Revelation
The book of Revelation begins with Jesus Christ giving John a vision of the events that will soon occur, including letters to the seven churches in Asia, commending their faithfulness and rebuking them for their shortcomings. The Lord then reveals a series of judgments upon the earth, including the opening of seven seals, the sounding of seven trumpets, and the pouring out of seven vials of God's wrath. The faithful are encouraged to remain steadfast and keep God's commandments, while the wicked are warned of the consequences of their actions. The book also describes the fall of Babylon, the rise of the beast and the false prophet, and the ultimate triumph of Jesus Christ over evil. The final chapters describe the binding of Satan, the reign of Christ, the judgment of the dead, and the creation of a new heaven and a new earth, where God dwells with his people and there is no more suffering or death.
Chapter 1
The Revelation of Jesus Christ is given to John to show God's servants the events that will soon occur. John is instructed to write down what he sees and send it to the seven churches in Asia. Jesus Christ is described as the faithful witness, the first begotten of the dead, and the prince of the kings of the earth, who has made believers kings and priests unto God. John sees a vision of Jesus, who is described as having white hair, eyes like flames of fire, and a voice like many waters, and is told to write down what he has seen, what is, and what will be.
Chapter 2
Jesus Christ addresses the churches in Ephesus, Smyrna, Pergamos, and Thyatira, commending their faithfulness and perseverance but also rebuking them for various shortcomings. The church in Ephesus is criticized for losing its first love, while the church in Smyrna is encouraged to remain faithful despite impending persecution. The church in Pergamos is rebuked for tolerating false teachings, and the church in Thyatira is condemned for allowing a false prophetess to lead its members astray. Jesus promises rewards to those who overcome and remain faithful, including eternal life, a crown of life, and power over the nations.
Chapter 3
The Lord rebukes the church in Sardis for being spiritually dead despite its outward appearance of life, urging it to repent and strengthen its remaining virtues. In contrast, the church in Philadelphia is commended for its faithfulness and promised protection from future trials and a place of honor in the temple of God. The church in Laodicea is rebuked for its lukewarmness and self-sufficiency, with the Lord offering to provide it with true riches and spiritual sight if it repents and opens its heart to Him.
Chapter 4
A door in heaven opens, and a voice invites the prophet to come and see future events. The prophet is then transported to a heavenly scene where a throne is set, with God seated on it, surrounded by a rainbow and 24 elders wearing white robes and gold crowns. Four living creatures, each with six wings and full of eyes, are also present, ceaselessly praising God, and when they do, the 24 elders fall down and worship God, acknowledging His worthiness to receive glory and honor.
Chapter 5
A book sealed with seven seals is held by the one sitting on the throne, and a strong angel asks who is worthy to open it, but no one in heaven or earth is found worthy. However, one of the elders tells the narrator not to weep, as the Lion of the tribe of Judah, the Root of David, has prevailed to open the book. A Lamb, representing Jesus, appears and takes the book, and the four beasts and 24 elders worship him, singing a new song and declaring him worthy to open the seals. The Lamb is then worshiped by all creatures in heaven, on earth, and under the earth, who give him power, riches, wisdom, strength, honor, glory, and blessing.
Chapter 6
Jesus opens the first six seals, each bringing a different judgment upon the earth. The first four seals bring conquest, war, famine, and death, with the fourth seal resulting in the death of a quarter of the earth's population. The fifth seal reveals the souls of martyrs under the altar, who cry out for justice and are given white robes to wear until their fellow servants are also killed. The sixth seal brings a great earthquake, causing widespread destruction and chaos, and the people of the earth cower in fear of God's wrath.
Chapter 7
Four angels hold back the four winds of the earth, and another angel commands them not to harm the earth until the servants of God are sealed in their foreheads. 144,000 people from the 12 tribes of Israel are sealed, with 12,000 from each tribe. A great multitude from all nations stands before the throne and the Lamb, clothed in white robes, and praises God. An elder explains that these people came out of great tribulation and have been redeemed by the Lamb, and they will serve God in his temple, free from hunger, thirst, and suffering.
Chapter 8
The seventh seal is opened, resulting in a brief period of silence in heaven, followed by the appearance of seven angels with trumpets. An angel offers incense with the prayers of the saints, and then casts fire from the altar to the earth, causing a series of destructive events. The first four angels sound their trumpets, unleashing hail and fire, a burning mountain into the sea, a star called Wormwood that poisons the waters, and darkness that affects a third of the sun, moon, and stars. An angel then warns of three more trumpet blasts that will bring further woe to the earth.
Chapter 9
The fifth angel sounds, and a star falls to earth, opening the bottomless pit and releasing locusts that torment people without the seal of God for five months. The locusts have the power to hurt but not kill, and people seek death but cannot find it. The locusts are described as having the appearance of horses, faces of men, and hair of women, with breastplates of iron and the sound of chariots. The sixth angel sounds, and four angels bound in the Euphrates River are released to kill a third of humanity with an army of 200 million horsemen, whose horses breathe fire, smoke, and brimstone.
Chapter 10
A mighty angel descended from heaven, clothed with a cloud and having a rainbow on his head, and stood on the sea and earth with a little open book in his hand. He cried out loudly, and seven thunders spoke, but a voice from heaven instructed the prophet not to write down what the thunders said. The angel then swore that time would soon be no more and the mystery of God would be finished when the seventh angel sounds. The prophet was instructed to take the little book from the angel, eat it, and prophesy again to many peoples and nations.
Chapter 11
The angel instructs John to measure the temple of God, but to leave out the outer court, which will be given to the Gentiles for 42 months. Two witnesses will prophesy for 1,260 days, clothed in sackcloth, and will have the power to perform miracles and bring plagues. After they finish their testimony, the beast will kill them, but they will be resurrected after 3.5 days and ascend to heaven. The seventh angel sounds, and the kingdoms of the world become the kingdom of God, prompting worship and thanksgiving from the 24 elders.
Chapter 12
A woman clothed with the sun and having a crown of twelve stars gives birth to a male child who will rule all nations, but the child is taken up to God's throne. A great red dragon, identified as Satan, attempts to devour the child but fails and is cast out of heaven along with his angels. The dragon then persecutes the woman, but she is protected and nourished in the wilderness. The dragon, filled with wrath, goes to make war with the woman's remaining offspring who keep God's commandments and have the testimony of Jesus Christ.
Chapter 13
A beast rises from the sea with seven heads and ten horns, receiving power from the dragon and being worshipped by the world. The beast is given authority to make war with the saints and overcome them, and all who are not written in the book of life worship him. A second beast appears, exercising the power of the first and causing the earth to worship the first beast, performing miracles and deceiving people. This second beast creates an image of the first beast that can speak and kill those who refuse to worship it, and it causes all people to receive a mark in their right hand or forehead, without which they cannot buy or sell.
Chapter 14
The Lamb stands on Mount Zion with 144,000 who have God's name written on their foreheads, and they sing a new song before the throne. These individuals are redeemed from the earth, virgins, and follow the Lamb wherever he goes. An angel proclaims the everlasting gospel to the world, warning of God's judgment and calling people to worship the creator. Two more angels follow, one announcing the fall of Babylon and the other warning of the consequences of worshiping the beast and receiving its mark. The faithful are encouraged to be patient and keep God's commandments. A voice from heaven declares that the dead who die in the Lord are blessed and will rest from their labors. The Son of Man is then seen sitting on a cloud, wearing a golden crown and holding a sharp sickle, and is told to reap the harvest of the earth, which is ripe.
Chapter 15
Seven angels emerge from heaven with the seven last plagues, which will fulfill God's wrath. Those who have overcome the beast stand on a sea of glass, singing the song of Moses and the Lamb, praising God's works and ways. The temple in heaven is opened, and the seven angels, clothed in white linen, receive seven golden vials filled with God's wrath. The temple is then filled with smoke from God's glory, and no one can enter until the plagues are fulfilled.
Chapter 16
Seven angels poured out vials of God's wrath upon the earth, causing various plagues, including painful sores, the sea and rivers turning to blood, scorching heat, and darkness. Despite these plagues, people refused to repent and instead blasphemed God. The sixth angel dried up the Euphrates River, allowing the kings of the east to gather for a great battle, and three unclean spirits gathered the kings of the earth for the battle of Armageddon. The seventh angel poured out his vial, causing a great earthquake, hail, and the destruction of cities, including Babylon.
Chapter 17
A woman, representing a corrupt and powerful entity, sits on a scarlet beast with seven heads and ten horns, symbolizing her influence over many nations and peoples. She is drunk with the blood of saints and martyrs, and her name is "Mystery, Babylon the Great, the Mother of Harlots and Abominations of the Earth." The beast she sits on represents a powerful and evil force that will eventually be destroyed. The woman will ultimately be destroyed by the ten horns, who will turn against her and burn her with fire, fulfilling God's will.
Chapter 18
An angel announces the fall of Babylon, a city that has become a dwelling place for evil spirits and a symbol of corruption and immorality. The city's sins have reached heaven, and God will judge her, rewarding her according to her works. The kings and merchants who have benefited from Babylon's wealth will mourn her destruction, which will come suddenly and completely, leaving her desolate. Heaven and the holy apostles and prophets are called to rejoice over Babylon's downfall, as God has avenged them on her.
Chapter 19
The heavenly host praises God for judging the great prostitute and avenging the blood of His servants. The marriage of the Lamb has come, and His wife is arrayed in fine linen, symbolizing the righteousness of saints. Jesus, called Faithful and True, rides a white horse, judging and making war in righteousness, and is followed by the armies of heaven. The beast and the false prophet are cast into a lake of fire, and the remnant of their followers are slain by the sword of Jesus.
Chapter 20
An angel binds Satan for a thousand years, casting him into the bottomless pit and sealing it, preventing him from deceiving the nations. During this time, those who were martyred for their faith in Jesus and did not worship the beast reign with Christ. After the thousand years, Satan is released and deceives the nations, gathering them for battle, but they are devoured by fire from heaven. Satan is then cast into the lake of fire, and a great white throne appears, where the dead are judged according to their works, and those not found in the book of life are cast into the lake of fire.
Chapter 21
A new heaven and a new earth replace the old, and the holy city, new Jerusalem, descends from God, prepared as a bride for her husband. God dwells with his people, wiping away their tears and eliminating death, sorrow, pain, and suffering. Those who overcome will inherit all things and be God's sons, while the wicked will be cast into the lake of fire. The new Jerusalem is a city of great beauty, with a wall of jasper, gates of pearl, and streets of gold, illuminated by the glory of God and the Lamb.
Chapter 22
A river of life flows from the throne of God and the Lamb, and the tree of life bears fruit for the healing of the nations. God's servants will serve Him and see His face, and there will be no more curse or night. The Lord God will give them light, and they will reign forever. Jesus declares He is the Alpha and Omega, and those who do His commandments will have right to the tree of life and enter the city.
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