13:8:**
**Written from the creation of the world:**

some

place

these words

at

the very end

of

the sentence

(after

the word

“slain”).

**Book of life belonging to the Lamb:**
**see**
**note**
**on**
**Revelation 3:5.**
**Revelation 13:11:**

The beast comes

probably

from Asia,

because

it was

the East

that gave rise to

so many

religious currents

of thought

that promoted

emperor worship.

The time has come

when pressures

are brought to bear

and people

are seduced.

This picture

fits in

very well

with the

reign of Domitian,

who banished

Christians

from the empire

for refusing to

practice

emperor worship,

the new sign of

civic submission.

The majority

of believers

resist,

despite

pressures

and

seductions

of every kind.

The number

of the beast

has always

been a snare

for those

who seek,

by way

of abstruse

calculations,

to identify

the Antichrist

with some figure

of their

own time.

The number

probably conceals

the name of

some personage

known to readers

of that time;

the letters

of

the

Greek alphabet

and

those of

the

Hebrew alphabet

also stood

for numbers,

as is

still the case

with

the

Roman alphabet

to some extent.

Using gematria,

a procedure

for

interpreting

numbers,

it was

certainly

possible

to discern

in the number

666

the words

“Emperor Nero”

in Hebrew.

If we read

“616”

instead

of

“666,”

as some

manuscripts do,

it could be

“Emperor Nero”

in Greek.
**Revelation 14:1:**

The great hopes of the Prophets

**(e.g.,**
**Isaiah 2:1-Isaiah 2:5)**

are here

realized;

the new

chosen people,

in a

full

and

perfect

number,

gather at Zion,

the mount of

definitive encounter

with God.

The martyrs sing

the new song

of

deliverance

and

victory

**(see**
**Exodus 15:1-Exodus 15:18;** **Psalms 33:1-Psalms 22:3;** **And** **Psalms 98:1).**

It expresses

the virginal joy

of those

who have remained

faithful to God,

those who

have not

committed

falsehood,

adultery,

and

fornication—

i.e.,

in the

language

of the Bible,

those who

have not

succumbed

to the

worship

of false gods.

They have

not followed

the emperor

but only Christ.

They have been,

as it were,

espoused to Christ

**(see**
**Revelation 19:9;** **Revelation 21:2;** **And** **2 Corinthians 11:2).**
**Revelation 14:1:**
**One hundred and forty-four thousand:**

that is,

twelve thousand

from each tribe.
**Revelation 14:3:**
**New song:**
**see**
**note**
**on**
**Revelation 5:9.**
**Revelation 14:4:**
**The ones who have not defiled themselves with women:**

this

probably

refers

to those

who avoided

defiling

relationships

with

the

pagan world.

**Follow the Lamb:**

as disciples

**(see**
**Matthew 19:21;** **And** **Mark 8:34).**
**Firstfruits:**

a word

used to

refer to

the first

converts

in a region

**(see**
**Romans 16:5)**

and

the first

to rise

from the dead

**(see**
**1 Corinthians 15:20).**

The author

of this Book

regards believers

as

choice offerings

to

God

and

the

Lamb.
**Revelation 14:5:**

In

the

Old Testament,

Babylon

had become

a symbol

of every empire

that was hostile

to the

People of God.
**Revelation 14:10:**
**Cup of his wrath:**

the Old Testament

commonly portrays

the

wrath of God

by

a

cup of wine

to be drunk

**(see**
**Psalms 75:9;** **Isaiah 51:17;** **And** **Jeremiah 25:15).**
**Burning sulfur:**

this

figured

prominently

in the

destruction

of

Sodom

and

Gomorrah

**(see**
**Genesis 19:24),**

and

**Psalms 11:6**

speaks of

a similar fate

awaiting

the wicked.

The figure

is also

found elsewhere

in

the

Old Testament

and

in

the

final

chapters

of

Revelation

**(Revelation 19:20;** **Revelation 20:10;** **And** **Revelation 21:8).**
**Revelation 14:13:**
**Blessed:**

the

second

beatitude

**(see**
**note**
**on**
**Revelation 1:3).**
**Revelation 14:14:**

“You will see

the

Son of Man

seated

at

the

right hand

of the Power

and coming

with the clouds

of heaven,”

Jesus

had declared

in

the presence

of

the high priest

who condemned him

**(Mark 14:62,**
**inspired**
**by**
**Daniel 7:13).**

The Judgment

is near;

the time of

vintage

and

harvest

is

its classic image

in the Bible,

evoking the

reaping

or

storing

of fruits

as

well

as

the

harsh plundering

of

the terrain

and

the relentless

gathering

of

the produce.

The winepress,

in which

the grapes

are crushed,

is an image

of a battle aimed at

savage extermination

**(see**
**Isaiah 63:2-Isaiah 63:3);**

as such,

it yields

blood

and

not

juice.

Here

the entire earth

is involved;

the

two hundred miles,

literally,

“1600 stadia”

(4 x 4 x 100),

indicate

this universality.

The Judgment

takes place

outside Jerusalem—

the author

wants to indicate

that those condemned

are excluded

from the assembly

united around God.
**Revelation 14:14:**
**Son of man:**
**see**
**note**
**on**
**Matthew 8:20.**
**Revelation 15:1:**

These constitute

the decisive sign

of the Judgment,

whose execution

will be

set forth

later.
**Revelation 15:2:**

Those who

have resisted

are like

the Hebrews

after

their crossing

of the

Red Sea.

Here

the mass

of water,

so terrifying

to the ancients,

seems marvelously

tamed.

It is

the turn

of the martyrs

to chant

the song

of liberation

**(see**
**Exodus 15:1-Exodus 15:8),**

playing

on instruments

far superior

to

any

earthly musical

instruments.
**Revelation 15:5:**

Will

heaven

be mute

in

the presence

of oppression

by

political authorities

or

by

a civilization

that

turns

human beings

into slaves

and

claims

to pass

as God?

Are the

sufferings

and

martyrdom

of victims

a cry

that is

perhaps useless

and

fades away

in the history

of the world?

The conscience

of believers

protests

against

this possibility.

But

it is

necessary

to determine

in what

God’s Judgment

consists:

it will

unmask

the imposture

and

recognize

the courage

of those

who have resisted

this perversion.

Here

some scenes

of this Judgment

flash before our eyes.
**Revelation 15:5:**
**The temple, that is, the tabernacle of the Testimony:**

i.e.,

the

heavenly sanctuary.

The

phrase conflates

the tabernacle

of Moses

and

the temple

of Solomon.

The Old Testament

had described

in blazing images

the God

who mysteriously

took possession

of the temple.

In the same images

**(see**
**1 Kings 8:10)**

we here contemplate

the true temple

of heaven,

the manifestation

of God.

It is

a description

of the Judgment.
**Revelation 16:1:**

The story

of

the plagues

in Egypt

**(Exodus 7–Exodus 12)**

remained

deeply inscribed

in

the imagination

of the Jews;

once again,

as in

**Chapters** **Chapter 8,** **Chapter 9** **And** **Chapter 10**

(vision of the trumpets),

that story here

inspires

the description

of

the

final cataclysm

of

the universe

and

of

the lives

of its

peoples

and

nations.

The

desolating picture

shows all

the hostile forces

united

at Armageddon

(the Megiddo

of the Bible,

where

King Josiah

died

with

his troops);

it became a place

of sinister memory,

and an omen

and

symbol

of

military defeat

and

even annihilation

**(see**
**2 Kings 23:29-2 Kings 23:30;** **And** **Zechariah 12:11).**

The great city

Babylon,

i.e.,

Rome,

is collapsing.
**Revelation 16:2:**

Similar

to the

sixth plague

of Egypt

**(see**
**Exodus 9:8-Exodus 9:11).**
**Revelation 16:3:**

Similar

to the

first plague

of Egypt

**(see**
**Exodus 7:20f).**
**Revelation 16:10:**

Similar

to the

ninth plague

of Egypt

**(see**
**Exodus 10:21-Exodus 10:23).**
**Revelation 16:13:**
**Frogs:**

an allusion

to the

second plague

of Egypt

**(see**
**Exodus 7:26—Exodus 8:11).**
**Revelation 16:15:**

This verse

interrupts

the text.

It fits

in better

in

the literary

atmosphere

of

the letters

to the Churches,

especially

**Revelation 3:3-Revelation 3:4,** **And** **Revelation 3:18.**
**Blessed:**

the

third

beatitude

**(see**
**note**
**on**
**Revelation 1:3).**
**Revelation 16:16:**
**Armageddon:**

i.e.,

the

“mountain of Megiddo,”

the site

of many battles

in antiquity

**(see**
**Judges 5:19f;** **2 Kings 9:27;** **And** **2 Chronicles 35:20-2 Chronicles 25:24);**

it symbolized

the final defeat

of

the powers

of evil.
**Revelation 17:1:**
**Harlot and mother of harlots:**

such is Babylon

because

it is

the wellspring

of idolatry,

especially

by imposing

emperor worship;

and

for the

people

of the Bible

an idol

is an

abomination,

and

idolatry

is

prostitution

**(Ezekiel,** **Chapters.** **Chapter 16** **And** **Chapter 23).**

The woman

on the beast

is named Babylon,

a name

that stands for

all oppressions

and

all sufferings;

the real reference

is to

imperial Rome,

the

famous city

on the

seven hills

**(Revelation 17: v. 9),**

the center

of the great empire

that has enslaved

the peoples

of the

Mediterranean basin

**(Revelation 17:** **vv.** **Revelation 17:1,** **And** **Revelation 17:15).**

She will drink

the blood

of Christians,

especially

during

the terrible persecutions

of

Nero

and

Domitian.

The beast

that once was

and

now is not,

but

is returning—

a parody

of God

who is

described as

“hIm who is,

who was,

and

who is

to come”

**(Revelation 1:4)**—

is

probably Nero

(A.D. 54–68),

whose resurrection

was predicted

in some

popular legends.

And

if

the seven kings

need to

be identified

**(Revelation 17:** **vv.** **Revelation 17:9-Revelation 17:11),**

the list

is as follows:

Augustus,

Tiberius,

Caligula,

Claudius,

Nero,

Vespasian,

and

Titus

(omitting

Galba,

Otho,

and

Vitellius,

interim emperors,

who ruled

in

quick succession

in

A.D. 68–69,

after

the death

of Nero).

The

eighth emperor

acts

as people

would expect

Nero to act

if

he returned

to life,

i.e.,

as a beast;

we can

give him

a name:

Domitian

(A.D. 81–96),

during

whose reign

the Book of Revelation

was probably composed.

The other ten kings

**(Revelation 17: v. 12)**

lead peoples subject

to the empire.

Empires

and

governors

waste the

political

and

cultural

patrimony of Rome

**(Revelation 17: v. 16):**

tyranny

and

bullying

will be

the cause

of

its destruction.
**Revelation 17:3:**
**In the spirit:**
**see**
**note**
**on**
**Revelation 1:10.**
**Revelation 17:14:**
**Lord of lords and King of kings:**

a title

that stresses

the Lamb’s

supreme sovereignty

**(see**
**Deuteronomy 10:17;** **Psalms 136:2-Psalms 136:3;** **Daniel 2:47;** **And** **1 Timothy 6:15).**
**Revelation 18:1:**

The

fall of Rome

is described

as if

the empire

were already

collapsing.
**Revelation 18:9:**

Drawing upon the

laments of Ezekiel

over

the

fall of Tyre

**(Ezekiel 26–Ezekiel 28),**

the author

greets the

fall of Rome

as

already complete.

This satire

on the ruins

of the empire

also harbors,

in its

final lines,

a tone

of

poignant complaint.

The tableau

nicely sketches

the maritime

grandeur

of Rome,

the

development

of commercial exchanges—

without

forgetting

the traffic

in

slaves

and

prostitutes

**(Revelation 18: v. 13)**—

and the

extraordinary

accumulation

of riches.
**Revelation 18:24:**
**You:**

the Greek has

“her.”
**Revelation 19:1:**

No other image

could better evoke

the fulfillment

of

all

the expectations

of believers

than

this

vast heavenly

liturgy

and

the

vision

of the

wedding feast

**(see**
**Matthew 22:1-Matthew 22:14;** **And** **Matthew 25:1-Matthew 25:13).**

The plea

of

the martyrs

**(see**
**Revelation 6:9)**

has

been heard;

the

immense throng,

along with

the

twenty-four elders

and

the

four living beings,

makes up

the

entire Church,

reunited at last.

The Kingdom of God

reveals itself

in all

its reality.

It is described

as

Christ’s marriage

to the Church

and

as

the complete

manifestation

of the Covenant,

which is

God’s ardent,

jealous love

for

his people

**(see**
**Isaiah 54:1-Isaiah 54:8;** **And** **Hosea 2:16-Hosea 2:18)**

and

Christ’s

nuptial love

for

his Church

**(see**
**Ephesians 5:23,** **Ephesians 5:25,** **And** **Ephesians 5:32;**
**see**
**also**
**John 3:29).**
**Revelation 19:1:**
**Alleluia:**

an

important exclamation

of praise

in

the Psalms

that is found

only here

in

the New Testament.

It is derived

from

two Hebrew words

meaning

“Praise the Lord.”
**Revelation 19:9:**
**Blessed:**

the

fourth

beatitude

**(see**
**note**
**on**
**Revelation 1:3).**
**Revelation 19:10:**
**Witness to Jesus:**

the proclamation

that

the predictions

of

the Prophets

have

been

truly fulfilled.
**Revelation 19:11:**

There now follows

a new series

of six tableaus,

which

the imagination

projects onto

the destiny

of the world.

Is it necessary

then

to foresee

a new series

of events

in an

ever more

distant future?

And

is

the history

of God’s judgments

something

that is

forever

beginning again?

The author

has no intention

of setting forth

an indefinite series

of calendars

of the future.

But

before sketching

the tableau

of

the new heaven

and

the new earth,

he wishes

one last time

to interpret

the drama

of the world;

for he has

at hand

other materials,

some of

which greatly resemble

those that

he has already used.

He organizes them

to compose

this rapid sequence:

a powerful summary

of

the whole

History of Salvation.

It begins

with Jesus

and

takes us

well beyond

the fall of Rome

to

the resurrection

of the dead

and

the last judgment—

a kind of

tragic prelude

whose

contrast heightens

the dazzling joy

that will

later inform

the grand symphony

of the

heavenly Jerusalem.
**Revelation 19:11:**

To describe

the victory

of Christ,

the author

uses

the classic images

of

the warrior Messiah

who establishes justice

**(Isaiah 11:4),**

annihilates hostile powers

**(Isaiah 63:3),**

subjects the nations

**(Psalms 2:9),**

and traverses

the world

as the efficacious

Word of God

**(see**
**Wisdom 18:14-Wisdom 18:18).**

Through him

justice reigns

upon the world.

He is the

truthful

and

faithful

one who fulfills

God’s promise

and makes

his justice

a reality.
**Revelation 19:15:**
**Will tread the winepress:**

the image

was commonplace

in

the Prophets

for symbolizing

God’s destruction

of

the enemies

of his people

on

the great day

of his wrath

**(see**
**Genesis 49:9-Genesis 49:12;** **Isaiah 63:1-Isaiah 63:6;** **Jeremiah 25:30;** **And** **Joel 4:13);**

the wine

is the blood

of the enemies.
**Revelation 19:16:**
**Thigh:**

this should

probably be

“standard”;

the two words

are quite similar

in Hebrew

and can be confused.

**King of kings and Lord of lords:**
**see**
**note**
**on**
**Revelation 17:14.**
**Revelation 19:17:**

In a final,

gigantic combat,

the forces

of destruction

will be annihilated

**(see**
**Revelation 14:6-Revelation 14:13).**

This is

the terrible sacrifice

of which

Ezekiel

speaks

**(Ezekiel 39:2,** **And** **Ezekiel 39:17-Ezekiel 39:20).**
**Revelation 19:19:**

The beast

and

the false prophet

are thrown

into

the fiery lake

and

destroyed.

The vision

sums up

in

a single scene

all the tableaus

of

the fall of Rome,

and

corresponds

to that in

**Revelation 14:14-Revelation 14:20.**

The beast,

the false prophet,

and

the entire campaign

aimed

at imposing

emperor worship

are described in

**Chapter.** **Chapter 13.**
**Revelation 20:1:**

The dragon

is enchained

for

a thousand years

in the abyss,

the

dwelling of

the

powers of evil

**(see**
**Revelation 9:2).**

This refers to

Satan’s defeat

when Jesus died

and

rose from the dead.

The

thousand year period

means

“for a long time.”

Satan’s power

is limited

(as if

he is imprisoned

for a long time).

Yet he still

tempts

the holy ones

on

the earth

during

this period.
**Revelation 20:4:**

While waiting

for

the

History of Salvation

to be completed,

the witnesses

to Christ’s love

already reign

with Jesus

when

they take up

their crosses

and

follow Jesus.

However,

before

the final triumph

arrives—

the great Judgment

that one imagines

must complete history—

evil unleashes

a last

terrible assault

on the Church,

as envisaged

by Ezekiel

**(Chapters.** **Chapter 36,** **Chapter 37,** **Chapter 38** **And** **Chapter 39)**

and

Paul

**(2 Thessalonians 2).**

Then will

be fulfilled

the prophecy

of Genesis

**(Genesis 3:15)**

that in advance

sketched

the

profound link

of

the drama

of history

and its end:

the annihilation

of the serpent,

the personification

of evil.

A reign of

a thousand years?

This passage

has served

as the basis of

all the

millenniarist

interpretations,

which await

the coming

of

a political kingdom

of Christ

on earth.

Must we

at least

imagine

a first

earthly accomplishment

of

the Kingdom of God

before the

final

and

eternal

transformation?

But the author

does not

speak

of a

return of Christ

in earthly conditions.

He wants

to affirm

above all

that those

who have died

as

witnesses of Jesus

are not separated

from him

while

awaiting

the full resurrection

**(Revelation 20:** **vv.** **Revelation 20:11-Revelation 20:13);**

he also wishes

to suggest

that

from now on

believers

have access

to

the tree of life

in heaven—

of which

the figure

“one thousand”

may be a symbol—

hence that

they partake

in the

communion of God.

In any case,

the thousand-year reign

is a

symbolic representation,

which

thus prohibits

all speculation.

At best

it evokes

a length

of time

and

a life

of the Church

beyond persecutions.

But

we must

not forget

that

for God

a thousand years

are like

one day

**(see**
**Psalms 90:4).**
**Revelation 20:4:**
**A thousand years:**

early tradition

took

this verse

literally:

after

a first

real resurrection,

that of

the martyrs,

Christ

would return

to earth

and

reign there

for

a thousand years.

The Church

has rejected

this literal

millenniarism.
**Revelation 20:6:**
**Blessed:**

the

fifth

beatitude

**(see**
**note**
**on**
**Revelation 1:3).**
**The second death:**

eternal

death,

or

damnation,

which

cannot

be followed

by

a resurrection.
**Revelation 20:8:**

Ezekiel

speaks of

“Gog,

king

of

Magog.”

Here

the two names

symbolize

the pagan nations

gathered together

against

the Church

at

the end

of the world.
**Revelation 20:9:**

The

**earth**

is Palestine;

the

**beloved city**

is Jerusalem,

a symbol

of

the Church.
**Revelation 20:11:**

The earth

and

the sky
disappear;

the first creation

is abolished.

Human beings

alone remain,

responsible

toward God.
**Revelation 20:12:**

This is

a grandiose

final sequence.

As in Daniel

**(Daniel 12:1-Daniel 12:7)**

and

Matthew

**(Matthew 25:31-Matthew 25:36),**

all human beings

appear

before

the tribunal

of God

and

are judged

according to

their

choices

and

life commitments.

(This principle

of judgment

according

to one’s works

is also

found in

**Psalms 62:12;** **Jeremiah 17:10;** **Romans 2:6;** **And** **1 Peter 1:17.**

And elsewhere.)

Everything

is laid bare

before

the Lord—

the same idea

expressed

in

the symbol of books

in

Daniel

**(Daniel 7:10).**

There is

another book—

that of Life;

it contains

the names

of those

who have resolutely

chosen Christ

in

the face

of idolatry

and

are now destined

for glory

**(see**
**Revelation 13:8;** **And** **Revelation 17:8).**

When one

knows all

that is represented

by the concept

of

the netherworld,

the sojourn

of death

and

the power

of death

personified

in the Bible,

**Revelation 20:** **verse** **14**

announces

the end

of the

anguish

and

fear

that have

weighed heavily

on humankind

throughout history.
**Revelation 20:14:**
**The second death,**

in which

death itself

is

swallowed up,

is

the definitive failure,

the condemnation

from which

no resurrection

can rescue

**(Revelation 2:11;** **Revelation 20:6;** **And** **Revelation 21:8).**
**Revelation 21:1:**

A new city

for

human beings

descends

from heaven,

as beautiful

as a new bride;

a new universe

replaces

the old;

life gushes up

in floods,

and

an endless feast

begins.

How

can we interpret

these marvelous images?

We must

let ourselves

be captivated

by

the poetic evocation,

by

the incantation of

this

exciting symphony.

We must project

all

the attention

of people

and

the Church

toward

this meeting

and

this

reconciliation,

which we regard

as

the sole

definitive condition

for humankind—

creating

a mystical impetus

toward Christ,

a hope

without frontiers.

Let us then strive

to highlight

some themes

that this vision

overlaps

on one another.

At

the end

of

the work

of salvation,

it is

a new creation

that

God

accomplishes

**(Revelation 21: v. 1),**

surpassing

all

the

images

of paradise.

Gone

are all things

that constrained,

all limits,

imperfections,

implacable

necessities,

evil:

the sea,

the sun

and

moon,

and

the

night.

Streams

spring forth

more attractive

than those

of Eden,

for

they

are a share

in

the unfathomable life

of God;

the tree of life

finds its power

multiplied to infinity

**(Revelation 22:2).**

For human beings,

this work

of salvation

is essentially

the gathering

of the

People of God

for a

definitive

Covenant

with

the Lord.

It is presented

as

a wedding feast

in which

is realized—

in

unimaginable fullness—

the love of God

and

human beings,

of Christ

and

the Church,

which

in keeping

with beautiful

Biblical texts

is expressed

as

a wedding

**(see**
**Isaiah 54:5;** **Isaiah 62:4;** **Matthew 9:15;** **John 3:29;** **2 Corinthians 11:2;** **And** **Revelation 19:1-Revelation 19:10).**

Dreams of

the restoration

of

Jerusalem

haunted

the Jewish people,

and

the Prophets

wrote about

its

spectacular resurrection

like an image of

the coming

of God

and

the salvation

of the people

**(see**
**Ezekiel 40–Ezekiel 48;** **Isaiah 65–Isaiah 66;** **And** **Zechariah 14);**

the chant

of Jerusalem

is

a crown-jewel

in

the Bible

**(see**
**Psalms 87;** **Psalms 122;** **Psalms 137;** **And** **Isaiah 33:17-Isaiah 33:23).**

One day

this movement

finds

its accomplishment

far beyond

all

warrior

or

political

images.

We can

think of

inexpressible repatriation

of

human beings

in

the friendship

of God,

joy,

and

happiness.

The future city

of God’s elect

is no longer

built up

by force of arms—

it is

a gift

and

grace

coming from

on high;

it is

nothing less

than splendor

**(Revelation 21:15-Revelation 21:21).**

There is

no more need

of

institutions

and

signs

for worship—

the temple itself

is surpassed:

the risen Jesus

is

the sole place

where

may

be found

the joy

of

really

and

directly

encountering God

**(see**
**Hebrews 9:11;** **And** **John 2:21).**

What

extraordinary

and

joyous

celebration

in the eternal

face-to-face

vision of the Lord!
**Revelation 21:1:**

The sea,

the

usual dwelling

of the dragon

and

a

symbol

of evil,

will disappear

before

the

victorious march

of the

new Israel,

as it did

in the days

of

the Exodus,

but

this time

for good.
**Revelation 21:3:**

This verse

contains

a combination

of

the classic formula

of

the Covenant

(“You will be my people,

and

I will be your God”)

and

the name Immanuel

(“God-with-us”),

which

was regarded

as

a name

of the Messiah

**(Matthew 1:23)**

—a fine assertion

of

the divinity

of Christ,

who is

God

and

man.

The

complete

and

definitive

Covenant

between

God

and

humankind

will

be accomplished

at

the end

of time

**(see**
**Isaiah 12:6;** **Joel 4:17,** **Joel 4:21;** **Zephaniah 3:15-Zephaniah 3:17;** **And** **Zechariah 2:14).**
**Revelation 21:6:**
**Alpha, Omega, Beginning, End:**

on

these

divine

titles

**see**
**note**
**on**
**Revelation 1:4-Revelation 1:8.**
**Spring of life-giving water:**
**see**
**note**
**on**
**Revelation 7:17.**
**Revelation 21:7:**
**He will be my son:**

this expression

is reserved

in

the

Old Testament

for the

King

Messiah

**(2 Samuel 7:14).**

Jesus reveals

its full meaning

by proclaiming

his own

divine sonship.

Believers

now share

in

this state

of Christ.
**Revelation 21:8:**
**Second death:**
**see**
**note**
**on**
**Revelation 20:6.**
**Revelation 21:10:**
**In the spirit:**
**see**
**note**
**on**
**Revelation 1:10.**
**Revelation 21:12:**
**Twelve gates:**
**see**
**Ezekiel 48:30-Ezekiel 48:35.**

The

number

twelve

here

most

likely stresses

that

the Church

of

the New Testament

is

a continuation

of

the

People of God

of

the

Old Testament.

**See**
**Revelation 21: v. 14,**

in which

the twelve foundation stones

bear the names

of

the twelve apostles.
**Revelation 21:5:**
**Measure the city:**
**see**
**Ezekiel 40–Ezekiel 41.**

The measuring

in

**Revelation Chapter 11**

was to

ensure protection;

here

it is done

to indicate

the

size

and

symmetry

of

the eternal

dwelling place

of

God’s people.
**Revelation 21:16:**
**Fifteen hundred miles:**

literally,

“twelve hundred stadia,”

about

twelve thousand furlongs.

In the mind

of the ancients

the square

was

the perfect form.

When

the number twelve,

which symbolizes

the new Israel,

is multiplied

by 1000,

it signifies

supreme perfection.

The city

possesses

the

symmetrical dimensions

of

a perfect cube,

which

is akin

to its

earthly counterpart,

the

inner sanctuary

in the

tabernacle

and

temple

**(see**
**1 Kings 6:20).**
**Revelation 1:17:**
**One hundred and forty-four cubits:**

a cubit

measured

about

eighteen inches

in length.
**Revelation 21:18:**

The materials used

show that

this

is not

an earthly city.

The twelve foundation stones

of the wall

are decorated

with

twelve precious stones,

which correspond

to

the twelve stones

on the

high priest’s

breastplate

**(see**
**Exodus 28:39).**

The gems

form a magnificent

kaleidoscope

of colors

symbolizing

the ineffable

glory of God.
**Revelation 21:24:**

The author

is alluding to

**Isaiah 60:1-Isaiah 60:20,**

which foretells

the entrance

of the nations

into the

People of God.

The open gates

are a sign

of

an everlasting

feast.
**Revelation 21:27:**
**Book of life:**
**see**
**notes**
**on**
**Revelation 3:5,** **And** **Revelation 20:12-Revelation 20:15.**
**Revelation 22:1:**

An

allusion

to

the

Trinity,

since

“the river

of the

water of life”

symbolizes

the

Spirit

**(see**
**John 7:37-John 7:39).**
**See**
**also**
**note**
**on**
**Revelation 7:17.**
**Revelation 22:2:**
**Tree of life:**
**see**
**Genesis 2:9;** **Genesis 3:22;** **And** **Ezekiel 47:12.**
**Revelation 22:4:**
**See his face:**

no human

could see

God’s face

and live

**(Exodus 33:20-Exodus 33:23).**

This was

in keeping

with

the custom

in

ancient times

whereby criminals

were

banished from

the king’s

presence

**(see**
**Esther 7:8;**
**see**
**also**
**2 Samuel 14:24).**

However,

the residents

of heaven

will look

on God

without harm

because

they are

now holy

**(see**
**Matthew 5:8;** **John 1:18;** **1 Corinthians 13:12;** **1 Timothy 6:16;** **And** **1 John 3:2).**
**Revelation 22:5:**
**They will reign:**
**see**
**Revelation 5:10;** **Revelation 20:6;** **Daniel 7:18,** **And** **Daniel 7:27.**
**Revelation 22:6:**

The Epilogue

is

a series

of

disparate

propositions

in which

we find:

statements of

Christ

and

John

that

authenticate

the Book

**(Revelation 22:** **vv.** **Revelation 22:6-Revelation 22:9,** **And** **Revelation 22:16);**

a notification

from Christ

about

the coming

fulfillment

of

the prophecy

**(Revelation 22:** **vv.** **Revelation 22:10-Revelation 22:15);**

a warning

from Christ

to falsifiers

of

the Scripture

**(Revelation 22:** **vv.** **Revelation 22:18-Revelation 22:19);**

the word

of

Christ’s promise

and

the word of

the Christians’

faith

**(Revelation 22: v. 20);**

and

the

epistolary

greeting

**(Revelation 22: v. 21).**
**6**

These serve

to exhort

the readers

to

take this

whole

revelation

seriously.

They should

realize

that

they are

living

at

the decisive moment

and

so fix

their attention

on

the Lord

who is coming!
**Revelation 22:7:**
**I am coming soon:**

the

speaker

is

Christ.

**Blessed:**

the

sixth

beatitude

**(see**
**note**
**on**
**Revelation 1:3).**
**Revelation 22:10:**

The history

of humankind

continues

up to

the return

of Christ.

We must

take his part

and

be polarized

by the idea

of

a definitive lot,

by

the expectation of

Life

and

Light,

by

the joyous certitude

of

the Elect.

The author

draws here on

**Psalms 62:13.**
**And**
**Isaiah 40:10;** **Isaiah 41:4;** **And** **Isaiah 44:6.**
**Revelation 22:14:**
**Blessed:**

the

seventh

beatitude

**(see**
**note**
**on**
**Revelation 1:3).**
**Revelation 22:15:**
**Dogs:**

they

were regarded

as

despicable creatures;

when the term

was applied

to people

it referred to

all types

of ceremonially

unclean persons

and

also

to people

of

low moral character:

e.g.,

male prostitutes

**(Deuteronomy 23:18)**

and

unfaithful

leaders

**(Isaiah 56:10).**
**Revelation 22:16:**

At

its beginning,

the

Book of Revelation

took

the form

of

a letter

**(Revelation 1:4).**

Now

it ends with

the

classic salutation

of a letter—

but a salutation

preceded

by a

threat

to forgers,

who

would otherwise

be at ease

in

the exploitation

of

apocalyptic writings.
**Revelation 22:16:**
**The Root and the Offspring of David:**
**see**
**note**
**on**
**Revelation 1:5;**
**see**
**also**
**Isaiah 11:1,** **Isaiah 11:10;** **And** **Romans 1:3.**
**The bright Morning Star:**

a

beautiful

title

for Christ,

already used

in

**Revelation 2:28.**

to signify his power.
**Revelation 22:20:**
**Come, Lord Jesus!:**

this is

the ardent plea

of those who,

in the

midst of

persecutions

and

trials,

await

the return

of Christ

**(see**
**note**
**on**
**1 Corinthians 16:22).**

The Church

should ceaselessly

strive

to recover

this fervent

expectation

for

the one

in whom

she

has

placed

her faith,

her hope,

and

her love,

the one from whom

she awaits

all things.

The New Testament

is not a book

that one

can close

upon itself.

It is

the charter

of

the Covenant,

the Good News

from which

one must live.

It remains open

toward

its fulfillment:

on the

last page

we

have the

beautiful

and

ancient

liturgical

prayer

of Christians:

“Come, Lord Jesus!”

## CROSS REFERENCES

**Revelation 1:3:**
**Revelation 14:13,** **Revelation 16:15,** **Revelation 19:9,** **Revelation 20:6,** **Revelation 22:7,** **And** **Revelation 22:14.**
**Revelation 14:13.** **NCB:**
**13** Then I heard a voice from heaven say, “Write: Blessed are those who die in the Lord from now on.”

“Yes,” says the Spirit, “they will find rest from their labors, for their deeds go with them.”

**Revelation 16:15.** **NCB:**
**15** “Behold, I am coming like a thief! Blessed is the one who stays awake and keeps his clothes close by so that he will not have to go naked and be exposed to shame.”

**Revelation 19:9.** **NCB:**
**9** Then the angel said to me, “Write: ‘Blessed are those who are invited to the wedding banquet of the Lamb.’ ” And he added, “These are the true words of God.”

**Revelation 20:6.** **NCB:**
**6** Blessed and holy are those who share in the first resurrection. The second death has no power over them. They will be priests of God and of Christ, and they will reign with him for a thousand years.

**Revelation 22:7.** **NCB:**
**7** “ ‘Behold, I am coming soon!’ Blessed is the one who observes the words of prophecy contained in this book.”

**Revelation 22:14).** **NCB:**
**14** “Blessed are those who wash their robes clean so that they will be free to eat from the tree of life and may enter the city by the gates.
**Revelation 1:3:**
**Psalms 1:1;** **And** **Matthew 5:3.**
**Psalms 1:1.** **NCB:**
**Prologue—Psalms 1–2**
**Psalm 1**
**True Happiness**
**1** Blessed is the man

 who does not walk in the counsel of the wicked,

nor stand in the way of sinners,

 nor sit in the company of scoffers.

**Matthew 5:3.** **NCB:**
**3** “Blessed are the poor in spirit,

 for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
**Revelation 1:4:**
**Exodus 3:14.**
**Exodus 3:14.** **NCB:**
**14** God said to Moses, “**I AM WHO I AM.**” Then he said, “You will say to the children of Israel, ‘**I AM** sent me to you.’ ”
**Revelation 1:4:**
**Isaiah 44:6,** **And** **Isaiah 48:12.**
**Isaiah 44:6,** **NCB:**
**The One True God and False Gods**
**6** Thus says the Lord, the Lord Almighty,

 Israel’s king and redeemer:

I am the first and I am the last;

 there is no god but me.

**Isaiah 48:12.** **NCB:**
**12** Listen to me, O Jacob,

 and Israel, whom I have called.

I am he; I am the first

 and I am the last.
**Revelation 1:4:**
**1 Peter 2:5,** **And** **1 Peter 2:9.**
**1 Peter 2:5.** **NCB:**
**5** You, too, are like living stones, being built up into a spiritual temple and a holy priesthood to offer spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ.

**1 Peter 2:9.** **NCB:**
**9** But you are “a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people claimed by God as his own possession,” so that you may proclaim the praise of him who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light.
**Revelation 1:4:**
**Exodus 19:6,** **Psalms 89:28,** **Psalms 89:38,** **And** **Isaiah 55:3.**
**Exodus 19:6.** **NCB:**
**6** You will be a kingdom of priests and a holy nation for me.’ These are the words you will speak to Israel.”

**Psalms 89:28.** **NCB:**
**28** “I will designate him as my firstborn,

 the highest of all earthly kings.

**Psalms 89:38.** **NCB:**
**38** It will endure forever like the moon,

 a faithful witness in the sky.” *Selah*
**Isaiah 55:3.** **NCB:**
**3** Come to me and pay close attention;

 listen so that you may have life.

I will make an everlasting covenant with you

 to love you with the faithful love promised to David.
**Revelation 1:4:**
**Revelation 1:4.**
**Revelation 1:4.** **NCB:**
**4** John, to the seven Churches in Asia: grace to you and peace from him who is, who was, and who is to come, and from the seven spirits before his throne,
**Revelation 1:4:**
**Isaiah 11:2,** **And** **Isaiah 11:5.**
**Isaiah 11:2.** **NCB:**
**2** The Spirit of the Lord will rest upon him:

 a Spirit of wisdom and understanding,

a Spirit of counsel and power,

 a Spirit of knowledge and fear of the Lord,

**Isaiah 11:5.** **NCB:**
**5** Righteousness will be the belt around his waist

 and faithfulness the belt around his loins.
**Revelation 1:4:**
**Revelation 1:11.**
**Revelation 1:11.** **NCB:**
**11** that said, “Write down on a scroll what you see and send it to the seven Churches: to Ephesus, Smyrna, Pergamum, Thyatira, Sardis, Philadelphia, and Laodicea.
**Revelation 1:5:**
**2 Samuel 7:1,** **Psalms 89,** **Isaiah 55:3-Isaiah 55:4,** **And** **Zechariah 12:8.**
**2 Samuel 7:1.** **NCB:**
**Chapter 7**
**David’s Concern for the Ark.**
**1** When King David was settled in his palace and the Lord had granted him rest from all his enemies surrounding him,

**Psalms 89.** **NCB:**

The Verses or Chapters cited would be too long to include in full. To see them in full, please refer to **The Book of Psalms**, specifically **Psalm 89**
**Isaiah 55:3-Isaiah 55:4.** **NCB:**
**3** Come to me and pay close attention;

 listen so that you may have life.

I will make an everlasting covenant with you

 to love you with the faithful love promised to David.

**4** I appointed him to be a witness to the peoples,

 a leader and commander of nations.

**Zechariah 12:8.** **NCB:**
**8** On that day, the Lord will shield the inhabitants of Jerusalem. The weakest of them will be like David when that day comes, and the house of David will be godlike, with the angel of the Lord at their head.
**Revelation 1:5:**
**Revelation 3:14,** **Revelation 19:11,** **Revelation 19:13,** **And** **2 Corinthians 1:20.**
**Revelation 3:14.** **NCB:**
**14** To Laodicea.“To the angel of the Church in Laodicea, write:

“ ‘These are the words of the Amen, the faithful and true witness, the source of God’s creation:

**Revelation 19:11.** **NCB:**
**Recapitulative Visions of the History of Salvation**
**11**
**The White Horse and the King of Kings.**

Now I saw heaven opened, and a white horse appeared. Its rider was called “Faithful and True,” for with righteousness he judges and wages war.

**Revelation 19:13.** **NCB:**
**13** He was clothed in a robe dipped in blood, and he was known by the name The Word of God.

**2 Corinthians 1:20.** **NCB:**
**20** In him is the “Yes” to every one of the promises of God. Indeed, it is through him that we say “Amen” to give glory to God.
**Revelation 1:5:**
**Revelation 5:5,** **And** **Revelation 22:16.**
**Revelation 5:5.** **NCB:**
**5** Then one of the elders said to me, “Do not weep. The Lion of the tribe of Judah, the Root of David, has triumphed, and thus has won the right to open the scroll and its seven seals.”

**Revelation 22:16.** **NCB:**
**16**
**“Come, Lord Jesus!”“**

‘I, Jesus, sent my angel to you with this testimony for the churches. I am the Root and the Offspring of David, the bright Morning Star.’ ”
**Revelation 1:5:**
**Colossians 1:18.**
**Colossians 1:18.** **NCB:**
**18** He is the head of the body,

that is, the Church.

He is the beginning,

the firstborn from the dead,

so that in every way

he should be supreme.
**Revelation 1:5:**
**Revelation 19:6.** **And** **Daniel 7:14.**
**Revelation 19:6.** **NCB:**
**6** And I heard what seemed to be the sound of a vast multitude, like the sound of a torrential stream or of great peals of thunder, crying out:

“Alleluia.

The reign of the Lord our God,

 the Almighty, has begun.

**Daniel 7:14.** **NCB:**
**14** Dominion and glory and kingship

 were conferred upon him

so that all peoples and nations of every language

 would become his servants.

His dominion is an everlasting dominion

 that will never pass away,

and his kingdom is one

 that will never be destroyed.
**Revelation 1:6:**
**Isaiah 54:11-Isaiah 54:17,** **Daniel 7:22,** **Daniel 7:27,** **And** **Zechariah 12:1-Zechariah 12:3.**
**Isaiah 54:11-Isaiah 54:17.** **NCB:**
**11** O afflicted city, storm-battered and not comforted,

 I will build you with precious stones

 and lay your foundations with sapphires.

**12** I will use rubies to make your battlements,

 jewels for your gates,

 and precious stones for all your walls.

**13** All of your sons will be taught by the Lord,

 and great will be their prosperity.

**14** With justice you will be established;

 you will be free from the fear of oppression,

 and no terror will afflict you.

**15** Should anyone attack you,

 it will not be my doing,

and anyone who does stir up strife

 will fall before you.

**16** It was I who created the blacksmith

 to blow on the coals in the fire

 and produce a weapon suitable for its purpose.

I also created the ravager

 to destroy and wreak havoc.

**17** No weapon used against you will prevail,

 and you will refute every accusation

 that is raised in court against you.

This is the heritage of the servants of the Lord,

 their vindication from me, says the Lord.

**Daniel 7:22.** **NCB:**
**22** until the Ancient One came and pronounced judgment in favor of the holy ones of the Most High, and the time came when the holy ones gained possession of the kingdom.

**Daniel 7:27.** **NCB:**
**27** Then kingship and dominion and the splendor

 of all the kingdoms under the heavens

 will be given to the holy people of the Most High,

whose kingdom will be everlasting,

 and all dominions will serve and obey him.”

**Zechariah 12:1-Zechariah 12:3.** **NCB:**
**Chapter 12**
**The Lord Undertakes Defense of Jerusalem.**
**1** An oracle: the word of the Lord concerning Israel. Thus says the Lord, who spread out the heavens and founded the earth and formed the human spirit within:

**2** Behold, I will make Jerusalem a cup that will intoxicate all the surrounding nations, and Judah will be besieged as well as Jerusalem. **3** On that day, when all the nations of the world are gathered against her, I will make Jerusalem a heavy stone for all the peoples. All those who try to lift it will hurt themselves seriously, even though all the nations of the earth will be massed against her.
**Revelation 1:6:**
**Revelation 2:26,** **Revelation 5:10,** **Revelation 20:6,** **And** **Revelation 22:5.**
**Revelation 2:26.** **NCB:**
**26** “ ‘ “To anyone who is victorious

 and perseveres in doing my works until the end,

I will give authority over the nations,

**Revelation 5:10.** **NCB:**
**10** You have made them to be a kingdom and priests to serve our God,

 and they will reign on earth.”

**Revelation 20:6.** **NCB:**
**6** Blessed and holy are those who share in the first resurrection. The second death has no power over them. They will be priests of God and of Christ, and they will reign with him for a thousand years.

**Revelation 22:5.** **NCB:**
**5** And there will be no more night. They will have no need for light from a lamp or from the sun, for the Lord God will give them light, and they will reign forever and ever.
**Revelation 1:9:**
**Daniel 7,** **And** **Daniel 10.**
**Daniel 7.** **NCB:**

The Verses or Chapters cited would be too long to include in full. To see them in full, please refer to **The Book of Daniel**, specifically **Chapter 7**
**Daniel 10.** **NCB:**

The Verses or Chapters cited would be too long to include in full. To see them in full, please refer to **The Book of Daniel**, specifically **Chapter 10**
**Revelation 1:9:**
**Revelation 1:18.**
**Revelation 1:18.** **NCB:**
**18** I was dead, but now I am alive forevermore, and I hold the keys to death and the netherworld.
**Revelation 1:9:**
**John 5:26-John 5:28.**
**John 5:26-John 5:28.** **NCB:**
**26** For just as the Father has life in himself,

so also he has granted the Son to have life in himself.

**27** And he has also granted him

the power to pass judgment,

because he is the Son of Man.

**28** “Do not be astonished at this,

for the hour is coming

when all those who are in their graves

will hear his voice
**Revelation 1:9:**
**Revelation 1:19.**
**Revelation 1:19.** **NCB:**
**19** “Now write down what you have seen, what is happening now, and what will take place afterward.
**Revelation 1:10:**
**Revelation 4:2,** **Revelation 17:3,** **And** **Revelation 21:10.**
**Revelation 4:2.** **NCB:**
**2** At once I was caught up in the spirit, and there in heaven I beheld a throne.

**Revelation 17:3.** **NCB:**
**3** Then he carried me away in the spirit into the wilderness, and I saw a woman seated on a scarlet beast that had seven heads and ten horns and was covered with blasphemous names.

**Revelation 21:10.** **NCB:**
**10** Then he carried me away in the spirit to the top of a very high mountain and showed me the holy city Jerusalem coming down out of heaven from God.
**Revelation 1:10:**
**Acts 20:7,** **1 Corinthians 11:26,** **And** **2 Peter 3:12.**
**Acts 20:7.** **NCB:**
**Paul’s Witness and Testament**
**Paul Raises Eutychus to Life.**
**7** On the first day of the week, when we gathered for the breaking of the bread, Paul spoke to the people, and because he was going to leave on the next day, he continued speaking until midnight.

**1 Corinthians 11:26.** **NCB:**
**26** And so, whenever you eat this bread and drink this cup, you proclaim the death of the Lord until he comes.

**2 Peter 3:12.** **NCB:**
**12** Wait for and speed the coming of the Day of God, on which the heavens will be set ablaze and all the elements will melt because of the intense heat.
**Revelation 1:13:**
**Revelation 2:16,** **Revelation 19:15,** **Isaiah 49:2,** **Ephesians 6:17,** **And** **Hebrews 4:12.**
**Revelation 2:16.** **NCB:**
**16** Therefore, repent. If you do not do so, I will come to you quickly and attack them with the sword of my mouth.

**Revelation 19:15.** **NCB:**
**15** Coming out of his mouth was a sharp sword with which to strike down the nations. He will rule them with an iron scepter, and he will tread the winepress of the fury of the wrath of God the Almighty.

**Isaiah 49:2.** **NCB:**
**2** He made my tongue like a sharp sword

 and hid me in the shadow of his hand.

He formed me into a polished arrow,

 and he concealed me in his quiver.

**Ephesians 6:17.** **NCB:**
**17** And take the helmet of salvation as well as the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.

**Hebrews 4:12.** **NCB:**
**12**
**The Word of God Is Living.**

Indeed, the word of God is living and active. Sharper than any two-edged sword, it pierces to the point where it divides soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and the intentions of the heart.
**Revelation 1:13:**
**Matthew 8:20.**
**Matthew 8:20.** **NCB:**
**20** Jesus told him, “Foxes have holes and birds of the air have nests, but the Son of Man has nowhere to lay his head.”
**Revelation 2:1:**
**Revelation 1:9-Revelation 1:20.**
**Revelation 1:9-Revelation 1:20.** **NCB:**
**“I Am the First and the Last.”**
**9** I, John—your brother and partner in the suffering and the kingdom and the patient endurance that are ours in Jesus—was on the island of Patmos because I had proclaimed the word of God and given testimony to Jesus. **10** On the Lord’s day, I was caught up in the spirit, and I heard behind me a loud voice, like the sound of a trumpet, **11** that said, “Write down on a scroll what you see and send it to the seven Churches: to Ephesus, Smyrna, Pergamum, Thyatira, Sardis, Philadelphia, and Laodicea.

**12** Then I turned to see whose voice it was that had spoken to me, and when I turned I beheld seven gold lampstands. **13** And in the midst of the lampstands I saw one like a son of man, dressed in a robe that reached down to his feet and with a golden breastplate around his chest. **14** His head and his hair were white with the whiteness of wool, like snow, and his eyes were like a burning flame. **15** His feet were like burnished bronze refined in a furnace, and his voice was like the sound of rushing waters. **16** In his right hand he held seven stars. From his mouth there protruded a sharp, two-edged sword, and his face shone like the sun in all its brilliance.

**17** When I saw him, I fell at his feet as though dead, but he laid his right hand on me and said, “Do not be afraid. I am the First and the Last. I am the Living One. **18** I was dead, but now I am alive forevermore, and I hold the keys to death and the netherworld.

**19** “Now write down what you have seen, what is happening now, and what will take place afterward. **20** The mystery of the seven stars that you saw in my right hand, and of the seven gold lampstands, is this: the seven stars are the angels of the seven Churches, and the seven lampstands are the seven Churches themselves.
**Revelation 2:1:**
**Acts 6:5.**
**Acts 6:5.** **NCB:**
**5** The entire community found this proposal to be acceptable, and they chose Stephen, a man full of faith and the Holy Spirit, together with Philip, Prochorus, Nicanor, Timon, Parmenas, and Nicholas of Antioch who was a convert to Judaism.
**Revelation 2:1:**
**Revelation 2:14-Revelation 2:15.**
**Revelation 2:14-Revelation 2:15.** **NCB:**
**14** “ ‘ “Nevertheless, I have a few things against you. Some of you are holding to the teaching of Balaam, who instructed Balak to place temptations in the path of the Israelites, encouraging them to eat food sacrificed to idols and to engage in fornication. **15** Likewise, there are some of you who follow the teaching of the Nicolaitans.
**Revelation 2:1:**
**Revelation 2:20.**
**Revelation 2:20.** **NCB:**
**20** Nevertheless, I have this against you, that you tolerate that woman Jezebel, who calls herself a prophetess and who by her teaching is luring my servants into acts of fornication and encouraging them to eat food that has been sacrificed to idols.
**Revelation 2:1:**
**Genesis 2:9,** **And** **Genesis 3:22-Genesis 3:24.**
**Genesis 2:9.** **NCB:**
**9** The Lord God made all sorts of beautiful and nourishing trees sprout out of the earth, among which was the tree of life in the middle of the garden and the tree of the knowledge of good and evil.

**Genesis 3:22-Genesis 3:24.** **NCB:**
**22** The Lord God said, “Behold, man has become like one of us, for he has knowledge of that which is good and that which is evil. Now, we must prevent him from reaching out and taking the fruit of the tree of life lest he eat it and live forever.” **23** The Lord God cast him out of the Garden of Eden; henceforth he was to labor tilling the soil from which he had come. **24** When he expelled him, he placed cherubim to the east of the Garden of Eden with flaming swords to keep watch over the way to the tree of life.
**Revelation 2:8:**
**Acts 14:2,** **Acts 14:19,** **Acts 17:5,** **And** **Acts 17:13.**
**Acts 14:2.** **NCB:**
**2** However, the Jews who refused to believe stirred up the Gentiles and poisoned their minds against the brethren.

**Acts 14:19.** **NCB:**
**19**
**End of the First Mission.**

Shortly thereafter, some Jews arrived on the scene from Antioch and Iconium, and they won over the crowds. They stoned Paul and dragged him outside the town, believing that he was dead.

**Acts 17:5.** **NCB:**
**5** However, the Jews became jealous, and they recruited some ruffians from the marketplace, formed a mob, and soon had the city in an uproar. They stormed Jason’s house, intending to bring them out before the crowd.

**Acts 17:13.** **NCB:**
**13** However, when the Jews of Thessalonica learned that the word of God was being proclaimed by Paul in Beroea, they followed him there to cause trouble and stir up the crowds.
**Revelation 2:12:**
**Numbers 25:3,** **And** **Numbers 31:16.**
**Numbers 25:3.** **NCB:**
**3** So Israel yoked himself to Baal of Peor. The Lord grew angry at Israel

**Numbers 31:16.** **NCB:**
**16** These are the ones who caused the people of Israel to follow the advice of Balaam, to trespass against the Lord in the affair of Peor, causing a plague among the assembly of the Lord.
**Revelation 2:12:**
**Psalms 78:24.**
**Psalms 78:24.** **NCB:**
**24** He rained down manna for them to eat,

 giving them the grain of heaven.
**Revelation 2:12:**
**Exodus 16:32-Exodus 16:34,** **2 Maccabees 2:4-2 Maccabees 2:8,** **And** **Hebrews 9:4.**
**Exodus 16:32-Exodus 16:34.** **NCB:**
**32** Moses said, “This is what the Lord has ordered: ‘Fill an omer and conserve it for your descendants so that they can see the bread that I gave you to eat in the desert, when I brought you out of the land of Egypt.’ ”

**33** Moses, therefore, said to Aaron, “Take a jar and put a full omer of manna in it. Place it before the Lord and preserve it for your descendants.” **34** Aaron did what the Lord had commanded Moses to do, he placed it in front of the Testimony, to preserve it.

**2 Maccabees 2:4-2 Maccabees 2:8.** **NCB:**
**4** That same document also records that the prophet, in obedience to a divine revelation, issued orders that the tent and the Ark should accompany him, and that he went off to the mountain that Moses had ascended to view God’s inheritance. **5** Upon arriving there, Jeremiah found a cave-dwelling where he placed the tent, the Ark, and the altar of incense, after which he blocked off the entrance. **6** Some of his companions came up later with the intention of marking out the path, but they were unable to find it. **7** When Jeremiah learned of this, he rebuked them. “This place shall remain unknown,” he declared, “until God gathers his people together again and shows them his mercy. **8** Then the Lord will once again disclose these things, and the glory of the Lord will appear together with the cloud, as it was revealed in the time of Moses and when Solomon prayed that the place might be solemnly consecrated.”

**Hebrews 9:4.** **NCB:**
**4** in which stood the gold altar of incense and the ark of the covenant overlaid on all sides with gold. In that ark were the gold jar containing the manna, and Aaron’s staff that had sprouted buds, and the tablets of the covenant.
**Revelation 2:14:**
**Numbers 25:1-Numbers 25:2,** **And** **Numbers 31:16.**
**Numbers 25:1-Numbers 25:2.** **NCB:**
**Chapter 25**
**Israel Worships Baal of Peor.**
**1** While Israel dwelt in Shittim, the people began to play the harlot with the daughters of Moab. **2** They invited the people to sacrifice to their gods. The people ate and worshiped their gods.

**Numbers 31:16.** **NCB:**
**16** These are the ones who caused the people of Israel to follow the advice of Balaam, to trespass against the Lord in the affair of Peor, causing a plague among the assembly of the Lord.
**Revelation 2:14:**
**Jude 1:11.**
**Jude 1:11.** **NCB:**
**11** However, the inhabitants of all those lands paid no heed to the summons of Nebuchadnezzar, king of the Assyrians, and refused to join forces with him for the campaign. They were not afraid of him, regarding him as just a man. They sent his envoys away empty-handed and in disgrace.
**Revelation 2:18:**
**1 Kings 16:31,** **And** **2 Kings 9:22.**
**1 Kings 16:31.** **NCB:**
**31** As if it were not enough that he committed the sins of Jeroboam, the son of Nebat, he also married Jezebel, the daughter of Ethbaal, the king of the Sidonians, and he went after and served Baal and worshiped him.

**2 Kings 9:22.** **NCB:**
**22** When Joram saw that it was Jehu, he said, “Do you come in peace?” Jehu answered, “How can there be peace as long as the idolatries and witchcrafts of Jezebel, your mother, continue to multiply?”
**Revelation 2:14:**
**Psalms 2.**
**Psalms 2.** **NCB:**
**Psalm 2**
**Universal Reign of the Messiah**
**1** Why do the nations rage

 and the peoples devise futile plots?

**2** The kings of the earth rise up,

 and the princes conspire together

against the Lord

 and against his Anointed One:

**3** “Let us finally break their shackles

 and cast away their chains from us.”

**4** The one who is enthroned in heaven laughs;

 the Lord mocks their plans.

**5** Then he rebukes them in his anger

 and terrifies them in his wrath, saying,

**6** “I myself have anointed my king

 on Zion, my holy mountain.”

**7** I will proclaim the decree of the Lord:

 He said to me, “You are my son;

 this day I have begotten you.”

**8** Simply make the request of me,

 and I will give you the nations as your inheritance,

 and the ends of the earth as your possession.

**9** You will rule them with an iron scepter;

 you will shatter them like a potter’s vessel.

**10** Therefore, O kings, pay heed;

 take warning, O rulers of the earth.

**11** Serve the Lord with fear, and rejoice before him;

with trembling bow down in homage

**12** [Accept correction]

lest he become angry

 and you perish from the way,

 for his wrath can flare up in an instant.

Blessed are all those

 who take refuge in him.
**Revelation 3:1:**
**Matthew 18:32.**
**Matthew 18:32.** **NCB:**
**32** “Whoever acknowledges me before men, I will also acknowledge before my Father in heaven.
**Revelation 3:5:**
**Revelation 3:18,** **Revelation 6:11,** **Revelation 7:9,** **Revelation 7:13f,** **And** **Revelation 19:14.**
**Revelation 3:18.** **NCB:**
**18** “ ‘ “I advise you to buy from me gold that has been refined by fire so that you will be truly rich, and white robes to clothe you so that you may keep the shame of your nakedness from being seen, and ointment to smear on your eyes so that you may see.

**Revelation 6:11.** **NCB:**
**11** Each of them was given a white robe, and they were instructed to be patient for a little longer until the roll was completed of their fellow servants and brethren who were still to be killed as they themselves had been.

**Revelation 7:9.** **NCB:**
**9** After this, in my vision, I witnessed a vast throng that no one could count, from every nation, race, people, and language. They were standing before the throne and before the Lamb, dressed in white robes and holding palm branches in their hands.

**Revelation 7:13f.** **NCB:**
**13** Then one of the elders spoke to me and inquired, “Who are these people, all dressed in white robes, and where have they come from?”

**Revelation 19:14.** **NCB:**
**14** The armies of heaven were following him, riding on white horses and dressed in fine linen, white and clean.
**Revelation 3:5:**
**Revelation 13:8,** **Revelation 17:8,** **Revelation 20:12,** **Revelation 20:15,** **Revelation 21:27,** **Daniel 12:1,** **And** **Philippians 4:3.**
**Revelation 13:8.** **NCB:**
**8** All the inhabitants of the earth will worship it, all those whose names have not been written from the creation of the world in the book of life belonging to the Lamb who was slain.

**Revelation 17:8.** **NCB:**
**8** The beast that you saw was once alive but is now alive no longer. It is about to ascend from the abyss and go to its destruction. All the inhabitants of the earth whose names have not been written in the book of life since the foundation of the world will be astonished when they see the beast, because it was once alive but is now alive no longer, and yet it is still to come.

**Revelation 20:12.** **NCB:**
**12**
**The Resurrection and Judgment.**

And I saw the dead, great and small, standing before the throne, and the scrolls were opened. Then another scroll was opened, the book of life, and the dead were judged according to their deeds, as were recorded in the scrolls.

**Revelation 20:15.** **NCB:**
**15** Anyone who was not found written in the book of life was thrown into the fiery lake.

**Revelation 21:27.** **NCB:**
**27** However, nothing unclean will ever enter it, nor will anyone who does abominable or deceitful things, but only those who are written in the Lamb’s book of life.

**Daniel 12:1.** **NCB:**
**Chapter 12**
**1** “At that time there shall arise

 Michael, the great prince,

 the guardian of your people.

Then there will be a period

 that will be unsurpassed in distress

 since nations first came into existence.

At that time your own people will be spared,

 everyone whose names are found written in the book.

**Philippians 4:3.** **NCB:**
**3** I also ask you, my loyal companion Syzygus, to help these women, for they have struggled alongside me in the work of the gospel, together with Clement and the rest of my fellow workers, whose names are in the book of life.
**Revelation 3:5:**
**Matthew 10:32,** **And** **Luke 12:8.**
**Matthew 10:32.** **NCB:**
**32** “Whoever acknowledges me before men, I will also acknowledge before my Father in heaven.

**Luke 12:8.** **NCB:**
**8** “I tell you this: whoever acknowledges me before men, the Son of Man will also acknowledge before the angels of God.
**Revelation 3:7:**
**Isaiah 22:22.**
**Isaiah 22:22.** **NCB:**
**22** I will place on his shoulder

 the key of the house of David.

When he opens,

 no one will close;

when he closes,

 no one will open.
**Revelation 3:7:**
**Revelation 6:10,** **And** **Isaiah 40:25.**
**Revelation 6:10.** **NCB:**
**10** They shouted in a loud voice, “How long is it to be, holy and true Master, before you judge the inhabitants of the earth and avenge our death?”

**Isaiah 40:25.** **NCB:**
**25** To whom then can you compare me,

 or who is my equal? says the Holy One.
**Revelation 3:7:**
**Habakkuk 3:2-Habbakuk 3:3,** **And** **Mark 1:24.**
**Habakkuk 3:2-Habbakuk 3:3.** **NCB:**
**2** O Lord, I have heard of your renown;

 your work, O Lord, fills me with awe.

Make it live once again in our own time;

 in the course of the years make it known,

 and in your wrath remember to have compassion on us.

**3** God comes from Teman,

 the Holy One from Mount Paran.

His radiance covers the heavens,

 and with his glory the earth is filled.

**Mark 1:24.** **NCB:**
**24** “What do you want with us, Jesus of Nazareth? Have you come to destroy us? I know who you are—the Holy One of God.”
**Revelation 3:7:**
**Isaiah 22:22,** **And** **Matthew 16:19.**
**Isaiah 22:22,** **NCB:**
**22** I will place on his shoulder

 the key of the house of David.

When he opens,

 no one will close;

when he closes,

 no one will open.

**Matthew 16:19.** **NCB:**
**19** I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven. Whatever you bind on earth shall be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven.”
**Revelation 3:12:**
**Revelation 19:13.**
**Revelation 19:13.** **NCB:**
**13** He was clothed in a robe dipped in blood, and he was known by the name The Word of God.
**Revelation 3:14:**
**2 Corinthians 1:19-2 Corinthians 1:20.**
**2 Corinthians 1:19-2 Corinthians 1:20.** **NCB:**
**19** The Son of God, Jesus Christ, who was proclaimed to you by us, that is, by Silvanus and Timothy and me, was not a mixture of “Yes” and “No.” He was never anything but “Yes.”

**20** In him is the “Yes” to every one of the promises of God. Indeed, it is through him that we say “Amen” to give glory to God.
**Revelation 3:14:**
**Mark 13:29,** **Luke 12:35,** **And** **Luke 22:16.**
**Mark 13:29.** **NCB:**
**29** In the same way, when you see these things come to pass, know that he is near, at the very gates.

**Luke 12:35.** **NCB:**
**Parables about Watchfulness**
**35**
**The Parable of the Vigilant Steward.**

“Fasten your belts for service and have your lamps lit.

**Luke 22:16.** **NCB:**
**16** For I tell you that from this moment on I shall never eat it again until it is fulfilled in the kingdom of God.”
**Revelation 3:14:**
**Isaiah 65:16.**
**Isaiah 65:16.** **NCB:**
**16** Then anyone in the land who blesses himself

 will bless himself by the God of truth,

and anyone who takes an oath in the land

 will swear by the God of truth,

because the troubles of the past will be forgotten

 and hidden from my sight.
**Revelation 3:14:**
**2 Corinthians 1:20.**
**2 Corinthians 1:20.** **NCB:**
**20** In him is the “Yes” to every one of the promises of God. Indeed, it is through him that we say “Amen” to give glory to God.
**Revelation 3:14:**
**John 1:3,** **Colossians 1:16f,** **And** **Hebrews 1:2.**
**John 1:3.** **NCB:**
**3** Through him all things came into existence,

and without him there was nothing.

That which came to be

**Colossians 1:16f.** **NCB:**
**16** For in him were created all things

in heaven and on earth,

whether visible or invisible,

whether thrones or dominions or rulers or powers—

all things were created through him and for him.

**Hebrews 1:2.** **NCB:**
**2** but in these last days he has spoken to us

 through his Son,

whom he appointed heir of all things

 and through whom he created the universe.
**Revelation 3:14:**
**Proverbs 8:22-Proverbs 8:31,** **And** **Wisdom 9:1f.**
**Proverbs 8:22-Proverbs 8:31.** **NCB:**
**By the Side of the God of the Origins**
**22** “The Lord created me as the firstborn of his ways,

 before the oldest of his works.

**23** I was established in the earliest times,

 at the beginning, before the earth.

**24** I was brought forth when there were no ocean depths,

 when there were no springs overflowing with water.

**25** Before the mountains had been shaped,

 before the hills, I was brought forth,

**26** when he had not yet made the earth and the fields

 or the mass of the world’s soil.

**27** “When he set the heavens in place, I was there,

 when he designated where the ocean and the horizon meet,

**28** when he fixed the canopy of the clouds above

 and limited the fountains of the deep,

**29** when he assigned the boundaries of the sea

 so that the waters would not transgress his command,

and when he established the foundations of the earth,

**30** then I was beside him as a master craftsman,

and I was his delight day after day,

 exulting in his presence continually,

**31** rejoicing in his inhabited world

 and delighting in the children of men.

**Wisdom 9:1f.** **NCB:**
**Chapter 9**
**1** “God of my ancestors and Lord of mercy,

 by your word you have created all things,
**Revelation 3:19:**
**Job 5:17,** **Psalms 94:12,** **Proverbs 3:11f,** **1 Corinthians 11:32,** **And** **Hebrews 12:5-Hebrews 12:11.**
**Job 5:17.** **NCB:**
**Blessed Is the Man Whom God Reproves**
**17** “Blessed is the man whom God reproves.

 Therefore, do not reject the discipline of the Almighty.

**Psalms 94:12.** **NCB:**
**12** Blessed is the man you admonish, O Lord,

 the man you teach by means of your law,

**Proverbs 3:11f.** **NCB:**
**11** My son, do not ignore the Lord’s discipline

 or refuse to accept his rebuke.

**1 Corinthians 11:32.** **NCB:**
**32** However, when we are judged by the Lord, he is disciplining us to save us from being condemned together with the world.

**Hebrews 12:5-Hebrews 12:11.** **NCB:**
**God Is Treating You as His Children.**
**5** You have forgotten the exhortation that addresses you as children:

“My son, do not scorn the discipline of the Lord

 or lose heart when you are punished by him.

**6** For the Lord disciplines those whom he loves,

 and he chastises every son whom he acknowledges.”

**7** Endure the trials you receive as a form of discipline. God is treating you as sons. For what son is there who is not disciplined by his father? **8** If you have not received the discipline in which all share, then you are illegitimate and not true sons.

**9** In addition, we have all received discipline from our earthly fathers, and we respected them. Should we not then be even more willing to submit to the Father of spirits and live? **10** They disciplined us for a short time as they thought best, but he does so for our benefit so that we may share his holiness.

**11** At the time that discipline is received, it always seems painful rather than pleasant, but afterward it yields a harvest of peace and uprightness to those who have been trained by it.
**Revelation 4:1:**
**Revelation 4,** **And** **Revelation 5.**
**Revelation 4.** **NCB:**

The Verses or Chapters cited would be too long to include in full. To see them in full, please refer to **The Book of Revelation**, specifically The Book of Revelation: Chapter 4
**Revelation 5.** **NCB:**

The Verses or Chapters cited would be too long to include in full. To see them in full, please refer to **The Book of Revelation**, specifically The Book of Revelation: Chapter 5
**Revelation 4:1:**
**Revelation 6:1—Revelation 11:9.**
**Revelation 6:1—Revelation 11:9.** **NCB:**

The Verses or Chapters cited would be too long to include in full. To see them in full, please refer to **The Book of Revelation**, specifically The Book of Revelation: Chapter 6, The Book of Revelation: Chapter 7, The Book of Revelation: Chapter 8, The Book of Revelation: Chapter 9, The Book of Revelation: Chapter 10, And The Book of Revelation: Chapter 11.
**Revelation 4:1:**
**Revelation 12:1—Revelation 20:15.**

The Verses or Chapters cited would be too long to include in full. To see them in full, please refer to **The Book of Revelation**, specifically The Book of Revelation: Chapter 12, The Book of Revelation: Chapter 13, The Book of Revelation: Chapter 14, The Book of Revelation: Chapter 15, The Book of Revelation: Chapter 16, The Book of Revelation: Chapter 17, The Book of Revelation: Chapter 18, The Book of Revelation: Chapter 19, And The Book of Revelation: Chapter 20.
**Revelation 4:1:**
**Revelation 21:1—Revelation 22:15.**

The Verses or Chapters cited would be too long to include in full. To see them in full, please refer to **The Book of Revelation**, specifically The Book of Revelation: Chapter 21, And The Book of Revelation: Chapter 22.
**Revelation 4:1:**
**Sirach 44–Sirach 50,** **And** **Hebrews 10–Hebrews 12.**
**Sirach 44–Sirach 50.** **NCB:**

The Verses or Chapters cited would be too long to include in full. To see them in full, please refer to The Wisdom of Ben Sira, specifically The Wisdom of Ben Sira: Chapter 44, The Wisdom of Ben Sira: Chapter 45, The Wisdom of Ben Sira: Chapter 46, The Wisdom of Ben Sira: Chapter 47, The Wisdom of Ben Sira: Chapter 48, The Wisdom of Ben Sira: Chapter 49, And The Wisdom of Ben Sira: Chapter 50,

**Hebrews 10–Hebrews 12.** **NCB:**

The Verses or Chapters cited would be too long to include in full. To see them in full, please refer to The Letter to The Hebrews, specifically The Letter to The Hebrews: Chapter 10, The Letter to The Hebrews: Chapter 11, And The Letter to The Hebrews: Chapter 12,
**Revelation 4:1:**
**Mark 12:26-Mark 12:27.**
**Mark 12:26-Mark 12:27.** **NCB:**
**26** “And in regard to the dead being raised, have you not read in the book of Moses, in the account about the bush, how God said to him: ‘I am the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob’ **27** He is not the God of the dead but of the living. You are very badly mistaken.”
**Revelation 4:1:**
**Isaiah 6.**
**Isaiah 6.** **NCB:**
**The Book of Immanuel**
**Chapter 6**
**Isaiah’s Call.**
**1** In the year that King Uzziah died, I saw the Lord sitting on a high and lofty throne, and the train of his robe filled the temple. **2** In attendance above him were seraphim. Each of them had six wings: with two they covered their faces, with two they covered their feet, and with the third pair they flew. **3** And they called out to one another,

“Holy, holy, holy is the Lord of hosts.

 The entire earth is filled with his glory.”

**4** The voices of those who called out shook the thresholds, and the temple was filled with smoke. **5** Then I said,

“Woe is me! I am doomed.

 For I am a man of unclean lips,

and I live among a people of unclean lips,

 yet my eyes have seen the King, the Lord of hosts.”

**6** Then one of the seraphim flew to me, holding in his hand a burning coal that he had removed from the altar with a pair of tongs. **7** He touched my mouth with it and said,

“Now that this has touched your lips,

 your guilt has been removed

 and your sin has been blotted out.”

**8** I then heard the voice of the Lord saying, “Whom shall I send? Who will go for us?” I said, “Here I am. Send me!” **9** Then he replied: Go forth and tell this people:

No matter how carefully you listen,

 you will not understand.

You will continue to look,

 but you will not comprehend.

**10** Make the minds of this people dull;

 stop up their ears

 and close their eyes.

Otherwise their eyes will see,

 their ears will hear,

their hearts will understand,

 and they will change their ways

 and be healed.

**11** Then I asked, “How long, O Lord?” He replied:

Until the cities lie in ruins

 and become deserted,

until the houses are unoccupied

 and the land lies completely desolate,

**12** until the Lord drives the people far away

 and the country will be totally abandoned.

**13** Even if a tenth of the people remain there,

 that area too will be destroyed,

like a terebinth or an oak

 whose stump remains when it is felled;

 the holy seed is its stump.
**Revelation 4:1:**
**Ezekiel 1** **And** **Ezekiel 10.**
**Ezekiel 1** **NCB:**

The Verses or Chapters cited would be too long to include in full. To see them in full, please refer to The Book of Ezekiel, specifically The Book of Ezekiel: Chapter 1
**Ezekiel 10.** **NCB:**

The Verses or Chapters cited would be too long to include in full. To see them in full, please refer to The Book of Ezekiel, specifically The Book of Ezekiel: Chapter 10
**Revelation 4:2:**
**Revelation 1:10.**
**Revelation 1:10.** **NCB:**
**10** On the Lord’s day, I was caught up in the spirit, and I heard behind me a loud voice, like the sound of a trumpet,
**Revelation 4:4:**
**1 Chronicles 24:1-1 Chronicles 9.**
**1 Chronicles 24:1-1 Chronicles 9.** **NCB:**
**Chapter 24**
**The Priestly Classes.**
**1** These are the divisions of Aaron.

The sons of Aaron were Nadab, Abihu, Eleazar, and Ithamar. **2** Nadab and Abihu died before their father, and they did not have any sons. Eleazar and Ithamar served as priests.

**3** David, with the help of Zadok, a descendant of Eleazar, and Ahimelech, a descendant of Ithamar, divided them according to the responsibilities of their service.

**4** A larger number of leaders was found among the descendants of Eleazar than among the descendants of Ithamar. This is how they were divided: for the descendants of Eleazar there were sixteen leaders of the ancestral clans, and for the descendants of Ithamar there were eight leaders of the ancestral clans. **5** They divided them by lot, for there were officials of the sanctuary and officials of God from among the descendants of Eleazar and from among the descendants of Ithamar. **6** Shemaiah, the son of Nethanel, the scribe, a Levite, recorded it in the presence of the king and the officials: Zadok the priest and Ahimelech, the son of Abiathar, and the leaders of the ancestral clans of the priests and the Levites, one ancestral clan being taken from Eleazar and then one from Ithamar.

**7** The first lot fell to Jehoiarib, the second lot fell to Jedaiah, **8** the third lot fell to Harim, the fourth lot fell to Seorim, **9** the fifth lot fell to Malchijah, the sixth lot fell to Mijamin,
**Revelation 5:1:**
**Genesis 49:9.**
**Genesis 49:9.** **NCB:**
**9** A young lion is Judah.

 From the prey, my son, you have turned.

He crouches like a lion,

 and like a lioness;

 who dares to rouse him?
**Revelation 5:1:**
**Isaiah 11:1,** **And** **Isaiah 11:10.**
**Isaiah 11:1.** **NCB:**
**Chapter 11**
**A Reign of Justice and Peace**
**1** A shoot will spring forth from the stump of Jesse,

 and a branch will grow from his roots.

**Isaiah 11:10.** **NCB:**
**Ephraim and Judah United**
**10** On that day the root of Jesse

 will be established as a signal to the nations.

They will come forth to unite under him,

 and his dwelling will be glorious.
**Revelation 5:1:**
**2 Samuel 7.**
**2 Samuel 7.** **NCB:**

The Verses or Chapters cited would be too long to include in full. To see them in full, please refer to The Second Book of Samuel, specifically The Second Book of Samuel: Chapter 7.
**Revelation 5:1:**
**Philippians 2.**
**Philippians 2.** **NCB:**

The Verses or Chapters cited would be too long to include in full. To see them in full, please refer to The Letter to The Philippians, specifically The Letter to The Philippians: Chapter 2.
**Revelation 5:9:**
**Revelation 14:3,** **Psalms 33:3,** **Psalms 96:1,** **Psalms 144:9,** **And** **Isaiah 42:10.**
**Revelation 14:3.** **NCB:**
**3** They were singing a new song before the throne and before the four living creatures and the elders. No one could learn this song except the one hundred and forty-four thousand who had been redeemed from the earth.

**Psalms 33:3.** **NCB:**
**3** Sing to him a new song;

 play skillfully on the strings with joyful shouts.

**Psalms 96:1.** **NCB:**
**Psalm 96**
**God, Sovereign and Judge of the Universe**
**1** Sing to the Lord a new song;

 sing to the Lord, all the earth.

**Psalms 144:9.** **NCB:**
**9** I will sing a new song to you, my God;

 on a ten-stringed lyre I will play music for you.

**Isaiah 42:10.** **NCB:**
**Israel Saved despite Its Sins**
**10** Sing to the Lord a new song,

 his praise from the ends of the earth.

Let the sea resound and all that fills it,

 the coastlands and all its inhabitants.
**Revelation 5:9:**
**Mark 10:45,** **And** **1 Corinthians 6:20.**
**Mark 10:45.** **NCB:**
**45** For even the Son of Man did not come to be served but to serve and to give his life as a ransom for many.”

**1 Corinthians 6:20.** **NCB:**
**20** You have been purchased at a price. Therefore, glorify God in your body.
**Revelation 6:1:**
**Revelation 8:1.**
**Revelation 8:1.** **NCB:**
**Chapter 8**
**The Seventh Seal.**
**1** When the Lamb broke open the seventh seal, there was silence in heaven for about half an hour.
**Revelation 6:1:**
**Revelation 11:15.**
**Revelation 11:15.** **NCB:**
**15**
**The Seventh Trumpet: the Third Woe.**

The seventh angel blew his trumpet, and voices in heaven were heard crying loudly:

“The kingdom of the world belongs

 to our Lord and his Messiah,

 and he will reign forever and ever.”
**Revelation 6:1:**
**Revelation 7.**
**Revelation 7.** **NCB:**
**Chapter 7**
**An Immense Crowd before God’s Throne.**

1 **After this I saw four angels standing at the four corners of the earth, holding back the four winds of the earth so that no wind could blow on land or on the sea or on any tree.** 2 **Then I saw another angel rising from the east, bearing the seal of the living God. He cried out in a loud voice to the four angels who had been given the power to ravage the land and the sea,** 3 **“Do not damage the land or the sea or the trees until we have set the seal on the foreheads of the servants of our God.”**
**4** Then I heard how many had been marked with the seal—one hundred and forty-four thousand from all the tribes of Israel:

**5** From the tribe of Judah, twelve thousand,

from the tribe of Reuben, twelve thousand,

from the tribe of Gad, twelve thousand,

**6** from the tribe of Asher, twelve thousand,

from the tribe of Naphtali, twelve thousand,

from the tribe of Manasseh, twelve thousand,

**7** from the tribe of Simeon, twelve thousand,

from the tribe of Levi, twelve thousand,

from the tribe of Issachar, twelve thousand,

**8** from the tribe of Zebulun, twelve thousand,

from the tribe of Joseph, twelve thousand,

from the tribe of Benjamin, twelve thousand.

**9** After this, in my vision, I witnessed a vast throng that no one could count, from every nation, race, people, and language. They were standing before the throne and before the Lamb, dressed in white robes and holding palm branches in their hands. **10** They cried out in a loud voice:

“Salvation belongs to our God,

 who sits on the throne,

 and to the Lamb.”

**11** All the angels who were standing around the throne, and around the elders and the four living creatures, prostrated themselves before the throne and worshiped God, **12** saying:

“Amen. Praise and glory,

 wisdom and thanksgiving,

honor and power and might,

 be to our God forever and ever. Amen.”

**13** Then one of the elders spoke to me and inquired, “Who are these people, all dressed in white robes, and where have they come from?” **14** I replied, “My lord, you are the one who knows.” Then he said to me, “These are the ones who have survived the great tribulation. They have washed their robes and made them white in the blood of the Lamb.

**15** “That is why they stand before the throne of God

 and worship him day and night in his temple,

 and the one who sits on the throne will shelter them.

**16** They will never again experience hunger or thirst,

 nor will the sun or any scorching heat cause them discomfort.

**17** For the Lamb who is at the center of the throne

 will be their shepherd.

He will guide them to springs of living water,

 and God will wipe away every tear from their eyes.”
**Revelation 6:1:**
**Revelation 10:1—Revelation 11:13.**
**Revelation 10:1—Revelation 11:13.** **NCB:**

The Verses or Chapters cited would be too long to include in full. To see them in full, please refer to **The Book of Revelation**, specifically The Book of Revelation: Chapter 10, and The Book of Revelation: Chapter 11.
**Revelation 6:1:**
**Revelation 12:1—Revelation 19:10.**
**Revelation 12:1—Revelation 19:10.** **NCB:**

The Verses or Chapters cited would be too long to include in full. To see them in full, please refer to **The Book of Revelation**, specifically The Book of Revelation: Chapter 12, The Book of Revelation: Chapter 13, The Book of Revelation: Chapter 14, The Book of Revelation: Chapter 15, The Book of Revelation: Chapter 16, The Book of Revelation: Chapter 17, The Book of Revelation: Chapter 18, and The Book of Revelation: Chapter 19.
**Revelation 6:1:**
**Leviticus 26:21-Leviticus 26:26,** **Deuteronomy 32:34,** **Ezekiel 5:17,** **Ezekiel 6:11f,** **Ezekiel 7:14f,** **Ezekiel 12:16,** **Ezekiel 14:13-Ezekiel 14:21,** **Ezekiel 33:27,** **Jeremiah 15:2-Jeremiah 15:4,** **And** **Matthew 24:6f.**
**Leviticus 26:21-Leviticus 26:26.** **NCB:**
**21** “If you continue to be hostile to me and will not obey me, I will bring plagues upon you, seven times greater than your sins. **22** I will also send wild animals into your midst. They shall carry off your children and cut down your cattle. They shall cause your numbers to decrease and your highways shall become desolate. **23** If you do not accept my correction through these things and you walk in opposition to me, **24** then I will also walk in opposition to you and I will punish you seven times more than your sins. **25** I will bring a sword upon you that will execute vengeance for my covenant. When you are gathered together in your cities, I will send a plague upon you and you shall be delivered into the hand of the enemy. **26** When I have cut off your supply of bread, then ten women shall bake bread in the same oven. They shall deliver your measure of bread. You shall eat it, but not be satisfied.

**Deuteronomy 32:34.** **NCB:**
**34** Is this not stored away with me,

 sealed up in my treasury?

**Ezekiel 5:17.** **NCB:**
**17** I will afflict you with even more intense famine and wild beasts, and you will be left childless. Plague and bloodshed will sweep through you, and I will bring the sword against you. I, the Lord, have spoken.

**Ezekiel 6:11f.** **NCB:**
**11** Thus says the Lord God: Clap your hands, stamp your feet, and cry, “Alas!” because of all the loathsome abominations of the house of Israel, for which the people will fall by the sword, famine, and pestilence.

**Ezekiel 7:14f.** **NCB:**
**14** They have sounded the trumpet

 and made everything ready,

but no one goes to battle,

 my wrath falls upon all alike.

**Ezekiel 12:16.** **NCB:**
**16** However, I will allow a few of them to escape the sword, famine, and pestilence so that they may relate all of their abominable practices to the nations where they have been exiled. Thus they will know that I am the Lord.

**Ezekiel 14:13-Ezekiel 14:21.** **NCB:**
**13** Son of man, if a country sins against me by being unfaithful, and I stretch out my hand against it and cut off its supply of food, inflicting famine on it and removing from its midst all of its inhabitants and its animals, **14** even if the three men, Noah, Daniel, and Job were there, they could save no one but themselves by their own righteousness, says the Lord God.

**15** If I were to unleash wild animals throughout the land to ravage it, so that it would become a desolate wasteland through which no one could traverse because of the savage beasts, **16** even if those three men were in it, as I live, says the Lord God, they would save neither sons nor daughters; they alone would survive.

**17** Or if I were to bring the sword down on that country, commanding the sword to pass through the land, isolating it from man and beast, **18** even if those three men were in it, says the Lord God, they would be unable to save either their sons or their daughters; they alone would be saved.

**19** Or if I were to inflict a pestilence upon that land and pour out my wrath upon it with blood, destroying all people and animals with it, **20** even if Noah, Daniel, and Job were in it, as I live, says the Lord God, they would save neither son nor daughter; they would only save themselves by their righteousness.

**21** Thus says the Lord God: Even if I were to inflict upon Jerusalem my four dreadful scourges—sword, famine, wild animals, and pestilence—to cut off from it both men and animals,

**Ezekiel 33:27.** **NCB:**
**27** Give them this message: Thus says the Lord God: As I live, I swear that those who dwell in the ruins shall fall by the sword, those who live in the countryside I will give to the wild animals to be devoured, and those who inhabit dens and caves will die of the plague.

**Jeremiah 15:2-Jeremiah 15:4.** **NCB:**
**2** And if they should ask you where they should go, say to them: Thus says the Lord:

Those destined for the plague, to plague;

 those destined for the sword, to the sword;

those destined for famine, to famine;

 those destined for captivity, to captivity.

**3** Furthermore, four kinds of destroyers I will send against them, says the Lord: the sword to kill, dogs to drag away, birds of the sky and beasts of the earth to devour and destroy. **4** I will make them an object of horror to all the kingdoms of the earth because of what King Manasseh of Judah, the son of Hezekiah, did in Jerusalem.

**Matthew 24:6f.** **NCB:**
**6** You will hear of wars and rumors of wars. Do not be alarmed, for those things are bound to happen, but the end is still to come.
**Revelation 6:1:**
**Zechariah 1:8-Zechariah 1:10,** **And** **Zechariah 6:1-Zechariah 6:8.**
**Zechariah 1:8-Zechariah 1:10.** **NCB:**
**8** During the night I had a vision in which a man was riding a red horse among the myrtle trees in a glen. Behind him were red, sorrel, and white horses. **9** “What are these, sir?” I asked, and the angel who was conversing with me said, “I will show you what they are.”

**10** The man standing among the myrtle trees said, “They are the ones whom the Lord has sent to patrol the earth.”

**Zechariah 6:1-Zechariah 6:8.** **NCB:**
**Chapter 6**
**Vision of the Four Chariots.**
**1** Again I raised my eyes and beheld four chariots coming out between two mountains—and the mountains were mountains of bronze. **2** The first chariot had red horses, the second chariot had black horses, **3** the third chariot had white horses, and the fourth chariot had spotted horses.

**4** I asked the angel who was conversing with me, “What are these, my lord?” **5** The angel replied, “These are the four winds of heaven which are now ready to depart after presenting themselves for review by the Lord of all the earth. **6** The chariot with the black horses is departing for the land of the north, the red and the white horses will follow after them, and the chariot with the spotted horses will leave for the land of the south.”

**7** As these horses emerged, eager to set off and patrol the earth, he said to them, “Go forth and patrol the earth,” and they did so. **8** Then he called to me and said, “Those who are going forth to the land of the north have allowed my Spirit to rest on the land of the north.”
**Revelation 6:8:**
**Revelation 1:9-Revelation 1:20,** **And** **Matthew 16:18.**
**Revelation 1:9-Revelation 1:20.** **NCB:**
**“I Am the First and the Last.”**
**9** I, John—your brother and partner in the suffering and the kingdom and the patient endurance that are ours in Jesus—was on the island of Patmos because I had proclaimed the word of God and given testimony to Jesus. **10** On the Lord’s day, I was caught up in the spirit, and I heard behind me a loud voice, like the sound of a trumpet, **11** that said, “Write down on a scroll what you see and send it to the seven Churches: to Ephesus, Smyrna, Pergamum, Thyatira, Sardis, Philadelphia, and Laodicea.

**12** Then I turned to see whose voice it was that had spoken to me, and when I turned I beheld seven gold lampstands. **13** And in the midst of the lampstands I saw one like a son of man, dressed in a robe that reached down to his feet and with a golden breastplate around his chest. **14** His head and his hair were white with the whiteness of wool, like snow, and his eyes were like a burning flame. **15** His feet were like burnished bronze refined in a furnace, and his voice was like the sound of rushing waters. **16** In his right hand he held seven stars. From his mouth there protruded a sharp, two-edged sword, and his face shone like the sun in all its brilliance.

**17** When I saw him, I fell at his feet as though dead, but he laid his right hand on me and said, “Do not be afraid. I am the First and the Last. I am the Living One. **18** I was dead, but now I am alive forevermore, and I hold the keys to death and the netherworld.

**19** “Now write down what you have seen, what is happening now, and what will take place afterward. **20** The mystery of the seven stars that you saw in my right hand, and of the seven gold lampstands, is this: the seven stars are the angels of the seven Churches, and the seven lampstands are the seven Churches themselves.

**Matthew 16:18.** **NCB:**
**18** And I say to you: You are Peter, and on this rock I will build my Church, and the gates of the netherworld will not prevail against it.
**Revelation 6:9:**
**Luke 18:7.**
**Luke 18:7.** **NCB:**
**7** Will not God, therefore, grant justice to his elect who cry out to him day and night? Will he delay in answering their pleas?
**Revelation 6:9:**
**Mark 13:9-Mark 13:13.**
**Mark 13:9-Mark 13:13.** **NCB:**
**The Coming Persecution.**
**9** “Be on your guard. For they will hand you over to courts and beat you in synagogues. You will stand before governors and kings because of me to testify before them. **10** But first the gospel must be preached to all nations.

**11** “When they arrest you and bring you to trial, do not be concerned beforehand about what you are to say. Simply say whatever is given to you when that time comes, for it will not be you who speak but the Holy Spirit.

**12** “Brother will betray brother to death, and a father his child. Children will rebel against their parents and have them put to death. **13** You will be hated by all because of my name, but whoever stands firm to the end will be saved.
**Revelation 6:11:**
**Revelation 3:10,** **Revelation 8:13,** **Revelation 11:10,** **Revelation 13:8,** **Revelation 13:12,** **Revelation 17:2,** **And** **Revelation 17:8.**
**Revelation 3:10.** **NCB:**
**10** “ ‘ “Because you have kept my word to endure patiently, I will keep you safe during the time of trial that is going to come upon the whole world to put the inhabitants of the earth to the test.

**Revelation 8:13.** **NCB:**
**13**
**The Cry of the Eagle.**

In my vision, I heard an eagle cry out in a loud voice as it flew high overhead, “Woe! Woe! Woe to the inhabitants of the earth because of the other trumpet blasts that the three angels have not yet blown!”

**Revelation 11:10.** **NCB:**
**10** The inhabitants of the earth will gloat over them as they celebrate and exchange gifts, because these two prophets had been a source of torment to them.

**Revelation 13:8.** **NCB:**
**8** All the inhabitants of the earth will worship it, all those whose names have not been written from the creation of the world in the book of life belonging to the Lamb who was slain.

**Revelation 13:12.** **NCB:**
**12** It wielded all the authority of the first beast on its behalf, and it forced the earth and all its inhabitants to worship the first beast, whose mortal wound had been healed.

**Revelation 17:2.** **NCB:**
**2** The kings of the earth have committed fornication with her, and the inhabitants of the earth have become drunk on the wine of her harlotry.”

**Revelation 17:8.** **NCB:**
**8** The beast that you saw was once alive but is now alive no longer. It is about to ascend from the abyss and go to its destruction. All the inhabitants of the earth whose names have not been written in the book of life since the foundation of the world will be astonished when they see the beast, because it was once alive but is now alive no longer, and yet it is still to come.
**Revelation 6:11:**
**Revelation 3:5,** **Revelation 3:18,** **Revelation 11:10,** **Revelation 13:8,** **Revelation 13:12,** **Revelation 17:2,** **And** **Revelation 17:8.**
**Revelation 3:5.** **NCB:**
**5** Anyone who is victorious will be dressed like these in white robes, and I shall not blot his name from the book of life. Rather, I shall acknowledge it in the presence of my Father and his angels.

**Revelation 3:18.** **NCB:**
**18** “ ‘ “I advise you to buy from me gold that has been refined by fire so that you will be truly rich, and white robes to clothe you so that you may keep the shame of your nakedness from being seen, and ointment to smear on your eyes so that you may see.

**Revelation 11:10.** **NCB:**
**10** The inhabitants of the earth will gloat over them as they celebrate and exchange gifts, because these two prophets had been a source of torment to them.

**Revelation 13:8.** **NCB:**
**8** All the inhabitants of the earth will worship it, all those whose names have not been written from the creation of the world in the book of life belonging to the Lamb who was slain.

**Revelation 13:12.** **NCB:**
**12** It wielded all the authority of the first beast on its behalf, and it forced the earth and all its inhabitants to worship the first beast, whose mortal wound had been healed.

**Revelation 17:2.** **NCB:**
**2** The kings of the earth have committed fornication with her, and the inhabitants of the earth have become drunk on the wine of her harlotry.”

**Revelation 17:8.** **NCB:**
**8** The beast that you saw was once alive but is now alive no longer. It is about to ascend from the abyss and go to its destruction. All the inhabitants of the earth whose names have not been written in the book of life since the foundation of the world will be astonished when they see the beast, because it was once alive but is now alive no longer, and yet it is still to come.
**Revelation 6:11:**
**2 Esdras 4:35-2 Esdras 4:37.**
**2 Esdras 4:35-2 Esdras 4:37.** **NCB:**

The Verses or Chapters being referenced are from a book that isn't in the Catholic Bible, even in this particular translation. To read said verses, please refer to the various Scholarly Editions of the text that can either be found in print versions or in electronic versions, preferably on the Internet.
**Revelation 6:11:**
**1 Enoch 47:4.**
**1 Enoch 47:4.** **NCB:**

The Verses or Chapters being referenced are from a book that isn't in the Catholic Bible, even in this particular translation. To read said verses, please refer to the various Scholarly Editions of the text that can either be found in print versions or in electronic versions, preferably on the Internet.
**Revelation 6:12:**
**Isaiah 34:4,** **Mark 13:6,** **And** **Mark 13:24f.**
**Isaiah 34:4.** **NCB:**
**4** All the host of heaven will crumble into nothing,

 and the heavens will be rolled up like a scroll.

All their host will wither away

 as the leaves wither on a vine

 or as the fruit withers on a fig tree.

**Mark 13:6.** **NCB:**
**6** Many will come in my name, saying, ‘I am he,’ and they will lead many astray.

**Mark 13:24f.** **NCB:**
**24**
**The Coming of the Son of Man.**

“But in those days, following that distress,

the sun will be darkened

 and the moon will not give forth its light,
**Revelation 6:12:**
**Isaiah 2:10,** **Isaiah 2:19,** **Isaiah 34:4,** **Hosea 10:8,** **Joel 2:11,** **And** **Joel 3:4.**
**Isaiah 2:10.** **NCB:**
**10** Let them conceal themselves among the rocks

 and hide in the dust

in their terror of the Lord

 and from the splendor of his majesty.

**Isaiah 2:19.** **NCB:**
**19** they will crawl into the caves of the rocks

 and the holes of the ground,

fleeing from the terror of the Lord

 and the splendor of his majesty

 when he arises to strike the world with terror.

**Isaiah 34:4.** **NCB:**
**4** All the host of heaven will crumble into nothing,

 and the heavens will be rolled up like a scroll.

All their host will wither away

 as the leaves wither on a vine

 or as the fruit withers on a fig tree.

**Hosea 10:8.** **NCB:**
**8** The high places of Aven will be destroyed,

 the shrines where Israel sinned.

Thorns and thistles shall flourish

 and cover their altars.

Then they will say to the mountains, “Cover us!”

 and to the hills, “Fall on us!”

**Joel 2:11.** **NCB:**
**11** The Lord’s voice thunders

 at the head of his army.

Mighty and numerous are his forces,

 and they enforce his orders.

Great is the day of the Lord

 and exceedingly terrible;

 who can endure it?

**Joel 3:4.** **NCB:**
**4** The sun will be turned to darkness

 and the moon to blood

before the coming of the day of the Lord,

 that great and terrible day.
**Revelation 7:1:**
**Ezekiel 9.**
**Ezekiel 9.** **NCB:**
**Chapter 9**
**Punishment of the Idolaters.**
**1** Then he shouted loudly for me to hear: “The scourges of the city are drawing near, each brandishing his weapon of destruction.” **2** Thereupon, I saw six men approaching from the direction of the upper gate which faces north, each one with a weapon for slaughter in his hand. Among them was a man clothed in linen, with the necessary paraphernalia for writing in his hand. They went in and stood beside the bronze altar.

**3** The glory of the God of Israel had risen above the cherubim upon which it rested to the threshold of the temple. Then he called to the man clothed in linen who had the writing case at his side, **4** and he said to him: “Go throughout the city, throughout Jerusalem, and mark with a cross the foreheads of all those who grieve and lament over all the abominable practices that run rampant throughout its boundaries.”

**5** To the others I heard him say: “Follow him throughout the city and kill, without looking upon them with pity or showing them any mercy. **6** Cut down old men, young men and maidens, small children and women, but touch no one who is marked on the forehead with a cross. Begin at my sanctuary.” And so they began with the elders who were in front of the temple. **7** Then he said to them: “Defile the temple and fill the courtyards with the slain.” Then they went forth and killed their way through the city.

**8** While they continued with their mission of slaying, I was left alone. Throwing myself on the ground, I cried out, “Ah, Lord God, will you annihilate all that is left of Israel by pouring out your wrath on Jerusalem?” **9** He answered: “The guilt of the house of Israel and Judah is exceedingly great. The land is filled with bloodshed and the city is filled with perversity. They believe that the Lord has forsaken the land and that he does not see. **10** However, I will not look upon them with pity or show them any mercy. I will bring down their deeds upon their heads.”

**11** Then the man clothed in linen and carrying the writing case reported, “I have done as you commanded me.”
**Revelation 7:1:**
**(Revelation 21:1—Revelation 22:5.**
**(Revelation 21:1—Revelation 22:5.** **NCB:**

The Verses or Chapters cited would be too long to include in full. To see them in full, please refer to **The Book of Revelation**, specifically The Book of Revelation: Chapter 21, And The Book of Revelation: Chapter 22.
**Revelation 7:5:**
**Revelation 5:5.**
**Revelation 5:5.** **NCB:**
**5** Then one of the elders said to me, “Do not weep. The Lion of the tribe of Judah, the Root of David, has triumphed, and thus has won the right to open the scroll and its seven seals.”
**Revelation 7:5:**
**Revelation 7:8.**
**Revelation 7:8.** **NCB:**
**8** from the tribe of Zebulun, twelve thousand,

from the tribe of Joseph, twelve thousand,

from the tribe of Benjamin, twelve thousand.
**Revelation 7:17:**
**Revelation 21:6,** **Revelation 22:1,** **Revelation 22:17,** **John 4:10,** **And** **John 4:14.**
**Revelation 21:6.** **NCB:**
**6** Then he said to me, “It is done. I am the Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the End. To those who are thirsty I will give to drink without cost from the spring of life-giving water.

**Revelation 22:1.** **NCB:**
**Chapter 22**
**1** Then the angel showed me the river of the water of life, bright as crystal, flowing from the throne of God and of the Lamb

**Revelation 22:17.** **NCB:**
**17** The Spirit and the bride say, “Come!” Let each listener say, “Come!” Let everyone who thirsts come forward, and let the one who desires it receive the gift of life-giving water.

**John 4:10.** **NCB:**
**10** Jesus replied,

“If you recognized the gift of God

and who it is that is asking you for something to drink,

you would have asked him

and he would have given you living water.”

**John 4:14.** **NCB:**
**14** But whoever drinks the water that I will give him

will never be thirsty.

The water that I will give him

will become a spring of water within him

welling up to eternal life.”
**Revelation 8:1:**
**Revelation 6:9-Revelation 6:11.**
**Revelation 6:9-Revelation 6:11.** **NCB:**
**The Fifth Seal: Vision of the Martyrs.**
**9** When he broke open the fifth seal, I saw underneath the altar the souls of those who had been slain on account of the word of God and for witnessing to it. **10** They shouted in a loud voice, “How long is it to be, holy and true Master, before you judge the inhabitants of the earth and avenge our death?”

**11** Each of them was given a white robe, and they were instructed to be patient for a little longer until the roll was completed of their fellow servants and brethren who were still to be killed as they themselves had been.
**Revelation 8:1:**
**1 Thessalonians 4:16.**
**1 Thessalonians 4:16.** **NCB:**
**16** When the command is given, at the sound of the archangel’s voice and the call of God’s trumpet, the Lord himself will descend from heaven, and those who have died in Christ will be the first to rise.
**Revelation 8:7:**

The Verses or Chapters cited would be too long to include in full. To see them in full, please refer to The Book of Exodus, specifically The Book of Exodus: Chapter 7, The Book of Exodus: Chapter 8, The Book of Exodus: Chapter 9, And The Book of Exodus: Chapter 10.
**Revelation 8:7:**
**Exodus 9:23f,** **And** **Joel 3:3.**
**Exodus 9:23f.** **NCB:**
**23** Moses stretched his staff toward the heavens, and the Lord sent thunder and hail. Lightning struck the earth, and the Lord made hail rain down upon the land of Egypt.

**Joel 3:3.** **NCB:**
**3** I will show portents

 in the heavens and on the earth,

 blood and fire and columns of smoke.
**Revelation 8:8:**
**Exodus 7:20f.**
**Exodus 7:20f.** **NCB:**
**20** Moses and Aaron did what the Lord had commanded. Aaron raised his staff and struck the waters of the Nile in the sight of Pharaoh and his servants. All the waters of the Nile changed into blood.
**Revelation 8:11:**
**Proverbs 5:3f,** **Jeremiah 9:15,** **And** **Lamentations 3:19.**
**Proverbs 5:3f.** **NCB:**
**3** The lips of an adulteress drip with honey

 and her mouth is smoother than oil,

**Jeremiah 9:15.** **NCB:**
**15** Therefore, thus says the Lord of hosts, the God of Israel, “Now I will give this people wormwood to eat and poisoned water to drink.

**Lamentations 3:19.** **NCB:**
**19** The realization of my poverty and homelessness

 is wormwood and gall to me.
**Revelation 8:12:**
**Exodus 10:21-Exodus 10:23.**
**Exodus 10:21-Exodus 10:23.** **NCB:**
**21**
**Ninth Plague: The Darkness.**

The Lord said to Moses, “Stretch out your hand toward the heavens. Darkness will come upon the land of Egypt, so dark that one can feel it.”

**22** Moses stretched out his hand toward the heavens. Darkness came upon the land of Egypt for three days. **23** People could not see each other, and for three days no one could move around. But there was light where the children of Israel were living.
**Revelation 9:1:**
**Exodus 10:12-Exodus 10:15,** **And** **Exodus 10:21-Exodus 10:23.**
**Exodus 10:12-Exodus 10:15.** **NCB:**
**12** The Lord said to Moses, “Stretch out your hand over the land of Egypt to send locusts. Let them come down upon the land of Egypt to eat every plant that the hail spared.” **13** Moses extended his staff over the land of Egypt, and the Lord sent an east wind over the land all that day and all that night. By the morning, the east wind had brought the locusts. **14** The locusts swarmed over the whole land of Egypt and settled on every part of the territory of Egypt. It was very serious, so bad that it had never been as bad before nor would it ever be as bad again in the future. **15** They covered the whole land so that the land was darkened. They devoured every plant in the land and every fruit tree that the hail had spared. Not a green leaf remained upon the trees or the plants in the field throughout the land of Egypt.

**Exodus 10:21-Exodus 10:23.** **NCB:**
**21**
**Ninth Plague: The Darkness.**

The Lord said to Moses, “Stretch out your hand toward the heavens. Darkness will come upon the land of Egypt, so dark that one can feel it.”

**22** Moses stretched out his hand toward the heavens. Darkness came upon the land of Egypt for three days. **23** People could not see each other, and for three days no one could move around. But there was light where the children of Israel were living.
**Revelation 9:1:**
**Joel 1:4—Joel 2:10.**
**Joel 1:4—Joel 2:10.** **NCB:**

The Verses or Chapters cited would be too long to include in full. To see them in full, please refer to The Book of Joel, specifically The Book of Joel: Chapter 1 Verse 4, until The Book of Joel: Chapter 2 Verse 10.
**Revelation 9:1:**
**Job 3:21.**
**Job 3:21.** **NCB:**
**21** who long for death that never comes

 and seek for it more than for hidden treasure,
**Revelation 9:1:**
**Revelation 9:6.**
**Revelation 9:6.** **NCB:**
**6** During that time, these people will seek death but will not find it; they will long to die, but death will elude them.
**Revelation 9:13:**
**Revelation 6:9-Revelation 6:10.**
**Revelation 6:9-Revelation 6:10.** **NCB:**
**The Fifth Seal: Vision of the Martyrs.**
**9** When he broke open the fifth seal, I saw underneath the altar the souls of those who had been slain on account of the word of God and for witnessing to it. **10** They shouted in a loud voice, “How long is it to be, holy and true Master, before you judge the inhabitants of the earth and avenge our death?”
**Revelation 9:15:**
**Revelation 6:17.**
**Revelation 6:17.** **NCB:**
**17** For the great day of their wrath has come, and who can endure it?”
**Revelation 9:20:**
**Deuteronomy 4:28,** **Psalms 115:5-Psalms 115:7,** **And** **1 Corinthians 10:20.**
**Deuteronomy 4:28.** **NCB:**
**28** There you will serve gods, the work of human hands, made of wood and stone, which cannot see nor hear nor eat nor smell.

**The Lord Is God.**
**Psalms 115:5-Psalms 115:7.** **NCB:**
**5** They have mouths but they cannot speak;

 they have eyes but they cannot see.

**6** They have ears but they cannot hear;

 they have noses but they cannot smell.

**7** They have hands but they cannot feel;

 they have feet but they cannot walk;

 their throats can emit no sound.

**1 Corinthians 10:20.** **NCB:**
**20** No, I simply mean that pagan sacrifices are offered to demons, not to God, and I do not want you to become partners with demons.
**Revelation 10:1:**
**Ezekiel 2:8—Ezekiel 3:3.**
**Ezekiel 2:8—Ezekiel 3:3.** **NCB:**
**8** But as for you, son of man, listen to what I say to you and do not be rebellious like that rebellious tribe. Open your mouth and eat what I am about to give you.

**9** I saw a hand stretched out to me, and in it was a written scroll. **10** He unrolled it in front of me. It had writing on the front and on the back, and written on it were words, of lamentation and dirges and woe.

**Chapter 3**
**1** He said to me: Son of man, eat what is in front of you. Eat this scroll, and then go forth to speak to the house of Israel. **2** Therefore, I opened my mouth, and he gave me the scroll to eat. **3** He said to me: Son of man, eat this scroll that I have given you, and eat your fill. Then I consumed it, and in my mouth it was as sweet as honey.
**Revelation 10:1:**
**John 16:21.**
**John 16:21.** **NCB:**
**21** “A woman in labor suffers anguish

because her hour has come.

But when her baby is born,

she no longer recalls the suffering

because of her joy

that she has brought a child into the world.
**Revelation 10:7:**
**Revelation 17:1—Revelation 19:4,** **Revelation 19:11-21,** **Revelation 20:7-10,** **Romans 16:25f,** **And** **2 Thessalonians 2:6-12.**
**Revelation 17:1—Revelation 19:4.** **NCB:**

The Verses or Chapters cited would be too long to include in full. To see them in full, please refer to **The Book of Revelation**, specifically The Book of Revelation: Chapter 17 Verse 1, Until The Book of Revelation: Chapter 19 Verse 4.

**Revelation 19:11-21.** **NCB:**
**Recapitulative Visions of the History of Salvation**
**11**
**The White Horse and the King of Kings.**

Now I saw heaven opened, and a white horse appeared. Its rider was called “Faithful and True,” for with righteousness he judges and wages war. **12** His eyes were like fiery flames, and on his head were many crowns. The name inscribed on him was known to no one but himself.

**13** He was clothed in a robe dipped in blood, and he was known by the name The Word of God. **14** The armies of heaven were following him, riding on white horses and dressed in fine linen, white and clean.

**15** Coming out of his mouth was a sharp sword with which to strike down the nations. He will rule them with an iron scepter, and he will tread the winepress of the fury of the wrath of God the Almighty. **16** On his robe and on his thigh he had a name inscribed: “King of kings and Lord of lords.”

**17**
**The Great Booty.**

Then I saw an angel standing in the sun, and with a loud voice he cried out to all the birds flying in midair, “Come here! Gather together for the great supper of God, **18** to eat the flesh of kings, the flesh of commanders, and the flesh of warriors, the flesh of horses and their riders, the flesh of all, both free and slave, both small and great.”

**19**
**The Beast and the False Prophet.**

Next I saw the beast and the kings of the earth and their armies gathered together to wage war against the one upon the horse and against his army. **20** The beast was captured, and with it the false prophet who in its presence had performed the signs by which he had deluded those who had received the mark of the beast and those who had worshiped its image.

These two were thrown alive into the fiery lake of burning sulfur. **21** The rest were killed by the sword that came forth from the mouth of the rider on the horse, and all the birds gorged themselves on their flesh.

**Revelation 20:7-10.** **NCB:**
**7** When the thousand years are ended, Satan will be released from his prison **8** and will emerge to lead astray the nations in the four corners of the earth—Gog and Magog—in order to gather them for battle. They are as numerous as the sands of the sea.

**9** They marched across the breadth of the earth and laid siege to the camp of the saints and the beloved city. However, fire came down from heaven and devoured them. **10** The devil who had led them astray was thrown into the fiery lake of burning sulfur, where the beast and the false prophet had been flung to be tormented day and night forever and ever.

**Romans 16:25f.** **NCB:**
**Glory to God through Jesus Christ**
**25** Now to him who has the power to strengthen you

in accordance with the gospel that I preach

and the proclamation of Jesus Christ,

according to the revelation of the mystery

that was kept secret for long ages

**2 Thessalonians 2:6-12.** **NCB:**
**6** And you also know what is now restraining him, so that he may not be revealed before his time comes. **7** For the mystery of lawlessness is already at work, but the one who restrains it will continue to do so until he is removed.

**The Two Comings.**
**8** Then the lawless one will be revealed, and the Lord Jesus will slay him by the breath of his mouth and destroy him by the splendor of his coming.

**9** His coming will be the work of Satan made manifest in all power and signs and wonders of falsehood, **10** and in every wicked deception designed for those who are perishing because they refused to accept the love of the truth and thereby gain salvation.

**11** For this reason, God imposes on them a powerful delusion. They believe what is false, **12** so that all who have not believed the truth but instead have taken pleasure in wickedness will be condemned.
**Revelation 10:7:**
**Revelation 21:1—Revelation 22:5.**
**Revelation 21:1—Revelation 22:5.** **NCB:**

The Verses or Chapters cited would be too long to include in full. To see them in full, please refer to **The Book of Revelation**, specifically The Book of Revelation: Chapter 21 Verse 1, Until The Book of Revelation: Chapter 22 Verse 5.
**Revelation 11:1:**
**Ezekiel 40:3.**
**Ezekiel 40:3.** **NCB:**
**3** When he had brought me there, I beheld a man whose appearance was like that of bronze. He had a linen cord and a measuring rod in his hand, and he was standing in the gateway.
**Revelation 11:1:**
**Zechariah 2:5-Zechariah 2:6.**
**Zechariah 2:5-Zechariah 2:6.** **NCB:**
**The New Jerusalem.**
**5** Following this, I raised my eyes and observed a man with a measuring line in his hand. **6** When I asked him, “Where are you going?” he replied, “To measure Jerusalem, to discover what is its width and what is its length.”
**Revelation 11:1:**
**Revelation 11:11.**
**Revelation 11:11.** **NCB:**
**11** However, after the three and a half days, the breath of life from God entered them, and when they rose to their feet, great terror filled those who saw them.
**Revelation 11:1:**
**Exodus 7:17,** **And** **Exodus 10:11.**
**Exodus 7:17.** **NCB:**
**17** The Lord says, ‘By this you will know that I am the Lord. Behold, I will strike the waters of the Nile with the staff that I have in my hand, and they will change into blood.

**Exodus 10:11.** **NCB:**
**11** No! Have only the men go with you and serve the Lord. That is what you want.” They then went out from Pharaoh.
**Revelation 11:1:**
**1 Kings 17:1.**
**1 Kings 17:1.** **NCB:**
**Stories of Elijah and Ahab**
**Chapter 17**
**Elijah Predicts a Drought.**
**1** Now Elijah the Tishbite from Tishbe in Gilead said to Ahab, “As the Lord, the God of Israel, lives before whom I stand, there shall be no dew or rain these years except at my word.”
**Revelation 11:1:**
**Mark 9:2-Mark 9:8.**
**Mark 9:2-Mark 9:8.** **NCB:**
**Jesus Is Transfigured.**
**2** Six days later, Jesus took Peter, James, and John and led them up a high mountain apart by themselves. And in their presence he was transfigured; **3** his clothes became dazzling white—whiter than anyone on earth could bleach them. **4** And Elijah with Moses appeared, conversing with Jesus.

**5** Then Peter said to Jesus, “Rabbi, it is good for us to be here. Let us make three tents—one for you, one for Moses, and one for Elijah.” **6** He did not know what to say, for they were so frightened. **7** Then a cloud cast a shadow over them, and a voice came out of the cloud: “This is my beloved Son. Listen to him.” **8** Suddenly, when they looked around, they saw no one with them anymore, but only Jesus.
**Revelation 11:1:**
**Zechariah 4:3,** **And** **Zechariah 4:14.**
**Zechariah 4:3.** **NCB:**
**3** Alongside it are two olive trees, one to the right and the other to the left.”

**Zechariah 4:14.** **NCB:**
**14** He answered, “These are the two anointed ones who stand in attendance on the Lord of the entire earth.”
**Revelation 11:1:**
**Revelation 11:4.**
**Revelation 11:4.** **NCB:**
**4** These are the two olive trees and the two lampstands that stand in the presence of the Lord of the earth.
**Revelation 11:1:**
**Revelation 11:9.**
**Revelation 11:9.** **NCB:**
**9** People of every race, tribe, nation, and language will gaze at their corpses for three and a half days and refuse to allow them to be buried.
**Revelation 11:1:**
**Ezekiel 37:5,** **And** **Ezekiel 37:10.**
**Ezekiel 37:5.** **NCB:**
**5** Thus says the Lord God to these bones: I am going to cause breath to enter you, and you will come to life.

**Ezekiel 37:10.** **NCB:**
**10** I prophesied as he had commanded me, and the Spirit entered into them. They came to life and stood on their feet, an immense army.
**Revelation 11:1:**
**Revelation 16:19,** **Revelation 17:18,** **And** **Revelation 18:10.**
**Revelation 16:19,** **NCB:**
**19** The great city was split into three parts, and the cities of the nations collapsed in ruin. Babylon the Great was also remembered by God, as he made her drink the cup filled with the wine of his fury and wrath.

**Revelation 17:18,** **NCB:**
**18** The woman you saw is the great city that has authority over the kings of the earth.”

**Revelation 18:10.** **NCB:**
**10** In terror at her torment, they will keep their distance and say:

“ ‘Woe, woe, O great city,

 mighty city of Babylon.

 In one hour your judgment has come.’
**Revelation 11:1:**
**Revelation 11:7.**
**Revelation 11:7.** **NCB:**
**7** When they have completed their testimony, the beast that comes up from the abyss will wage war against them and overpower and kill them.
**Revelation 11:1:**
**Daniel 7:21.**
**Daniel 7:21.** **NCB:**
**21** As I watched, this horn was waging war against the holy ones and prevailing over them,
**Revelation 11:1:**
**Revelation 11:13.**
**Revelation 11:13.** **NCB:**
**13** At that very hour there was a violent earthquake, and a tenth of the city was destroyed. Seven thousand people were killed during the earthquake. Those who survived were overcome with fear and gave glory to the God of heaven.
**Revelation 11:1:**
**Romans 11:13-Romans 11:27.**
**Romans 11:13-Romans 11:27.** **NCB:**
**13** Now I am addressing you Gentiles. Inasmuch then as I am the apostle to the Gentiles, I glory in my ministry **14** in the hope that it will arouse the jealousy of those who are of my flesh so that some might be saved. **15** For if their rejection leads to the reconciliation of the world, what will their acceptance be but life from the dead?

**16**
**The Gentiles’ Salvation.**

If the firstfruits are holy, then so is the whole lump of dough. And if the root is holy, so are the branches. **17** But if some of the branches were broken off, and you, a wild olive shoot, have been grafted in their place to share in the rich root of the olive tree, **18** do not boast over against the branches! If you start to boast, remember that it is not you who support the root but the root that supports you.

**19** You will assert, “Branches were broken off so that I might be grafted in.” **20** That is true. They were broken off because of their unbelief, but you hold your place only because of your faith. Therefore, do not rise up in pride but be filled with awe. **21** For if God did not spare the natural branches, he might not spare you either.

**22** Therefore, keep in mind the kindness and the severity of God: his severity toward those who fell, but his kindness to you provided that you remain deserving of that kindness. Otherwise, you also will be cut off, **23** while those who do not persist in their unbelief will be grafted in, since God has the power to do so again. **24** For if you have been cut from what is by nature a wild olive tree and grafted contrary to nature into a cultivated one, how much more easily will these natural branches be grafted back into their own olive tree.

**25**
**All Israel Will Be Saved.**

I do not want you to be unaware of this mystery, brethren, lest you think yourselves too wise: this hardening that has afflicted Israel will continue only until the full number of the Gentiles has come in. **26** This is how all Israel will be saved, as it is written,

“The Deliverer will come out of Zion;

 he will banish godlessness from Jacob

**27** And this will be my covenant with them

 when I take away their sins.”
**Revelation 11:2:**
**Revelation 12:14.**
**Revelation 12:14.** **NCB:**
**14** But the woman was given the two wings of the great eagle so that she could fly away from the serpent into the wilderness, to the place where she was to be looked after for a year, two years, and a half year.
**Revelation 11:2:**
**Daniel 7:25.**
**Daniel 7:25.** **NCB:**
**25** He will insult the Most High

 and oppress the holy ones of the Most High

in his stubborn determination

 to change the sacred seasons and the law.

They shall be given into his power

 for a time, two times, and half a time.
**Revelation 11:15.**
**2 Maccabees 2:5-2 Maccabees 2:8.**
**2 Maccabees 2:5-2 Maccabees 2:8.** **NCB:**
**5** Upon arriving there, Jeremiah found a cave-dwelling where he placed the tent, the Ark, and the altar of incense, after which he blocked off the entrance. **6** Some of his companions came up later with the intention of marking out the path, but they were unable to find it. **7** When Jeremiah learned of this, he rebuked them. “This place shall remain unknown,” he declared, “until God gathers his people together again and shows them his mercy. **8** Then the Lord will once again disclose these things, and the glory of the Lord will appear together with the cloud, as it was revealed in the time of Moses and when Solomon prayed that the place might be solemnly consecrated.”
**Revelation 11:19:**
**Deuteronomy 10:1.**
**Deuteronomy 10:1.** **NCB:**
**Chapter 10**
**The Stone Tablets.**
**1** The Lord then also told me, “Carve out two stone tablets like the first ones, and come up to me on the mountain. You are also to make an Ark out of wood.
**Revelation 11:19:**
**2 Kings 25:8-2 Kings 25:10.**
**2 Kings 25:8-2 Kings 25:10.** **NCB:**
**Destruction of Jerusalem.**
**8** On the seventh day of the fifth month of the ninth year of the reign of Nebuchadnezzar, the king of Babylon, Nebuzaradan, the captain of the guard and a servant of the king of Babylon, came up to Jerusalem. **9** He burned down the temple of the Lord, the royal palace, all of the buildings of Jerusalem. He burned down every large building. **10** All of the Chaldean army that was with the captain of the guard broke down all of the walls surrounding Jerusalem.
**Revelation 12:1:**
**Romans 13:1-Romans 13:7,** **Titus 3:1,** **And** **1 Peter 2:13-1 Peter 2:17.**
**Romans 13:1-Romans 13:7.** **NCB:**
**Chapter 13**
**Obedience to Authority.**
**1** Let everyone submit himself to the governing authorities, for there is no authority except that which derives from God, and whatever authorities exist have been instituted by God. **2** Consequently, anyone who resists authority is rebelling against what God has appointed, and those who so resist will bring judgment upon themselves.

**3** Rulers are a source of fear not to those who do good but rather to those who do evil. Do you wish to be free of fear from someone in authority? Then continue to do what is right and you will receive his approval. **4** For he is acting as God’s representative for your welfare. But if you do what is evil, then be afraid for he does not wear a sword for nothing. People in authority are God’s servants to mete out punishment to wrongdoers.

**5** Therefore, you are obliged to submit, not only because of fear of punishment but also because of conscience. **6** That is why you also pay taxes, for the authorities are God’s servants, and they devote themselves to this service. **7** Pay to each person what is rightfully his—taxes to the one to whom taxes are due, tolls to the one to whom tolls are due, respect to the one to whom respect is due, honor to the one to whom honor is due.

**Titus 3:1.** **NCB:**
**Chapter 3**
**1** Remind everyone to be subject to rulers and authorities, to obey them, to be ready to perform any honorable task,

**1 Peter 2:13-1 Peter 2:17.** **NCB:**
**13**
**Christianity Is Not a Subversive Group.**

For the Lord’s sake, submit to every human institution, whether of the emperor as supreme **14** or of governors as sent by him to punish those who do wrong and to commend those who do good works. **15** For it is the will of God that by doing right you should silence the ignorant talk of fools.

**16** As servants of God, behave as free people, but do not use your freedom as a means to cover up wrongdoing. 17 Give due honor to everyone. Love your fellow believers. Fear God. Honor the emperor.
**Revelation 12:1:**
**Revelation 10:1—Revelation 11:13.**
**Revelation 10:1—Revelation 11:13.** **NCB:**

The Verses or Chapters cited would be too long to include in full. To see them in full, please refer to **The Book of Revelation**, specifically The Book of Revelation: Chapter 10 Verse 1, Until The Book of Revelation: Chapter 11 Verse 13.
**Revelation 12:1:**
**Genesis 3:15.**
**Genesis 3:15.** **NCB:**
**15** I will establish hostility

 between you and the woman,

 between your line and her line.

Her offspring will crush your head

 and you will bruise his heel.”
**Revelation 12:1:**
**Revelation 12:5.**
**Revelation 12:5.** **NCB:**
**5** She gave birth to a son, a male child who is destined to rule all the nations with an iron rod. And her child was taken up directly to God and to his throne.
**Revelation 12:1:**
**Isaiah 66:7,** **And** **Psalms 2:9.**
**Isaiah 66:7.** **NCB:**
**Mother Zion**
**7** Before she entered into labor,

 she gave birth.

Before she experienced the birth pains,

 she delivered a son.

**Psalms 2:9.** **NCB:**
**9** You will rule them with an iron scepter;

 you will shatter them like a potter’s vessel.
**Revelation 12:1:**
**John 2:4,** **And** **John 19:26.**
**John 2:4.** **NCB:**
**4** Jesus responded, “Woman, what concern is this to us? My hour has not yet come.”

**John 19:26.** **NCB:**
**26** When Jesus saw his mother and the disciple whom he loved standing beside her, he said to his mother, “Woman, behold, your son.”
**Revelation 12:1:**
**Daniel 7,** **And** **Daniel 8:10.**
**Daniel 7.** **NCB:**

The Verses or Chapters cited would be too long to include in full. To see them in full, please refer to The Book of Daniel, specifically The Book of Daniel: Chapter 7.

**Daniel 8:10.** **NCB:**
**10** It grew until it reached the host of heaven, after which it flung down to the earth some of the host as well as some of the stars and trampled on them.
**Revelation 12:1:**
**Revelation 12:4** **And** **Daniel 8:10.**
**Revelation 12:4** **NCB:**
**4** His tail swept away a third of the stars in the sky and hurled them to the earth.

The dragon stood in front of the woman who was about to give birth, so that it might devour her child as soon as it was born.

**Daniel 8:10.** **NCB:**
**10** It grew until it reached the host of heaven, after which it flung down to the earth some of the host as well as some of the stars and trampled on them.
**Revelation 12:1:**
**Job 1:6-Job 1:11,** **And** **Job 2:1-Job 2:10.**
**Job 1:6-Job 1:11.** **NCB:**
**“Why Should Job Not Be a God-Fearing Man?”**
**6** One day the sons of God assembled to present themselves before the Lord, and Satan was with them. **7** The Lord said to Satan, “Where have you come from?” Satan answered the Lord and said, “I have been roaming the earth and going back and forth in it.” **8** The Lord asked him, “Have you paid any notice to my servant Job? You will not find anyone like him on the entire earth. He is a good and righteous man who fears God and shuns evil.”

**9** Satan said in reply, “Why should Job not be a God-fearing man? **10** You have safeguarded him and his family and all his possessions with your protection. You have blessed every one of his undertakings, and his flocks have continued to increase throughout the land. **11** But if you stretch out your hand and strike all that he has, he will surely curse you to your face.”

**Job 2:1-Job 2:10.** **NCB:**
**Chapter 2**
**Have You Paid Any Notice to My Servant Job?**
**1** On another occasion the sons of God came forward to present themselves before the Lord, and Satan accompanied them. **2** The Lord said to Satan, “Where have you come from?” Satan answered the Lord and said, “I have been roaming the earth and going back and forth in it.”

**3** The Lord said to Satan, “Have you paid any notice to my servant Job? You will not find anyone like him on the entire earth. He is a good and righteous man who fears God and shuns evil. He still maintains his integrity, even though you incited me to ruin him without the slightest justification.”

**4** Satan answered the Lord, “Skin for skin! A man will surrender everything he has to save his own life. **5** But now if you stretch forth your hand and touch his bone and his flesh, he will curse you to your face.” **6** The Lord said to Satan, “He is in your power, but you must spare his life.”

**Job Did Not Utter a Single Sinful Word.**
**7** Therefore, when Satan left the Lord’s presence, he afflicted Job with malignant sores from the soles of his feet to the top of his head. **8** Job took a potsherd to scrape himself as he sat among the ashes.

**9** Then his wife said to him, “When will you give up persisting in your integrity? Curse God and die!” **10** He replied, “You are talking like a foolish woman. If we accept good things from God, should we not be willing to accept sorrows as well?” In all this, Job did not utter a single sinful word.
**Revelation 12:1:**
**Revelation 12:17.**
**Revelation 12:17.** **NCB:**
**17** Then the dragon became enraged at the woman and went off to wage war on the rest of her offspring, those who keep God’s commandments and bear witness to Jesus.
**Revelation 12:1:**
**Revelation 12:6.**
**Revelation 12:6.** **NCB:**
**6** The woman herself fled into the wilderness where she would be looked after for twelve hundred and sixty days in a place prepared for her by God.
**Revelation 12:1:**
**Revelation 12:6.**
**Revelation 12:6.** **NCB:**
**6** The woman herself fled into the wilderness where she would be looked after for twelve hundred and sixty days in a place prepared for her by God.
**Revelation 12:1:**
**Revelation 12:7.**
**Revelation 12:7.** **NCB:**
**7** Next, war broke out in heaven, with Michael and his angels in combat against the dragon. The dragon and his angels fought back,
**Revelation 12:6:**
**Revelation 11:2-Revelation 11:3,** **And** **Revelation 11:11.**
**Revelation 11:2-Revelation 11:3.** **NCB:**
**2** However, exclude the outer court of the temple from your measurements, because it has been handed over to the Gentiles and they will trample on the holy city for forty-two months. **3** I will grant my two witnesses authority to prophesy for those twelve hundred and sixty days, wearing sackcloth.”

**Revelation 11:11.** **NCB:**
**11** However, after the three and a half days, the breath of life from God entered them, and when they rose to their feet, great terror filled those who saw them.
**Revelation 12:7:**
**Daniel 10:12-Daniel 10:21,** **And** **Daniel 12:1.**
**Daniel 10:12-Daniel 10:21.** **NCB:**
**12** Then he continued, “Do not be afraid, Daniel, for from the first day that you resolved to gain understanding and to humble yourself before God, your prayer was heard. It is because of your resolve that I have come to you. **13** The prince of the kingdom of Persia thwarted me for twenty-one days, but finally Michael, one of the chief princes, came to help me. I left him there to confront the prince of the kingdom of Persia, **14** and I have come to explain to you what will happen to your people in the final days. For there is yet a further vision for those days.”

**15** While he was speaking these words to me, I prostrated myself on the ground and was speechless. **16** Then someone who looked like a man touched my lips. I opened my mouth and said to the person standing before me, “My lord, anguish has overcome me at this vision, and I no longer have any further strength. **17** How can I, my lord’s servant, speak to you now that I have no strength left in me and my breath fails me?”

**18** The one who looked like a man touched me again and strengthened me, saying, **19** “Do not be afraid, greatly beloved. You have been specially chosen. Peace be with you. Have courage and be strong.” **20** As he spoke to me, I once again felt strong, and I said, “Speak, my lord, for you have strengthened me.”

Then he asked, “Do you know why I have come to you? I must first return to fight against the king of Persia, and when I have overcome him, the prince of Greece will appear. **21** But I have been delegated to tell you what is inscribed in the book of truth. There is no one to lend me support except Michael, your prince.

**Daniel 12:1.** **NCB:**
**Chapter 12**
**1** “At that time there shall arise

 Michael, the great prince,

 the guardian of your people.

Then there will be a period

 that will be unsurpassed in distress

 since nations first came into existence.

At that time your own people will be spared,

 everyone whose names are found written in the book.
**Revelation 12:10:**
**1 Chronicles 21:1,** **Job 1–Job 2,** **And** **Zechariah 3:1.**
**1 Chronicles 21:1.** **NCB:**
**Chapter 21**
**The Census and Plague.**
**1** Now Satan took his stand against Israel, and he tempted David to take a census of Israel.

**Job 1–Job 2.** **NCB:**

The Verses or Chapters cited would be too long to include in full. To see them in full, please refer to The Book of Job, specifically The Book of Job: Chapter 1, And The Book of Job: Chapter 2.

**Zechariah 3:1.** **NCB:**
**The Leaders of the Holy City**
**Chapter 3**
**Joshua the High Priest.**
**1** Then he showed me Joshua, the high priest, standing before the angel of the Lord, with Satan standing at his right to accuse him.
**Revelation 12:14:**
**Revelation 11:2.**
**Revelation 11:2.** **NCB:**
**2** However, exclude the outer court of the temple from your measurements, because it has been handed over to the Gentiles and they will trample on the holy city for forty-two months.
**Revelation 12:18:**
**Revelation 12:18.**
**Revelation 12:18.** NCB:

The Verse being cited is the same verse as the one that is being cross-referenced.
**Revelation 13:5:**
**Revelation 11:2-Revelation 11:3,** **And** **Revelation 11:11.**
**Revelation 11:2-Revelation 11:3.** **NCB:**
**2** However, exclude the outer court of the temple from your measurements, because it has been handed over to the Gentiles and they will trample on the holy city for forty-two months. **3** I will grant my two witnesses authority to prophesy for those twelve hundred and sixty days, wearing sackcloth.”

**Revelation 11:11.** **NCB:**
**11** However, after the three and a half days, the breath of life from God entered them, and when they rose to their feet, great terror filled those who saw them.
**Revelation 13:8:**
**Revelation 3:5.**
**Revelation 3:5.** **NCB:**
**5** Anyone who is victorious will be dressed like these in white robes, and I shall not blot his name from the book of life. Rather, I shall acknowledge it in the presence of my Father and his angels.
**Revelation 14:1:**
**Isaiah 2:1-Isaiah 2:5.**
**Isaiah 2:1-Isaiah 2:5.** **NCB:**
**The Internal Decadence of a People**
**Chapter 2**
**Jerusalem, the Religious Center.**
**1** This is the vision seen by Isaiah, the son of Amoz, concerning Judah and Jerusalem.

**2** In days to come

 the mountain of the Lord’s house

will be established as the highest mountain

 and raised high above the hills.

Then all the nations will stream toward it;

**3** many peoples will come to it and say,

“Come, let us ascend the mountain of the Lord,

 to the house of the God of Jacob,

so that he may teach us his ways

 and we may walk in his paths.”

For from Zion will go forth instruction,

 and the word of the Lord from Jerusalem.

**4** He will judge between the nations

 and serve as an arbiter for many peoples.

They will beat their swords into plowshares

 and their spears into pruning hooks.

One nation will not lift up a sword against another,

 nor will they ever again be trained for war.

**The Lord’s Triumph Will Come**
**5** Come, O house of Jacob,

 let us walk in the light of the Lord.
**Revelation 14:1:**
**Exodus 15:1-Exodus 15:18,** **Psalms 33:1-Psalms 22:3,** **And** **Psalms 98:1.**
**Exodus 15:1-Exodus 15:18.** **NCB:**
**Chapter 15**
**The Song of Moses and Miriam.**
**1** Moses and the children of Israel therefore sang this song to the Lord:

“I will sing in honor of the Lord, for he is gloriously triumphant,

 horse and horseman he has cast into the sea.

**2** My strength and my song is the Lord,

 for he has saved me.

He is my God, and I wish to praise him,

 the God of my father, and I wish to exalt him.

**3** “The Lord is a warrior,

 Lord is his name.

**4** He has cast Pharaoh’s chariots and his army into the sea.

 His choice troops were drowned in the Red Sea.

**5** The depths covered them

 and they sank like a stone.

**6** “Your right hand, O Lord, is glorious in its power.

 Your right hand, O Lord, has destroyed the enemy.

**7** With the greatness of your majesty you have overthrown those who rose up against you.

 You sent forth your anger and it devoured them like straw.

**8** At the breath of your nostrils, the waters piled up.

 The flood waters piled up and stood like a mound;

 the deep waters congealed in the midst of the sea.

**9** “The enemy had said, ‘I will pursue and overtake them.

 I will divide the spoil, and my passion will be satisfied on them.

 I will draw my sword, and my hand will destroy them.’

**10** You blew your wind, and the sea covered them.

 Like lead they sank in the mighty waters.

**11** “Who is like you among the gods, O Lord?

 Who is like you, majestic in holiness,

 awesome in praise, doing wonders?

**12** You extended your right hand

 and the earth swallowed them.

**13** “In your mercy you guided the people you had redeemed.

 You guided them with strength to your holy dwelling.

**14** The people will hear and be afraid.

 Anguish will seize the inhabitants of Philistia.

**15** The leaders of Edom tremble,

 the mighty ones of Moab are gripped with fear,

 all the inhabitants of Canaan melt away.

**16** Fear and terror fall upon them.

 The greatness of your arm makes them still as stone,

 until your people have passed over, O Lord,

 until your people whom you have acquired have passed over.

**17** You will bring them in and plant them

 on the mountain of your inheritance,

 in the place that you have prepared for your dwelling, O Lord,

 the sanctuary that your own hands have founded.

**18** The Lord reigns forever and ever.”

**Psalms 33:1-Psalms 22:3.** **NCB:**
**Psalm 33**
**Praise of God’s Providence**
**1** Rejoice in the Lord, you righteous;

 it is fitting for the upright to praise him.

**2** Give thanks to the Lord on the harp;

 offer praise to him on the ten-stringed lyre.

**3** Sing to him a new song;

 play skillfully on the strings with joyful shouts.

**Psalms 98:1.** **NCB:**
**Psalm 98**
**Praise of the Lord, King and Judge**
**1** A psalm.

Sing to the Lord a new song,

 for he has accomplished marvelous deeds.

His right hand and his holy arm

 have made him victorious.
**Revelation 14:1:**
**Revelation 19:9,** **Revelation 21:2,** **And** **2 Corinthians 11:2.**
**Revelation 19:9.** **NCB:**
**9** Then the angel said to me, “Write: ‘Blessed are those who are invited to the wedding banquet of the Lamb.’ ” And he added, “These are the true words of God.”

**Revelation 21:2.** **NCB:**
**2** And I saw the holy city, the new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, like a bride adorned and ready for her husband.

**2 Corinthians 11:2.** **NCB:**
**2** For I am jealous of you with a godly jealousy, since I promised all of you to one spouse, to present you as a chaste virgin to Christ.
**Revelation 14:3:**
**Revelation 5:9.**
**Revelation 5:9.** **NCB:**
**9** They sang a new song:

“You are worthy to receive the scroll

 and to open its seals,

for you were slain,

 and with your blood you purchased for God

 people of every tribe and language, nation and race.
**Revelation 14:4:**
**Matthew 19:21,** **And** **Mark 8:34.**
**Matthew 19:21.** **NCB:**
**21** Jesus replied, “If you wish to be perfect, go, sell your possessions, and give the money to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me.”

**Mark 8:34.** **NCB:**
**34**
**The Conditions of Discipleship.**

He then called the people and his disciples to him and said to them, “Anyone who wishes to follow me must deny himself, take up his cross, and follow me.
**Revelation 14:4:**

grouped reference text
**Revelation 14:4:**

grouped reference text
**Revelation 14:10:**
**Psalms 75:9,** **Isaiah 51:17,** **And** **Jeremiah 25:15.**
**Psalms 75:9.** **NCB:**
**9** The Lord holds in his hand a cup

 filled with foaming wine and richly spiced.

When he pours it out,

 all the wicked of the earth must drink;

 they will drain it down to the dregs.

**Isaiah 51:17.** **NCB:**
**The Cup of Salvation**
**17** Awake, awake!

 Rise up, O Jerusalem!

You have drunk from the Lord’s hand

 the cup of his wrath;

and have drained to the dregs

 the goblet that causes men to become inebriated.

**Jeremiah 25:15.** **NCB:**
**15**
**The Cup of Wrath on the Nations.**

For these are the words that the Lord, the God of Israel, proclaimed to me, “Take this cup of the wine of wrath from my hand and command all the nations to whom I send you to drink from it.
**Revelation 14:10:**
**Genesis 19:24.**
**Genesis 19:24.** **NCB:**
**24** The Lord then rained sulfur and fire from the heavens upon Sodom and Gomorrah.
**Revelation 14:10:**
**Psalms 11:6.**
**Psalms 11:6.** **NCB:**
**6** Upon the wicked he will rain down

 fiery coals and brimstone;

 a scorching wind will be their allotted portion.
**Revelation 14:10:**
**Revelation 19:20,** **Revelation 20:10,** **And** **Revelation 21:8.**
**Revelation 19:20.** **NCB:**
**20** The beast was captured, and with it the false prophet who in its presence had performed the signs by which he had deluded those who had received the mark of the beast and those who had worshiped its image.

These two were thrown alive into the fiery lake of burning sulfur.

**Revelation 20:10.** **NCB:**
**10** The devil who had led them astray was thrown into the fiery lake of burning sulfur, where the beast and the false prophet had been flung to be tormented day and night forever and ever.

**Revelation 21:8.** **NCB:**
**8** But as for the cowardly, the faithless, the depraved, the murderers, the sexually immoral, the sorcerers, the idolaters, and liars of every kind, their place is the fiery lake of burning sulfur, which is the second death.”
**Revelation 14:13:**
**Revelation 1:3.**
**Revelation 1:3.** **NCB:**
**3** Blessed is the one who reads the words of this prophecy, and blessed are those who keep what is written in it, for the appointed time is near.
**Revelation 14:14:**
**Mark 14:62,** **And** **Daniel 7:13.**
**Mark 14:62.** **NCB:**
**62** Jesus replied, “I am.

And you will see the Son of Man

 seated at the right hand of the Power

 and coming with the clouds of heaven.”

**Daniel 7:13.** **NCB:**
**13** As the night visions continued,

 I beheld approaching on the clouds of heaven

 one like a son of man.

He came before the Ancient One

 and was presented to him.
**Revelation 14:14:**
**Isaiah 63:2-Isaiah 63:3.**
**Isaiah 63:2-Isaiah 63:3.** **NCB:**

2 Why are your robes red,

 like the garments of those

 who tread the winepress?

3 “I have trodden the winepress alone;

 not one of the nations came to my aid.

I trod the nations in my anger

 and trampled them in my wrath.

Their blood spurted out all over my garments

 and stained all my robes.
**Revelation 14:14:**
**Matthew 8:20.**
**Matthew 8:20.** **NCB:**
**20** Jesus told him, “Foxes have holes and birds of the air have nests, but the Son of Man has nowhere to lay his head.”
**Revelation 15:2:**
**Exodus 15:1-Exodus 15:8.**
**Exodus 15:1-Exodus 15:8.** **NCB:**
**Chapter 15**
**The Song of Moses and Miriam.**
**1** Moses and the children of Israel therefore sang this song to the Lord:

“I will sing in honor of the Lord, for he is gloriously triumphant,

 horse and horseman he has cast into the sea.

**2** My strength and my song is the Lord,

 for he has saved me.

He is my God, and I wish to praise him,

 the God of my father, and I wish to exalt him.

**3** “The Lord is a warrior,

 Lord is his name.

**4** He has cast Pharaoh’s chariots and his army into the sea.

 His choice troops were drowned in the Red Sea.

**5** The depths covered them

 and they sank like a stone.

**6** “Your right hand, O Lord, is glorious in its power.

 Your right hand, O Lord, has destroyed the enemy.

**7** With the greatness of your majesty you have overthrown those who rose up against you.

 You sent forth your anger and it devoured them like straw.

**8** At the breath of your nostrils, the waters piled up.

 The flood waters piled up and stood like a mound;

 the deep waters congealed in the midst of the sea.
**Revelation 15:5:**
**1 Kings 8:10.**
**1 Kings 8:10.** **NCB:**
**10** When the priests came out of the Holy Place, a cloud filled the temple of the Lord.
**Revelation 16:1:**
**Exodus 7–Exodus 12.**
**Exodus 7–Exodus 12.** **NCB:**

The Verses or Chapters cited would be too long to include in full. To see them in full, please refer to The Book of Exodus, specifically The Book of Exodus: Chapter 7, The Book of Exodus: Chapter 8, The Book of Exodus: Chapter 9, The Book of Exodus: Chapter 10, The Book of Exodus: Chapter 11, And The Book of Exodus: Chapter 12.
**Revelation 16:1:**
**Revelation 8-Revelation 10.**
**Revelation 8-Revelation 10.** **NCB:**

The Verses or Chapters cited would be too long to include in full. To see them in full, please refer to **The Book of Revelation**, specifically The Book of Revelation: Chapter 8, The Book of Revelation: Chapter 9, And The Book of Revelation: Chapter 10
**Revelation 16:1:**
**2 Kings 23:29-2 Kings 23:30,** **And** **Zechariah 12:11.**
**2 Kings 23:29-2 Kings 23:30.** **NCB:**
**29** During his reign, Pharaoh Neco, the king of Egypt, traveled up to the Euphrates River to give his assistance to the king of Assyria. King Josiah attacked him. When Pharaoh Neco saw him at Megiddo, he killed him. **30** His servants brought his dead body back from Megiddo to Jerusalem and they buried him in his own tomb.

The people of the land took Jehoahaz, the son of Josiah, and they anointed him as king in his father’s stead.

**Zechariah 12:11.** **NCB:**
**11** On that day the mourning in Jerusalem will be as great as the mourning over Hadadrimmon in the plain of Megiddo.
**Revelation 16:2:**
**Exodus 9:8-Exodus 9:11.**
**Exodus 9:8-Exodus 9:11.** **NCB:**
**Sixth Plague: The Boils.**
**8** The Lord said to Moses and Aaron: “Take two handfuls of ashes from the furnace. Moses is to throw them into the air in front of Pharaoh. **9** It will become a fine powder that will spread throughout the whole land and will produce running sores upon the people and the animals throughout the land of Egypt.” **10** They therefore took ashes from the furnace and stood before Pharaoh. Moses threw them into the air, and they produced running sores on people and animals. **11** The magicians could not stand in the presence of Moses because of the sores that had struck them as well as all the Egyptians.
**Revelation 16:3:**
**Exodus 7:20.**
**Exodus 7:20.** **NCB:**
**20** Moses and Aaron did what the Lord had commanded. Aaron raised his staff and struck the waters of the Nile in the sight of Pharaoh and his servants. All the waters of the Nile changed into blood.
**Revelation 16:10:**
**Exodus 10:21-Exodus 10:23.**
**Exodus 10:21-Exodus 10:23.** **NCB:**
**21**
**Ninth Plague: The Darkness.**

The Lord said to Moses, “Stretch out your hand toward the heavens. Darkness will come upon the land of Egypt, so dark that one can feel it.”

**22** Moses stretched out his hand toward the heavens. Darkness came upon the land of Egypt for three days. **23** People could not see each other, and for three days no one could move around. But there was light where the children of Israel were living.
**Revelation 16:13:**
**Exodus 7:26—Exodus 8:11.**
**Exodus 7:26—Exodus 8:11.** **NCB:**
**26** The Lord said to Moses, “Go to speak to Pharaoh, ‘Thus says the Lord, “Let my people go to serve me. **27** If you refuse to let them go, then I will strike your land with frogs. **28** The Nile will swarm with frogs. They will come out and go into your houses, into the rooms where you sleep and up on your beds, into the houses of your ministers and your people, even into your ovens and your kneading bowls. **29** The frogs will come out and climb over you and your ministers.” ’ ”

**Chapter 8**
**1** The Lord said to Moses, “Command Aaron: ‘Stretch out your hand with your staff over the waters, over the canals and pools, and make frogs come out all over the land of Egypt.’ ”

**2** Aaron extended his hand over the waters of Egypt and frogs came out and covered the land of Egypt. **3** But the magicians, with their magic, did the same thing and made frogs to come up out all over the land of Egypt.

**4** Pharaoh had Moses and Aaron summoned and said, “Pray to the Lord to take the frogs away from me, and my people and I will let the people go to sacrifice to the Lord.”

**5** Moses said to Pharaoh, “Do me the honor of telling me when I should pray for you and your ministers and your people, to free you and your house from frogs, so that they only remain in the waters of the Nile.”

**6** He answered, “Tomorrow.” Then Moses said, “As you say. In order that you may know that there is no equal to the Lord, our God, **7** the frogs will leave your house and those of your servants and of your people, remaining only in the Nile.”

**8** Moses and Aaron left Pharaoh, and Moses beseeched the Lord concerning the frogs that he had sent against Pharaoh. **9** The Lord did as Moses had said and the frogs died in the houses, in the courtyards, and in the fields. **10** They piled them up in heaps and the land stank. **11** But Pharaoh saw that there was a moment of relief, and he became stubborn and did not listen to them, just as the Lord had predicted.
**Revelation 16:15:**
**Revelation 3:3-Revelation 3:4,** **And** **Revelation 3:18.**
**Revelation 3:3-Revelation 3:4.** **NCB:**
**3** Therefore, remember the teaching that you have received and heard. Hold on to it and repent. If you do not wake up, I will come like a thief, and you will never know at what hour I will come upon you.

**4** “ ‘ “However, there are still a few in Sardis who have not soiled their robes, and they will walk with me dressed in white, for they are worthy.

**Revelation 3:18.** **NCB:**
**18** “ ‘ “I advise you to buy from me gold that has been refined by fire so that you will be truly rich, and white robes to clothe you so that you may keep the shame of your nakedness from being seen, and ointment to smear on your eyes so that you may see.
**Revelation 16:15:**
**Revelation 1:3.**
**Revelation 1:3.** **NCB:**
**3** Blessed is the one who reads the words of this prophecy, and blessed are those who keep what is written in it, for the appointed time is near.
**Revelation 16:16:**
**Judges 5:19f,** **2 Kings 9:27,** **And** **2 Chronicles 35:20-2 Chronicles 25:24.**
**Judges 5:19f.** **NCB:**
**19** Kings came and fought;

 the kings of Canaan fought at Taanach by the waters of Megiddo,

 but they took no plunder, no silver.

**2 Kings 9:27.** **NCB:**
**27**
**Death of Ahaziah.**

When Ahaziah, the king of Judah, saw this, he fled on the road to Beth-haggan. Jehu followed after him, shouting, “Kill him too!” They wounded him on the way up to Gur, which is by Ibleam. He escaped to Megiddo, but he died there.

**2 Chronicles 35:20-2 Chronicles 25:24.** **NCB:**
**20**

Josiah’s Reign Ends.

After all this had occurred and Josiah had restored the temple, Neco, the king of Egypt, went forth to attack Carchemish on the Euphrates, and Josiah marched out to confront him. **21** Neco then sent messengers to him to say: “Why should you be concerned about me, king of Judah? I have no intention of attacking you. My quarrel is not with you but just with those with whom I am at war. God has commanded me to proceed without delay. Therefore, do not oppose God, who is supporting me, so that he will not destroy you.”

**22** However, Josiah had no intention of yielding to Neco’s request that came from the mouth of God, but rather he engaged in battle on the plain of Megiddo. **23** The archers then shot King Josiah, and he commanded his servants: “Take me away, for I am severely wounded.”

**24** Therefore, his servants removed him from his own chariot and transferred him with another chariot to Jerusalem, where he died. He was buried in the tombs of his ancestors, and all Judah and Jerusalem mourned for him.
**Revelation 17:1:**
**Ezekiel 16,** **And** **Ezekiel 23.**
**Ezekiel 16,** **NCB:**

The Verses or Chapters cited would be too long to include in full. To see them in full, please refer to The Book of Ezekiel, specifically The Book of Ezekiel: Chapter 16.

**Ezekiel 23.** **NCB:**

The Verses or Chapters cited would be too long to include in full. To see them in full, please refer to The Book of Ezekiel, specifically The Book of Ezekiel: Chapter 23.
**Revelation 17:1:**
**Revelation 17:9.**
**Revelation 17:9.** **NCB:**
**9** “This calls for a mind with wisdom. The seven heads represent seven hills upon which the woman is seated. They also represent seven kings.
**Revelation 17:1:**
**Revelation 17:1,** **And** **Revelation 17:15.**
**Revelation 17:1.** **NCB:**
**Chapter 17**
**Babylon the Great, the Infamous Harlot.**
**1** One of the seven angels who held the seven bowls approached me and said, “Come here and I will show you the judgment on the great harlot who is enthroned over many waters.

**Revelation 17:15.** **NCB:**
**15** The angel continued, “The waters that you saw, where the harlot sits, represent peoples, multitudes, nations, and languages.
**Revelation 17:1:**
**Revelation 1:4.**
**Revelation 1:4.** **NCB:**
**He Is, He Was, and He Will Return.**
**4** John, to the seven Churches in Asia: grace to you and peace from him who is, who was, and who is to come, and from the seven spirits before his throne,
**Revelation 17:1:**
**Revelation 17:9-Revelation 17:11.**
**Revelation 17:9-Revelation 17:11.** **NCB:**
**9** “This calls for a mind with wisdom. The seven heads represent seven hills upon which the woman is seated. They also represent seven kings. **10** Five have already fallen, one is still living, and the other has not yet come. When he does come, he must remain only for a short while. **11** As for the beast that was alive but is now alive no longer, it is at the same time the eighth and one of the seven, and it is headed for destruction.
**Revelation 17:1:**
**Revelation 17:12.**
**Revelation 17:12.** **NCB:**
**12** “The ten horns that you saw are ten kings who have not yet begun to reign. They will have royal authority for only a single hour together with the beast.
**Revelation 17:1:**
**Revelation 17:16.**
**Revelation 17:16.** **NCB:**
**16** The ten horns that you saw and the beast will hate the harlot. They will render her desolate and naked; after they devour her flesh, they will burn her up with fire.
**Revelation 17:3:**
**Revelation 1:10.**
**Revelation 1:10.** **NCB:**
**10** On the Lord’s day, I was caught up in the spirit, and I heard behind me a loud voice, like the sound of a trumpet,
**Revelation 17:14:**
**Deuteronomy 10:17,** **Psalms 136:2-Psalms 136:3,** **Daniel 2:47,** **And** **1 Timothy 6:15.**
**Deuteronomy 10:17.** **NCB:**
**17** for the Lord, your God, is the God of gods and the Lord of lords, a great God, mighty and awesome, who does not show partiality nor take a bribe.

**Psalms 136:2-Psalms 136:3.** **NCB:**
**2** Give thanks to the God of gods,

 for his love endures forever.

**3** Give thanks to the Lord of lords,

 for his love endures forever.

**Daniel 2:47.** **NCB:**
**47** The king said to Daniel, “Truly your God is the God of gods, the Lord of kings, and the revealer of mysteries. That is why you were able to reveal this mystery.”

**1 Timothy 6:15.** **NCB:**
**15** which he will make manifest at the proper time—he who is the blessed and only ruler of all, the King of kings and the Lord of lords.
**Revelation 18:19:**
**Ezekiel 26-Ezekiel 28.**
**Ezekiel 26-Ezekiel 28.** **NCB:**

The Verses or Chapters cited would be too long to include in full. To see them in full, please refer to The Book of Ezekiel, specifically The Book of Ezekiel: Chapter 26, The Book of Ezekiel: Chapter 27, And The Book of Ezekiel: Chapter 28.
**Revelation 18:19:**
**Revelation 18:13.**
**Revelation 18:13.** **NCB:**
**13** cinnamon and spices; incense, myrrh, and frankincense; wine and olive oil; fine flour and wheat; cattle and sheep; horses and chariots; and slaves, that is, human lives. They will say:
**Revelation 19:1:**
**Matthew 22:1-Matthew 22:14,** **And** **Matthew 25:1-Matthew 25:13.**
**Matthew 22:1-Matthew 22:14.** **NCB:**
**Chapter 22**
**The Parable of the Wedding Banquet.**
**1** Jesus spoke to them again in parables, saying, **2** “The kingdom of heaven may be compared to a king who gave a wedding banquet for his son. **3** He sent forth his servants to summon those who had been invited to the banquet, but they refused to come. **4** Then he sent other servants, saying, ‘Tell those who have been invited, “Behold, my banquet has been prepared, my oxen and my fattened cattle have been slaughtered, and everything is ready. Come to the wedding banquet.” ’

**5** “But they ignored his invitation. One went off to his farm, another to his business, **6** while the rest seized his servants, mistreated them, and killed them.

**7** “The king was enraged, and he sent forth his troops who destroyed those murderers and burned their city to the ground. **8** Then he said to his servants, ‘The wedding banquet is ready, but those who were invited were not worthy of that honor. **9** Go forth, therefore, to the main roads and invite everyone you can find to the wedding banquet.’ **10** The servants went forth into the streets and gathered together everyone they could find, good and bad alike. And so the wedding hall was filled with guests.

**11** “But when the king came in to greet the guests, he noticed one man who was not properly dressed for a wedding. **12** ‘My friend,’ he said to him, ‘how did you gain entrance here without a wedding garment?’ The man was speechless. **13** Then the king said to the attendants, ‘Bind his hands and feet and cast him outside into the darkness, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.’ **14** For many are called, but few are chosen.”

**Matthew 25:1-Matthew 25:13.** **NCB:**
**Chapter 25**
**The Parable of the Ten Virgins.**
**1** “Then the kingdom of heaven will be like ten virgins who took their lamps and went forth to meet the bridegroom. **2** Five of them were foolish and five were wise. **3** When the foolish ones took their lamps, they neglected to take any oil with them, **4** whereas those who were wise took flasks of oil with their lamps. **5** Since the bridegroom was delayed in coming, they all became drowsy and fell asleep.

**6** “At midnight, a shout was raised: ‘Behold, the bridegroom! Come out to meet him!’ **7** Then all the virgins got up and trimmed their lamps. **8** The foolish ones said to the wise, ‘Give us some of your oil, for our lamps are going out.’ **9** The wise ones replied, ‘No, for there may not be enough for both us and you. You had better go to the merchants and buy some.’

**10** “While they went off to purchase it, the bridegroom arrived, and those who were ready went in with him to the wedding banquet. Then the door was locked. **11** Afterward, the other virgins returned, and they cried out, ‘Lord! Lord! Open the door for us!’ **12** But he replied,‘Amen, I say to you, I do not know you.’ **13** Therefore, stay awake, for you know neither the day nor the hour.
**Revelation 19:1:**
**Revelation 6:9.**
**Revelation 6:9.** **NCB:**
**The Fifth Seal: Vision of the Martyrs.**
**9** When he broke open the fifth seal, I saw underneath the altar the souls of those who had been slain on account of the word of God and for witnessing to it.
**Revelation 19:1:**
**Isaiah 54:1-Isaiah 54:8,** **And** **Hosea 2:16-Hosea 2:18.**
**Isaiah 54:1-Isaiah 54:8.** **NCB:**
**Chapter 54**
**The New Zion**
**1** Sing with happiness,

 you barren woman who never bore a child.

Burst forth in shouts of joy,

 you who never have been in labor.

For more numerous are the children of the deserted wife

 than are the children of the wedded wife,

 says the Lord.

**2** Enlarge the site for your dwelling

 and stretch out your tent curtains

 to the greatest possible extent.

Lengthen your ropes

 and strengthen your tent stakes.

**3** For you will spread out

 to the right and to the left;

your descendants will dispossess the nations

 and settle in the desolate cities.

**4** Have no fear, for you will not be put to shame;

 do not be discouraged, for you will not be humiliated.

You will forget the shame of your youth,

 and you will no longer remember

 the reproach of your widowhood.

**5** For your Creator has now become your husband;

 his name is the Lord of hosts.

The Holy One of Israel is your redeemer;

 he is called the God of the entire world.

**6** The Lord has called you back

 like a forsaken wife grieved in spirit,

like the repudiated wife of a man’s youth,

 says your God.

**7** For a brief moment I did forsake you,

 but with great compassion I will take you back.

**8** In an outburst of anger

 I hid my face from you for a moment,

but with everlasting love

 I will have compassion on you,

 says the Lord, your Redeemer.

**Hosea 2:16-Hosea 2:18.** **NCB:**
**I Intend To Allure Her . . . and Speak Tenderly to Her**
**16** As a result, now I intend to allure her,

 lead her into the wilderness,

 and speak tenderly to her.

**17** From there I will restore her vineyards to her

 and make the Valley of Achor a gateway of hope.

There she will respond as she did in the days of her youth,

 when she came up from the land of Egypt.

**18** On that day, says the Lord,

 she will call me “My husband,”

 and never again call me “My Baal.”
**Revelation 19:1:**
**Ephesians 5:23,** **Ephesians 5:25,** **And** **Ephesians 5:32.**
**Ephesians 5:23.** **NCB:**
**23** For the husband is the head of the wife, just as Christ is the head of the Church, the body of which he is the Savior.

**Ephesians 5:25.** **NCB:**
**25**
**Love One Another in Christ.**

Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ loved the Church and gave himself up for her

**Ephesians 5:32.** **NCB:**
**32** This is a great mystery. Here I am applying it to Christ and the Church.
**Revelation 19:1:**
**John 3:29.**
**John 3:29.** **NCB:**
**29** “It is the bridegroom who has the bride,

but the friend of the bridegroom

who stands by and listens for him

rejoices greatly when he hears the bridegroom’s voice.

This joy of mine

is complete.
**Revelation 19:9:**
**Revelation 1:3.**
**Revelation 1:3.** **NCB:**
**3** Blessed is the one who reads the words of this prophecy, and blessed are those who keep what is written in it, for the appointed time is near.
**Revelation 19:11:**
**Isaiah 11:4.**
**Isaiah 11:4.** **NCB:**
**4** Rather, he will judge the poor with justice

 and render fair decisions for the weak and the poor.

He will strike the ruthless with the rod of his mouth,

 and with the breath of his lips he will slay the wicked.
**Revelation 19:11:**
**Isaiah 63:3.**
**Isaiah 63:3.** **NCB:**
**3** “I have trodden the winepress alone;

 not one of the nations came to my aid.

I trod the nations in my anger

 and trampled them in my wrath.

Their blood spurted out all over my garments

 and stained all my robes.
**Revelation 19:11:**
**Psalms 2:9.**
**Psalms 2:9.** **NCB:**
**9** You will rule them with an iron scepter;

 you will shatter them like a potter’s vessel.
**Revelation 19:11:**
**Wisdom 18:14-Wisdom 18:18.**
**Wisdom 18:14-Wisdom 18:18.** **NCB:**
**14** For when profound silence encompassed all things

 and the night was at midpoint in its swift course,

**15** your all-powerful Word leapt from your royal throne in heaven

 like a relentless warrior into the midst of a land doomed to destruction.

**16** Carrying the sharp sword of your inexorable decree,

 and touching the heavens while standing on earth,

 he filled the universe with death.

**17** Immediately the godless were terrified by apparitions in terrible dreams,

 and unexpected fears attacked them.

**18** Cast down to the ground half-dead, some here, others there,

 they revealed clearly why they were dying.
**Revelation 19:15:**
**Genesis 49:9-Genesis 49:12,** **Isaiah 63:1-Isaiah 63:6,** **Jeremiah 25:30,** **And** **Joel 4:13.**
**Genesis 49:9-Genesis 49:12.** **NCB:**
**9** A young lion is Judah.

 From the prey, my son, you have turned.

He crouches like a lion,

 and like a lioness;

 who dares to rouse him?

**10** The scepter shall not depart from Judah

 nor the mace from between his feet,

until it comes to whom it belongs,

 and the obedience of the peoples is his.

**11** He tethers his colt to the vine,

 and to a choice vine the colt of his donkey.

He washes his garments in wine,

 and in the blood of the grapes his clothes.

**12** His eyes are darker than wine,

 and his teeth whiter than milk.

**Isaiah 63:1-Isaiah 63:6.** **NCB:**
**Chapter 63**
**God’s Judgment of Edom**
**1** Who is this that comes from Edom,

 from Bozrah in crimson garments?

Who is this so magnificently attired,

 marching with his mighty strength?

“It is I, proclaiming victory,

 I who possess the power to save.”

**2** Why are your robes red,

 like the garments of those

 who tread the winepress?

**3** “I have trodden the winepress alone;

 not one of the nations came to my aid.

I trod the nations in my anger

 and trampled them in my wrath.

Their blood spurted out all over my garments

 and stained all my robes.

**4** I resolved in my heart on a day of vengeance,

 and my year for redeeming was at hand.

**5** I looked all around, but there was no one to help;

 I was outraged that no one offered any assistance.

Even so, my own arm brought me victory

 and my wrath sustained me.

**6** I trampled down the peoples in my anger;

 I crushed them in my wrath

 and sent their blood streaming forth over the ground.”

**Jeremiah 25:30.** **NCB:**
**30** Therefore, prophesy against them all these words and proclaim to them:

The Lord roars from on high;

 he thunders from his holy dwelling place.

He will roar mightily against his fold;

 like those who tread the grapes, she shouts aloud

 against all the inhabitants of the earth.

**Joel 4:13.** **NCB:**
**13** Wield the sickles,

 for the harvest is ripe.

Come and trample the grapes,

 for the winepress is full.

The vats are overflowing,

 for great is their wickedness.
**Revelation 19:16:**
**Revelation 17:14.**
**Revelation 17:14.** **NCB:**
**14** They will wage war against the Lamb, but because the Lamb is Lord of lords and King of kings, he will overcome them—he and those who are with him, the called, the chosen, and the faithful.”
**Revelation 19:17:**
**Revelation 14:6-Revelation 14:13.**
**Revelation 14:6-Revelation 14:13.** **NCB:**
**The Nearness of the Judgment.**
**6** Then I saw another angel flying in midair, with an eternal gospel to proclaim to all those who live on the earth, to every nation, race, language, and people. **7** He said in a loud voice, “Fear God and give him glory, for the time has come for his judgment. Worship him who made heaven and earth, the sea and the springs of water.”

**8** A second angel followed him, saying:

“Fallen, fallen is Babylon the great.

 She has made all the nations drink

 the wine of the wrath of her immorality.”

**9** A third angel followed them, crying out in a loud voice, “Anyone who worships the beast or its image and receives its mark on his forehead or hand **10** will also drink the wine of God’s wrath, poured undiluted into the cup of his wrath. Such people will be tormented in burning sulfur in the presence of the holy angels and of the Lamb. **11** The smoke of their torment will rise forever and ever. There will be no respite day or night for those who worship the beast or its image or for those who receive the mark of its name.”

**12** This demands patient endurance on the part of the saints who keep the commandments of God and remain faithful to Jesus.

**13** Then I heard a voice from heaven say, “Write: Blessed are those who die in the Lord from now on.”

“Yes,” says the Spirit, “they will find rest from their labors, for their deeds go with them.”
**Revelation 19:17:**
**Ezekiel 39:2,** **And** **Ezekiel 39:17-Ezekiel 39:20.**
**Ezekiel 39:2.** **NCB:**
**2** I will turn you around and drive you forward. I will lead you from the most remote recesses of the north and bring you to the mountains of Israel.

**Ezekiel 39:17-Ezekiel 39:20.** **NCB:**
**17** As for you, son of man, the Lord God says this: Say to the wild birds of every kind and to all the wild animals: Assemble and come together. Gather from all sides for the sacrificial feast I am preparing for you, a magnificent sacrificial feast on the mountains of Israel. **18** You will consume the flesh of the mighty, and you will drink the blood of the princes of the earth—of rams, lambs, goats, and bulls, all of them fatlings of Bashan.

**19** At the sacrificial feast I am preparing for you, you will eat fat until you are filled and drink blood until you are drunk. **20** At my table you will be filled with horses and riders, with warriors and soldiers of every kind, says the Lord God.
**Revelation 19:19:**
**Revelation 14:14-Revelation 14:20.**
**Revelation 14:14-Revelation 14:20.** **NCB:**
**14**
**One Like a Son of Man.**

Now in my vision, I saw a white cloud, and seated on the cloud was one “like a son of man,” with a gold crown on his head and a sharp sickle in his hand. **15** Another angel then came out of the temple and called out in a loud voice to the one seated on the cloud, “Use your sickle and reap, for the time to reap has come, because the harvest of the earth is fully ripe.” **16** So the one who was seated on the cloud swept over the earth with his sickle, and the earth was harvested.

**17** Another angel came out of the temple in heaven, and he, too, had a sharp sickle. **18** Then from the altar came forth still another angel who was in charge of the fire, and he cried out in a loud voice to the one who had the sharp sickle, “Take your sharp sickle and gather the clusters from the vines of the earth, for her grapes are ripe.”

**19** So the angel swung his sickle over the earth and gathered in its vintage, which he then cast into the great winepress of God’s wrath. **20** The winepress was trodden outside the city, and blood flowed from the winepress to the height of a horse’s bridle for a distance of two hundred miles.
**Revelation 19:19:**
**Revelation 13.**
**Revelation 13.** **NCB:**
**Chapter 13**
**1** Then I saw a beast rising out of the sea. It had ten horns and seven heads. On its horns were ten diadems, and on its heads were blasphemous names. **2** The beast that I saw resembled a leopard, but it had feet like those of a bear, and its mouth was like the mouth of a lion. The dragon conferred on the beast his own power and his throne, as well as great authority.

**3** One of his heads appeared to me to have been mortally wounded, but its mortal wound had been healed. The whole world then became fascinated with the beast, **4** and they worshiped the dragon because he had conferred authority on the beast. They also worshiped the beast, saying, “Who can compare with the beast? Who can fight against it?”

**5** It was allowed to mouth its haughty and blasphemous words, and it was granted permission to exercise its authority for forty-two months. **6** It opened its mouth to utter blasphemies against God, as well as against his name and his dwelling and all those who live in heaven.

**7** The beast was also allowed to wage war on the saints and conquer them, and it was given authority over every tribe, people, language, and nation. **8** All the inhabitants of the earth will worship it, all those whose names have not been written from the creation of the world in the book of life belonging to the Lamb who was slain.

**9** Whoever has ears should listen to these words:

**10** “If anyone is to go into captivity,

 into captivity he will go.

If anyone is destined to be slain by the sword,

 by the sword he must be slain.”

This demands patient endurance and faithfulness on the part of the saints.

**11**
**A Beast Rises from the Earth.**

Then I saw another beast, this one rising up out of the earth. It had two horns like those of a lamb, but it spoke like a dragon. **12** It wielded all the authority of the first beast on its behalf, and it forced the earth and all its inhabitants to worship the first beast, whose mortal wound had been healed. **13** It performed great signs, even making fire come down from heaven to earth in the sight of all.

**14** By the signs it was allowed to perform on behalf of the beast, it deceived the inhabitants of the earth, persuading them to erect an image for the beast that had been wounded by the sword and yet lived. **15** It was permitted to give life to the beast’s image so that it could even speak and cause all those to be put to death who would not worship the image of the beast.

**16** It also forced all the people, both small and great, both rich and poor, both free and slave, to be branded on the right hand or on the forehead. **17** No one could buy or sell anything except one who has been branded with the name of the beast or with the number of its name.

**18** There is wisdom here. Let anyone who has understanding calculate the number of the beast, for it is the number of a person. The number is six hundred and sixty-six.
**Revelation 9:2.**
**Revelation 9:2.** **NCB:**
**2** When he unlocked the shaft of the abyss, smoke rose up from the abyss like smoke from a huge furnace, so that the sun and the sky were darkened by the smoke from the abyss.
**Revelation 20:4:**
**Ezekiel 36-Ezekiel 39.**
**Ezekiel 36-Ezekiel 39.** **NCB:**

The Verses or Chapters cited would be too long to include in full. To see them in full, please refer to The Book of Ezekiel, specifically The Book of Ezekiel: Chapter 36, The Book of Ezekiel: Chapter 37, The Book of Ezekiel: Chapter 38, And The Book of Ezekiel: Chapter 39.
**Revelation 20:4:**
**2 Thessalonians 2.**
**2 Thessalonians 2.** **NCB:**
**The Day of the Lord**
**Chapter 2**
**Has the Day of the Lord Already Come?**
**1** As to the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ and our being gathered to him, we beg you, brethren: **2** do not become too easily thrown into confusion or alarmed, either by something spiritual or by a statement or by a letter claiming to come from us, alleging that the Day of the Lord is already here. **3** Let no one deceive you in any way.

**The Adversary and the Obstacle.**

That Day cannot come before the final rebellion occurs and the lawless one is revealed, the son of destruction. **4** He is the adversary who sets himself in opposition to, and exalts himself above, every so-called god or object of worship, and who even seats himself in the temple of God, declaring himself to be God.

**5** Do you not remember that I told you these things when I was still with you? **6** And you also know what is now restraining him, so that he may not be revealed before his time comes. **7** For the mystery of lawlessness is already at work, but the one who restrains it will continue to do so until he is removed.

**The Two Comings.**
**8** Then the lawless one will be revealed, and the Lord Jesus will slay him by the breath of his mouth and destroy him by the splendor of his coming.

**9** His coming will be the work of Satan made manifest in all power and signs and wonders of falsehood, **10** and in every wicked deception designed for those who are perishing because they refused to accept the love of the truth and thereby gain salvation.

**11** For this reason, God imposes on them a powerful delusion. They believe what is false, **12** so that all who have not believed the truth but instead have taken pleasure in wickedness will be condemned.

**Never Weary of Doing Good**
**13**
**Call To Remain Steadfast.**

However, we must always give thanks to God for you, brethren beloved by the Lord, because God chose you from the beginning to be saved through sanctification by the Spirit and through belief in the truth. **14** It was for this purpose that he called you through our gospel so that you might come to share in the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ.

**15** Therefore, stand firm, brethren, and hold fast to the traditions that you have been taught, whether by word of mouth or by a letter of ours. **16** And may our Lord Jesus Christ himself and God our Father, who loved us and through his grace gave us unending encouragement and a sure hope, **17** comfort your hearts and strengthen you in every good deed and word.
**Revelation 20:4:**
**Genesis 3:15.**
**Genesis 3:15.** **NCB:**
**15** I will establish hostility

 between you and the woman,

 between your line and her line.

Her offspring will crush your head

 and you will bruise his heel.”
**Revelation 20:4:**
**Revelation 20:11-Revelation 20:13.**
**Revelation 20:11-Revelation 20:13.** **NCB:**
**11**
**Preparation for the Judgment.**

Then I saw a great white throne, and the one who was seated upon it. The earth and the sky fled so far from his presence that they could no longer be found.

**12**
**The Resurrection and Judgment.**

And I saw the dead, great and small, standing before the throne, and the scrolls were opened. Then another scroll was opened, the book of life, and the dead were judged according to their deeds, as were recorded in the scrolls.

**13** The sea gave up all the dead who were in it, and Death and Hades gave up the dead that were in them. The dead were judged according to their deeds.
**Revelation 20:4:**
**Psalms 90:4.**
**Psalms 90:4.** **NCB:**
**4** For to you a thousand years

 are like a yesterday that has passed

 or one of the watches of the night.
**Revelation 20:6:**
**Revelation 1:3.**
**Revelation 1:3.** **NCB:**
**3** Blessed is the one who reads the words of this prophecy, and blessed are those who keep what is written in it, for the appointed time is near.
**Revelation 20:12:**
**Daniel 12:1-Daniel 12:7.**
**Daniel 12:1-Daniel 12:7.** **NCB:**
**Chapter 12**
**1** “At that time there shall arise

 Michael, the great prince,

 the guardian of your people.

Then there will be a period

 that will be unsurpassed in distress

 since nations first came into existence.

At that time your own people will be spared,

 everyone whose names are found written in the book.

**2** “Many of those shall awake

 who sleep in the dust of the earth.

Some shall gain everlasting life;

 others will earn shame and everlasting disgrace.

**3** However, the wise will shine

 like the brightness of the heavens,

and those who lead many to righteousness

 will be as bright as the stars forever and ever.

**4** As for you, Daniel,

 keep these words secret,

 and seal the book until the time of the end.

Many shall fall away,

 and evils shall increase.”

**Daniel’s Final Revelation.**
**5** I, Daniel, then looked and saw two others standing, one on the bank of the river and one on the opposite bank. **6** One of them said to the man clothed in linen, who was upstream, “How long shall it be until these incredible events take place?”

**7** The man robed in linen who was upstream raised both his right hand and his left hand toward heaven, and I heard him swear by him who lives forever, “It will be for a year, for two years, and half a year, and then all these things will cease when the power of the destroyer of the holy people will come to an end.”
**Revelation 20:12:**
**Matthew 25:31-Matthew 25:36.**
**Matthew 25:31-Matthew 25:36.** **NCB:**
**31**
**The Solemn Judgment at the End of Time.**

“When the Son of Man comes in his glory, and all the angels with him, then he will sit on the throne of his glory. **32** All the nations will be gathered before him, and he will separate people one from another as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats. **33** He will place the sheep on his right and the goats on his left.

**34** “Then the King will say to those on his right, ‘Come, you who are blessed by my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world. **35** For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat; I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink; I was a stranger and you welcomed me; **36** I was naked and you clothed me; I was ill and you took care of me; I was in prison and you came to visit me.’
**Revelation 20:12:**
**Psalms 62:12,** **Jeremiah 17:10,** **Romans 2:6,** **And** **1 Peter 1:17.**
**Psalms 62:12.** **NCB:**
**12** One thing God has revealed;

 two things have I heard:

that power belongs to you, O God,

**Jeremiah 17:10.** **NCB:**
**10** I, the Lord, search the heart

 and probe the mind

to reward all according to their conduct

 and as their deeds deserve.

**Romans 2:6.** **NCB:**
**6** For God will repay everyone in accordance with what his deeds deserve.

**1 Peter 1:17.** **NCB:**
**17** If you address as Father the one who judges everyone impartially on the basis of each person’s deeds, live in reverent fear during the time of your exile here.
**Revelation 20:12:**
**Daniel 7:10.**
**Daniel 7:10.** **NCB:**
**10** A stream of fire surged forth

 and flowed out from his presence.

Thousands upon thousands served him,

 and myriads upon myriads stood before him.

The court was in session,

 and the books lay open.
**Revelation 20:12:**
**Revelation 13:8,** **And** **Revelation 17:8.**
**Revelation 13:8.** **NCB:**
**8** All the inhabitants of the earth will worship it, all those whose names have not been written from the creation of the world in the book of life belonging to the Lamb who was slain.

**Revelation 17:8.** **NCB:**
**8** The beast that you saw was once alive but is now alive no longer. It is about to ascend from the abyss and go to its destruction. All the inhabitants of the earth whose names have not been written in the book of life since the foundation of the world will be astonished when they see the beast, because it was once alive but is now alive no longer, and yet it is still to come.
**Revelation 20:12:**
**Revelation 20:14.**
**Revelation 20:14.** **NCB:**
**14** Then Death and Hades were hurled into the fiery lake. This fiery lake is the second death.
**Revelation 20:14:**
**Revelation 2:11,** **Revelation 20:6,** **And** **Revelation 21:8.**
**Revelation 2:11.** **NCB:**
**11** “ ‘ “Whoever has ears should listen to what the Spirit says to the Churches. Anyone who is victorious will not be harmed by the second death.” ’

**Revelation 20:6.** **NCB:**
**6** Blessed and holy are those who share in the first resurrection. The second death has no power over them. They will be priests of God and of Christ, and they will reign with him for a thousand years.

**Revelation 21:8.** **NCB:**
**8** But as for the cowardly, the faithless, the depraved, the murderers, the sexually immoral, the sorcerers, the idolaters, and liars of every kind, their place is the fiery lake of burning sulfur, which is the second death.”
**Revelation 21:1:**
**Revelation 21:1.**
**Revelation 21:1.** **NCB:**
**The New Jerusalem A New World and a New People**
**Chapter 21**
**The New Heaven and the New Earth.**
**1** Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth. For the first heaven and the first earth had passed away, and there was no longer any sea.
**Revelation 21:1:**
**Revelation 22:2.**
**Revelation 22:2.** **NCB:**
**2** down the middle of the street. On either side of the river was the tree of life with its twelve crops of fruit, yielding fruit each month. The leaves of the trees are for the healing of the nations.
**Revelation 21:1:**
**Isaiah 54:5,** **Isaiah 62:4,** **Matthew 9:15,** **John 3:29,** **2 Corinthians 11:2,** **And** **Revelation 19:1-Revelation 19:10.**
**Isaiah 54:5.** **NCB:**
**5** For your Creator has now become your husband;

 his name is the Lord of hosts.

The Holy One of Israel is your redeemer;

 he is called the God of the entire world.

**Isaiah 62:4.** **NCB:**
**4** No longer will you be called “Forsaken,”

 nor will your land be known by the name “Desolate.”

Rather you will be called “My Delight Is in Her,”

 and your land will be known as “Married.”

For the Lord will take delight in you,

 and your land will be his spouse.

**Matthew 9:15.** **NCB:**
**15** Jesus answered, “How can the wedding guests mourn while the bridegroom is still with them? But the time will come when the bridegroom is taken away from them, and then they will fast.

**John 3:29.** **NCB:**
**29** “It is the bridegroom who has the bride,

but the friend of the bridegroom

who stands by and listens for him

rejoices greatly when he hears the bridegroom’s voice.

This joy of mine

is complete.

**2 Corinthians 11:2.** **NCB:**
**2** For I am jealous of you with a godly jealousy, since I promised all of you to one spouse, to present you as a chaste virgin to Christ.

**Revelation 19:1-Revelation 19:10.** **NCB:**
**Chapter 19**
**Song of Victory and Wedding Day of the Lamb.**
**1** After this I heard what sounded like the roar of a great multitude in heaven, shouting:

“Alleluia!

Salvation and glory and power belong to our God,

**2** for true and just are his judgments.

He has condemned the great harlot

 who corrupted the earth with her harlotry.

And he has paid her back

 for the blood of his servants.”

**3** Once again they shouted:

“Alleluia!

Her smoke will rise

 forever and ever.”

**4** The twenty-four elders and the four living creatures threw themselves to the ground and worshiped God who was seated on the throne, and they cried:

“Amen. Alleluia!”

**5** Then a voice came from the throne, saying:

“Praise our God,

 all you his servants,

and all who fear him,

 small and great alike.”

**6** And I heard what seemed to be the sound of a vast multitude, like the sound of a torrential stream or of great peals of thunder, crying out:

“Alleluia.

The reign of the Lord our God,

 the Almighty, has begun.

**7** Let us rejoice and be glad

 and give him glory.

For the wedding day of the Lamb has come,

 and the bride has made herself ready.

**8** She has been permitted to wear

 a bright and clean garment of fine linen.”

(The fine linen represents the righteous deeds of the saints.)

**9** Then the angel said to me, “Write: ‘Blessed are those who are invited to the wedding banquet of the Lamb.’ ” And he added, “These are the true words of God.”

**10** I fell at his feet to worship him, but he said to me, “You must not do that! I am a fellow servant with you and with your brethren who have given witness to Jesus. Worship God! For the witness to Jesus is the spirit of prophecy.
**Revelation 21:1:**
**Ezekiel 40–Ezekiel 48,** **Isaiah 65–Isaiah 66,** **And** **Zechariah 14.**
**Ezekiel 40–Ezekiel 48.** **NCB:**

The Verses or Chapters cited would be too long to include in full. To see them in full, please refer to The Book of Ezekiel, specifically The Book of Ezekiel: Chapter 40, The Book of Ezekiel: Chapter 41, The Book of Ezekiel: Chapter 42, The Book of Ezekiel: Chapter 43, The Book of Ezekiel: Chapter 44, The Book of Ezekiel: Chapter 45, The Book of Ezekiel: Chapter 46, The Book of Ezekiel: Chapter 47, And The Book of Ezekiel: Chapter 48.

**Isaiah 65–Isaiah 66.** **NCB:**

The Verses or Chapters cited would be too long to include in full. To see them in full, please refer to The Book of Isaiah, specifically The Book of Isaiah: Chapter 65, And The Book of Isaiah: Chapter 66,

**Zechariah 14.** **NCB:**

The Verses or Chapters cited would be too long to include in full. To see them in full, please refer to The Book of Zechariah, specifically The Book of Zechariah: Chapter 14,
**Revelation 21:1:**
**Psalms 87,** **Psalms 122,** **Psalms 137,** **And** **Isaiah 33:17-Isaiah 33:23.**
**Psalms 87.** **NCB:**
**Psalm 87**
**Zion, Home of All Nations**
**1** A psalm of the sons of Korah. A song.

The Lord has founded a city

 on the holy mountains.

**2** He loves the gates of Zion

 more than any dwelling in Jacob.

**3** Glorious things are said of you,

 O city of God. *Selah*
**4** “I number Rahab and Babylon

 among those who acknowledge the Lord,

as well as Philistia, Tyre, and Ethiopia;

 concerning them it can be said,

 ‘This one was born there.’ ” *Selah*
**5** However, of Zion it will be said,

 “They were all born there,

 for the Most High himself establishes her.”

**6** The Lord records in the register of the peoples,

 “This one was born there.” *Selah*
**7** And as they play, they all sing,

 “In you are all my fountains.”

**Psalms 122.** **NCB:**
**Psalm 122**
**The Pilgrim’s Greeting to the Holy City**
**1** A song of ascents. Of David.

I rejoiced when they said to me,

 “Let us go to the house of the Lord.”

**2** And finally our feet are standing

 at your gates, O Jerusalem.

**3** Jerusalem is built as a city

 that is firmly bound together in unity.

**4** There the tribes go up,

 the tribes of the Lord,

as it was decreed for Israel

 to celebrate the name of the Lord.

**5** For there the thrones of judgment were established,

 the thrones of the house of David.

**6** Pray for the peace of Jerusalem:

 “May those who love you rest secure.

**7** May there be peace within your walls

 and security in your palaces.”

**8** Out of love for my relatives and friends,

 I will say, “May peace be within you.”

**9** Out of love for the house of the Lord, our God,

 I will pray for your well-being.

**Psalms 137.** **NCB:**
**Psalm 137**
**The Exiles’ Remembrance of Zion**
**1** By the rivers of Babylon

 we sat down and wept

 when we remembered Zion.

**2** There on the poplars

 we hung up our harps.

**3** For it was there that our captors

 asked us to sing them a song,

and, tormenting us, demanded a joyful song:

 “Sing us one of the songs of Zion.”

**4** But how could we sing songs of the Lord

 while living in a foreign land?

**5** If I forget you, O Jerusalem,

 may my right hand fail me.

**6** May my tongue stick to the roof of my mouth

 if I do not remember you,

if I do not regard Jerusalem

 as the greatest of my joys.

**7** Remember, O Lord, the cruelty of the Edomites

 on the day when Jerusalem fell,

how they shouted, “Tear it down!

 Tear it down to its very foundations!”

**8** O Daughter of Babylon, you destroyer,

 happy will he be who repays you

 for the suffering you inflicted upon us!

**9** Happy will he be who seizes your babies

 and smashes them against a rock!

**Isaiah 33:17-Isaiah 33:23.** **NCB:**
**Peace and Prosperity in Zion**
**17** Your eyes will behold the king in his splendor

 and gaze upon a land that stretches far and wide.

**18** Your mind will then meditate on the terror.

 “Where is the man who did the counting?

Where is the man who weighed the tribute?

 Where is the man who counted the towers?”

**19** No longer will you encounter the insolent people,

 those who employ an obscure speech

 that you cannot understand

and who stammer in a language

 that you are unable to comprehend.

**20** Gaze upon Zion,

 the city of our sacred feasts.

Your eyes will behold Jerusalem as a quiet abode,

 as a tent that will not be moved,

whose stakes will never be pulled up

 and none of whose ropes will be broken.

**21** There we will behold the Lord in all his majesty,

 in a place of rivers and broad streams,

upon which no enemy galleys with oars can go

 or a majestic ship can sail.

**22** For the Lord is our judge,

 the Lord is our lawgiver.

The Lord is our king;

 he is the one who will save us.

**23** If the rigging of an enemy ship is loose,

 unable to hold the mast in place

 or to keep the sails spread out,

then abundant spoils will be divided;

 even the lame will carry off the plunder.
**Revelation 21:1:**
**Revelation 21:15-Revelation 21:21.**
**Revelation 21:15-Revelation 21:21.** **NCB:**
**15** The angel who was speaking to me was carrying a gold measuring rod to measure the city, its gates, and its wall. **16** The city was laid out like a square, with its length and its width identical. He measured the city with his measuring rod: it was fifteen hundred miles in length and width, and equal in height.

**17** Then he measured its wall, and it was one hundred and forty-four cubits high by human measurements, which the angel employed. **18** The wall was built of jasper, while the city itself was of pure gold, as bright as clear glass.

**19** The foundations of the city wall were adorned with precious stones of every kind. The first of the foundation stones was jasper, the second sapphire, the third turquoise, the fourth emerald, **20** the fifth onyx, the sixth carnelian, the seventh chrysolite, the eighth beryl, the ninth topaz, the tenth chrysoprase, the eleventh jacinth, and the twelfth amethyst. **21** The twelve gates were twelve pearls, each of the gates fashioned from a single pearl, and the street of the city was pure gold, like transparent glass.
**Revelation 21:1:**
**Hebrews 9:11,** **And** **John 2:21.**
**Hebrews 9:11.** **NCB:**
**11**
**Christ Has Come.**

But now Christ has arrived as the high priest of the good things that have come. He has passed through the greater and more perfect tabernacle not made by human hands, that is, not a part of this creation,

**John 2:21.** **NCB:**
**21** But the temple he was talking about was the temple of his body.
**Revelation 21:3:**
**Matthew 1:23.**
**Matthew 1:23.** **NCB:**
**23** “Behold, the virgin shall conceive and give birth to a son,

 and they shall name him Emmanuel,”

a name that means “God is with us.”
**Revelation 21:3:**
**Isaiah 12:6,** **Joel 4:17,** **Joel 4:21,** **Zephaniah 3:15-Zephaniah 3:17,** **And** **Zechariah 2:14.**
**Isaiah 12:6.** **NCB:**
**6** Cry out and shout for joy,

 all of you who dwell on Zion,

for great in your midst

 is the Holy One of Israel.

**Joel 4:17.** **NCB:**
**17** Then you will know

 that I, the Lord, am your God,

 dwelling on Zion, my holy mountain.

Then Jerusalem will be holy,

 and foreigners shall never again pass through it.

**Joel 4:21.** **NCB:**
**21** I will avenge their blood

 and not allow it to go unpunished.

 The Lord dwells in Zion.

**Zephaniah 3:15-Zephaniah 3:17.** **NCB:**
**15** The Lord has canceled the punishments against you;

 he has turned away your enemies.

The king of Israel, the Lord, is in your midst;

 you need never again fear any harm.

**16** On that day it will be said to Jerusalem:

 Fear not, O Zion;

 do not let your hands grow weak.

**17** The Lord, your God, is in your midst,

 a warrior and a savior.

He will rejoice over you with gladness

 and renew you through his love.

He will exult over you with shouts of joy

**Zechariah 2:14.** **NCB:**
**14** Sing and rejoice, O daughter Zion.

 For I am coming to dwell in your midst,

 says the Lord.
**Revelation 21:6:**
**Revelation 1:4-Revelation 1:8.**
**Revelation 1:4-Revelation 1:8.** **NCB:**
**He Is, He Was, and He Will Return.**
**4** John, to the seven Churches in Asia: grace to you and peace from him who is, who was, and who is to come, and from the seven spirits before his throne, **5** and from Jesus Christ, the faithful witness, the firstborn from the dead and the ruler of the kings of the earth. He loves us and has washed away our sins with his blood **6** and made us to be a kingdom and priests to serve his God and Father—to him be glory and power forever and ever. Amen.

**7** Behold, he is coming with the clouds;

 every eye will see him,

 even those who pierced him.

All the peoples of the earth will mourn him.

 So shall it be. Amen.

**8** “I am the Alpha and the Omega,” says the Lord God, “the one who is, and who was, and who is to come, the Almighty.”
**Revelation 21:6:**
**Revelation 7:17.**
**Revelation 7:17.** **NCB:**
**17** For the Lamb who is at the center of the throne

 will be their shepherd.

He will guide them to springs of living water,

 and God will wipe away every tear from their eyes.”
**Revelation 21:7:**
**2 Samuel 7:14.**
**2 Samuel 7:14.** **NCB:**
**14** “ ‘ “I shall be a father to him, and he will be my son. If he does wrong, I shall punish him as any father would do and not fail to inflict chastisements upon him.
**Revelation 21:8:**
**Revelation 20:6.**
**Revelation 20:6.** **NCB:**
**6** Blessed and holy are those who share in the first resurrection. The second death has no power over them. They will be priests of God and of Christ, and they will reign with him for a thousand years.
**Revelation 21:10:**
**Revelation 1:10.**
**Revelation 1:10.** **NCB:**
**10** On the Lord’s day, I was caught up in the spirit, and I heard behind me a loud voice, like the sound of a trumpet,
**Revelation 21:12:**
**Ezekiel 48:30-Ezekiel 48:35.**
**Ezekiel 48:30-Ezekiel 48:35.** **NCB:**
**30**
**The City Gates.**

These are the exits from the city, the gates of which are named after the tribes of Israel.

On the north side, which will measure four thousand five hundred cubits in length, **31** there will be three gates: the gate of Reuben, the gate of Judah, and the gate of Levi.

**32** On the east side, which will measure four thousand five hundred cubits in length, there will be three gates: the gate of Joseph, the gate of Benjamin, and the gate of Dan.

**33** On the south side, which will measure four thousand five hundred cubits in length, there will be three gates: the gate of Simeon, the gate of Issachar, and the gate of Zebulun.

**34** On the west side, which will measure four thousand five hundred cubits in length, there will be three gates: the gate of Gad, the gate of Asher, and the gate of Naphtali.

**35** The perimeter of the city will measure eighteen thousand cubits. And the name of the city from that time on will be: “The Lord Is There.”
**Revelation 21:12:**
**Revelation 21:14.**
**Revelation 21:14.** **NCB:**
**14** The city wall had twelve foundation stones, and on them were the names of the twelve apostles of the Lamb.
**Revelation 21:5:**
**Ezekiel 40–Ezekiel 41.**
**Ezekiel 40–Ezekiel 41.** **NCB:**

The Verses or Chapters cited would be too long to include in full. To see them in full, please refer to The Book of Ezekiel, specifically The Book of Ezekiel: Chapter 40, The Book of Ezekiel: Chapter 41.
**Revelation 21:5:**
**Chapter 11**
**The Two Witnesses and the Fate of Jerusalem.**
**1** I was next given a staff to use as a measuring rod, and I was told, “Go forth and measure the temple of God and the altar, and count the people who are worshiping there. **2** However, exclude the outer court of the temple from your measurements, because it has been handed over to the Gentiles and they will trample on the holy city for forty-two months. **3** I will grant my two witnesses authority to prophesy for those twelve hundred and sixty days, wearing sackcloth.”

**4** These are the two olive trees and the two lampstands that stand in the presence of the Lord of the earth. **5** If anyone tries to harm them, fire pours forth from their mouths and consumes their enemies. Anyone who attempts to harm them will surely be killed in this manner. **6** They have the power to shut up the sky so that it does not rain during the time they are prophesying. They also have the power to turn water into blood and to afflict the earth with every type of plague as often as they desire.

**7** When they have completed their testimony, the beast that comes up from the abyss will wage war against them and overpower and kill them. **8** Their corpses will lie in the street of the great city, known by the symbolic names of Sodom and Egypt, where their Lord was crucified.

**9** People of every race, tribe, nation, and language will gaze at their corpses for three and a half days and refuse to allow them to be buried. **10** The inhabitants of the earth will gloat over them as they celebrate and exchange gifts, because these two prophets had been a source of torment to them.

**11** However, after the three and a half days, the breath of life from God entered them, and when they rose to their feet, great terror filled those who saw them. **12** Then I heard a loud voice from heaven say to them, “Come up here,” and while their enemies were watching, they went up to heaven in a cloud.

**13** At that very hour there was a violent earthquake, and a tenth of the city was destroyed. Seven thousand people were killed during the earthquake. Those who survived were overcome with fear and gave glory to the God of heaven.

**14** The second woe has passed, but the third will come quickly.

**15**
**The Seventh Trumpet: the Third Woe.**

The seventh angel blew his trumpet, and voices in heaven were heard crying loudly:

“The kingdom of the world belongs

 to our Lord and his Messiah,

 and he will reign forever and ever.”

**16** Then the twenty-four elders who sit on their thrones in the presence of God prostrated themselves and worshiped God, 17 saying:

“We give you thanks, Lord God Almighty,

 who are and who were.

For you have taken your great power

 and have begun to reign.

**18** The nations rose in rage,

 but now your wrath has come.

It is the time for judging the dead

 and for rewarding your servants the Prophets,

as well as the saints who revere your name,

 both small and great,

and for destroying those who destroy the earth.”

**19** Then God’s temple in heaven was opened, and the ark of his covenant was seen within his temple. There followed flashes of lightning, rumblings, peals of thunder, an earthquake, and a violent hailstorm.
**Revelation 21:16:**
**1 Kings 6:20.**
**1 Kings 6:20.** **NCB:**
**20** The inner sanctuary was twenty cubits long, twenty cubits wide, and twenty cubits high. It was covered in pure gold, as was also the cedar altar.
**Revelation 21:18:**
**Exodus 28:39.**
**Exodus 28:39.** **NCB:**
**39** “Weave the checkered tunic of fine linen and make a turban of fine linen and a sash embroidered with needlework.
**Revelation 21:24:**
**Isaiah 60:1-Isaiah 60:20.**
**Isaiah 60:1-Isaiah 60:20.** **NCB:**

Chapter 60

Zion’s Glory Dawns

1 Arise and shine forth, for your light has come

 and the glory of the Lord has dawned upon you.

2 Even though darkness covers the earth

 and thick darkness enshrouds the peoples,

upon you the Lord will shine,

 and over you his glory will appear.

3 Nations will be guided by your light

 and kings by the brightness of your radiance.

4 Raise your eyes and look around;

 they are all assembling and returning to you.

Your sons are coming from far away,

 and your daughters will be carried

 in the arms of their nurses.

5 Then you will be radiant at what you behold,

 and your hearts will throb and rejoice.

For the riches of the sea will be brought to you,

 and the wealth of the nations will come to you.

6 Droves of camels will cover your land,

 the young camels from Midian and Ephah;

all from Sheba will come,

 laden with gold and frankincense,

 while the people proclaim the praises of the Lord.

7 All the flocks of Kedar will be gathered to you;

 the rams of Nebaioth will serve your needs.

They will be acceptable offerings on my altar,

 and I will enhance the splendor of my house.

8 Who are these that fly along like clouds

 and like doves to their dovecotes?

9 All the vessels are assembled

 from the seacoasts and the islands,

 with the ships of Tarshish in the lead;

they are bringing your children from far away,

 along with their silver and gold,

to pay honor to the name of the Lord, your God,

 the Holy One of Israel,

 for he has glorified you.

10 Foreigners will rebuild your walls,

 and their kings will be your servants.

Although I struck you down in my wrath,

 now in my mercy I will show you my favor.

11 Your gates will always be open;

 day and night they will never be shut,

so that the wealth of the nations may be brought to you,

 led by their kings in triumphal procession.

12 For the nation or the kingdom that refuses to serve you

 will be totally destroyed

 and suffer widespread devastation.

13 The glory of Lebanon will come to you,

 the cypress, the plane tree, and the pine,

 one and all,

to adorn my holy sanctuary

 and to honor the place where I stand.

14 The sons of those who oppressed you

 will come forward and bend low before you,

and all those who despised you

 will bow down at your feet;

they will call you “City of the Lord,”

 “Zion of the Holy One of Israel.”

15 Whereas you have been forsaken and hated,

 with no one traveling through you,

I will make you an object of everlasting pride

 and a source of never-ending joy.

16 You will suck the milk of nations

 and be nursed at royal breasts.

Then you will know

 that I, the Lord, am your Savior

 and your Redeemer, the Holy One of Israel.

17 Instead of bronze I will bring you gold,

 instead of iron I will bring you silver;

instead of wood, bronze,

 and instead of stone, iron.

I will ensure that you will be governed in peace

 and be ruled with righteousness.

18 No longer will violence appear in your land,

 nor will devastation and ruin occur within your borders.

You will call your walls “Salvation”

 and your gates “Praise.”

19 The sun will no longer serve

 as the source of your light by day,

nor will the brightness of the moon

 afford light to you during the night.

Rather, the Lord will be your everlasting light,

 and your God will be your splendor.

20 Never again will your sun go down,

 nor will your moon withdraw its light.

For the Lord will be your everlasting light,

 and your days of mourning will be ended.
**Revelation 21:27:**
**Revelation 3:5,** **And** **Revelation 20:12-Revelation 20:15.**
**Revelation 3:5.** **NCB:**
**5** Anyone who is victorious will be dressed like these in white robes, and I shall not blot his name from the book of life. Rather, I shall acknowledge it in the presence of my Father and his angels.

**Revelation 20:12-Revelation 20:15.** **NCB:**
**12**
**The Resurrection and Judgment.**

And I saw the dead, great and small, standing before the throne, and the scrolls were opened. Then another scroll was opened, the book of life, and the dead were judged according to their deeds, as were recorded in the scrolls.

**13** The sea gave up all the dead who were in it, and Death and Hades gave up the dead that were in them. The dead were judged according to their deeds. **14** Then Death and Hades were hurled into the fiery lake. This fiery lake is the second death. **15** Anyone who was not found written in the book of life was thrown into the fiery lake.
**Revelation 22:1:**
**John 7:37-John 7:39.**
**John 7:37-John 7:39.** **NCB:**
**37**
**Streams of Living Water.**

On the last and greatest day of the feast, Jesus stood up and cried out,

“If anyone is thirsty,

let him come to me and drink.

**38** Whoever believes in me,

as Scripture has said,

‘Streams of living water

shall flow from within him.’ ”

**39** Now he was referring here to the Spirit whom those who believed in him were to receive. As yet the Spirit had not been bestowed because Jesus had not yet been glorified.
**Revelation 22:1:**
**Revelation 7:17.**
**Revelation 7:17.** **NCB:**
**17** For the Lamb who is at the center of the throne

 will be their shepherd.

He will guide them to springs of living water,

 and God will wipe away every tear from their eyes.”
**Revelation 22:2:**
**Genesis 2:9,** **Genesis 3:22,** **And** **Ezekiel 47:12.**
**Genesis 2:9.** **NCB:**
**9** The Lord God made all sorts of beautiful and nourishing trees sprout out of the earth, among which was the tree of life in the middle of the garden and the tree of the knowledge of good and evil.

**Genesis 3:22.** **NCB:**
**22** The Lord God said, “Behold, man has become like one of us, for he has knowledge of that which is good and that which is evil. Now, we must prevent him from reaching out and taking the fruit of the tree of life lest he eat it and live forever.”

**Ezekiel 47:12.** **NCB:**
**12** Along the river, on both banks, fruit trees of every kind will grow, with leaves that never wither and with fruit that never fails. They will bear fresh fruit every month, because they will be watered by the flow from the sanctuary. Their fruit will serve as food, and their leaves will serve for healing.”
**Revelation 22:4:**
**Exodus 33:20-Exodus 33:23.**
**Exodus 33:20-Exodus 33:23.** **NCB:**
**20** He continued, “But you cannot see my face, for no one can see my face and live.” **21** And the Lord continued, “There is a place near me. You will stand upon the rock. **22** When my glory passes by, I will place you in the cleft of the rock and cover you with my hand until I will have passed by. **23** Then I will take away my hand and you will see my back, but you cannot see my face.”
**Revelation 22:4:**
**Esther 7:8.**
**Esther 7:8.** **NCB:**
**8** So Haman threw himself upon the couch on which Esther was reclining. At that very moment the king was just returning from the palace garden to the banquet hall. The king exclaimed: “Will he also violate the queen while she is with me in my own house?”

The words were scarcely out of the king’s mouth when Haman’s face was covered.
**Revelation 22:4:**
**2 Samuel 14:24.**
**2 Samuel 14:24.** **NCB:**
**24** But the king said: “Let him go to his own house. He shall not come into my presence.” Therefore, Absalom went to his own house and was not received by the king.
**Revelation 22:4:**
**Matthew 5:8,** **John 1:18,** **1 Corinthians 13:12,** **1 Timothy 6:16,** **And** **1 John 3:2.**
**Matthew 5:8.** **NCB:**
**8** Blessed are the pure of heart, for they will see God.

**John 1:18.** **NCB:**
**18** No one has ever seen God.

It is the only Son, God,

who is at the Father’s side,

who has made him known.

**1 Corinthians 13:12.** **NCB:**
**12** At the present time we see indistinctly, as in a mirror;

then we shall see face to face.

My knowledge is only partial now;

then I shall know fully,

even as I am fully known.

**1 Timothy 6:16.** **NCB:**
**16** He alone is immortal and dwells in unapproachable light. No one has seen him or is able to do so. To him be honor and everlasting power. Amen.

**1 John 3:2.** **NCB:**
**2** Beloved,

we are God’s children now.

What we shall be

has not yet been revealed.

However, we do know that when he appears

we shall be like him,

for we shall see him as he really is.
**Revelation 22:5:**
**Revelation 5:10,** **Revelation 20:6,** **Daniel 7:18,** **And** **Daniel 7:27.**
**Revelation 5:10.** **NCB:**
**10** You have made them to be a kingdom and priests to serve our God,

 and they will reign on earth.”

**Revelation 20:6.** **NCB:**
**6** Blessed and holy are those who share in the first resurrection. The second death has no power over them. They will be priests of God and of Christ, and they will reign with him for a thousand years.

**Daniel 7:18.** **NCB:**
**18** But the holy ones of the Most High shall receive kingly power and possess it forever and ever.”

**Daniel 7:27.** **NCB:**
**27** Then kingship and dominion and the splendor

 of all the kingdoms under the heavens

 will be given to the holy people of the Most High,

whose kingdom will be everlasting,

 and all dominions will serve and obey him.”
**Revelation 22:6:**
**Revelation 22:6-Revelation 22:9,** **And** **Revelation 22:16.**
**Revelation 22:6-Revelation 22:9.** **NCB:**
**6:**
**Epilogue: My Return Is Near**
**Worship God Alone.**

The angel said to me, “These words are trustworthy and true, for the Lord God who inspires the prophets has sent his angel to show his servants what soon must take place.

**7** “ ‘Behold, I am coming soon!’ Blessed is the one who observes the words of prophecy contained in this book.”

**8** I, John, am the one who heard and saw these things. And when I had heard and seen them, I knelt at the feet of the angel who had shown them to me to worship him. **9** However, he said to me, “You must not do that. I am a fellow servant of you and of your brethren the prophets and of those who observe the words of this book. Worship God!”

**Revelation 22:16.** **NCB:**
**16**
**“Come, Lord Jesus!”“**

‘I, Jesus, sent my angel to you with this testimony for the churches. I am the Root and the Offspring of David, the bright Morning Star.’ ”
**Revelation 22:6:**
**Revelation 22:10-Revelation 22:15.**
**Revelation 22:10-Revelation 22:15.** **NCB:**
**10**
**The Great Separation.**

Then he said to me, “Do not seal up the words of prophecy that are in this book, for the time is near. **11** Let the wicked persist in acting wickedly, and let the vile continue in their vileness, but let the righteous persevere in righteousness, and let the holy continue to be holy.”

**12** “ ‘Behold, I am coming soon, and I will bring with me my reward to repay everyone as his deeds deserve. **13** I am the Alpha and the Omega, the First and the Last, the Beginning and the End.’

**14** “Blessed are those who wash their robes clean so that they will be free to eat from the tree of life and may enter the city by the gates. **15** Others must remain outside: the dogs, the sorcerers, the sexually immoral, the murderers, the idolaters, and everyone who loves and practices deceit.
**Revelation 22:6:**
**Revelation 22:18-Revelation 22:19.**
**Revelation 22:18-Revelation 22:19.** **NCB:**
**18** I warn everyone who hears the words of prophecy in this book: if anyone adds to them, God will add to him the plagues written about in this book; **19** if anyone takes away from the words in this book of prophecy, God will take away his share in the tree of life and in the holy city, which are written about in this book.
**Revelation 22:6:**
**Revelation 22:20:**
**Revelation 22:20:** **NCB:**
**20** The one who gives this testimony says, “Yes, I am coming soon.”

Amen. Come, Lord Jesus!
**Revelation 22:6:**
**Revelation 22:21:**
**Revelation 22:21:** **NCB:**
**21** The grace of the Lord Jesus be with you all.
**Revelation 22:7:**
**Revelation 1:3.**
**Revelation 1:3.** **NCB:**
**3** Blessed is the one who reads the words of this prophecy, and blessed are those who keep what is written in it, for the appointed time is near.
**Revelation 22:10:**
**Psalms 62:13.**
**Psalms 62:13.** **NCB:**
**13** and so does kindness, O Lord.

You reward each person

 in accordance with his deeds.
**Revelation 22:10:**
**Isaiah 40:10,** **Isaiah 41:4,** **And** **Isaiah 44:6.**
**Isaiah 40:10.** **NCB:**
**10** See the Lord God approaching with power,

 he who rules with his powerful arm.

His reward is with him

 and his recompense is before him.

**Isaiah 41:4.** **NCB:**
**4** Who has performed these deeds and accomplished this?

 Who has summoned the nations from the beginning?

I, the Lord, am the first,

 and I will be there with the last.

**Isaiah 44:6.** **NCB:**
**The One True God and False Gods**
**6** Thus says the Lord, the Lord Almighty,

 Israel’s king and redeemer:

I am the first and I am the last;

 there is no god but me.
**Revelation 22:14:**
**Revelation 1:3.**
**Revelation 1:3.** **NCB:**
**3** Blessed is the one who reads the words of this prophecy, and blessed are those who keep what is written in it, for the appointed time is near.
**Revelation 22:15:**
**Deuteronomy 23:18.**
**Deuteronomy 23:18.** **NCB:**
**18** No Israelite woman is to become a sacred prostitute, nor is an Israelite man to be a sacred prostitute.
**Revelation 22:15:**
**Isaiah 56:10.**
**Isaiah 56:10.** **NCB:**
**10** Israel’s watchmen are all blind;

 they perceive absolutely nothing.

They are all dumb watchdogs

 that are unable to bark,

dreaming as they lie there,

 loving the opportunity to sleep.
**Revelation 22:16:**
**Revelation 1:4.**
**Revelation 1:4.** **NCB:**
**He Is, He Was, and He Will Return.**
**4** John, to the seven Churches in Asia: grace to you and peace from him who is, who was, and who is to come, and from the seven spirits before his throne,
**Revelation 22:16:**
**Revelation 1:5.**
**Revelation 1:5.** **NCB:**
**5** and from Jesus Christ, the faithful witness, the firstborn from the dead and the ruler of the kings of the earth. He loves us and has washed away our sins with his blood
**Revelation 22:16:**
**Isaiah 11:1,** **Isaiah 11:10;** **And** **Romans 1:3.**
**Isaiah 11:1.** **NCB:**
**Chapter 11**
**A Reign of Justice and Peace**
**1** A shoot will spring forth from the stump of Jesse,

 and a branch will grow from his roots.

**Isaiah 11:10.** **NCB:**
**Ephraim and Judah United**
**10** On that day the root of Jesse

 will be established as a signal to the nations.

They will come forth to unite under him,

 and his dwelling will be glorious.

**Romans 1:3.** **NCB:**
**3** the gospel concerning his Son who according to the flesh was descended from David,
**Revelation 22:16:**
**Revelation 2:28.**
**Revelation 2:28.** **NCB:**
**28** And to such a person I will also give the morning star.
**Revelation 22:20:**
**1 Corinthians 16:22.**
**1 Corinthians 16:22.** **NCB:**
**22** If anyone does not love the Lord, let him be accursed. O Lord, come!

## OTHER BOOKS OF THE NEW CATHOLIC BIBLE TRANSLATION

 **THE BOOKS OF THE CATHOLIC BIBLE IN THE NEW CATHOLIC BIBLE TRANSLATION**

### Old Testament

#### Pentateuch/Torah:

1. The Book of Genesis
2. The Book of Exodus
3. The Book of Leviticus
4. The Book of Numbers
5. The Book of Deuteronomy

#### Historical Books:

1. The Book of Joshua
2. The Book of Judges
3. The Book of Ruth
4. The First Book of Samuel
5. The Second Book of Samuel
6. The First Book of Kings
7. The Second Book of Kings
8. The First Book of Chronicles
9. The Second Book of Chronicles
10. The Book of Ezra
11. The Book of Nehemiah
12. The Book of Tobit
13. The Book of Judith
14. The Book of Esther
15. The First Book of Maccabees
16. The Second Book of Maccabees

#### Poetic Books:

1. The Book of Job
2. The Book of Psalms
3. The Book of Proverbs
4. The Book of Ecclesiastes
5. The Song of Songs
6. The Book of Wisdom
7. The Wisdom of Ben Sira

#### Prophetic Books:

1. The Book of Isaiah
2. The Book of Jeremiah
3. The Book of Lamentations
4. The Book of Baruch
5. The Book of Ezekiel
6. The Book of Daniel
7. The Book of Hosea
8. The Book of Joel
9. The Book of Amos
10. The Book of Obadiah
11. The Book of Jonah
12. The Book of Micah
13. The Book of Nahum
14. The Book of Habakkuk
15. The Book of Zephaniah
16. The Book of Haggai
17. The Book of Zechariah
18. The Book of Malachi

### New Testament

#### The Four Gospels

1. The Gospel according to Matthew
2. The Gospel according to Mark
3. The Gospel according to Luke
4. The Gospel according to John

#### Pauline Epistles

1. The Letter to The Romans
2. The First Letter to The Corinthians
3. The Second Letter to The Corinthians
4. The Letter to The Galatians
5. The Letter to The Ephesians
6. The Letter to The Philippians
7. The Letter to The Colossians
8. The First Letter to The Thessalonians
9. The Second Letter to The Thessalonians
10. The First Letter to Timothy
11. The Second Letter to Timothy
12. The Letter to Titus
13. The Letter to Philemon

#### The General Epistles/Catholic Epistles

1. The Letter of James
2. The First Letter of Peter
3. The Second Letter of Peter
4. The First Letter of John
5. The Second Letter of John
6. The Third Letter of John
7. The Letter of Jude

## OTHER TRANSLATIONS

### Latin Translations

#### Vulgate

* Original Vulgate (O-VULGATE)
* Clementine Vulgate (C-VULGATE)
* Stuttgart Vulgate (S-VULGATE)
* Nova Vulgata (N-VULGATE)

### Greek Translations

#### Greek LXX OT/Scrivener NT

* Greek LXX OT/Scrivener NT - Original (LXX/S - O)
* Greek LXX OT/Scrivener NT - Anglicized (LXX/S - A)

### English Translations

#### Christian Community Bible

* Christian Community Bible (CCB)
* Christian Community Bible - Revised Edition (CCB-RE)

#### Douay-Rheims Bible

* Douay-Rheims Bible - Original (DRB-O)
* Douay–Rheims Bible - Challoner Revision (DRB-CR)
* Douay-Rheims Bible - 1899 American Edition (DRB-AE)

#### Jerusalem Bible

* Jerusalem Bible (JB)
* New Jerusalem Bible (NJB)
* Revised New Jerusalem Bible (RNJB)

#### New American Bible

* New American Bible (NAB)
* New American Bible - Revised Edition (NAB-RE)

#### Revised Standard Edition /New Revised Standard Edition

* Revised Standard Version - Catholic Edition (RSV-CE)
* New Revised Standard Version - Catholic Edition (NRSV-CE)
* New Revised Standard Version - Anglicised Catholic Edition (NRSV-ACE)

#### Other English Translations

* Contemporary English Version (CEV)
* English Standard Version - Catholic Edition (ESV-CE)
* Good News Bible - Catholic Edition (GNB-CE)
* Knox Bible (KNOX)

### Other Translations

#### Bisaya/Cebuano

* Ang Bag-ong Maayong Balita (ABMB)
* Biblia sa Kristohanong Katilingban (BKK)

#### Spanish

* Biblia de Jerusalen (BdJ)

Template:The Book of Revelation Translations