Category: Scripture

The wall was made of jasper, and the city was pure gold, as clear as glass. The wall of the city was built on foundation stones inlaid with the twelve precious stones: the first was jasper, the second sapphire, the third agate, the fourth emerald, the fifth onyx, the sixth carnelian, the seventh chrysolite, the eighth beryl, the ninth topaz, the tenth chrysoprase, the eleventh jacinth, and the twelfth amethyst.

The twelve gates were made of pearls-each gate from a single pearl! And the main gate was pure gold, as clear as glass.

I saw no temple in the city, for the Lord God Almighty and the Lamb are its temple. And the city has no need of sun or moon, for the glory of God illuminates the city, and the Lamb its light. The nations will walk in its light and the kings of the world will enter the city in all their glory. The gates will never be closed at the end of the day because there is no night there. And all the nations will bring their glory and honor into the city. Nothing evil will be allowed to enter, nor anyone who practices shameful idolatry and dishonesty-but only those whose names are written in the Lamb’s Book of Life. (vv. 18-27, NLT)

One of the seven angels who held the seven bowls containing the seven last plagues came to me and said, “Come with me! I will show you the bride, the wife of the Lamb.:

So he took me in the Spirit to a great, high mountain, and he showed me the holy city, Jerusalem, descending out of heaven from God. It shone with the glory of God and sparkled like a precious stone-like jasper as clear as crystal. The city wall was broad and high, with twelve gates guarded by twelve angels. And the names of the twelve tribes of Israel were written on the gates. There were three gates on each side-east, north, south, and west. The city wall had twelve foundation stones, and on the were written the names of the twelve apostles of the Lamb.

The angel who talked to me held in his hand a gold measuring stick to measure the city, its gates, and its wall. When he measured it, he found it was a square, as wide as it was long. In fact, its length and width and height were each 1,400 miles. Then he measured and found them to be 126 feet thick (*according to the human standard used by the angel). (vv. 9-18, NLT)

Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the old heaven and the old earth had disappeared. And the sea was also gone. And I saw the holy city, the new Jerusalem, coming down from God out of heaven like a bride beautifully dressed for her husband.

I heard a loud shout from the throne saying, ” Look! God’s home is now among His people! He will live with them, and they will be His people. God Himself will be with them. He will wipe away every tear from their eyes, and there will be no more death or sorrow or crying or pain. All these things are gone forever.”

And the One sitting on the throne said, “Look, I am making everything new!: And then He said to me, “Write this down, for what I tell you is trustworthy and true.” And He also said, “It is finished! I am the Alpha and the Omega-the Beginning and the End. To all who are thirsty I will give freely from the springs of the water of life. All who are victorious will inherit all these blessings, and I will be their God, an they will be My children.”

“But cowards, unbelievers, the corrupt, murderers, the immoral, and all liars-their fate is in the fiery lake of burning sulfur. This is the second death.” (vv.1-8, NLT)

And I was a great white throne and the One sitting on it. The earth and sky fled from His presence, but they found no place to hide. I saw the dead, both great and small, standing before God’s throne. And the books were opened, including the Book of Life. And the dead were judged according to what they had done, as recorded in the books. The sea gave up its dead, and death and the grave gave up their dead. And all were judged according to their deeds. Then death and the grave were thrown into the lake of fire. This lake of fire is the second death. Anyone whose name was not found recorded in the Book of Life was thrown into the lake of fire. (vv. 11-15, NLT)

When the thousand years come to an end, Satan will be let our of his prison. He will go out to deceive the nations-called Gog and Magog-in every corner of the earth. He will gather them together for battle-a mighty army, as numberless as sand along the seashore. And I saw them as they went up on the broad plain of the earth and surrounded God’s people and the beloved city. But fire from heaven came down on the attacking armies and consumed them.

Then the devil, who had deceived them, was thrown into the fiery lake of burning sulfur, joining the beast and the false prophet. There they will be tormented day and night forever and ever. (vv. 7-10, NLT)

Then I saw and angel coming down from heaven with the key to the bottomless pit and a heave chain in his hand. He seized the dragon-the old serpent, who is the devil, Satan-and bound him in change for a thousand years The angel threw him into the bottomless pit, which he then shut and locked so Satan could not deceive the nations any more until the thousand year were finished. Afterward he must be released for a little while.

Then I saw thrones, and the people sitting on them had been given the authority to judge. And I saw the souls of those who had been beheaded for their testimony about Jesus and for proclaiming the word of God. They had not worshiped the beast or his statue, no accepted his mark on their foreheads or their hands. They all came to life again, and they reigned with Christ for a thousand years.

This is the first resurrection. (The rest of the dead did not come back to life until the thousand years had ended.) Blessed and holy are those who share in the first resurrection. For them the second death holds no power but they will be priests of God and Christ and wll reign with him a thousand years. (vv 1-6,NLT)

Then I saw heaven opened, and a white horse was standing there. Its rider was named Faithful and True, for He judges fairly and wages a righteous war. His eyes were like flames of fire, and on His head were many crowns. A name was written on Him that no one understood except Himself. He wore a robe dipped in blood, and His title was the Word of God. The armies of heaven, dressed in the finest of pure white linen, followed Him on white horses. From His mouth came a sharp sword to strike down the nations. He will rule then with an iron rod. He will release the fierce wrath of God, the Almighty, like juice flowing from a winepress. One His robe at his thigh was written this title: King of all Kings and Lord of all lords.

Then I saw an angel standing in the sun, shouting to the vultures flying high in the sky: “Come! Gather together for the great banquet God has prepared. Come and eat the flesh of kings, generals, and strong warriors; of horses and their riders; and of all humanity, both free and slave, small and great.”

Then I saw the beast and kings of the world and their armies gathered together to fight against the One sitting on the horse and His army. And the beast was captured, and with him the false prophet who did mighty miracles on behalf of the beast-miracles that deceived all who had accepted the mark of the beast and who worshiped his statue. Both the beast and his false prophet were thrown into the fiery lake of burning sulfur. Their entire army was killed by the sharp sword that came from the mouth of the One riding the white horse. And the vultures all gorged themselves o the dead bodies. (vv. 11-21, NLT)

After this, I heard what sounded like a vast crowd in heaven shouting,

“Praise the Lord! Salvation and glory and power belong to our God. His judgments are true and just. He has punished the great prostitute who corrupted the earth with her immorality. He has avenged the murder of His servants.”

And again their voices rang out:

“Praise the Lord! The smoke from that city ascends forever and ever!”

Then the twenty-four elders and the four living beings fell down and worshiped God, who was sitting on the throne. They cried out, “Amen! Praise the Lord!”

And from the throne came a voice that said, “

Praise our God and and His servants, all who fear Him, from the least to the greatest.”

Then I heard again what sounded like the shout of a vast crowd or the roar of mighty ocean waves or crash of loud thunder:

“Praise the Lord! For the Lord our God, the Almighty reigns. Let us be glad and rejoice, and let us give honor to Him. For the time has come for the wedding feast of the Lamb, and His bride has prepared herself. She has been given the finest of pure white linen to wear.”

For the fine linen represents the good deeds of God’s holy people.

And the angel said to me, “Write this: Blessed are those who are invited to the wedding feast of the Lamb.” And he added, “Thee are the true words that come from God.”

Then I fell down at his feet to worship him, but he said, “No, don’t worship me.I am a servant of God, just like you and your brothers and sisters who testify about their faith in Jesus. Worship only God. For the essence of propheyc is to give a clear witness for Jesus.” (vv. 1-10, NLT)

The merchants of the world will weep and mourn for her, for there is no one left to buy their goods. She bought great quantities of gold, silver, jewels, and pearls; fine linen, purple, silk, and scarlet cloth; things made of fragrant thyme wood, ivory goods, and objects made from expensive wood; and bronze, iron, and marble. She also bought cinnamon, spice, incense, myrrh, frankincense, wine, olive oil, fine flour, wheat, cattle, sheep, horses, chariots, and bodies-that is, human slaves.

“The fancy things you loved so much are gone,” they cry. “All your luxuries and splendor are gone forever, never to be yours again.”

The merchants who became wealthy by selling her these things will stand up at a distance, terrified by her great torment. The will weep and cry out,

“How terrible, how terrible for that great city! She was clothed in the finest purple and scarlet linens, decked out with gold and precious stones and pearls! In a single moment all the wealth of the city is gone!”

And all the captains of the merchant ships and their passengers and sailors and crew will stand at a distance. They will cry out as they watch the smoke ascend, and they will say, “Where is another city as great at this?” And they will weep and cry out, “

“How terrible, how terrible for that great city! The shipowners became wealthy by transporting her great wealth on the seas. In a single moment it is all gone.”

Rejoice over her fate, O heaven and people of God and apostles and prophets! For at last Go had judge her for your sakes. (vv. 9-20, NLT)

After all this I saw another angel come down from heaven with great authority, and the earth grew bright with his splendor. He gave a mighty shout:

“Babylon has fallen-that great city is fallen! She has become a home for demons. She is a hideout for every foul vulture and every foul and dreadful animal.

For all the nations have fallen because of the wine of her passionate immorality. The kings of the world have committed adultery with her. Because of her desire for extravagant luxury, the merchants of the world have grown rich.”

Then I heard another voice calling from heaven,

“Come away from her, My people. Do not take part in her sins, or you will be punished with her. For her sins are piled as high as heaven, and God remembers her evil deeds.

Do to her as she had done to others. Double her penalty for all her evil deeds. She brewed a cup of terror for others, so brew twice a much for her. She glorified herself and lived in luxury, so natch it now with torment and sorrow.

She boasted in her heart, ‘I am queen on my throne. I am no helpless widow, and I have no reason to mourn.’

Therefore these plagues will overtake her in a single day-death and mourning and famine. She will be completely consumed by fire, for the Lord God who judges her is mighty.” (vv. 1-8, NLT)