Revelation 16–18

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

you who are and who were,^k the Holy One,^l

because you have so judged;^m

for they have shed the blood of your people and your prophets,ⁿ

and you have given them blood to drink^o as they deserve.”

And I heard the altar^p respond:

“Yes, Lord God Almighty,^q

true and just are your judgments.”^r

The fourth angel^s poured out his bowl on the sun,^t and the sun was allowed to scorch people with fire.^u They were seared by the intense heat and they cursed the name of God,^v who had control over these plagues, but they refused to repent^w and glorify him.^x

The fifth angel poured out his bowl on the throne of the beast,^y and its kingdom was plunged into darkness.^z People gnawed their tongues in agony and cursed^a the God of heaven^b because of their pains and their sores,^c but they refused to repent of what they had done.^d

The sixth angel poured out his bowl on the great river Euphrates,^e and its water was dried up to prepare the way^f for the kings from the East.^g Then I saw three evil spirits^h that looked like frogs;ⁱ they came out of the mouth of the dragon,^j out of the mouth of the beast^k and out of the mouth of the false prophet.^l They are demonic spirits^m that perform signs,ⁿ and they go out to the kings of the whole world,^o to gather them for the battle^p on the great day^q of God Almighty.

“Look, I come like a thief!^r Blessed are those who stay awake^s and keep their clothes on, so that they may not go naked and be shamefully exposed.”^t

Then they gathered the kings together^u to the place that in Hebrew^v is called Armageddon.^w

The seventh angel poured out his bowl into the air,^x and out of the temple^y came a loud voice^z from the throne, saying, “It is done!”^a Then there came flashes of lightning, rumblings, peals of thunder^b and a severe earthquake.^c No earthquake like it has ever occurred since the human race has been on earth,^d so tremendous was the quake. The great city^e split into three parts, and the cities of the nations collapsed. God remembered^f Babylon the Great^g and gave her the cup filled with the wine of the fury of his wrath.^h Every island fled away and the mountains could not be found.ⁱ From the sky huge hailstones,^j each weighing about a hundred pounds, fell on people. And they cursed God^k on account of the plague of hail,^l 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 scarletⁱ 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 This title was written on her forehead:

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 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 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^a 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 a little while. The beast who once was, and now is not,^b is an eighth king. He belongs to the seven and is going to his destruction.

“The ten horns^c you saw are ten kings who have not yet received a kingdom, but who for one hour^d will receive authority as kings along with the beast. They have one purpose and will give their power and authority to the beast.^e They will make war^f against the Lamb, but the Lamb will triumph over^g them because he is Lord of lords and King of kings^h—and with him will be his called, chosenⁱ and faithful followers.”

Then the angel said to me, “The waters^j you saw, where the prostitute sits, are peoples, multitudes, nations and languages.^k The beast and the ten horns^l you saw will hate the prostitute.^m They will bring her to ruinⁿ and leave her naked;^o they will eat her flesh^p and burn her with fire.^q For God has put it into their hearts^r to accomplish his purpose by agreeing to give the beast their power to rule,^s until God’s words are fulfilled.^t The woman you saw is the great city^u 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!’^d

She has become a dwelling for demons

and a haunt for every evil 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 richⁱ from her excessive luxuries.”^j

Warning to Escape Babylon’s Judgment

Then I heard another voice from heaven say:

“ ‘Come out of her, my people,’^a

so that you will not share in her sins,

so that you will not receive any of her plagues;^b

for her sins are piled up to heaven,^c

and God has remembered^d her crimes.

Give back to her as she has given;

pay her back^e double^f for what she has done.

Pour her a double portion from her own cup.^g

Give her as much torment and grief

as the glory and luxury she gave herself.^h

In her heart she boasts,

‘I sit enthroned as queen.

I am not a widow;

I will never mourn.’ⁱ

Therefore in one day^j her plagues will overtake her:

death, mourning and famine.

She will be consumed by fire,^k

for mighty is the Lord God who judges her.

Threefold Woe Over Babylon’s Fall

“When the kings of the earth who committed adultery with her^a and shared her luxury^b see the smoke of her burning,^c they will weep and mourn over her.^d Terrified at her torment, they will stand far off^e and cry:

“ ‘Woe! Woe to you, great city,^f

you mighty city of Babylon!

In one hour^g your doom has come!’

“The merchants^h of the earth will weep and mournⁱ over her because no one buys their cargoes anymore^j— 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;^k 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.^l

“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^m will stand far off,ⁿ terrified at her torment. They will weep and mourn^o and cry out:

“ ‘Woe! Woe to you, great city,^p

dressed in fine linen, purple and scarlet,

and glittering with gold, precious stones and pearls!^q

In one hour^r such great wealth has been brought to ruin!’^s

“Every sea captain, and all who travel by ship, the sailors, and all who earn their living from the sea,^t will stand far off.^u When they see the smoke of her burning,^v they will exclaim, ‘Was there ever a city like this great city^w?’^x They will throw dust on their heads,^y and with weeping and mourning^z cry out:

“ ‘Woe! Woe to you, great city,^a

where all who had ships on the sea

became rich through her wealth!

In one hour she has been brought to ruin!’^b

“Rejoice over her, you heavens!^c

Rejoice, you people of God!

Rejoice, apostles and prophets!

For God has judged her

with the judgment she imposed on you.”^d

The Finality of Babylon’s Doom

Then a mighty angel^a picked up a boulder the size of a large millstone and threw it into the sea,^b and said:

“With such violence

the great city^c 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.^d

No worker of any trade

will ever be found in you again.

The sound of a millstone

will never be heard in you again.^e

The light of a lamp

will never shine in you again.

The voice of bridegroom and bride

will never be heard in you again.^f

Your merchants were the world’s important people.^g

By your magic spell^h all the nations were led astray.

In her was found the blood of prophets and of God’s people,ⁱ

of all who have been slaughtered on the earth.”^j