Study Desk

The Woman and the Dragon

A great sign^(a) appeared in heaven:^(b) a woman clothed with the sun, with the moon under her feet and a crown of twelve stars^(c) on her head.

She was pregnant and cried out in pain^(d) as she was about to give birth.

Then another sign appeared in heaven:^(e) an enormous red dragon^(f) with seven heads^(g) and ten horns^(h) and seven crowns⁽ⁱ⁾ on its heads.

Its tail swept a third^(j) of the stars out of the sky and flung them to the earth.^(k) The dragon stood in front of the woman who was about to give birth, so that it might devour her child^(l) the moment he was born.

She gave birth to a son, a male child, who "will rule all the nations with an iron scepter."^[a](m) And her child was snatched up⁽ⁿ⁾ to God and to his throne.

The woman fled into the wilderness to a place prepared for her by God, where she might be taken care of for 1,260 days.^(o)

Then war broke out in heaven. Michael^(p) and his angels fought against the dragon,^(q) and the dragon and his angels^(r) fought back.

But he was not strong enough, and they lost their place in heaven.

The great dragon was hurled down—that ancient serpent^(s) called the devil,^(t) or Satan,^(u) who leads the whole world astray.^(v) He was hurled to the earth,^(w) and his angels with him.

Then I heard a loud voice in heaven^(x) say: "Now have come the salvation^(y) and the power and the kingdom of our God, and the authority of his Messiah. For the accuser of our brothers and sisters,^(z) who accuses them before our God day and night, has been hurled down.

They triumphed over^(aa) him by the blood of the Lamb^(ab) and by the word of their testimony;^(ac) they did not love their lives so much as to shrink from death.^(ad)

Therefore rejoice, you heavens^(ae) and you who dwell in them! But woe^(af) to the earth and the sea,^(ag) because the devil has gone down to you! He is filled with fury, because he knows that his time is short."

When the dragon^(ah) saw that he had been hurled to the earth, he pursued the woman who had given birth to the male child.^(ai)

The woman was given the two wings of a great eagle,^(aj) so that she might fly to the place prepared for her in the wilderness, where she would be taken care of for a time, times and half a time,^(ak) out of the serpent's reach.

Then from his mouth the serpent^(al) spewed water like a river, to overtake the woman and sweep her away with the torrent.

But the earth helped the woman by opening its mouth and swallowing the river that the dragon had spewed out of his mouth.

Then the dragon was enraged at the woman and went off to wage war^(am) against the rest of her offspring^(an)—those who keep God's commands^(ao) and hold fast their testimony about Jesus.^(ap)

The Woman and the Dragon A great sign^(a) appeared in heaven:^(b) a woman clothed with the sun, with the moon under her feet and a crown of twelve stars^(c) on her head. She was pregnant and cried out in pain^(d) as she was about to give birth. Then another sign appeared in heaven:^(e) an enormous red dragon^(f) with seven heads^(g) and ten horns^(h) and seven crowns⁽ⁱ⁾ on its heads. Its tail swept a third^(j) of the stars out of the sky and flung them to the earth.^(k) The dragon stood in front of the woman who was about to give birth, so that it might devour her child^(l) the moment he was born. She gave birth to a son, a male child, who "will rule all the nations with an iron scepter."^[a](m) And her child was snatched up⁽ⁿ⁾ to God and to his throne. The woman fled into the wilderness to a place prepared for her by God, where she might be taken care of for 1,260 days.^(o) Then war broke out in heaven. Michael^(p) and his angels fought against the dragon,^(q) and the dragon and his angels^(r) fought back. But he was not strong enough, and they lost their place in heaven. The great dragon was hurled down—that ancient serpent^(s) called the devil,^(t) or Satan,^(u) who leads the whole world astray.^(v) He was hurled to the earth,^(w) and his angels with him. Then I heard a loud voice in heaven^(x) say: "Now have come the salvation^(y) and the power and the kingdom of our God, and the authority of his Messiah. For the accuser of our brothers and sisters,^(z) who accuses them before our God day and night, has been hurled down. They triumphed over^(aa) him by the blood of the Lamb^(ab) and by the word of their testimony;^(ac) they did not love their lives so much as to shrink from death.^(ad) Therefore rejoice, you heavens^(ae) and you who dwell in them! But woe^(af) to the earth and the sea,^(ag) because the devil has gone down to you! He is filled with fury, because he knows that his time is short." When the dragon^(ah) saw that he had been hurled to the earth, he pursued the woman who had given birth to the male child.^(ai) The woman was given the two wings of a great eagle,^(aj) so that she might fly to the place prepared for her in the wilderness, where she would be taken care of for a time, times and half a time,^(ak) out of the serpent's reach. Then from his mouth the serpent^(al) spewed water like a river, to overtake the woman and sweep her away with the torrent. But the earth helped the woman by opening its mouth and swallowing the river that the dragon had spewed out of his mouth. Then the dragon was enraged at the woman and went off to wage war^(am) against the rest of her offspring^(an)—those who keep God's commands^(ao) and hold fast their testimony about Jesus.^(ap)

The Beast out of the Sea

The dragon^[a] stood on the shore of the sea. And I saw a beast coming out of the sea.^(a) It had ten horns and seven heads,^(b) with ten crowns on its horns, and on each head a blasphemous name.^(c)

The beast I saw resembled a leopard,^(d) but had feet like those of a bear^(e) and a mouth like that of a lion.^(f) The dragon gave the beast his power and his throne and great authority.^(g)

One of the heads of the beast seemed to have had a fatal wound, but the fatal wound had been healed.^(h) The whole world was filled with wonder⁽ⁱ⁾ and followed the beast.

People worshiped the dragon because he had given authority to the beast, and they also worshiped the beast and asked, "Who is like^(j) the beast? Who can wage war against it?"

The beast was given a mouth to utter proud words and blasphemies^(k) and to exercise its authority for forty-two months.^(l)

It opened its mouth to blaspheme God, and to slander his name and his dwelling place and those who live in heaven.^(m)

It was given power to wage war⁽ⁿ⁾ against God's holy people and to conquer them. And it was given authority over every tribe, people, language and nation.^(o)

All inhabitants of the earth^(p) will worship the beast—all whose names have not been written in the Lamb's book of life,^(q) the Lamb^(r) who was slain from the creation of the world.^[b](s)

Whoever has ears, let them hear.^(t)

"If anyone is to go into captivity, into captivity they will go. If anyone is to be killed^[c] with the sword, with the sword they will be killed."^[d](u) This calls for patient endurance and faithfulness^(v) on the part of God's people.^(w)

Then I saw a second beast, coming out of the earth.^(x) It had two horns like a lamb, but it spoke like a dragon.^(y)

It exercised all the authority^(z) of the first beast on its behalf,^(aa) and made the earth and its inhabitants worship the first beast,^(ab) whose fatal wound had been healed.^(ac)

And it performed great signs,^(ad) even causing fire to come down from heaven^(ae) to the earth in full view of the people.

Because of the signs^(af) it was given power to perform on behalf of the first beast, it deceived^(ag) the inhabitants of the earth.^(ah) It ordered them to set up an image in honor of the beast who was wounded by the sword and yet lived.^(ai)

The second beast was given power to give breath to the image of the first beast, so that the image could speak and cause all who refused to worship^(aj) the image to be killed.^(ak)

It also forced all people, great and small,^(al) rich and poor, free and slave, to receive a mark on their right hands or on their foreheads,^(am)

so that they could not buy or sell unless they had the mark,^(an) which is the name of the beast or the number of its name.^(ao)

This calls for wisdom.^(ap) Let the person who has insight calculate the number of the beast, for it is the number of a man.^[e](aq) That number is 666.

The Lamb and the 144,000

Then I looked, and there before me was the Lamb,^(a) standing on Mount Zion,^(b) and with him 144,000^(c) who had his name and his Father's name^(d) written on their foreheads.^(e)

And I heard a sound from heaven like the roar of rushing waters^(f) and like a loud peal of thunder.^(g) The sound I heard was like that of harpists playing their harps.^(h)

And they sang a new song⁽ⁱ⁾ before the throne and before the four living creatures^(j) and the elders.^(k) No one could learn the song except the 144,000^(l) who had been redeemed from the earth.

These are those who did not defile themselves with women, for they remained virgins.^(m) They follow the Lamb wherever he goes.⁽ⁿ⁾ They were purchased from among mankind^(o) and offered as firstfruits^(p) to God and the Lamb.

No lie was found in their mouths;^(q) they are blameless.^(r)

Then I saw another angel flying in midair,^(s) and he had the eternal gospel to proclaim to those who live on the earth^(t)—to every nation, tribe, language and people.^(u)

He said in a loud voice, "Fear God^(v) and give him glory,^(w) because the hour of his judgment has come. Worship him who made^(x) the heavens, the earth, the sea and the springs of water."^(y)

A second angel followed and said, "‘Fallen! Fallen is Babylon the Great,'^[a](z) which made all the nations drink the maddening wine of her adulteries."^(aa)

A third angel followed them and said in a loud voice: "If anyone worships the beast^(ab) and its image^(ac) and receives its mark on their forehead^(ad) or on their hand,

they, too, will drink the wine of God's fury,^(ae) which has been poured full strength into the cup of his wrath.^(af) They will be tormented with burning sulfur^(ag) in the presence of the holy angels and of the Lamb.

And the smoke of their torment will rise for ever and ever.^(ah) There will be no rest day or night^(ai) for those who worship the beast and its image,^(aj) or for anyone who receives the mark of its name."^(ak)

This calls for patient endurance^(al) on the part of the people of God^(am) who keep his commands^(an) and remain faithful to Jesus.

Then I heard a voice from heaven say, "Write this: Blessed are the dead who die in the Lord^(ao) from now on." "Yes," says the Spirit,^(ap) "they will rest from their labor, for their deeds will follow them."

I looked, and there before me was a white cloud,^(aq) and seated on the cloud was one like a son of man^[b](ar) with a crown^(as) of gold on his head and a sharp sickle in his hand.

Then another angel came out of the temple^(at) and called in a loud voice to him who was sitting on the cloud, "Take your sickle^(au) and reap, because the time to reap has come, for the harvest^(av) of the earth is ripe."

So he who was seated on the cloud swung his sickle over the earth, and the earth was harvested.

Another angel came out of the temple in heaven, and he too had a sharp sickle.^(aw)

Still another angel, who had charge of the fire, came from the altar^(ax) and called in a loud voice to him who had the sharp sickle, "Take your sharp sickle^(ay) and gather the clusters of grapes from the earth's vine, because its grapes are ripe."

The angel swung his sickle on the earth, gathered its grapes and threw them into the great winepress of God's wrath.^(az)

They were trampled in the winepress^(ba) outside the city,^(bb) and blood^(bc) flowed out of the press, rising as high as the horses' bridles for a distance of 1,600 stadia.^[c]

Seven Angels With Seven Plagues

I saw in heaven another great and marvelous sign:^(a) seven angels^(b) with the seven last plagues^(c)—last, because with them God's wrath is completed.

And I saw what looked like a sea of glass^(d) glowing with fire and, standing beside the sea, those who had been victorious^(e) over the beast^(f) and its image^(g) and over the number of its name.^(h) They held harps⁽ⁱ⁾ given them by God

and sang the song of God's servant^(j) Moses^(k) and of the Lamb:^(l) "Great and marvelous are your deeds,^(m) Lord God Almighty.⁽ⁿ⁾ Just and true are your ways,^(o) King of the nations.^[a]

Who will not fear you, Lord,^(p) and bring glory to your name?^(q) For you alone are holy. All nations will come and worship before you,^(r) for your righteous acts^(s) have been revealed."^[b]

After this I looked, and I saw in heaven the temple^(t)—that is, the tabernacle of the covenant law^(u)—and it was opened.^(v)

Out of the temple^(w) came the seven angels with the seven plagues.^(x) They were dressed in clean, shining linen^(y) and wore golden sashes around their chests.^(z)

Then one of the four living creatures^(aa) gave to the seven angels^(ab) seven golden bowls filled with the wrath of God, who lives for ever and ever.^(ac)

And the temple was filled with smoke^(ad) from the glory of God and from his power, and no one could enter the temple^(ae) until the seven plagues of the seven angels were completed.

The Seven Bowls of God's Wrath

Then I heard a loud voice from the temple^(a) saying to the seven angels,^(b) "Go, pour out the seven bowls of God's wrath on the earth."^(c)

The first angel went and poured out his bowl on the land,^(d) and ugly, festering sores^(e) broke out on the people who had the mark of the beast and worshiped its image.^(f)

The second angel poured out his bowl on the sea, and it turned into blood like that of a dead person, and every living thing in the sea died.^(g)

The third angel poured out his bowl on the rivers and springs of water,^(h) and they became blood.⁽ⁱ⁾

Then I heard the angel in charge of the waters say: "You are just in these judgments,^(j) O Holy One,^(k) you who are and who were;^(l)

for they have shed the blood of your holy people and your prophets,^(m) and you have given them blood to drink⁽ⁿ⁾ as they deserve."

And I heard the altar^(o) respond: "Yes, Lord God Almighty,^(p) true and just are your judgments."^(q)

The fourth angel^(r) poured out his bowl on the sun,^(s) and the sun was allowed to scorch people with fire.^(t)

They were seared by the intense heat and they cursed the name of God,^(u) who had control over these plagues, but they refused to repent^(v) and glorify him.^(w)

The fifth angel poured out his bowl on the throne of the beast,^(x) and its kingdom was plunged into darkness.^(y) People gnawed their tongues in agony

and cursed^(z) the God of heaven^(aa) because of their pains and their sores,^(ab) but they refused to repent of what they had done.^(ac)

The sixth angel poured out his bowl on the great river Euphrates,^(ad) and its water was dried up to prepare the way^(ae) for the kings from the East.^(af)

Then I saw three impure spirits^(ag) that looked like frogs;^(ah) they came out of the mouth of the dragon,^(ai) out of the mouth of the beast^(aj) and out of the mouth of the false prophet.^(ak)

They are demonic spirits^(al) that perform signs,^(am) and they go out to the kings of the whole world,^(an) to gather them for the battle^(ao) on the great day^(ap) of God Almighty.

"Look, I come like a thief!^(aq) Blessed is the one who stays awake^(ar) and remains clothed, so as not to go naked and be shamefully exposed."^(as)

Then they gathered the kings together^(at) to the place that in Hebrew^(au) is called Armageddon.^(av)

The seventh angel poured out his bowl into the air,^(aw) and out of the temple^(ax) came a loud voice^(ay) from the throne, saying, "It is done!"^(az)

Then there came flashes of lightning, rumblings, peals of thunder^(ba) and a severe earthquake.^(bb) No earthquake like it has ever occurred since mankind has been on earth,^(bc) so tremendous was the quake.

The great city^(bd) split into three parts, and the cities of the nations collapsed. God remembered^(be) Babylon the Great^(bf) and gave her the cup filled with the wine of the fury of his wrath.^(bg)

Every island fled away and the mountains could not be found.^(bh)

From the sky huge hailstones,^(bi) each weighing about a hundred pounds,^[a] fell on people. And they cursed God^(bj) on account of the plague of hail,^(bk) because the plague was so terrible.

Babylon, the Prostitute on the Beast

One of the seven angels^(a) who had the seven bowls^(b) came and said to me, "Come, I will show you the punishment^(c) of the great prostitute,^(d) who sits by many waters.^(e)

With her the kings of the earth committed adultery, and the inhabitants of the earth were intoxicated with the wine of her adulteries."^(f)

Then the angel carried me away in the Spirit^(g) into a wilderness.^(h) There I saw a woman sitting on a scarlet⁽ⁱ⁾ beast that was covered with blasphemous names^(j) and had seven heads and ten horns.^(k)

The woman was dressed in purple and scarlet, and was glittering with gold, precious stones and pearls.^(l) She held a golden cup^(m) in her hand, filled with abominable things and the filth of her adulteries.⁽ⁿ⁾

The name written on her forehead was a mystery:^(o) babylon the great ^(p) the mother of prostitutes ^(q) and of the abominations of the earth .

I saw that the woman was drunk with the blood of God's holy people,^(r) the blood of those who bore testimony to Jesus. When I saw her, I was greatly astonished.

Then the angel said to me: "Why are you astonished? I will explain to you the mystery^(s) of the woman and of the beast she rides, which has the seven heads and ten horns.^(t)

The beast, which you saw, once was, now is not, and yet will come up out of the Abyss^(u) and go to its destruction.^(v) The inhabitants of the earth^(w) whose names have not been written in the book of life^(x) from the creation of the world will be astonished^(y) when they see the beast, because it once was, now is not, and yet will come.

"This calls for a mind with wisdom.^(z) The seven heads^(aa) are seven hills on which the woman sits.

They are also seven kings. Five have fallen, one is, the other has not yet come; but when he does come, he must remain for only a little while.

The beast who once was, and now is not,^(ab) is an eighth king. He belongs to the seven and is going to his destruction.

"The ten horns^(ac) you saw are ten kings who have not yet received a kingdom, but who for one hour^(ad) will receive authority as kings along with the beast.

They have one purpose and will give their power and authority to the beast.^(ae)

They will wage war^(af) against the Lamb, but the Lamb will triumph over^(ag) them because he is Lord of lords and King of kings^(ah)—and with him will be his called, chosen^(ai) and faithful followers."

Then the angel said to me, "The waters^(aj) you saw, where the prostitute sits, are peoples, multitudes, nations and languages.^(ak)

The beast and the ten horns^(al) you saw will hate the prostitute.^(am) They will bring her to ruin^(an) and leave her naked;^(ao) they will eat her flesh^(ap) and burn her with fire.^(aq)

For God has put it into their hearts^(ar) to accomplish his purpose by agreeing to hand over to the beast their royal authority,^(as) until God's words are fulfilled.^(at)

The woman you saw is the great city^(au) that rules over the kings of the earth."

Lament Over Fallen Babylon

After this I saw another angel^(a) coming down from heaven.^(b) He had great authority, and the earth was illuminated by his splendor.^(c)

With a mighty voice he shouted: "‘Fallen! Fallen is Babylon the Great!'^[a](d) She has become a dwelling for demons and a haunt for every impure spirit,^(e) a haunt for every unclean bird, a haunt for every unclean and detestable animal.^(f)

For all the nations have drunk the maddening wine of her adulteries.^(g) The kings of the earth committed adultery with her,^(h) and the merchants of the earth grew rich⁽ⁱ⁾ from her excessive luxuries."^(j)

Then I heard another voice from heaven say: "‘Come out of her, my people,'^[b](k) so that you will not share in her sins, so that you will not receive any of her plagues;^(l)

for her sins are piled up to heaven,^(m) and God has remembered⁽ⁿ⁾ her crimes.

Give back to her as she has given; pay her back^(o) double^(p) for what she has done. Pour her a double portion from her own cup.^(q)

Give her as much torment and grief as the glory and luxury she gave herself.^(r) In her heart she boasts, ‘I sit enthroned as queen. I am not a widow;^[c] I will never mourn.'^(s)

Therefore in one day^(t) her plagues will overtake her: death, mourning and famine. She will be consumed by fire,^(u) for mighty is the Lord God who judges her.

"When the kings of the earth who committed adultery with her^(v) and shared her luxury^(w) see the smoke of her burning,^(x) they will weep and mourn over her.^(y)

Terrified at her torment, they will stand far off^(z) and cry: "‘Woe! Woe to you, great city,^(aa) you mighty city of Babylon! In one hour^(ab) your doom has come!'

"The merchants^(ac) of the earth will weep and mourn^(ad) over her because no one buys their cargoes anymore^(ae)—

cargoes of gold, silver, precious stones and pearls; fine linen, purple, silk and scarlet cloth; every sort of citron wood, and articles of every kind made of ivory, costly wood, bronze, iron and marble;^(af)

cargoes of cinnamon and spice, of incense, myrrh and frankincense, of wine and olive oil, of fine flour and wheat; cattle and sheep; horses and carriages; and human beings sold as slaves.^(ag)

"They will say, ‘The fruit you longed for is gone from you. All your luxury and splendor have vanished, never to be recovered.'

The merchants who sold these things and gained their wealth from her^(ah) will stand far off,^(ai) terrified at her torment. They will weep and mourn^(aj)

and cry out: "‘Woe! Woe to you, great city,^(ak) dressed in fine linen, purple and scarlet, and glittering with gold, precious stones and pearls!^(al)

In one hour^(am) such great wealth has been brought to ruin!'^(an) "Every sea captain, and all who travel by ship, the sailors, and all who earn their living from the sea,^(ao) will stand far off.^(ap)

When they see the smoke of her burning,^(aq) they will exclaim, ‘Was there ever a city like this great city^(ar)?'^(as)

They will throw dust on their heads,^(at) and with weeping and mourning^(au) cry out: "‘Woe! Woe to you, great city,^(av) where all who had ships on the sea became rich through her wealth! In one hour she has been brought to ruin!'^(aw)

"Rejoice over her, you heavens!^(ax) Rejoice, you people of God! Rejoice, apostles and prophets! For God has judged her with the judgment she imposed on you."^(ay)

Then a mighty angel^(az) picked up a boulder the size of a large millstone and threw it into the sea,^(ba) and said: "With such violence the great city^(bb) of Babylon will be thrown down, never to be found again.

The music of harpists and musicians, pipers and trumpeters, will never be heard in you again.^(bc) No worker of any trade will ever be found in you again. The sound of a millstone will never be heard in you again.^(bd)

The light of a lamp will never shine in you again. The voice of bridegroom and bride will never be heard in you again.^(be) Your merchants were the world's important people.^(bf) By your magic spell^(bg) all the nations were led astray.

In her was found the blood of prophets and of God's holy people,^(bh) of all who have been slaughtered on the earth."^(bi)