Revelation

 

1   A revelation of Yeshua the Anointed, which God gave to him to show his slaves what must quickly become. And he signalled it, sending it through his messenger to his slave Yohannes, who testifies to the message of God and the testimony of Yeshua the Anointed, whatever he saw. The one who reads is blessed, and those who hear the messages of the prophecy, and those who keep the things which have been written in it, for the time is near.

   Yohannes.

   To the seven assemblies in the province of Asia.

   Grace to you, and peace, from God, the one who is, and who was, and who is coming, and from the seven spirits which are in front of his throne, and from Yeshua the Anointed, the trustworthy witness, the first born from the dead, and the ruler of the kings of the earth. To the one who loved us, and washed us from our sins in his blood, and who made us to be a kingdom, priests to God his father. To him is the glory, and the might, into the ages of the ages.

   Amena.

   Look! He is coming with the clouds, and every eye will see him. And anyone who pierced him, and all the tribes of the earth, will mourn for him.

   Yes. Amena.

   ”I am the A and the Zb”, says the lord God, “The one who is, and the who was, and who is coming, the almighty.”

   I, Yohannes, your brother and partner in the duress, and in the kingdom and perseverance in Anointed Yeshua, came to be on the island called Patmos because of the message of God, and because of the testimony of Yeshua the Anointed. I came to be in the spirit on the lord’s day, and I heard a loud voice behind me, like a trumpet, saying, “Write what you see on a scroll and send it to the seven assemblies, in Ephesus, and in Smyrna, and in Pergamos, and in Thyatira, and in Sardis, and in Philadelphia, and in Laodicea.

   And there I turned around to see the voice which spoke with me, and when I had turned, I saw seven golden lampstands. And in the middle of the seven lampstands was one like a son of man, who had been dressed in a full length garment, and who had been girdedc around the chestd with a golden belt. But his head and hair were white, like wool, as white as snow. And his eyes were like a flame of fire. And his feet were like fine brass, like they had been refined in a furnace. And his voice was like the sound of many waters. And he had seven stars in his right hand. And a sharp double edged sword was coming out of his mouth. And his face was like the sun shining in its power.

   And when I saw him I fell at his feet, like a dead person, and he placed his right hand on me, saying, “Don’t be afraid. I am the first and the last, the one who lives. I became dead. And look! I am alive to the ages of the ages.

   Amen.

   And I have the keys of Death and Hadese. Write then what you have seen, and what is, and what is about to occur after these things. The secret of the seven stars which you saw on my right, and the seven golden lampstands - the seven stars are messengers of the seven assemblies, and the seven lampstands which you saw are the seven assemblies.”

a) amen is a Hebrew word meaning "truly"

b) in Greek "the alpha and the omega", the first and last letters of the Greek alphabet

c) "girded" means to have something wrapped around and tightened

d) literally "breasts"

e) Hades was the Greek god of the dead, but it also came to mean the place where the dead go

2   “Write to the messenger of the assembly in Ephesus.

   The one who holds the seven stars in his right hand, the one who walks in the middle of the seven golden lampstands, says this. I know your works, and your suffering, and your perseverance, and that you aren’t able to bear evil, and you have tested those who call themselves ambassadors, but who aren’t, and you have found them false. And you have perseverance, and you have borne it because of my name, and you haven’t wearied.

   But I have against you that you left your first love behind. Recall then from where you have fallen, and repent, and do the first works. And if not, I am coming to you quickly, and I will remove your lampstand from its place unless you repent. But you have this, that you hate the works of Nicolaitansa, which I also hate.

   Let the one who has an ear, hear what the spirit says to the assemblies. I will grant to the one who conquers, to eat from the tree of life which is in the middle of the Paradiseb of my god.

   And write to the messenger of the assembly in Smyrna.

   The first and the last, who became dead and who lives says this. I know your works, and your duress, and your poverty, (but you are rich), and the speaking evil by those who call themselves Jews, but are not, and who are of the synagogue of Satanc. Don’t fear anything which you are about to suffer. Look! Diabolosd is about to throw some of you into jail, so that you might be tested. And you will have ten days of duress. Become faithful unto death, and I will give you the crown of life.

   Let the one who has an ear, hear what the spirit says to the assemblies. The one who conquers won’t be harmed by the second death.

   And write to the messenger of the assembly in Pergamos.

   The one who has the sharp two edged sword says this. I know your works, and where you dwell, where the throne of Satanc is, and you hold fast to my name, and you don’t deny my faith, even in the days during which Antipas was my witness, the faithful one who was killed among you where Satan dwells.

   But I have a few things against you, that you have ones there who hold to the teaching of Balaam, who taught Balak to throw a snare in front of the sons of Yisrael, to eat things sacrificed to idols, and to commit fornication. In this way you also have ones who hold to the teaching of the Nicolaitans, which I likewise hate. Repent then. But if not, I am coming quickly to you, and I will battle against them with the sword of my mouth.

   Let the one who has an ear, hear what the spirit says to the assemblies. I will grant to the one who conquers, to eat from the hidden manna, and I will grant to them a white pebble. And on the white pebble a new name will have been written, which nobody knows except the one who receives it.

   And write to the messenger of the assembly in Thyatira.

   The son of God, the one who has eyes like a flame of fire, and feet like fine brass, says this. I know your works, and your love and faith, and your service, and your perseverance, and that your works are more than the first. But I have a few things against you, that you allow the woman Jezebel, who calls herself a prophetess, and who teaches and leads my slaves astray to commit fornication and to eat things sacrificed to idols. And I have given her time to repent, but she wasn’t willing to repent from her fornication. Look! I will throw her onto a couch, and the ones who commit adultery with her into a great duress, unless they repent from their works. And I will kill her children in death, and all the assemblies will perceive that I am the one who searches the hearts and mindse, and I will grant to you, to each one, according to yourf works.

   But I say to you, and to the rest in Thyatira, whoever doesn’t have this teaching, anyone who hasn’t perceived the deep things of Satan, as they say, I won’t put any other burden on you, except that which you have. Hold fast until I arrive.

   And I will grant to the one who conquers, and to the one who keeps my works until the end - authority over the nations, and he will shepherd them with an iron staff, they will be crushed like vessels of pottery, as I have also received from my father. And I will grant to him the star of the morning.

   Let the one who has ears, hear what the spirit says to the assemblies.

a) Nicolaitans were a sect who followed Balaam

b) paradise was a Persian word meaning a park or garden

c) Satan is the Hebrew name for Diabolos and means "accuser"

d) Diabolos means "slanderer"

e) literally "kidneys and hearts" Greeks thought that feelings came from the innards or kidneys

f) your here is plural

3   And write to the messenger of the assembly in Sardis.

   The one who has the seven spirits of God and the seven stars, says this. I know your works, that you have a name that you are alive, but you are dead. Be alert, and steady the rest, who are about to die. For I haven’t found that your works have been completed in the sight of my god. Recall then what you have accepted and heard, and keep it, and repent. If you don’t stay alert then I will come upon you like a thief, and you won’t perceive at what hour I will come upon you at all.

   But you have a few names in Sardis who didn’t defile their clothes, and they will walk with me in white, because they are deserving.

   The one who conquers will be clothed in white clothes, and I won’t erase his name from the scroll of life, and I will acknowledge his name in the sight of my father, and in the sight of his messengers.

   Let the one who has an ear, hear what the spirit says to the assemblies.

   And write to the messenger of the assembly in Philadelphia.

   The one who is holy, the one who is true, the one who has the key of David, the one who opens and nobody shuts, and who shuts and nobody opens, says this. I know your works. Look! I have given you an opened gate in front of you. Nobody is able to shut it because you have little power. But you kept my message, and didn’t deny my name. Look! I am giving over some of the synagogue of Satana, (those who call themselves Jews, but who are not, but they are lying). Look! I will make them so they will come and will worship in front of your feet, and they will perceive that I have loved you.

   Because you have kept the message of my perseverance, I will also keep you from the impending hour of trial which is coming on the whole inhabited world, to test those who dwell on the earth. Look! I am coming quickly. Hold fast to what you have, so that nobody might take your crown.

   I will make the one who conquers, a pillar in the temple of my god, and he will no longer go outside, and I will write the name of my god on him, and the name of the city of my god, the new Jerusalem, which descends out of heaven from my god, and also my new name.

   Let the one who has an ear, hear what the spirit says to the assemblies.

   And write to the messenger of the assembly in Laodicea.

   The amenb, the witness, the trustworthy and true, the ruler of the creation of God says this. I know your works, that you are neither cool nor boiling. You ought to be either cool or boiling. So then, because you are lukewarm, and neither boiling nor cool, I am about to spew you out of my mouth. Because you say, ‘I am rich. And I have become rich. I have need of nothing.’ And you don’t know that you are miserable, and pitiable, and poor, and blind, and naked. I advise you to buy gold from me which has been refined in fire, so that you should be rich, and white clothes so that you may be clothed, and the disgrace of your nakedness might not be revealed, and eye-salve to anoint your eyes, so that you may see. Whoever I am fond of, I expose and discipline. Be zealous then and repent.

   Look! I am standing at the door and knocking. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in to them, and I will dine with them, and they themselves with me.

    I will grant to the one who conquers, to be seated with me on my throne, as I also conquered and I am seated with my father on his throne.

   Let the one who has an ear, hear what the spirit says to the assemblies.

a) Satan is the Hebrew name for Diabolos and means "accuser"

b) amen is a Hebrew word meaning "truly"

4   After these things I looked. And look! A door had been opened in heaven, and I heard the voice which I had heard at first, like a trumpet, talking with me, saying, “Come up here and I will show you what must happen after these things.”

   And straightaway I became in the spirit. And look! A throne was placed in heaven, and on the throne was [someone] sitting, and it was like looking through jasper stone, and carnelian, and a rainbow was all around the throne, like looking through an emerald.

   And there were twenty four other thrones around the throne, and sitting on the thrones I saw twenty four elders, clothed in white clothes, and with golden crowns on their heads.

   And lightning, and voices, and thunder were coming out from the throne. And seven lamps of fire, (who are the seven spirits of God), were burning in front of the throne. And in front of the throne was like a glassy sea, like crystal.

   And in the middle of the throne, and around the throne, were four living ones, covered with eyes, in front and behind. And the first living one was like a lion, and the second living one like a calf, and the third living one had the face of a person, and the fourth living one was like a flying eagle. And the four living ones each had six wings, covered with eyes around and inside, and they don’t cease, day and night, saying, “Holy. Holy. Holy. The lord God almighty. Who was, and who is, and who is coming.”

   And whenever the living ones give glory, and honour, and thankfulness to the one who sits on the throne, who lives into the ages of the ages, the twenty four elders will fall down in front of the one who sits on the throne, and they will worship the one who lives into the ages of the ages. And they throw their crowns down in front of the throne saying, “You are worthy our lord and our god, to receive the glory, and the honour, and the power. Because you created all things, and because of your will they are, and they have been created.”

5   And I saw a scroll on the right hand of the one who sits on the throne, which had been written on both the inside and outside, and had been sealed with seven seals. And I saw a strong messenger proclaiming in a loud voice, “Who is worthy to open the scroll, and to break its seals?” And nobody in heaven, nor even on the earth, nor even under the earth, was able to open the scroll, nor even to look at it. And I wept greatly because nobody worthy was found to open and to read the scroll, not even to look at it.

   And one of the elders said to me, “Don’t weep. Look! The lion, the one from the tribe of Yehudah, the root of David, has conquered, to open the scroll and to break its seven seals.” And I saw in the middle of the throne, and of the four living ones, and in the middle of the elders, stood a lamb, as if it had been slaughtered, which had seven horns and seven eyes, which are the seven spirits of God, sent into all the earth.

   And it came and took the scroll from the right hand of the one who sits on the throne. And when he took the scroll, the four living ones and the twenty four elders fell in front of the lamb, each one having lyres, and golden bowls which were full of incense, which are the prayers of the holy. And they sang a new song, saying, “You are worthy to take the scroll and to open its seals, because you were slaughtered, and you bought us for God with your blood, from every tribe, and tongue, and people, and nation. And you made us kings and priests to our god, and we will reign over the earth.”

   And I looked, and I heard the voice of many messengers around the throne, and the living ones and the elders, (and the number of them was ten thousands of ten thousands, and thousands of thousands), saying in a loud voice, “The lamb which has been slaughtered is worthy to receive the power, and the riches, and wisdom, and strength, and honour, and glory, and blessing.” And every creature which is in the sky, and on the earth, and under the earth, and on the sea, and the things in them, I heard them all saying, “Blessing, and honour, and glory, and might are to the one who sits on the throne, and to the lamb, into the ages of the ages. Amena.” And the four living ones said, “Amen.” And the twenty four elders fell down, and they worshipped.

a) amen is a Hebrew word meaning "truly"

6   And I saw that the lamb opened the first of the seven seals, and I heard one of the four living ones saying in a voice like thunder, “Come and see!” And look! A white horse, and the one who was sitting on it had a bow, and a crown was given to him, and he went out conquering, and to conquer.

   And when he opened the second seal, I heard the living one say a second time, “Come!” And another horse of fire came out, and it was granted to the one who was sitting on it to take peace from the earth, so that they should slaughter one another, and a great sword was given to him.

   And when he opened the third seal I heard the third living one saying, “Come and see!” And look! A black horse, and the one who was sitting on it had a balance [a pair of scales] in his hand. And I heard a voice in the middle of the four living ones saying, “A choenixa of wheat for a denariusb. And three choenix of barley for a denarius.” and “Don’t damage the oil and the wine.”

   And when he opened the fourth seal, I heard the voice of the fourth living one saying, “Come and see!” And look! A green horse, and the name of the one who was sitting on it was Death, and Hadesc followed him, and authority was given to them to kill over a quarter of the earth, with a sword, and with famine, and with death, and by the wild beasts of the earth.

   And when he opened the fifth seal I saw, underneath the altar, the souls of those who had been slaughtered because of the message of God, and because of the testimony of the lamb which they held. And they cried out with a loud voice saying, “How long owner, the holy and true one, until you judge and avenge our blood from those who dwell on the earth?” And white robes were given to each one of them, and it was declared to them that they should still rest a little longer, until their fellow slaves and their brothers, (who were about to be killed as they also were), might be completed.

   And I saw when he opened the sixth seal. And look! There came a great earthquake, and the sun became black like sackcloth of hair, and the whole moon became like blood, and the stars of the sky fell to the ground, like a fig tree dropping its winter figs when shaken by a great wind. And the sky parted like a scroll being rolled up, and every mountain and island were moved from their places. And the kings of the earth, and the great, and the commanders, and the rich, and the strong, and every slave, and every freeman, hid themselves in caves and among the rocks of the mountains. And they said to the mountains and the rocks, “Fall on us. And hide us from the face of the one who sits on the throne, and from the wrath of the lamb, because the great day of his wrath has come, and who is able to stand?”

a) a choenix is a bit more than a litre

b) a denarius was a silver coin worth about a day’s wages for a labourer

c) Hades was the Greek god of the dead, but it also came to mean the place where the dead go

7   And after this I saw four messengers standing on the four corners of the earth, holding the four winds of the earth so that no wind would blow on the land, nor on the sea, nor on any tree. And I saw another messenger coming up from the rising of the sun, who had the seal of the living god, and he cried out in a loud voice to the four messengers, to whom it had been granted to harm the land and the sea, saying, “Don’t harm the land, nor the sea, nor the trees until we have sealed the slaves of our god on their foreheads.”

   And I heard the number of those who were sealed - a hundred and forty four thousand had been sealed, from every tribe of the sons of Yisrael. From the tribe of Yehudah, twelve thousand were sealed. From the tribe of Reuben, twelve thousand, from the tribe of Gad, twelve thousand, from the tribe of Asher, twelve thousand, from the tribe of Naphtali, twelve thousand, from the tribe of Manasseh, twelve thousand, from the tribe of Simeon, twelve thousand, from the tribe of Levi, twelve thousand, from the tribe of Issachar, twelve thousand, from the tribe of Zebulun, twelve thousand, from the tribe of Yosef, twelve thousand, from the tribe of Benjamin, twelve thousand.

   After these things I looked. And look! A large crowd, which nobody was able to number, from every nation, and all tribes, and peoples, and tongues, was standing in front of the throne, and in front of the lamb, having been clothed in white robes, and with palms in their hands, and crying out in a loud voice saying, “Salvation to our god who sits on the throne, and to the lamb.” And all the messengers stood around the throne, and the elders and the four living ones also fell on their face in front of the throne, and they worshipped God saying, “Amena. The blessing, and the glory, and the wisdom, and the thankfulness, and the honour, and the power, and the strength, are to our god into the ages of the ages. Amen.”

   And one of the elders answered, saying to me, “These who have been clothed in the white robes, who are they, and where did they come from?” And I said to him, “My lord, you know.” And he said to me, “These are those who came out of the great duress, and they have washed their robes, and whitened them in the blood of the lamb. Because of this they are in front of the throne of God, and they offer service to him day and night in his temple, and the one who sits on the throne will encamp over them. They will never be hungry again, nor will they ever be thirsty again, nor will the sun ever fall on them, nor any burning heat. Because the lamb who is in the middle of the throne will shepherd them, and he will guide them to springs of the waters of life, and God will wipe away every tear from their eyes.”

a) amen is a Hebrew word meaning "truly"

8   And when he opened the seventh seal it, there was a hush in heaven for about half an hour.

   And I saw the seven messengers who stand in front of God, and seven trumpets were given to them. And another messenger, holding a golden censera, came and stood on the altar, and much incense was given to him so that he should offer it, with the prayers of all the holy, on the golden altar in front of the throne. And the smoke of the incense, with the prayers of the holy, rose up from the hand of the messenger in front of God. And the messenger took the censer and completely filled it from the fire of the altar, and threw it down to the earth. And there were thunders, and voices, and lightning, and an earthquake. And the seven messengers, those who had the seven trumpets, prepared themselves to trumpet.

   And the first messenger trumpeted, and there was hail and fire mixed with blood, and it was thrown to the earth. And a third of the land was burned up, and a third of the trees were burned up, and every green grass was burned up.

   And the second messenger trumpeted, and [something] like a great burning mountain was thrown into the sea. And a third of the sea became blood, and a third of the creatures in the sea died, (those which had souls), and a third of the boats were destroyed.

   And the third messenger trumpeted, and a great star fell from the sky, burning like a lamp. And it fell on a third of the rivers, and on the springs of water. And the name of the star was Absinthb, and a third of the waters became absinth, and many people died from the waters because they were made bitter.

   And the fourth messenger trumpeted, and a third of the sun was struck, and a third of the moon, and a third of the stars, so that a third of them were darkened, and a third of the day had no light, and likewise the night.

   And I looked, and I heard an eagle flying in mid-air saying in a loud voice, “Woe. Woe. Woe, to those who dwell on the earth from the rest of the blasts of the trumpets of the three messengers who are about to trumpet.”

a) the word "censer" here means a burner for frankincense

b) absinth is a weed, commonly called wormwood

9   And the fifth messenger trumpeted, and I saw a star which had fallen to the ground from the sky. And the key of the pit of the abyss was given to him. And he opened the pit of the abyss, and smoke went up from the pit like the smoke of a great furnace, and the sun and the air were darkened by the smoke from the pit. And locusts came out of the smoke onto the earth, and authority was given to them, like the authority which the scorpions of the earth have.

   And it was declared to them that they shouldn’t harm the grass of the land, nor any green thing, nor any tree, but only the people who didn’t have the seal of God on their foreheads. And it was granted to them that they may not kill them, but that they torture them for five months. And their torture was like the torture of a scorpion when it strikes a person. And in those days the people will seek death, but they won’t find it, and they will desire to die, but death will flee from them.

   And the appearance of the locusts was like horses which had been prepared for battle, and on their heads were something like crowns of gold, and their faces were like faces of people, and they had hair like the hair of women, and their teeth were like those of lions. And they had breastplates like breastplates of iron, and the sound of their wings was like the sound of chariots, of many horses racing into battle. And they had tails like scorpions, and stings also in their tails, and their authority is to harm people for five months. And as king over them they had the messenger of the abyss, whose name in Hebrew is Abaddona, but in Greek he has the name Apollyonb [Destroyer].

   The first woe has passed. Look! Still two others are coming after these things.

   And the sixth messenger trumpeted, and from the four horns of the golden altar in front of God, I heard a voice saying to the sixth messenger, (the one who had the trumpet), “Release the four messengers who have been bound on the great river Euphrates.” And the four messengers who had been prepared for this very hour, and day, and month, and year, were released so that they would kill a third of mankind. And the number of the army of the horsemen was two hundred millionc, and I heard the number of them.

   And in this way I saw the horses in the vision, and those sitting on them had breastplates that were fiery, and hyacinthined, and sulphurous, and the heads of the horses were like heads of lions. And fire, and smoke, and sulphur were coming out of their mouths. A third of mankind was killed by being struck by these three things, from the fire, and from the smoke, and from the sulphur that were coming out of their mouths. For the authority of the horses was in their mouth, and in their tails, for their tails were like serpents, (having heads), and they did harm with them.

   And the rest of mankind, who weren’t killed by these blows, didn’t repent of the works of their hands, that they shouldn’t worship demons, and idols, and things of gold, and things of silver, and things of copper, and things of stone, things of wood which aren’t even able to see, nor to hear, nor to walk. And they didn’t repent from their murders, nor from their drugs, nor from their fornication, nor from their thefts.

a) Abaddon is Hebrew for "Destroyer"

b) Apollyon is Greek for "Destroyer"

c) literally "two ten thousand ten thousands"

d) hyacinthine is a Mediterranean plant with dark blue flowers

10   And I saw a strong messenger descending from heaven, who had been clothed in a cloud, and with a rainbow above his head, and his face was like the sun, and his feet were like pillars of fire, and he had a scroll which had been opened in his hand. And he placed his right foot on the sea, and his left on the land. And he cried out in a loud voice, just like a lion roaring, and when he cried out the seven thunders spoke their own sounds. And when the seven thunders spoke, I was about to write, but I heard a voice from heaven saying, “Seal up the things which the seven thunders have spoken, and don’t write them.”

   And the messenger, whom I had seen standing on the sea and on the land, lifted up his right hand to heaven, and he swore by the one who lives into the ages of the ages, who brought about the sky, and the things in it, and the earth, and the things in it, and the sea, and the things in it, that there will be no more time, but in the days of the voice of the seventh messenger, whenever he might be about to trumpet, the secret of God, as he had proclaimed to his slaves, to the prophets, might be fulfilled.

   And the voice which I heard from heaven spoke with me again and said, “Go off, and take the scroll which has been opened, which is in the hand of the messenger who stood on the sea and on the land.” And I went off to the messenger, saying to him, “Give me the scroll”, and he said to me, “Take it, and eat it all, and it will make your belly bitter, but in your mouth it will be sweet like honey.” And I took the scroll from the hand of the messenger and I ate it all. And in my mouth it was sweet like honey, and when I had eaten it my belly was made bitter. And he said to me, “You must prophesy again, over peoples, and over nations, and tongues, and many kings.”

11   And a reed was given to me, like a staff, and I was told, “Get up and measure the temple of God, and the altar, and those who worship in it. But exclude the courtyard outside of the temple, and don’t measure it because it was given to the nations. And they will trample on the holy city for forty two months. And I will grant to my two witnesses, and for one thousand two hundred and sixty days they will prophesy clothed in sackcloth.” These are the two olive trees, and the two lampstands, which stand in front of the lord of the earth. And if anyone wants to harm them, fire comes out of their mouth and devours their enemies. And if anyone wants to harm them, then that person must be killed in this way. They have the authority to shut the sky so that it may not rain during the day of their prophecies, and they have authority over the waters to turn them into blood, and to strike the land with every blow, as many times as they want.

   And when they have finished their testimony, the wild beast, the one which comes up from the abyss, will make a battle with them, and it will conquer them, and it will kill them. And their corpses will be in the square of the great city, (which spiritually is called Sodom and Egypt, and is also where their lord was executeda), and the peoples, and tribes, and tongues, and nations, will look on their corpse for three and a half days, and they won’t permit their corpses to be placed in a tomb. And those who dwell on the earth will rejoice over them, and celebrate, and will give presentsb to one another because these two prophets had tortured those who dwell on the earth.

   And after the three and a half days, a spiritc of life from God entered into them, and they stood on their feet, and great fear fell on those watching them. And I heard a loud voice from the sky, saying to them, “Come up here.” And they went up into the sky in the cloud, and their enemies watched them. And in that day, there came a great earthquake, and a tenth of the city fell down, and seven thousand names of people were killed in the earthquake, and the rest became terrified and gave glory to God in heaven.

   The second woe has passed. Look! The third woe is coming quickly.

   And the seventh messenger trumpeted, and there were loud voices in heaven, saying, “The kingdom of the world has become our lord’s and his anointed’s. And he will reign into the ages of the ages.” And the twenty four elders, who sit on their thrones in front of God, fell on their faces and they worshipped God, saying, “We give you thanks lord God almighty, the one who is, and who was, because you have taken your great power, and you have reigned. And the nations were indignant, and your wrath has come, and the time for the dead to be judged, and to grant the reward to your slaves, to the prophets, and to the holy, and to those who fear your name, to the small and to the great, and to destroy those who destroy the earth.” And the temple of God was opened in heaven, and the ark of the covenant of the lord was visible in his temple. And there was lightning, and voices, and thunder, and great hail.

a) the Greek word specifically means to execute by hanging on a stake

b) the word "present" here is the same word translated "offering" elsewhere

c) "spirit" and "breath" are the same word in Greek, so this could be "a breath of life"

12   And a great sign appeared in heaven, a woman clothed with the sun, and with the moon under her feet, and a crown of twelve stars on her head, and she was pregnanta, and she cried out, since she was in labour, and was tortured to give birth. And another sign appeared in heaven. And look! A great fiery dragon, which had seven heads and ten horns. And on his heads, seven diademsb. And his tail dragged a third of the stars of the sky, and threw them to the ground.

   And the dragon stood in front of the woman who was about to give birth, so that he may devour her child when she gave birth. And she gave birth to a son, a male child, who is about to shepherd all the nations with an iron staff. And her child was snatched away to God and to his throne. And the woman fled into the wilderness, where there was a place which had been prepared by God, so that they might look after her there for one thousand two hundred and sixty days.

   And there was a battle in heaven. Michael and his messengers battled with the dragon. And the dragon and his messengers battled, but they didn’t prevail, nor was a place found for him in heaven any longer. And the great dragon was thrown down. The ancient serpent, the one called Diabolosc, and Satand, the one who leads the whole inhabited world astray, was thrown down to the earth, and his messengers were thrown down with him.

   And I heard a loud voice in heaven saying, “Now the salvation has come, and the power and the kingdom of our god, and the authority of his anointed. Because the accuser of our brothers, the one who accuses them in front of our god day and night, has been thrown down. And they have conquered him because of the blood of the lamb, and because of the message of their testimony, and because they didn’t love their life, even unto death. Celebrate because of this you heavens, and those who camp in them. Woe to the earth, and the sea, because Diabolos has gone down to you, having great fury, knowing that he has little time.

   And when the dragon saw that he had been thrown to the earth, he pursued the woman who had given birth to the male child. And two wings of a great eagle were given to the woman, so that she could fly into the wilderness, to her place, so that she would be looked after there for a time, and times, and half a time, away from the face of the serpent. And out of his mouth the serpent spewed water after the woman, like a river, to make her be carried away. But the earth helped the woman, and the earth opened its mouth and swallowed the river which the dragon had thrown out of his mouth. And the dragon was indignant with the woman, and he went away to make battle with the rest of her seed, those who keep the commands of God, and who have the testimony of Yeshua.

a) "pregnant" is literally "had in her belly"

b) a diadem was an ornamental headband worn by royalty

c) Diabolos means "slanderer"

d) Satan is the Hebrew name for Diabolos and means "accuser"

13   And I stood on the sand of the sea, and I saw a wild beast, which had ten horns and seven heads, coming up out of the sea. And on its horns ten diademsa, and on its heads, names of evil speech. And the beast which I saw was like a leopard, and its feet were like a bear, and its mouth was like the mouth of a lion, and the dragon gave it his power, and his throne, and great authority. And I saw one of its heads, as if it had been slaughtered to death, but the blow of death had been cured.

   And the whole earth marvelled at the beast. And they worshipped the dragon, because he gave authority to the beast, and they worshipped the beast saying, “Who is like the beast? And who is able to battle with it?” And it was given a mouth to speak many things, and to speak evil, and it was given authority to make a battle for forty two months. And it opened its mouth for speaking evil against God, to speak evil of his name and his tent, and those who camp in heaven.

   And it was granted to it to make a battle with the holy, and to conquer them, and it was given authority over every tribe, and people, and tongue, and nation. And all those who dwell on the earth will worship it, those whose names haven’t been written, from the foundation of the world, in the scroll of life of the lamb who was slaughtered. If anyone has an ear, let them hear. If anyone has captives, they will go off into captivity. If anyone kills by the sword, they must be killed by the sword. Here is the perseverance and the faith of the holy.

   And I saw another wild beast coming up from the earth, and it had two horns like a lamb, and it spoke like a dragon. And it exercised all the authority of the first beast, and it made the earth, and those who dwell in it, worship the first beast, whose blow of death had been cured. And it did great signs, and fire that came down from the sky to the ground, in the sight of people. And it lead astray those who dwell on the earth, through the signs which were given to it to do in front of the beast, saying to those who dwell on the earth to make an image of the beast which had the blow of a sword, and lives.

   And it was granted to it to give a spirit to the image of the beast, so that the image of the beast may also speak, and that it should cause whoever didn’t worship the image of the beast to be killed. And it made all, the small and the great, and the rich and the poor, and the free and the slaves, so that they should give them an imprint on their right hand or on their foreheads, and so that nobody is able to buy or to sell unless they have the imprint, the name of the beast, or the number of his name. Here is wisdom. Let the one who has a mind calculate the number of the beast, for it is the number of a person, and his number is CXSb (666).

a) a diadem was an ornamental headband worn by royalty

b) in the Greek this is written as χξϚ (chi, xi, sigma ) which is 666 in the Greek numerical system

14   And I looked. And look! The lamb stood on mount Zion, and with him one hundred and forty four thousand who had his name, and the name of his father, written on their foreheads. And I heard a sound from the sky, like the sound of many waters, and like the sound of a loud thunder, and the sound I heard was like lyrists pluckinga their lyres. And they sang a new song in front of the throne, and in front of the four living ones, and the elders, and nobody was able to learn the song except the one hundred and forty four thousand who had been bought from the earth. These are those who haven’t defiled themselves with women, for they are virgins. These are those who follow the lamb wherever he may go. They were bought by Yeshua from among people, a firstfruit to God, and to the lamb. And there wasn’t any falsehood found in their mouth, for they are blameless.

   And I saw a messenger, flying in mid air, who had the everlasting good news to bring to those who settle on the earth, and on every nation, and tribe, and tongue, and people, saying in a loud voice, “Be afraid of God, and give glory to him, because the hour of his judgement has come. And worship the one who made the sky, and the earth, and the sea, and springs of waters.”

   And another messenger, a second one, followed, saying, “She has fallen. Great Babylon has fallen. She has made all the nations drink from the wine of the fury of her fornication.”

   And another messenger, a third, followed them, saying in a loud voice, “If anyone worships the beast, and the image of it, and accepts the imprint on their forehead or on their hand - they themselves will drink from the wine of the fury of God, which has been mixed undiluted in the cup of his wrath, and they will be tortured in fire and sulphur in front of the holy messengers, and in front of the lamb. And the smoke of their torture goes up into the ages of ages, and they have no rest, day and night - those who worship the beast and its image, and if anyone accepts the imprint of his name.

   Here is the perseverance of the holy. Here are those who keep the commands of God and the faith of Yeshua. And I heard a voice from heaven saying to me, “Write. The dead who die in the lord from now on are blessed.” “Yes.” says the spirit, “So that they should rest from their labour, but their works follow after them.”

   And I looked. And look! A white cloud, and above the cloud one sitting, like a son of man, who had a golden crown on his head, and a sharp scythe in his hand. And another messenger came out from the temple crying out in a loud voice to the one sitting on the cloud, “Send your scythe and reap, because the hour to reap has come, because the harvest of the earth has dried.” And the one sitting on the cloud swung his scythe over the earth, and it reaped the earth.

   And another messenger came out of the temple which is in heaven, himself also having a sharp scythe. And another messenger come out from the altar, who had authority over the fire, and he called in a loud uproar to the one who had the sharp scythe, saying, “Send your sharp scythe, and gather in the bunches of the grapevine of the earth, because the grapes are fully ripened.” And the messenger swung his scythe on the earth, and gathered in the grapevine of the earth, and threw it into the vat of the great fury of God. And the vat was trodden outside the city, and blood went out from the vat - up to the bridles of the horses, for one thousand six hundred stadiab [about 250 kilometres].

a) in Greek "plucking" means specifically playing on a lyre

b) a stadion was about an eighth of a Roman mile, about 160 metres

15   And I saw another great and marvellous sign in heaven. Seven messengers had seven final blows, because with them the fury of God is brought to an end. And I saw something like a glassy sea, mixed with fire, and those who had conquered the beast, and its image, and the number of its name, were standing on the glassy sea holding lyres of God. And they sang the song of Moses, the slave of God, and the song of the lamb, saying, “Your works are great and marvellous, lord God, the almighty. Your ways are just and true, king of the nations. Who won’t be afraid of you lord, and glorify your name? Because only you are holy, because all the nations will come and worship in front of you, because your acts of righteousnessa have been made manifest.”

   And after these things I looked, and the temple of the tent of the testimony in heaven was opened. And the seven messengers who had the seven blows, came out of the temple, clothed in clean and shining linen, and having been girdedb around the chestsc with golden belts. And one of the four living ones gave seven golden bowls to the seven messengers, filled with the fury of God, who lives into the ages of the ages. And the temple was completely filled with smoke from the glory of God, and from his power, and nobody was able to enter into the temple until the seven blows of the seven messengers had been completed.

a) "acts of righteousness" is the same word translated "regulations" when talking about the law

b) "girded" means to have something wrapped around and tightened

c) "chests" here is literally "breasts"

16   And I heard a loud voice from the temple, saying to the seven messengers, “Go off and pour the seven bowls of the wrath of God onto the earth.”

   And the first poured out his bowl onto the earth. And an evil and wicked festering wound came on those people who had the imprint of the beast, and on those who worship his image.

   And the second messenger poured out his bowl into the sea. And it became blood, like of dead things, and every living soul in the sea died.

   And the third messenger poured out his bowl into the rivers and into the springs of waters. And it became blood. And I heard the messenger of the waters saying, “You are the righteous one, who is, and who was, the hallowed one, because you have judged these things. Because they poured out the blood of the holy, and of prophets, and you gave them blood to drink, for they deserve it.” And I heard one from the altar saying, “Yes lord God, the almighty, your judgements are true and just.”

   And the fourth messenger poured out his bowl on the sun. And it was granted to him to burn people with fire. And the people were burned with a great burning heat, and they spoke evil of the name of God, who has authority over these blows. But they didn’t repent to give glory to him.

   And the fifth messenger poured out his bowl on the throne of the beast. And his kingdom became darkened, and they gnawed their own tongues from the anguish, and they spoke evil of the god of heaven from their anguish, and from their festering sores. But they didn’t repent from their works.

   And the sixth messenger poured out his bowl on the great river Euphrates. And the water of it dried up, to prepare the way of the kings of the rising sun. And I saw, out of the mouth of the dragon, and out of the mouth of the beast, and out of the mouth of the false prophet, three unclean spirits, like frogs. For they are spirits of demons who perform signs which go out to the kings of the whole inhabited world, to lead them together into the battle of the great day of God, the almighty. “Look! I am coming like a thief. The one who stays alert, and keeps their clothes so that they won’t walk around naked, and they would see their indecency, is blessed.” And they led them into the place called in Hebrew, Armageddona.

   And the seventh messenger poured out his bowl on the air. And a great voice went out from the temple of heaven, from the throne, saying, “It has come.” And there came lightning, and thunders, and voices. And a great earthquake came, such as hadn’t come since people had come to be on the earth - an incredible earthquake, so great. And the great city split into three parts, and the cities of the nations fell, and Great Babylon was remembered in front of God, to hand her the cup of the wine of the fury of his wrath. And every island fled, and the mountains were not found. And great hail, (like talentb weights), came down from the sky on those people. And they spoke evil of the people of God because of the blow of the hail, because the blow was extremely great.

a) Armageddon is a Hebrew word which might mean "Hill of Megiddo". Megiddo is in North West Israel near the Sea of Galilee

b) a talent is about 30 kilograms

17   And one of the seven messengers who had the seven bowls came and spoke with me, saying, “Come here. I will show you the condemnation of the great prostitute who sits on many waters, with whom the kings of the earth have fornicated, and those who dwell on the earth have been made drunk on the wine of her fornication.” And he carried me away in the spirit to a wilderness. And I saw a woman sitting on a scarlet beast, filled with names of evil speech, with seven heads and ten horns, and the woman was clothed in purple and scarlet, and she had been gilded with gold, and valuable stone, and pearls, and had a golden cup in her hand which was filled with abominations and the unclean things of her fornication. And a name had been written on her forehead, “Secret. Great Babylon. Mother of Prostitutes and of the Abominations of the Earth.”

   And I saw the woman, drunk on the blood of the holy, and on the blood of the witnesses of Yeshua, and I marvelled with great amazementa at seeing her. “Tell me,” the messenger said to me, “Why do you marvel? I will tell you the secret of the woman, and of the beast which carries her, the one which has seven heads and ten horns. The beast which you perceived was, but isn’t, and is about to come up from the abyss, and go off to destruction. And those who dwell on the earth will marvel, (those whose names haven’t been written on the scroll of life since the foundation of the world), when they look upon the beast which was, but isn’t, and will come.

   Here is the mind which has wisdom. The seven heads are seven mountains, where the woman sits on them. And they are seven kings. Five fell, and one is, and one other hasn’t yet come. And when he comes, he must remain a short while. And the beast which was, but isn’t, is himself an eighth, and he is from the seven, and he is going off to destruction.

   And the ten horns which you perceived, are ten kings who haven’t yet received a kingdom, but they receive authority as kings for one hour from the beast. These have one purpose, and they will hand over their power and authority to the beast. They will battle with the lamb, and the lamb will conquer them, because he is lord of lords, and king of kings, and those with him are called, and selected, and trustworthy.”

   And he said to me, “The waters which you perceived, where the prostitute sits, are peoples, and crowds, and nations, and tongues. And the ten horns which you perceived, and the beast, these will hate the prostitute, and they will make her desolate and naked, and they will eat her flesh, and will burn her up in fire. For God has given it into their hearts to do his purpose, and to do one purpose, and to give their kingdom to the beast until the messages of God are fulfilled. And the woman which you perceived is the great city, which has a kingdom over the kings of the earth.”

a) in Greek "marvelled" and "amazement" are the verb and noun of the same word

18   And after these things I saw another messenger coming down from heaven, who had great authority, and the earth was lit up by his glory. And he cried out in a strong voice saying, “She has fallen. Great Babylon has fallen. And she has become the dwelling place of daemons, and a jail for every unclean spirit, and a jail for every unclean and detested bird. Because all the nations, and all the kings of the earth, have drunk of the wine of the fury of her fornication, and they have fornicated with her, and the merchants of the earth have become rich by the power of her indulgence.”

   And I heard another voice from heaven, saying, “Come out of her my people, so that you don’t participate in her sins, and so that you don’t receive her blows. Because her sins have been piled together, up to the sky, and God has recalled her wrongdoings. Repay her just as she herself repaid you, and double her double, according to her works. In the cup in which she has mixed, mix double for her. However much she glorified herself and indulged, give her torture and mourning, because in her heart she said, ‘I sit as queen, and I am not a widow, and I won’t know mourning.’ Because of this her blows will come in one day. Death, and mourning, and famine, and she will be burned up in fire, because the lord God, the one who judges her, is strong.

   And the kings of the earth, those who fornicated and indulged with her, will weep and mourn over her when they see the smoke of her burning. Having stood far off because of the fear of her torture, saying, “Woe. Woe. The city of Great Babylon, the strong city, because in one hour your judgement has come.” And the merchants of the earth will weep and mourn over her, because nobody buys their freight any longer. Freight of gold, and silver, and valuable stone, and of pearls, and fine linen, and purple, and silk, and scarlet, and every kind of thyinea wood, and every ivory vessel, and every vessel of most highly valued wood, and of copper, and iron, and marble, and cinnamon, and incense, and perfume, and frankincense, and wine, and olive oil, and flour, and grain, and sheep, and cattle, and horses, and wagons, and bodies and souls of people.

   And the fruits of the desire of your soul have gone away from you, and all sleek and shining things were destroyed from you, and you will no longer find them. The merchants of these things, who were made rich from her, will stand far off because of the fear of her torture, weeping and mourning, and saying, “Woe. Woe. The great city which was clothed in fine linen, and purple, and scarlet, and had been gilded with gold, and valuable stone, and pearls. Because in one hour such great riches have been made desolate.”

   Every helmsman, and everyone with a place among seamen, and as many as work the sea, stood afar off, and when they saw the smoke of her burning, they cried out, saying, “What [city] is like the great city?” And they threw dust on their heads, and they cried out, weeping and mourning, and saying, “Woe. Woe. The great city in which all who had boats in the sea were made rich by her value, because in one hour she has been made desolate.” Celebrate over this, heaven, and the holy, and the ambassadors, and the prophets, because God has decided your condemnation of her.

   And one strong messenger carried off a stone, like a great mill stone, and he threw it into the sea, saying, “In this way, struggling, Great Babylon the city will be thrown down, and will no longer be found, ever again. And the sound of lyrists, and of musicians, and flute players, and trumpeters will no longer be heard in you, ever again. And no craftsman of any craft will be found in you, ever again. And the sound of a mill stone won’t be heard in you, ever again. And no light of a lamp will ever appear in you, ever again. And the voice of a groom and a bride will no longer be heard in you, ever again. Because your merchants were the great ones of the earth, because all the nations were led astray by your drugs. And the blood of prophets, and of the holy, was found in her, and of all those who have been slaughtered on the earth.

a) thyine was a kind of citron wood burned with sacrifices for it's fragrance

19   And after these things, I heard something like the loud sound of a large crowd in heaven, saying, “Hallelujaha. The salvation, and the power, and glory of our god. Because his judgement is true and just, he has judged the great prostitute who corrupted the earth by her fornication, and he has avenged the blood of his slaves out of her hand.” And a second time they said, “Hallelujaha. And the smoke of her goes up into the ages of the ages.” And the twenty four elders, and the four living ones, fell down and worshipped God who sits on the throne, saying, “Amenb. Hallelujaha.”

   And a voice came out from the throne, saying, “Praise our god, all of his slaves, and those who fear him, the small and the great.” And I heard something like the sound of a large crowd, and like the sound of many waters, and like the sound of strong thunders, saying, “Hallelujaha. Because the lord our god, the almighty, reigns. Let us rejoice, and rejoice exceedingly, and let us give the glory to him, because the wedding of the lamb has come, and his bride has made herself ready. And it was granted to her that she may be clothed in fine linen, shining and clean.” (For fine linen is the acts of righteousnessc of the holy.)

   And he said to me, “Write. Those who have been called to the wedding meal of the lamb are blessed.” And he said to me, “These are the true messages of God.” And I fell in front of his feet to worship him, but he said to me, “Don’t you see? I am your fellow slave, and also of your brothers, of those who have the testimony of Yeshua. Worship God. Because the spirit of prophecies is the testimony of Yeshua.”

   And I saw heaven opened. And look! A white horse, and the one sitting on it was called Trustworthy and True, and he judges and battles with righteousness. But his eyes are like a flame of fire, and on his head are many diadems, with names written on them, and a name had been written which nobody knows except him. And he was clothed with a cloak which had been dipped in blood, and his name was called The Message of God. And the armies in heaven followed him on white horses, which had been dressed in fine linen, white and clean. And out of his mouth came a sharp two edged sword, so that with it he would strike the nations, and he himself will shepherd them with an iron staff, and he himself treads the vat of the wine of the fury of the wrath of God, the almighty. And on his cloak, and on his thigh, he has a name which has been written, King of Kings and Lord of Lords.

   And I saw a messenger standing in the sun, and he cried out in a loud voice saying to all the birds flying in mid air, “Come here and be gathered together for the great meal of God, so that you may eat the flesh of kings, and the flesh of commanders, and the flesh of the strong, and the flesh of horses, and of those who sit on them, and the flesh of all, both the free and the slaves, and both the small and the great.”

   And I saw the beast, and the kings of the earth, and their armies, which had been gathered together to make a battle with the one who sits on the horse, and with his armies. And the beast was seized, and with him the false prophet who had done the signs in front of him, by which he had led astray those who had the imprint of the beast, and those who worshipped his image. The two of them were thrown into the lake of fire which burns with sulphur. And the rest were killed by the sword coming out of the mouth of the one who sits on the horse. And all the birds were satisfied with their flesh.

a) "hallelujah" is a Hebrew word meaning "Praise Yahweh", Yahweh is God's name in Hebrew

b) amen is a Hebrew word meaning "truly"

c) "acts of righteousness" is the same word translated "regulations" when talking about the law

20   And I saw a messenger coming down from heaven with the key of the abyss, and a great chain in his hand. And he laid hold of the dragon, the ancient serpent, who is Diabolosa, and Satanb, the one who leads the whole inhabited world astray, and he bound him for a thousand years. And he threw him into the abyss, and shut it, and sealed it over him, so that he wouldn’t lead the nations astray any longer until the thousand years were completed. And after these things he must be released for a little while.

   And I saw thrones, and they sat on them, and condemnation was given to them, and the souls of those who had been beheadedc because of the testimony of Yeshua, and because of the message of God. And anyone who didn’t worship the beast, nor even his image, and who didn’t accept the imprint on their forehead, and on their hand, lived and reigned with the Anointed for a thousand years. But the rest of the dead didn’t live until the thousand years was completed. This is the first resurrection. The one who has a share in the first resurrection is blessed and holy. The second death has no authority over these, but they will be priests of God, and of the Anointed, and they will reign with him for a thousand years.

    And when the thousand years is completed, Satan will be released from his jail, and he will go out to lead the nations astray, those in the four corners of the earth, Gog and Magog, to gather them together for the battle, and of whom the number of them is like the sand of the sea. And they went up on the breadth of the earth, and surrounded the encampment of the holy, and the beloved city, and fire came down from heaven, from God, and it devoured them. And Diabolos, who led them astray, was thrown into the lake of fire and sulphur where the beast and the false prophet were, and they will be tortured, day and night, into the ages of the ages.

   And I saw a great white throne, and the one who sits on it, from whose face the land and the sky fled, and no place was found for them. And I saw the dead, the great and the small, standing in front of the throne. And scrolls were opened, and another scroll was opened, which is that of life, and the dead were judged on the basis of what had been written in the scrolls, according to their works. And the sea gave up the dead in it, and Death and Hades gave up the dead in them, and they were judged, each one according to their works. And Death and Hadesd were thrown into the lake of fire. This is the second death, the lake of fire. And if anyone wasn’t found written in the scroll of life, they were thrown into the lake of fire.

a) Diabolos means "slanderer"

b) Satan is the Hebrew name for Diabolos and means "accuser"

c) literally beheaded here means to be beheaded with an axe

d) Hades was the Greek god of the dead, but it also came to mean the place where the dead go

21   And I saw a new sky, and a new earth, for the first sky and the first earth had passed away, and the sea was no longer. And I saw the holy city, a new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, which had been prepared like a bride, having been adorned for her husband. And I heard a loud voice from heaven, saying, “Look! The tent of God is with mankind, and he will camp with them, and they themselves will be his people, and God himself will be with them. And he will wipe away every tear from their eyes, and death will be no longer, nor mourning, nor uproar, nor will there be anguish any longer, because the first things have gone away.”

   And the one who sits on the throne said, “Look! I make all things new.” And he said to me, “Write. Because these messages are true and trustworthy.” And he told me, “It has been done. I am the A and the Z, the beginning and the end. To the one who is thirsty I will give freely from the spring of the water of life. The one who conquers will inherit these things, and I will be a god to him, and he will be a son to me. But to the cowardly, and to unbelievers, and to sinners, and to the abominable, and to murderers, and fornicators, and drug users, and idolaters, and all liars, their part is in the lake of burning fire and sulphur, which is the second death.

   And one of the seven messengers, who had the seven bowls filled with the seven final blows, came and spoke with me, saying, “Come here. I will show you the woman, the bride of the lamb.” And he carried me away in the spirit over a great and high mountain, and he showed me the great city, the holy Jerusalem, coming down from heaven, from God, having the glory of God. Her light was like a most highly valued stone, like a jasper stone, as clear as crystal. Having a great and high wall, which had twelve gates, and on those gates were twelve messengers, with names written on them, which are of the twelve tribes of the sons of Yisrael. From the east three gates, and from the north three gates, and from the south three gates, and from the west three gates. And the wall of the city had twelve foundations, and on them were the twelve names of the twelve ambassadors of the lamb.

   And the one who spoke with me had a measure, a golden reed, so that he could measure the city and its gates, and its wall. And the city was laid out with four corners, and the length of it was as much as the breadth. And he measured the city with the reed - twelve thousand stadiaa [almost two thousand kilometres]. And the length, and the breadth, and the height of it, are equal. And he measured the wall of it - one hundred and forty four cubitsb [about 65 metres], the measure of a person, which is of a messenger. And the material of the wall was jasper, and the city, pure gold like pure glass. And the foundations of the wall of the city had been adorned with every valuable stone. The first foundation was jasper, the second was sapphire, the third, chalcedony, the fourth, emerald, the fifth, sardonyx, the sixth, carnelian, the seventh, chrysolite, the eighth, beryl, the ninth, topaz, the tenth, chrysoprase, the eleventh, jacinth, the twelfth, amethyst. And the twelve gates were twelve pearls, each one of the gates was out of one pearl. And the square of the city was pure gold, like transparent glass.

   And I saw no temple in her, for the lord God, the almighty is her temple, and the lamb. And the city has no need of the sun, nor of the moon, that they should appear in her, for the glory of God illuminates her, and the lamb is her lamp. And the nations will walk by the light of her, and the kings of the earth will bring the glory and honour of the nations into her. And her gates shouldn’t be shut at all in the day, for there will be no night there. And they will bring the glory and the honour of the nations into her. And everything common [not holy], and things which produce abomination, and lies, may not enter into her at all, only those who have been written in the scroll of life of the lamb.

a) a stadion was about an eighth of a Roman mile, about 160 metres

b) a cubit is the distance from a man's elbow to the finger tips, about 45cm

22   And he showed me a river of the pure water of life, shining as clear as crystal, coming out from the throne of God, and of the lamb. In the middle of her square, on either side of the river, a tree of life, which produces twelve fruits, giving its fruit according to each month. And the leaves of the tree are a cure for the nations. And every accursed thing will not be there any more, and the throne of God, and of the lamb will be in her, and his slaves will serve him. And they will look upon his face, and his name will be on their foreheads. And there will no longer be any night, and they will have no need of a lamp, and the light of the sun, because the lord God will illuminate them, and they will reign into the ages of the ages.

   And he said to me, “These messages are trustworthy and true, and the lord, the god of the spirits of the prophets, has sent his messenger to show those slaves of his what must come quickly. And Look! I am coming quickly. Blessed is the one who keeps the messages of the prophecy of this scroll.”

   And I, Yohannes, the one who heard and observed these things. When I heard and observed them I fell down to worship in front of the feet of the messenger, the one who showed me these things. And he said to me, “Don’t you see? I am your fellow slave, and of your brothers the prophets, and those who keep the messages of this scroll. Worship God.” And he said to me, “Don’t seal up the messages of the prophecy of this scroll, because the time is near. Let the one who does wrong, still do wrong, and let the one who is foul, still be foul, and let the righteous one, still do righteousness, and let the holy one, still be considered holy.

   Look! I am coming quickly, and my reward is with me, to repay each one as their work will be. I am the A and the Z, the first and the last, the beginning and the end. Those who do his commands are blessed, that their authority will be over the tree of life, and they may enter into the city by the gates. But outside, the dogs, and the drug users, and the fornicators, and the murderers, and the idolaters, and everyone who is fond of, and who practises, falsehood. I, Yeshua, have sent my messenger to testify these things to you concerning the assemblies. I am the root, and the family of David, the shining morning star.”

   And the spirit, and the bride, they say, “Come.” And let the one who hears say, “Come.” And let the one who is thirsty, come, and let the one who wants, take the water of life freely. For I testify to everyone who hears the messages of the prophecy of this scroll - if anyone adds to them, God will add to them the blows which have been written in this scroll. And if anyone takes away from the messages of the scroll of this prophecy, God will take away their share from the tree of life, and from the holy city, and of the things which have been written in this scroll. The one who testifies to these things says, “Yes. I am coming quickly.”

   Amena. Yes. Come lord Yeshua.

   The grace of the lord Yeshua the Anointed is with all the holy.

   Amena.

a) amen is a Hebrew word meaning "truly"