4 [ref]This letter is from Yohan to the seven assemblies in Asia Minor:

Grace and peace to you all from the God who is and was and will be, and from the seven spirits who are in front of this throne, 5 [ref]and from Yeshua the messiah, the faithful witness, the first to come back to life, and the ruler of all the leaders of the nations of the world.

Yeshua loves us and he has released us from our sins by his blood, 6 [ref]and made us into a kingdom of priests to God his father, and he is deserving of honour and power throughout the ages. May it be so.

7 [ref]Look, he’s going to come back in the clouds, and everyone will see him—the one who they speared—and all the tribes on the earth will be mourning over him. REWORK OT QUOTES

8 [ref]“I am the A and the Z,” says Yahweh God, the one who is and was and will be—the most powerful one.

9 I, John, am your brother and partner in the suffering that’s typical of those who follow Yeshua. I’ve been exiled to Patmos Island where I endure because I believe God’s message and Yeshua’s testimony and look forward to his kingdom. 10 One Sunday while meditating, God’s spirit gave me a vision, and I heard a voice behind me that seemed as loud as a trumpet blast 11 that said, “Write down what you see here on a scroll and send it to the seven assemblies of believers—to the cities of Ephesus, Smyrna, Pergamum, Thyatira, Sardis, Philadelphia, and to Laodicea.”

12 Then I turned to see who was talking to me, and I saw seven golden lamp holders, 13 and standing among them was a man who looked like humanity’s child,[fn] wearing a long robe with a golden sash around His chest.[ref] 14 His hair was gleaming white like wool or snow and his eyes were bright like a fiery flame.[ref] 15 His feet shone like bronze that had been refined in a furnace, and his voice was like the sound of a river of rushing water.[ref] 16 He was holding seven stars in his right hand and a sharp sword was extending from his mouth, and his face was like the sun shining at its brightest. 17 And when I saw him, I quickly lay at his feet, breathless like a dead man, but he placed his right hand on me, and told me, “Don’t be afraid. I am the first and the last.[ref] 18 I lived and died here on the earth, but look, now I’m alive again and will live for all eternity, and I control the keys over death and over hell. 19 So record what you’re seeing now as well as what I’ll show you about current and future events. 20 This is the meaning of the seven stars that you saw in my right hand and of the seven golden lamp holders:[ref] The seven stars represent God’s messengers watching over those seven groups of believers,[ref] and the seven lamp holders represent those groups of believers.

2 To the assembly’s messenger in Ephesus write:

The one holding the seven stars in his right hand, the one walking among the seven golden lampstands, says these things: 2 “I know about your activities and work, and your endurance and that you can not tolerate evil people, and that you have investigated the ones calling themselves missionaries but are not, and you have found them to be frauds. 3 I’m aware that you’ve endured and even suffered persecution because you’ve believed in me, but you’ve never given up. 4 However, I do have something against you: you’ve abandoned the love that you first had. 5 So now, you need to remember where you’ve fallen from, and repent and repeat how you behaved at the beginning, but if you don’t, I’ll come to you and if you don’t repent, I’ll remove your lampstand from its place. 6 But you do have this going for you: you hate what the disciples of Nicolaus are doing,[fn] just like I do.

7 Everyone who wants to understand needs to listen to what God’s spirit is saying to the assemblies.

I will grant the right to eat from the tree that gives life in God’s paradise to everyone who overcomes.”[ref]

8 To the assembly’s messenger in Smyrna write:[ref]

The one who’s the first and the last, who died but lived again, says these things: 9 “I know about your suffering and your poverty, but you’re actually rich! I also know how about the slander of those who consider themselves to be Jews, but they’re not true Jews because their master is Satan. 10 Don’t be afraid about what you’re going to suffer. Yes, the devil will throw some of you into prison where your faith will be tested, and you’ll experience persecution for ten days. Just remain faithful, even if it means death, and I’ll give you life as a reward.

11 Everyone who wants to understand needs to listen to what God’s spirit is saying to the assemblies.

Anyone who stays true won’t be affected by the second death.”[ref]

12 To the assembly’s messenger in Pergamum write:

The one with the sharp sword says these things: 13 “I know where you live: where Satan’s throne is. Despite that, you firmly believe in me and you haven’t denied your faith in me, even when Antipas, the faithful man who told others about me was killed in your city, where Satan lives. 14 But I do have a few things against you: you have some people there who hold to the ancient prophet Balaam’s teaching.[ref] He taught Moab’s king, Balak, how to tempt the Israelis and to eat food that had been sacrificed to idols, and to be sexually immoral. 15 In the same way, some of you also follow the teachings of Nicolaus’ disciples.[fn] 16 So turn away from all that, otherwise I’ll come soon and battle against them with the word of my mouth.

17 Everyone who wants to understand needs to listen to what God’s spirit is saying to the assemblies.

Anyone who stays true will be given hidden food from heaven, and I’ll give each of them a white stone with a new name written on it that no one knows apart from the person receiving it.”[ref]

18 To the assembly’s messenger in Thyatira write:

God’s son, the one with eyes like a flame of fire and with feet like bronze, says: 19 “I know what you’ve been doing, and about your love and faith, and your service and endurance, and what you’re doing now is better than what you first did. 20 But I have against you that you tolerate that woman Jezebel who calls a prophetess, and she deceives my servants by teaching them to be sexually immoral and to eat food that’s been offered to idols.[ref] 21 Even though I’ve given her time to repent, she’s still not willing to turn away from her immorality. 22 Listen, I’m going to punish her with a terrible sickness, and to punish those who’re committing adultery with her with terrible suffering if they don’t turn away from what she’s doing. 23 I will kill her children, then all the assemblies will know that I am the one who searches people’s affections and hearts, and who punishes or rewards each one of you depending on your actions.[ref]

24 But the rest of you believers in the city of Thyatira have not obeyed that woman’s teachings and haven’t taken part in what she calls ‘the secret practices that Satan taught her’, I have something to say to you all as well. I won’t give you any other other burden 25 except to just to continue to obey the true teaching that you’ve received, until I return. 26 And anyone who’s victorious, who continues to do what I command until the end, I’ll give them authority to rule over the people groups on earth.[ref] 27 They’ll rule them with irresistible power, and those who rebel will be smashed like unwanted clay pots, 28 just like the authority that I’ve received from my father. And I’ll give them the morning star.

29 Everyone who wants to understand needs to listen to what God’s spirit is saying to the assemblies.”

3 To the assembly’s messenger in Sardis write:

The one having the seven spirits of God and the seven stars says these things: “I know what you’re achieving and that you have a reputation of being ‘alive’, but you’re actually dead. 2 So wake up from the dead and strengthen what’s left and was about to die, because your actions have been inadequate in God’s sight. 3 Remember how you first listened to and internalised God’s message, and how you obeyed it and repented. If you don’t wake up soon, I’ll come unexpectedly—you’ll certainly not know in advance when I’ll be coming.[ref] 4 But you do have a few people in Sardis who haven’t stained their records, and because they are worthy, they’ll be dressed in white and walk with me. 5 So anyone who conquers will be dressed like that in pure white, and I certainly won’t erase their names from the Book of Life, but I’ll declare their names to my father and to his messengers.[ref]

6 Everyone who wants to understand needs to listen to what God’s spirit is saying to the assemblies.”

7 To the assembly’s messenger in Filadelfia write:[ref]

The holy one, the true one, the one having King David’s key to the city, the one who opens doors no one can shut, and who shuts doors no one can open, says: 8 “I know everything you’ve been doing. Listen, I have placed an opened door in front of you that no one can shut. You aren’t very strong, yet you’ve obeyed my instructions and you haven’t disowned knowing me. 9 Listen, I’ll give those people from Satan’s synagogue (the ones who say that they’re believing Jews, but they’re not—they’re lying), I’ll make them so that they will come and bow down in front of you, and then they’ll know that I love you.[ref] 10 Because you followed my instructions about persevering, I will spare you from the time of trouble that all of humanity will soon experience (which will test everyone living on the earth). 11 I’ll come quickly. Hold firmly to what you have so that no one can take away your crown. 12 Anyone who’s an overcomer, I’ll make them a pillar in my God’s temple and they’ll never leave it again. I will write my God’s name on them, and the name of my God’s city (the new Jerusalem which will come down out of heaven from my God), and my new name.[ref]

13 Everyone who wants to understand needs to listen to what God’s spirit is saying to the assemblies.”

14 To the assembly’s messenger in Laodicea write:[ref]

The truth, the faithful and true witness, the originator of God’s creation, says: 15 “I’m aware of what you’ve been doing and that you’re neither hot nor cold. (You’d benefit[fn] if you were hot or cold.) 16 So because you’re lukewarm, neither hot nor cold, I’ll spit you out of my mouth. 17 You brag, ‘I’m rich, yes I’ve grown rich and don’t have any needs,’ but you don’t realise that you’re actually miserable and pitiable, and poor and blind and naked. 18 I advise you to buy gold from me that’s been refined by fire so that you might get rich, and buy white clothes so that you can dress yourself so that the shame of your nakedness might not be displayed, and buy ointment to rub on your eyes so that you’ll be able to see. 19 I tell off and discipline those that I love, so be earnest and turn away from your disobedience.[ref] 20 Yes, I stand at the door and knock—if anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in and eat with him, and he’ll eat with me. 21 Anyone who overcomes, I’ll give the right to sit with me on my throne, just like when I conquered and sat with my father on his throne.

22 Everyone who wants to understand needs to listen to what God’s spirit is saying to the assemblies.

4 After that, I looked and wow, a door opening in heaven, and the first voice that I’d heard that sounded like a trumpet told me, “Come up here and I’ll show you what must happen after those things.” 2 Immediately I was in the spirit and wow, a throne was appearing in heaven with someone sitting on it.[ref] 3 The one sitting there sparkled like jewels, and an emerald-looking rainbow encircled the throne. 4 Surrounding that throne were twenty-four other thrones, and on them sat twenty-four elders dressed in white and with golden crowns on their heads. 5 From the centre throne came lightning flashes and thunderous sounds and voices. In front of it, seven torches were burning, which are God’s seven spirits.[ref] 6 In front of the throne was something like a sea of glass that was as clear as crystal.

Around the throne were four living creatures, covered both front and back with eyes.[ref] 7 This first living creature resembled a lion, the second resembled a bull, the third had a face like a man, and the fourth one resembled a flying eagle. 8 Each of the four living creatures had six wings with eyes all around and underneath them. Day and night they never stop saying:[ref]

‘Holy, holy, holy,

is the master, almighty God,

who was and is and is to come.’

9 Whenever the living creatures praise the one sitting on the throne and honour him and thank him (the one who lives through all the ages), 10 the twenty-four elders drop to their knees with their faces to the ground in front of the one sitting on the throne and worship the one who lives through all the ages. They place their crowns down in front of the throne and say:

11 “You, our God and master, are worthy to receive praise and honour and power,

because you created everything.

Everything exists just as you determined to create it.”

5 Then I saw a scroll in the right-hand of the one sitting on the throne. It had writing on both sides, and have been sealed with seven wax seals.[ref] 2 I also saw a powerful messenger who was asking in a loud voice, “Who’s worthy to break the seals and open the scroll?” 3 But there wasn’t any person on earth or in the place of the dead who was permitted to open the scroll and read it. 4 I began to cry loudly, because no one could be found who was worthy to open the scroll or look inside it. 5 Then one of the elders said to me, “Stop crying. Look, here’s the lion from the tribe of Judah. He’s the descendant of King David who’s a conqueror who’s competent to break the seals and open the scroll.”[ref]

6 Then I saw a lamb standing there between the throne and the four living creatures and the elders. The lamb looked like it had been slaughtered, and it had seven horns and seven eyes which are God’s seven spirits that had been sent throughout the world.[ref] 7 The lamb went up to the throne and accepted the scroll from the right hand of the one sitting on the throne. 8 When he’d taken the scroll, the four living creatures and the twenty-four elders knelt down in from of the lamb. Each elder held a harp and a bowl that was full of incense (which symbolised the prayers of the believers).[ref] 9 They sung a new song like this:[ref]

“It’s you who’s worthy to take the scroll and break its seals,

because you were slaughtered and with your blood you purchased people for God

from every tribe and language and people group and nation.

10 You’ve made them to be a kingdom[ref]

and to be priests to serve our God,

and they will reign on the earth.”

11 Then I looked and I heard the voices of the living creatures and elders that were around the throne along with millions of God’s messengers[ref] 12 saying with loud voices:

“The lamb that was slaughtered is worthy to receive power and riches,

and wisdom and strength and honour and praise and blessing.”

13 Then I heard every creature in heaven and on earth, and under the earth and in the sea—everything everywhere—saying,

“Too the one sitting on the throne

and to the lamb,

be praise and honour and GLORY and power

forever and ever.”

14 Then the four living creatures said, “May it be so,” and the elders knelt down and worshipped.

6 Then I saw the lamb breaking the first of the seven seals, and I heard one of the four living creatures say, “Come,” in a thunderous voice. 2 So I looked, and wow, there was a white horse with someone sitting on it holding a bow and arrow. A crown was given to him, and then he went out as a conqueror to conquer.[ref] 3 And when the lamb broke the second seal, I heard the second living creature say, “Come,” 4 and another horse came out. It was a red horse, and the one sitting on it was given permission to withdraw peace from the earth so that people would slaughter each other, and a large sword was given to him.[ref] 5 Then the lamb broke the third seal and I heard the third living creature say, “Come.” I looked, and wow, there was a black horse, and the one sitting on it held balancing scales in his hand.[ref] 6 Then I heard something like a voice from among the four living creatures that said, “A kilo of wheat for a day’s pay, or three kilos of barley for the same price. But don’t harm the oil and wine supplies.”

7 When the lamb broke the fourth seal, I heard the voice of the fourth living creature saying, “Come.” 8 Then I looked, and wow, there was a green horse. The one sitting on it was named ‘Death’, and Hades was sitting behind him. They were given authority over a quarter of the earth: to execute people with the sword, with famine, with death, and with the wild animals on the earth.[ref]

9 When the lamb broke the fifth seal, under the altar I saw the souls of everyone who had been killed because of God’s word and because of the testimony that they had upheld. 10 These souls called out loudly, “You, master, always do what is right and decide what is right! So please condemn and punish the people on the earth who killed us.” 11 Then each of them was given a white robe, and told to wait a little longer until the full number was reached of their fellow servants and brothers and sisters who would also be killed like they were.

12 When the lamb broke the sixth seal, there was a violent earthquake and the sun went black like black cloth, and the moon which was full, went red like blood.[ref] 13 Also the stars fell out of the sky, just like how a fig tree out of season drops its fruit when it gets shaken by a strong wind.[ref] 14 The sky was split apart like a scroll being rolled up, and all the mountains and islands were moved out of their places.[ref] 15 Then the kings on the earth, and high-ranking officials, military officers, rich people and influential individuals, all slaves and free people hid in caves and among rocks on the mountains.[ref] 16 They told the mountains and rocks, “Fall down on us and hide us so that the one sitting on the throne can’t see us, and also from the lamb’s anger[ref] 17 because today is the terrible day when their anger has eventuated, and who can stand up to that?”[ref]

7 After that I saw four messengers standing around the earth, holding back the four winds of the earth so that no wind would blow on land or sea or on any tree.[ref] 2 Then I saw another messenger coming up from the direction of the rising sun, and he was holding the living God’s seal. He called out loudly to the four messengers that God had permitted to damage the earth and the sea, 3 saying, “Don’t harm the earth or the sea or the trees until we can mark the seal on the foreheads of God’s servants.”[ref] 4 Then I heard the count of those who were marked with the seal. There were 144,000 from all of Israel’s tribes. 5 There were 12,000 from the tribes of Yudah, Reuben, Gad, 6 Asher, Naftali, Manasseh 7 Shimeon (Simeon), Levi, Yissakar (Issachar) 8 Zebulun, Yosef (Joseph), and Benyamin (Benjamin).

9 After that, I looked and wow, there was a huge crowd too large to count, from every nation and tribe and people and language, standing in front of the throne and the lamb, having been dressed in white robes and holding palm branches, 10 and they were shouting loudly, “Our God who’s sitting on the throne has saved us! The lamb has saved us!” 11 Then all the messengers stood around the throne, and around the elders and the four living beings. The messengers all knelt down in front of the throne with their faces to the ground and worshipped God 12 saying, “Yes, may it be so. May praise and GLORY and wisdom and thanks and honour and power and strength be given to our God who lives through all the ages! May it be so.”

13 Then one of the elders asked me, “Who are those people in white robes and where have they come from?”

14 “Sir, you are the one who knows,” I answered.[ref]

And then he told me, “Those are the ones who’ve come through the terrible tribulation, and they’ve washed their robes in the blood of the lamb and made them white. 15 That’s why they’re here in front of God’s throne, and they worship him day and night in his temple, and the one sitting on the throne will extend his protection over them. 16 They won’t be hungry or thirsty any longer, and the sun won’t burn them with its scorching heat,[ref] 17 because the lamb that’s there at the throne will shepherd them. The lamb will guide them to the springs of living water, and God will ensure that every tear is wiped away from their eyes.”[ref] SHOULD THIS BE IN POETIC FORMAT?

8 Then the lamb broke the seventh seal and there was silence in heaven for about half an hour. 2 And I saw the seven messengers who stand before God and they were each given a trumpet.

3 Then another messenger came and stood at the altar holding a golden bowl for burning incense. He was given a lot of incense to offer which was to be mingled with the prayers of all the believers on the golden altar in front of the throne.[ref] 4 So the smoke of the incense from the bowl in the messengers hand, together with the prayers of the believers, drifted upwards in front of God. 5 Then the messenger took the bowl and filled it with coals of fire from the altar, and threw them[fn] onto the earth and that caused peals of thunder and roaring, and lightning bolts and an earthquake.[ref]

6 Then the seven messengers who had the seven trumpets, got ready to blow them.

7 Then the first messenger blew his trumpet and then hail and fire mixed together with blood was thrown down on the earth and third of the earth was burnt up along with a third of the trees, and all the green grass got burnt up.[ref]

8 Then the second messenger blew his trumpet, and something was thrown into the ocean that was like a huge, burning mountains, and a third of the sea turned into blood. 9 One third of the living creatures in the sea died, and a third of the ships were destroyed.

10 Then the third messenger blew his trumpet and a huge star, burning like a torch, fell down from the sky and landed on a third of the rivers and on the springs of water.[ref] 11 That star is named ‘Bitterness’ and a third of those waters turned bitter. Many people died from the waters, because they became poisonous.[ref]

12 Then the fourth messenger blew his trumpet and a third of the sun and the moon were struck and the sun didn’t shine for a third of the day, nor the moon for a third of the night. One third of the stars were struck and went dark.[ref]

13 Then as I watched, I heard an eagle that was flying high in the sky, shouting loudly, “Three terrible things will happen to the people who’re living on the earth when the three remaining messengers blow their trumpets.”

9 Then the fifth messenger blew his trumpet and I saw a star that had fallen from the sky to the earth, and he/it[fn] was given the key to the deep, dark pit. 2 When he/it unlocked and opened that pit, smoke came up out of it like the smoke of a large furnace, and the smoke darkened the sun and the air.[ref] 3 Then locusts came out of the smoke and descended on the land, and they were given stinging power like the large scorpions of the earth.[ref] 4 However the locusts were told that they shouldn’t harm the grass or any green plants or trees, but only those people who didn’t have God’s mark on their foreheads.[ref] 5 They weren’t given power to kill them, but only to torment them for five months, and their torment was like that of a scorpion when it strikes a person. 6 People in those days will try to die, but won’t be able to—they will long to die, but death will run away from them.[ref]

7 The locusts looked like horses that had been prepared for battle, with something on their heads that were similar to golden crowns and their faces being like human faces.[ref] 8 Their hair was like women’s hair and their teeth were like lions’ teeth.[ref] 9 They wore chestplates that seemed to be made of iron, and the sound of their wings was like the roar of many horses rushing into battle pulling chariots.[ref] 10 They had tails with stingers like scorpions which had the power to harm people for five months. 11 They had a king in charge of them who’s the messenger of the deep pit—his name is ‘Destroyer’. (‘Abaddon’ in Hebrew and ‘Apollyon’ in Greek.)

12 The first terrible event has now passed, but there are still two more to follow.

13 Then the sixth messenger blew his trumpet and I heard a voice coming from the corners of the golden altar in front of God,[ref] 14 that was telling the sixth messenger (with the trumpet), “Release the four messengers that are tied up by the large Euphrates River.” 15 So the four messengers who had been prepared for this exact time were released to kill a third of humankind. 16 I heard someone say how many mounted soldiers there were—there were 200 million of them, 17 and this is what the horses and their riders looked like in my vision: the soldiers wore chestplates that were red like fire, blue like sapphire, and yellow like sulfur. The heads of the horses were like lions’ heads, and fire, smoke, and fumes of burning sulfur came out of their mouths. 18 These three plagues (fire, smoke, and burning sulfur coming out of their mouths) killed one third of humankind 19 because the horses’ power is in their mouths and in their tails, because their tails are like snakes, having heads that injure people.

20 However, the rest of humankind that hadn’t been killed by those plagues, didn’t repent of their actions and didn’t stop worshipping demons and idols made of gold and silver and bronze and stone and wood—idols that can’t see, can’t hear, and can’t walk.[ref] 21 They also didn’t repent of their murdering or of their sorcery, nor of their sexual immorality or of their stealing.

10 Then in the vision I saw another powerful messenger coming down from heaven wrapped in a cloud and with a rainbow above his head. His face was like the sun and his feet were like pillars of fire, 2 and he was holding a small opened scroll. He set his right foot down on the ocean and his left foot down on the land 3 and shouted in a loud voice like a lion roaring, and when he shouted, the seven thunders spoke out in their own voices. 4 When the seven thunders spoke, I was going to write down what they said but I heard a voice from heaven that said, “Keep what the seven thunders have said secret, and don’t write it down.”

5 Then the messenger that I’d seen straddling the ocean and the land raised his right hand[ref] 6 and made an oath by the one living through all the ages and who created heaven and everything in it and the earth and everything in it, and the sea and everything in it, saying, “There won’t be any more delay, 7 but at the time when the seventh messenger will speak and blow his trumpet, then the hidden purposes of God will come to be, just like he told his slaves the prophets long ago.”

8 Then the one whom I had heard speak from heaven spoke to me again, saying, “Go and get the open scroll from the hand of the messenger who is straddling the ocean and the land.”[ref] 9 So I went to the angel and asked him to give me the little scroll, and he answered, “Take it and eat it. At first it’ll taste sweet like honey, but afterwards it’ll be uncomfortable in your stomach.” 10 So I took that little scroll from the angel’s hand and ate it, and it tasted sweet like honey, but my stomach hurt afterwards 11 and they told me, “You have to speak out God’s message about many nations and people groups and language groups and kings.”

11 Then I was given a measuring stick and told, “Go and message God’s temple and the altar and the people who’re worshipping there,[ref] 2 but exclude the outer courtyard. Don’t measure that because it’s been given to the non-Jews, and they’ll tread around the holy city for three and a half years.[ref] 3 Then I’ll give my two witnesses the ability to speak out God’s message for six months, while dressed in mourning garb.

4 Those are the two olive trees and the two lampstands that stand before the master of the earth.[ref] 5 If anyone wants to harm them, fire comes out of their mouth and burns up their enemies, yes, if anyone wants to harm them then they deserve to be killed. 6 Those witnesses have the power to stop the rain so that it doesn’t rain while they’re speaking out, and they have power to turn rivers and lakes into blood, and to damage the earth with every type of plague just as often as they want.[ref]

7 When the two witnesses have finished speaking out, the beast that comes up from the deep, dark pit will attack them. It’ll overpower them and then kill them.[ref] 8 Their corpses will lie on the road of the great city, which in spiritual terms is called Sodom and/or Egypt—where their master was executed on a stake.[ref] 9 People from every nation and tribe and language will look at their corpses for three and a half days and will prevent their corpses from being put into a tomb. 10 Those who’re living on the earth will be happy about it and celebrate and send gifts to each another because those two prophets had tormented them, 11 but after three and a half days, God’s breath of life will enter into them and they’ll stand up. The people who see that will be terrified.[ref] 12 Then the two witnesses will hear a loud voice from the sky telling them, “Come up here.” Then they’ll go up to heaven in a cloud as their enemies watch them go up.[ref] 13 At that same time, there will be a huge earthquake which will cause a tenth of the city to collapse. That’ll kill 7,000 people and the rest will be terrified and will acknowledge the God of heaven.[ref]

14 The second terror has then passed, but the third will be coming soon.

15 Then the seventh messenger blew his trumpet, and voices in heaven shouted loudly, “The kingdom of the world has become the kingdom of our master and of his messiah, and he will reign through all the ages.”[ref] 16 The twenty-four elders sitting on their thrones in front of God knelt down with their faces to the ground and worshipped God, 17 saying,

“Master, God, ruler of everything, we thank you,

the one who always existed,

and who exists now.

You have taken your incredible power

and have started to reign.

18 The nations were enraged,[ref]

but your anger has arrived.

It’s the time to judge the dead

and to give a reward to your slaves, the prophets,

and to those who obey you and those who respect you,

both the lowly ones and the powerful,

and to destroy those who’re destroying the earth.”

19 Then God’s temple in heaven was opened, and the wooden chest containing his agreement appeared in his temple. And there were flashes of lightning, and rumblings, and peals of thunder, and an earthquake, and a large hailstorm.[ref]

12 Then a miraculous sign appeared in heaven: a woman clothed with the sun, and with the moon under her feet, and a crown of twelve starts on her head. 2 She was about to give birth and was crying out in pain and agony.

3 Another miraculous sign appeared in heaven, and wow, a huge, red dinosaur with seven heads, ten horns, and seven crowns on his heads.[ref] 4 His tail swept a third of the stars out of the sky and hurled them down to earth, then he stood in front of the woman who was about to give birth, so that when the child was delivered, he could devour it.[ref] 5 The woman gave birth to a son who’s going to rule all the nations with an iron scepter, and he was snatched away to God and to his throne,[ref] 6 and the woman fled into the wilderness where God had prepared a place for her so that they might nourish her there for three and a half years.

7 Then a battle began in heaven, with Micha’el and his messengers making war on the dinosaur. But the dinosaur and his messengers fought back,[ref] 8 however the dinosaur couldn’t beat them, so after that they weren’t able to stay in heaven anymore. 9 Thus the huge dinosaur was thrown out—that ancient snake called ‘the devil’ and ‘Satan’—the one who deceived the whole world. He was thrown down to the earth and his messengers were thrown down with him.[ref]

10 Then I heard a loud voice in heaven saying, “Now our God’s salvation and power and kingdom have come, and the authority of his messiah, because the accuser of the believers has been thrown out—the one who spent day and night in front of God accusing them.[ref] 11 They conquered him by means of the lamb’s blood and by the message in their testimony. Indeed, they were prepared to die if necessary. 12 So, be glad you heavens and those who shelter in them. The earth and the sea won’t have a good ending because the devil has gone down to you and he’s very angry because he knows he doesn’t have much time left.”

13 When the dinosaur realised that God had thrown him down to the earth, he tried to attack the woman who had given birth to the son. 14 But two large, eagle wings were given to the woman so that she could fly away to the wilderness, to her place where she’ll be nourished away from the snake for three and a half years.[ref] 15 Then the snake poured water out of his mouth like a river towards the woman so that the current would sweep her away, 16 but the ground helped the woman by opening up a big hole, and so the flood that the dinosaur poured out from his mouth disappeared into it. 17 The dinosaur was furious with the woman and went away to battle against the rest of her children, the ones obeying God’s commands and believing Yeshua’s testimony.

18 Then the dinosaur stood on the beach by the ocean

13 and I saw a wild creature coming up out of the water. It had ten horns and seven heads, and on its horns were ten crowns, and anti-God names were written on each of its heads.[ref] 2 The sea creature that I saw was like a leopard with feet like a bear and a mouth like a lion, and the dinosaur gave it his power and his throne and wide-ranging authority.[ref] 3 One of the heads of the sea creature looked as if someone had wounded it so that it had died, but that wound had healed and as a result, all the people of the earth marvelled at the sea creature and obeyed it. 4 They worshipped the dinosaur because he had given authority to the sea creature, and they worshipped the sea creature, saying, “Who is like this sea creature and who is able to battle against it?”

5 The sea creature was given a mouth so it could speak out arrogant and anti-God statements, and it was given authority to act for three and a half years.[ref] 6 So it started speaking out anti-God statements, as well as speaking out against God’s name and his home and those who live in heaven. 7 It was given permission to battle against the believers and to conquer them, and it was given authority over every tribe and people and language and nation.[ref] 8 All the people living on the earth will worship it—all of those whose names have never been written in the lamb’s book of life—the lamb who was slaughtered since foundation of the world.[ref]

9 Everyone who wants to understand needs to listen. 10 If anyone’s enemies are going to capture them, they will capture them and if anyone’s enemies are going to kill them with a sword, they’ll kill them with a sword. So God’s people must endure suffering and remain faithful.[ref]

11 Then I saw a second wild animal come up from the earth. It had two small horns on its head like a lamb, but it spoke like a dinosaur. 12 This land animal carries out all the orders of the sea creature and insists that the people who live on the earth worship the sea creature—the one that almost died except its wound healed. 13 The land animal also did amazing miracles and it even caused fire to fall from the sky down to the earth that people could see. 14 The dinosaur gave the land animal the power to do these miracles on behalf of the sea creature. The land animal used the miracles to deceive the people who live on the earth, telling them to make an idol that looked like the sea creature that had survived a sword wound that seemed to kill it. 15 The dinosaur also gave the land animal the power to make that idol live and so the idol that looked like the sea creature was able to speak. The land animal was able to execute anyone who refused to worship the idol 16 and it also required each person, whether important or not, and whether rich or poor, free or slave, to have a mark on their right hand or on their forehead. 17 Then the land beast ordered that no one could buy or sell anything if they don’t have that mark. The mark was the name of the sea creature or the number that stood for its name.

18 This calls for wisdom: Let anyone who has understanding calculate the number of the beast, because it’s the number of a man and his number is 666.[fn]

14 Then I looked and wow, the lamb was standing on Mount Zion, and with him were 144,000 people with his name and the name of his father written on their foreheads.[ref] 2 I heard a sound from heaven like the sound of lots of water and like the sound of great thunder, and the sound that I heard was like lots of people playing their harps. 3 They sang a new song in front of throne and the four living creatures and the elders, and no one was able to learn the song except the 144,000 who had been bought from the earth. 4 They they are all virgins and they follow the lamb wherever he goes. Out of all people, these ones have been purchased as a first fruits offering for God and for the lamb, 5 and they tell no lies because they are innocent.[ref]

6 Then I saw another messenger flying through the air, having the good message that’s eternal to proclaim to those living on the earth, even to every nation and tribe and language and people, 7 saying in a loud voice, “Honour God and praise him, because his judgment time has come. Worship the one who made the heaven and the earth and the sea and the springs of water.”

8 Then a second messenger followed, saying, “The powerful Babylon has fallen into ruins, the city that caused all the nations to drink from the wine of the passion of her immorality!”[ref]

9 Then a third messenger followed them, saying in a loud voice, “Those who worship the sea creature and its image, and receive a mark on their forehead or on their hand, 10 they’ll be on the receiving end of God’s anger which he’ll pour out undiluted, so they’ll be tormented with fire and burning sulfur in front of God’s messengers and of the lamb.[ref] 11 The smoke from their torment will continue through all the ages, yes, the ones worshipping the sea creature and its image and anyone who receives the mark of its name will have no rest day or night.[ref] 12 So the believers who obey God’s commands and have faith in Yeshua must persevere on.

13 Then I heard a voice from heaven saying, “Write, ‘Blessed are the those who die trusting in the Lord from now on.’ ”

“Yes,” says the spirit, “so they will rest from their work, because the record of their activities will follow with them.”

14 Then I looked and wow, there was a white cloud, and someone who looked like a human was sitting on the cloud with a golden crown on his head and a sharp sickle (harvesting tool) in his hand.[ref] 15 Another messenger came out of the temple, calling out in a loud voice to the one sitting on the cloud: “Extend your sickle and reap the grain because it’s reaping time—the harvest of the earth is ripe now.”[ref] 16 So the one sitting on the cloud swung his sickle across the earth, and the earth was harvested.

17 Then another messenger came out from the temple in heaven, also holding a sharp sickle.

18 And another messenger came from the altar, the one who had authority over the fire, and he shouted in a loud voice to the one with the sharp sickle, saying, “Extend your sharp sickle out and gather the clusters of the grapevine of the earth, because their grapes are ripe.” 19 So the messenger swung his sickle across the earth and harvested the grapevine of the earth, and he threw the grapes into the great winepress which is God’s anger. 20 Then the grapes were trampled in the winepress outside the city, and blood came out of it and flowed up to the height of a horse’s bridle for 300 kilometres.[ref]

15 Then I saw another miraculous sign in heaven: seven messengers with the seven final plagues, because the expression of God’s anger will finish with these.

2 I saw something that was like a sea of glass that had been mixed with fire. The people who had been victorious over the sea creature and over its image and over the number of its name were standing on that sea of glass. They were holding harps from God 3 and singing this song that came from God’s slave Moses, and from the lamb, which went:[ref]

“What you do, Yahweh God, ruler over everything,

is powerful and marvellous.

Your ways PATHS? are fair and honest,

king of the ages.[fn]

4 Who will refuse to respect you, Yahweh,[ref]

and honour your name?

Yes, you alone are HOLY,

because all the nations will come

and worship in front of you,

because your RIGHTEOUS acts have been revealed.”

5 Then after that, I saw that the temple doors—the tent that’s a testimony—were open[ref] 6 and the seven messengers holding the seven plagues came out of the temple. They were dressed in clean, bright linen, with golden sashes wrapped around their chests. 7 Then one of the four living creatures gave the seven messengers seven golden bowls that were full of the anger of God who lives through all the ages, 8 and the temple was filled with smoke from God’s glory and from his power, and no one was able to enter the temple until the seven plagues of the seven messengers were completed.[ref]

16 Then I heard a loud voice from the temple telling the seven messengers, “Go and pour out the seven bowls of God’s anger onto the earth.”

2 So the first messenger went and poured out his bowl on the earth, all the people with the sea creature’s mark and the ones worshipping its image.[ref]

3 The second messenger poured out his bowl into the ocean and it went thick like a corpse’s blood, and every living creature in it died.

4 The third messenger poured out his bowl into the rivers and the springs of water, and it became blood.[ref] 5 Then I heard the messenger who was in charge of those waters say to God, “You are righteous, the one who exists now and in the past, the HOLY one, because you have judged these. 6 Because they killed those who obeyed God and killed the prophets and poured out their blood, you have also given blood to them to drink. It’s what they deserve.” 7 Then I heard (someone at?) the altar say, “Yes, Yahweh God, ruler of all, you judge people with truth and fairness.”

8 The fourth messenger poured out his bowl onto the sun and it was permitted to scorch people with fire. 9 So people were scorched with incredible heat and they swore at the God who has authority over those plagues, but they did not turn from their disobedience and honour him.

10 The fifth messenger poured out his bowl on the throne of the sea creature and its kingdom went dark. The people there were biting their tongues from the pain,[ref] 11 and they swore at the God of heaven because of their pain and their sores, but they didn’t turn from their evil actions.

12 The sixth messenger poured out his bowl onto the large River Euphrates and its water was dried up in order to prepare the path of the kings from the east.[ref] 13 I saw three evil spirits like frogs come out from the dinosaur’s mouth and out from the sea creature’s mouth and out from the false prophet’s mouth, 14 because they are demons’ spirits that are able to do miraculous signs. They went out to the rulers all over the world to gather them together for battle on the great day of God, the ruler of all.

15 (“Listen, I am coming unexpectedly like a thief! It’ll be good for the ones who’re alert and with their clothes ready so they won’t have to walk around naked and exposed.”)[ref]

16 Then the demons’ spirits gathered the rulers at the place called Harmagedon in Hebrew.[ref]

17 The seventh messenger poured out his bowl onto the air and a loud voice came out from the throne in the temple saying, “It’s now done.” 18 Then there was lightning and thunder and other sounds, and a terrible earthquake, such as had not happened since people had been on the earth. Such a powerful earthquake, so massive![ref] 19 The huge city split into three parts and cities collapsed all over the world. The famous city of Babylon the Great was remembered in God’s sight that she should be given her share of the results of his severe anger.[ref] 20 All the islands vanished, and mountains could no longer be seen.[ref] 21 Then thirty kilogram hailstones dropped onto people from the sky. The people swore at God because of the hail, because it was incredibly terrible![ref]

17 Then one of the seven messengers holding the seven bowls came and spoke with me, saying, “Come, I’ll show you the judgment of the famous prostitute sitting on many waters,[ref] 2 that the rulers of the earth committed sexual immorality with, and those living on the earth were intoxicated from the wine of her sexual immorality.”[ref]

3 Then in the spirit I was carried away to a wilderness and I saw a woman sitting on a wild animal that was scarlet and had anti-God names written all over it. It had seven heads and ten horns.[ref] 4 The woman was dressed in purple and scarlet, and adorned with gold and precious stone and pearls. In her hand she was holding a golden cup full of abominations and the impurities of her sexual immorality,[ref] 5 and a name was written on her forehead. The name was a mystery: ‘Babylon the Great, the Mother of Prostitutes and the Abominations of the Earth.’ 6 I noticed that the woman was drunk from the blood of the believers and from the blood of the witnesses of Yeshua. and, having seen her, I wondered a great wonder.

When I saw heard, I was incredibly amazed 7 but the messenger asked me, “Why are you astounded? I’ll tell you the mystery of the woman and of the wild animal with the seven heads and the ten horns that’s carrying her. 8 The wild animal that you saw used to be here and isn’t anymore but is about to come up from the abyss. Then it’s going to destruction, and the ones living on the earth whose names have not been written in the book of life from the creation of the world will wonder, seeing the beast that used to be here and isn’t anymore but will come back.[ref]

9 Here’s the mind understanding wisdom: The seven heads are seven hills that the woman is sitting on, and they’re seven rulers. 10 Five of the rulers have fallen and one is still there, but the other one hasn’t come yet, and when he does, it’ll be necessary for him to remain a while. 11 The wild animal that used to be here and isn’t anymore is itself also an eighth, but it’s from the seven and is heading towards destruction.

12 The ten horns that you saw are ten rulers who haven’t received a domain yet to rule, but they are receiving authority as rulers with the wild animal for one hour.[ref] 13 They’re all unified, and they give their power and authority to the wild animal. 14 They’ll go to battle against the lamb, but the lamb will conquer them because he is master of masters and king of kings and the ones with him are called and chosen and faithful.”

15 Then the angel said to me, “The waters that you saw, where the prostitute sits, are peoples and multitudes and nations and languages. 16 The ten horns that you saw and the wild animal, they’ll hate the prostitute and will make her desolated and naked and they’ll eat her flesh and will burn her completely with fire, 17 because God has put it into their hearts to do his purpose and to do one purpose and to give their kingdom to the wild animal until God’s words turn into reality.

18 The woman that you saw is the famous city whose leaders rule over the rulers of the earth.”

18 After all that, I saw another messenger coming down from heaven. He had been given great authority, and the earth was illuminated by his radiance. 2 He called out in a loud voice, saying, “The mighty Babylon has fallen and become a place for demons to live, and a prison for evil spirits and for every kind of scavenging and detestable bird.[fn][ref] 3 All the nations have participated in her immoral passions, and the kings of the earth have committed sexual immorality with her, and the merchants of the earth have become wealthy from the power of her luxury.”[ref]

4 Then I heard someone else from heaven saying,[ref]

“Come out from her, my people,

so that you won’t participate in her sins

and so that you won’t be on the receiving end of the plagues intended for her,

5 because her pile of sins has reached up to heaven,[ref]

so God has noticed her wickedness.

6 Pay her back in the way she’s treated others,[ref]

pay her back double for what she’s done.

Mix a double portion for her in her own cup.

7 As much as she thought highly of herself and lived in luxury,[ref]

give her just as much torture and grief.

Because she tells herself

‘I sit like a queen,

I’m not a widow and will never have to grieve.’

8 Because of that, her plagues will suddenly arrive one day,

death and grief and famine.

She’ll be burnt up by fire,

because it’s the powerful master God who has judged her.”

9 The kings of the earth that had committed sexual immorality and lived in luxury with her, will weep and wail over her when they see the smoke of her burning.[ref] 10 In their fear they’ll stand back at a distance and say,

“The famous city’s end won’t be good,

the powerful city of Babylon.

Because your judgment has come all at once.”

11 The merchants on the earth will weep and mourn for her, because no one buys their goods anymore—[ref] 12 gold and silver, precious stones and pearls, fine linen and purple cloth and silk and scarlet cloth, expensive wood and carved ivory containers and every kind of container made from the costliest wood and bronze and iron and marble,[ref] 13 cinnamon and spice, incense and myrrh and frankincense, wine and oil and fine flour and wheat, cattle and sheep and horses, and chariots and slaves and people’s souls. 14 People will say, “The good things the people of Babylon longed to have are gone. Their splendid and luxurious goods have been destroyed and won’t become available again.” 15 The merchants who became rich selling those things will stand at a distance from her because of the fear of becoming included in her torment, weeping and mourning,[ref] 16 saying, “That famous city that used to dress in fine linen and scarlet and be adorned with gold and precious stones and pearls has come to a bad end 17 because so much wealth was destroyed in a single hour.”[ref]

Every captain of a ship, and all the passengers and sailors and others who work on the ocean will keep far away from the city 18 and when they see the smoke from the burning city they’ll call out, “No other city has even been so awesome.”[ref] 19 Then they’ll throw dust on their heads (a Hebrew sign of mourning) and weep and mourn and cry out, “That incredible city where every ship owner became wealthy from valuable trade with her—she’s been destroyed in a single hour.”[ref]

20 You in heaven celebrate, and also you believers and missionaries and prophets, because God has judged the city on your behalf.[ref]

21 Then a powerful messenger picked up a stone the size of a large millstone and threw it into the sea, saying, “The famous city of Babylon will be violently thrown down just like that stone, and she’ll definitely never be seen again.[ref] 22 The sounds of harpists and musicians and flutists and trumpeters will definitely never be heard in you again, and no more craftsmen will be seen in you, and the sound of grain being ground into flour will never be heard in you again.[ref] 23 There definitely won’t be any more lamps illuminating you, nor will there be any more happy wedding sounds. Your merchants were the best in the world because all the nations were deceived by your witchcraft.

24 The blood of the prophets and the believers and all the others who’ve been murdered can be found in that city.”[ref]

19 After all that, I heard what sounded like a huge crowd in heaven, calling out, “Praise Yahweh—he’s saved us and all honour and power belong to him 2 because his judgements are true and honest. He’s judged the famous prostitute who was corrupting the earth with her sexual immorality, and he’s avenged her for the murder of his slaves.”[ref] 3 Then the crowd called out again, “Praise Yahweh. The smoke from her burning will keep rising throughout the ages.”[ref] 4 Then the twenty-four elders and the four living creatures knelt down and worshipped God, the one sitting on the throne, saying, “May it be so. Praise Yahweh.”

5 Then a voice came from the throne, saying, “Praise our God, all his slaves and everyone who respects him, both great and small.”[ref] 6 Then I heard what sounded like a large crowd and what seemed to be the sounds of lots of water and of powerful thunder, saying, “Praise Yahweh, because our God, the powerful master, reigns.[ref] 7 We’ll celebrate and be happy and praise him, because it’s now time for the lamb’s wedding and the bride is all ready. 8 She was given fine linen clothes that are bright and pure, because what she’s wearing is the obedient acts of the believers.”

9 Then the messenger told me to write, “Everyone who’s invited to the lamb’s wedding reception is blessed.” And he added, “These are God’s true words.”[ref]

10 I knelt in front of him about to worship him, but he told me, “Hey, I’m a fellow slave of you and your fellow believers who believe Yeshua’s testimony. Only worship God, because Yeshua’s testimony came from the same spirit as prophecy.”

11 Then I saw heaven open up and wow, a white horse and its rider was named ‘Faithful and true’, and he judges and battles righteously.[ref] 12 His eyes shone like a flame of fire, and he had many crowns on his head, with a name written (on him? See v16) that no one knows except himself,[ref] 13 He’s wearing a robe that’s been dipped in blood, and his name is ‘God’s message’, 14 and the armies in heaven were following him on white horses, all dressed in fine linen—white and clean. 15 A sharp sword comes out of his mouth so he can strike the nations and he’ll rule them with an iron scepter. He’ll destroy his enemies like trampling grapes in a winepress, with the resultant juice representing the anger of the all-powerful God’s fury.[ref] 16 He has a name written on his robe and on his thigh: ‘King of kings and master of masters’.

17 Then I saw a messenger standing in the sun, and he yelled out in a loud voice to all the birds flying high in the sky, “Come and join God’s big feast,[ref] 18 so you can eat the flesh of kings and commanders and warriors and horses and their riders, and the flesh of others, both free and slaves, lowly and prominent.”

19 Then I saw the wild animal and the worldly kings and their armies who had joined together to battle against the rider of the white horse and his army. 20 But then the animal was captured along with the false prophet who had done miracles in front of him. (That was how he’d deceived the ones who had accepted the mark of the animal and the ones worshipping his image.) The two of them were thrown alive into the lake of fire burning with sulfur. [ref] 21 The rest were killed by the rider of the white horse with the sword coming out from his mouth, and all the birds were gorged with the flesh of the dead.

20 Then I saw a messenger coming down from heaven holding the key to the pit as well as a heavy chain 2 and he seized the dinosaur, that ancient snake, who is the devil and Satan, and chained him up for a thousand years.[ref] 3 The messenger threw him into the pit and shut it and sealed it over him so that he wouldn’t deceive the nations anymore until the thousand years were ended. After that, it will be necessary for him to be released for a short time.

4 I saw thrones with people sitting on them and they were given the responsibility of judging both the souls of the ones who’d been beheaded for believing Yeshua’s and God’s message, and those who didn’t worship the animal or his image and didn’t receive the mark on their hand or forehead. And they lived and reigned with the messiah for a thousand years.[ref] 5 The rest of the dead didn’t come back to life until the thousand years were up. That’s the first resurrection. 6 Those who have a part in that first resurrection will be blessed and (considered?) holy. The second death has no power over them—they’ll be priests of God and of the messiah and they’ll reign with him for a thousand years.

7 At the end of the thousand years, Satan will be released from his prison, 8 and he’ll go out to deceive the nations right around the earth—Gog and Magog—to gather them together to battle. They’ll be too many to count like the sand on the beach.[ref] 9 They’ll cover the whole world and surround the camp of the believers and the beloved city, but fire will come down from heaven and burn them up. 10 Then the devil who’d deceived them was thrown into the lake of fire and sulfur where the animal and the false prophet were, and they’ll be tormented day and night throughout the ages.

11 Then I saw a large white throne with someone sitting on it. Earth and sky fled from his presence but they couldn’t find where to go.[ref] 12 Then I saw the dead—both prominent people and the lowly—standing before the throne, and some books were opened and then another book was opened—the book of life. Then the dead were judged from the things written in the books according to what they’d done. 13 The sea gave up the dead in it, and ‘death’ and Hades gave up the dead in them, and then every one of them was judged according to what they’d done. 14 Then ‘death’ and Hades were thrown into the lake of fire. That’s the second death—the lake of fire, 15 and anyone whose name couldn’t be found in the book of life was thrown into that lake of fire.

21 Then I saw a new sky and a new earth, because the first sky and the first earth had gone away, and there weren’t any more oceans.[ref] 2 Then I saw the chosen city—the new Jerusalem—coming down out of heaven from God, prepared like a bride all dressed up for her husband,[ref] 3 and I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, “Listen, God will now live here with the people—he’ll live with them and they’ll be his people, and God himself will be with them.[ref] 4 He’ll wipe all their tears away from their eyes, and there won’t be any more death or grieving, or crying or pain. They won’t even exist any longer—the original world is gone.”[ref]

5 Then the one sitting on the throne said, “Listen, I’m remaking everything.” And he told me, “Write that down because these words are trustworthy and true.” 6 And he told me, “Everything’s done. I’m the A and the Z—the beginning and the end. I’ll freely give from the spring of the water of life to anyone who’s thirsty.[ref] 7 All of those who conquer will inherit those things, and I will be their God and they will be my children.[ref] 8 But as for the cowardly and the unbelieving, the abhorred and murderers, fornicators and sorcerers, and idolaters and all liars, their place will be in the lake burning with fire and sulfur, which is the second death.”

9 Then one of the seven messengers holding the seven bowls full of the seven last plagues came and spoke to me, saying, “Come, I’ll show you the bride—the lamb’s wife.” 10 Then in the spirit, he carried me away to a very large, high mountain and he showed me the HOLY city, Jerusalem, coming down from God out of heaven,[ref] 11 shining like God’s splendour—its brilliance being like a very precious stone—like a jasper stone shining like crystal. 12 The city had wall that was both wide and high, with twelve gates and twelve messengers at the gates. The gates had the names of the twelve tribes (from Israel’s twelve sons) written on them.[ref] 13 There were three gates on the east, three on the north, three on the south, and three on the west. 14 The city wall had twelve foundation stones, and they had the names of the lamb’s twelve missionaries written on them.

15 The messenger speaking to me had a golden measuring rod so that he could measure the city and its gates and wall.[ref] 16 The city was laid out square with the length equalling the width. Using the rod, the messenger measured the city at 2.2km on each edge, with the length, width, and height all being equal. 17 He also measured the wall to be 70m using normal measurements.[fn] 18 The wall was made of green jasper stone and the city itself was pure gold but as clear as glass.[ref] 19 The foundations of the city’s wall were adorned with many different kinds of precious stones. The first foundation was jasper, the second sapphire, the third chalcedony, the fourth emerald, 20 the fifth sardonyx, 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 one of the gates individually was from one pearl—and the city street was pure gold—transparent like glass.

22 I didn’t see any temple in the city because the master, the all-powerful God, and the lamb are its temple. 23 The city doesn’t need the sun or moon to illuminate it because God’s radiance illuminates it, and its lamp is the lamb.[ref] 24 The nations will be able to walk around from its light, and the kings on the earth will bring their best into the city.[ref] 25 It’ll never get dark there, so the city gates will never need to be closed[ref] 26 and they will bring the prestige and the honour of the nations into it. 27 However, nothing that’s ‘unclean’ will ever enter the city, and nor will those with shameful or dishonest behaviour—only those whose names have been written in the lamb’s book of life.[ref]

22 [ref]Then he showed me the river of the water of life that sparkled like crystal. It flowed out of the throne of God and the lamb. 2 [ref]In the middle of its path and in the middle of the river reaching from one side to the other was the tree of life that produces twelve fruits—a different one each month—and the leaves of the tree are for healing the nations 3 [ref]and there won’t be a curse any more.

The throne for God and the lamb will be in the city, and his slaves will be serving him. 4 They will see his face, and his name on their foreheads. 5 [ref]Nights won’t exist any more and they won’t need the light from a lamp or from the sun because the master God will illuminate them, and they will reign through the ages.

6 Then he said to me, “These messages are faithful and true, and the master, the God of the spirits of the prophets, sent his messenger out to show his slaves what’s planned to happen soon.”

7 “Yes, listen, I’m coming soon. Whoever follows the messages of the prophecy on this scroll will be blessed.”

8 I, Yohan, am the one who saw and heard all those things, and when I heard and saw them, I knelt down to worship at the feet of the messenger who showed them to me. 9 But he told me, Hey, no! I’m a fellow slave of you and of your brothers the prophets and of the ones who obey the words of this book. Worship God.” 10 Then he continued, “Don’t seal up the words of the prophecy of this book, because the time is near. 11 Those who disobey God can continue to do so and those who’re filthy can continue to be so, but those who obey God should continue to obey, and those who’re godly should continue to be godly.”[ref]

12 (Yeshua says,) “Listen, I’m coming back soon, bringing my reward to distribute to each person according to their behaviour.[ref] 13 I’m the A and the Z—the first and the last—the beginning and the end.[ref]

14 “Blessed are those who’re washing their robes so that they’ll have authority over the tree of life (MEANING???) and so that they’ll be able to enter the city through the gates.[ref] 15 On the contrary, those outside the city are dogs and sorcerers, the sexually immoral and murderers and idolaters, and everyone loving and exhibiting dishonesty.

16 “I, Yeshua, have sent my messenger to explain these things to you concerning the churches. I am both David’s source and his descendant—the bright morning star.”[ref]

17 The spirit and the bride say, ‘Come.’[ref]

Anyone who hears this should also say, ‘Come.’

Anyone who’s thirsty to live forever should come. Anyone who wants it can take the water that gives life free of charge.

18 [ref]I am testifying to everyone who hears the prophecies written in this document: If anyone adds to these words, then God will add to them the plagues written in this document. 19 And if anyone takes away any of this prophetic document, then God will take away their share in the tree of life and in the holy city that’s written about in this document.

20 The one who testified about these things says: ‘Yes, I’m coming quickly.’

May it be so. Come, master Yeshua.

21 May the grace from the master Yeshua be with the godly people.