The Lamb and the 144,000
1 I looked, and the Lamb was standing on Mount Zion and with him a number, 144,000, having his name, and the name of his Father, written on their foreheads. 2 I heard a sound from heaven, like the sound of rushing waters and like the sound of great thunder. The sound which I heard was like that of harpists playing on their harps.
3 They sang a new song before the throne and before the four living creatures and the elders. No one could learn the song except the 144,000, those who had been redeemed from the earth. 4 These are the ones who were not defiled with women, for they are virgins. These are the ones who follow the Lamb wherever he goes. These were redeemed by Jesus from among men, the first fruits to God and to the Lamb. 5 In their mouth was found no lie, for they are blameless.
Three Angels and the Fall of Babylon
6 I saw an angel flying in midair, having eternal Good News to proclaim to those who dwell on the earth, and to every nation, tribe, language, and people. 7 He said with a loud voice, “Fear the Lord and give him glory, for the hour of his judgment has come. Worship him who made the heaven, the earth, the sea, and the springs of waters!”
8 Another, a second angel, followed, saying, “Babylon the great has fallen, which has made all the nations drink of the wine of the wrath of her sexual immorality.”
9 Another angel, a third, followed them, saying with a great voice, “If anyone worships the beast and his image and receives a mark on his forehead or on his hand, 10 he also will drink of the wine of the wrath of God, which is prepared unmixed in the cup of his anger. He will be tormented with fire and sulfur in the presence of the holy angels, and in the presence of the Lamb. 11 The smoke of their torment goes up forever and ever. They have no rest day and night, those who worship the beast and his image and whoever receives the mark of his name.
12 Here is the perseverance of the saints, those who keep the commandments of God, and the faith of Jesus.”
13 I heard a voice from heaven saying, “Write, ‘Blessed are the dead who die in the Lord from now on.’ ”
“Yes,” says the Spirit, “they will rest from their labors, for their works follow with them.”
The Harvest of the Earth
14 I looked, and saw a white cloud and on the cloud one sitting like a son of man, having on his head a golden crown and in his hand a sharp sickle.
15 Another angel came out of the temple, crying with a loud voice to him who sat on the cloud, “Send your sickle and reap, for the hour to reap has come, for the harvest of the earth is ripe!”
16 He who sat on the cloud thrust his sickle on the earth, and the earth was reaped.
17 Another angel came out of the temple which is in heaven. He also had a sharp sickle. 18 Another angel came out from the altar, he who has power over fire, and he called with a great voice to him who had the sharp sickle, saying, “Send your sharp sickle and gather the clusters of the vine of the earth, for the earth’s grapes are fully ripe!”
19 The angel thrust his sickle over the earth and gathered the grapes from the vineyard of the earth, and threw it into the great winepress of the wrath of God. 20 The winepress was trodden outside of the city, and blood came out of the winepress, as high as the bridle of a horse and as far as 200 miles.