If anyone is killed with a sword, with a sword he must be killed.
In this situation God's holy people need endurance and confidence.
The Beast from the Earth 11 I saw another beast come from the earth, and it had two horns like a lamb. It talked like a serpent. 12 The second beast uses all the authority of the first beast in its presence. The second beast makes the earth and those living on it worship the first beast, whose fatal wound was healed. 13 The second beast performs spectacular signs. It even makes fire come down from heaven to earth in front of people. 14 It deceives those living on earth with the signs that it is allowed to do in front of the first beast. It tells those living on earth to make a statue for the beast who was wounded by a sword and yet lived.
15 The second beast was allowed to put breath into the statue of the first beast. Then the statue of the first beast could talk and put to death whoever would not worship it. 16 The second beast forces all people-important and unimportant people, rich and poor people, free people and slaves-to be branded on their right hands or on their foreheads. 17 It does this so that no one may buy or sell unless he has the brand, which is the beast's name or the number of its name.
18 In this situation wisdom is needed. Let the person who has insight figure out the number of the beast, because it is a human number.a The beast's number is 666.
The New Song on Mount Zion 14 1 I looked, and the lamb was standing on Mount Zion. There were 144,000 people with him who had his name and his Father's name written on their foreheads. 2 Then I heard a sound from heaven like the noise of raging water and the noise of loud thunder. The sound I heard was like the music played by harpists. 3 They were singing a new song in front of the throne, the four living creatures, and the leaders. Only the 144,000 people who had been bought on earth could learn the song.
4 These 144,000 virgins are pure. They follow the lamb wherever he goes. They were bought from among humanity as the first ones offered to God and to the lamb. 5 They've never told a lie. They are blameless.
The Harvest of the Earth 6 I saw another angel flying overhead with the everlasting Good News to spread to those who live on earth-to every nation, tribe, language, and people. 7 The angel said in a loud voice, "Fear God and give him glory, because the time has come for him to judge. Worship the one who made heaven and earth, the sea and springs."
8 Another angel, a second one, followed him, and said, "Fallen! Babylon the Great has fallen! She has made all the nations drink the wine of her passionate sexual sins."
9 Another angel, a third one, followed them, and said in a loud voice, "Whoever worships the beast or its statue, whoever is branded on his forehead or his hand, 10 will drink the wine of God's fury, which has been poured unmixed into the cup of God's anger. Then he will be tortured by fiery sulfur in the presence of the holy angels and the lamb. 11 The smoke from their torture will go up forever and ever. There will be no rest day or night for those who worship the beast or its statue, or for anyone branded with its name." 12 In this situation God's holy people, who obey his commands and keep their faith in Yeshua , need endurance.
13 I heard a voice from heaven saying, "Write this: From now on those who die believing in the Lord are blessed."
"Yes," says the Spirit. "Let them rest from their hard work. What they have done goes with them."
14 Then I looked, and there was a white cloud, and on the cloud sat someone who was like the Son of Man. He had a gold crown on his head and a sharp sickle in his hand. 15 Another angel came out of the temple. He cried out in a loud voice to the one who sat on the cloud, "Swing your sickle, and gather the harvest. The time has come to gather it, because the harvest on the earth is overripe."
16 The one who sat on the cloud swung his sickle over the earth, and the harvesting of the earth was completed.
17 Another angel came out of the temple in heaven. He, too, had a sharp sickle. 18 Yet another angel came from the altar with authority over fire. This angel called out in a loud voice to the angel with the sharp sickle, "Swing your sickle, and gather the bunches of grapes from the vine of the earth, because those grapes are ripe." 19 The angel swung his sickle on the earth and gathered the grapes from the vine of the earth. He threw them into the winepress of God's anger. 20 The grapes were trampled in the winepress outside the city. Blood flowed out of the winepress as high as a horse's bridle for 1,600 stadia.a Seven Angels with Seven Plagues 15 1 I saw another sign in heaven. It was spectacular and amazing. There were seven angels with the last seven plagues which are the final expression of God's anger.
2 Then I saw what looked like a sea of glass mixed with fire. Those who had won the victory over the beast, its statue, and the number of its name were standing on the glassy sea. They were holding God's harps 3 and singing the song of God's servant Moses and the song of the lamb. They sang, "The things you do are spectacular and amazing, Lord God Almighty.
The way you do them is fair and true, King of the Nations.
4 Lord, who won't fear and praise your name?
You are the only holy one, and all the nations will come to worship you because they know about your fair judgments."
5 After these things I looked, and I saw that the temple of the tent containing the words of God's promise was open in heaven. 6 The seven angels with the seven plagues came out of the temple wearing clean, shining linen with gold belts around their waists. 7 One of the four living creatures gave seven gold bowls full of the anger of God, who lives forever and ever, to the seven angels. 8 The temple was filled with smoke from the glory of God and his power. No one could enter the temple until the seven plagues of the seven angels came to an end.
The Seven Angels Pour Out Their Bowls 16 1 I heard a loud voice from the temple saying to the seven angels, "Pour the seven bowls of God's anger over the earth."
2 The first angel poured his bowl over the earth. Horrible, painful sores appeared on the people who had the brand of the beast and worshiped its statue.
3 The second angel poured his bowl over the sea. The sea turned into blood like the blood of a dead man, and every living thing in the sea died.
4 The third angel poured his bowl over the rivers and the springs. They turned into blood. 5 Then I heard the angel of the water say, "You are fair.
You are the one who is and the one who was, the holy one, because you have judged these things.
6 You have given them blood to drink because they have poured out the blood of God's people and prophets.
This is what they deserve."
7 Then I heard the altar answer, "Yes, Lord God Almighty, your judgments are true and fair."
8 The fourth angel poured his bowl on the sun. The sun was allowed to burn people with fire. 9 They were severely burned. They cursed the name of God, who has the authority over these plagues. They would not change the way they think and act and give him glory.
10 The fifth angel poured his bowl on the throne of the beast. Its kingdom turned dark. People gnawed on their tongues in anguish 11 and cursed the God of heaven for their pains and their sores. However, they would not stop what they were doing.
12 The sixth angel poured his bowl on the great Euphrates River. The water in the river dried up to make a road for the kings from the east. 13 Then I saw three evil spirits like frogs come out of the mouths of the serpent, the beast, and the false prophet. 14 They are spirits of demons that do miracles. These spirits go to the kings of the whole world and gather them for the war on the frightening day of God Almighty.
15 "See, I am coming like a thief. Blessed is the one who remains alert and doesn't lose his clothes. He will not have to go naked and let others see his shame."
16 The spirits gathered the kings at the place which is called Armageddon in Hebrew.
17 The seventh angel poured his bowl into the air. A loud voice came from the throne in the temple, and said, "It has happened!" 18 There was lightning, noise, thunder, and a powerful earthquake. There has never been such a powerful earthquake since humans have been on earth. 19 The important city split into three parts, and the cities of the nations fell. God remembered to give Babylon the Great the cup of wine from his fierce anger. 20 Every island vanished, and the mountains could no longer be seen. 21 Large, heavy hailstones fell from the sky on people. The people cursed God because the plague of hail was such a terrible plague.
Babylon the Great 17 1 One of the seven angels who held the seven bowls came and said to me, "Come, I will show you the judgment of that notorious prostitute who sits on raging waters. 2 The kings of the earth had sex with her, and those living on earth became drunk on the wine of her sexual sins." 3 Then the angel carried me by his power into the wilderness.
I saw a woman sitting on a bright red beast covered with insulting names. It had seven heads and ten horns. 4 The woman wore purple clothes, bright red clothes, gold jewelry, gems, and pearls. In her hand she was holding a gold cup filled with detestable and evil things from her sexual sins. 5 A name was written on her forehead. The name was Mystery: Babylon the Great, the Mother of Prostitutes and Detestable Things of the Earth. 6 I saw that the woman was drunk with the blood of God's holy people and of those who testify about Yeshua . I was very surprised when I saw her.
7 The angel asked me, "Why are you surprised? I will tell you the mystery of the woman and the beast with the seven heads and the ten horns that carries her.
8 "You saw the beast which once was, is no longer, and will come from the bottomless pit and go to its destruction. Those living on earth, whose names were not written in the Book of Life when the world was created, will be surprised when they see the beast because it was, is no longer, and will come again.
9 "In this situation a wise mind is needed. The seven heads are seven mountains on which the woman is sitting. 10 They are also seven kings. Five of them have fallen, one is ruling now, and the other has not yet come. When he comes, he must remain for a little while. 11 The beast that was and is no longer is the eighth king. It belongs with the seven kings and goes to its destruction.
12 "The ten horns that you saw are ten kings who have not yet started to rule. They will receive authority to rule as kings with the beast for one hour. 13 They have one purpose-to give their power and authority to the beast. 14 They will go to war against the lamb. The lamb will conquer them because he is Lord of lords and King of kings. Those who are called, chosen, and faithful are with him."
15 The angel also said to me, "The waters you saw, on which the prostitute is sitting, are people, crowds, nations, and languages. 16 The ten horns and the beast you saw will hate the prostitute. They will leave her abandoned and naked. They will eat her flesh and burn her up in a fire. 17 God has made them do what he wants them to do. So they will give their kingdom to the beast until God's words are carried out. 18 The woman you saw is the important city which dominates the kings of the earth."
Babylon's Fall 18 1 After these things I saw another angel come from heaven. He had tremendous power, and his glory lit up the earth. 2 He cried out in a powerful voice, "Fallen! Babylon the Great has fallen! She has become a home for demons. She is a prison for every evil spirit, every uncleana bird, and every unclean and hated beast. 3 All the nations fell because of the wine of her sexual sins. The kings of the earth had sex with her. Her luxurious wealth has made the merchants of the earth rich."
4 I heard another voice from heaven saying, "Come out of Babylon, my people, so that you do not participate in her sins and suffer from any of her plagues. 5 Her sins are piled as high as heaven, and God has remembered her crimes. 6 Do to her what she has done. Give her twice as much as she gave. Serve her a drink in her own cup twice as large as the drink she served others. 7 She gave herself glory and luxury. Now give her just as much torture and misery. She says to herself, 'I'm a queen on a throne, not a widow. I'll never be miserable.' 8 For this reason her plagues of death, misery, and starvation will come in a single day. She will be burned up in a fire, because the Lord God, who judges her, is powerful.
9 "The kings of the earth who had sex with her and lived in luxury with her will cry and mourn over her when they see the smoke rise from her raging fire. 10 Frightened by her torture, they will stand far away and say, 'How horrible, how horrible it is for that important city, the powerful city Babylon!
In one moment judgment has come to it!'
11 "The merchants of the earth cry and mourn over her, because no one buys their cargo anymore. 12 No one buys their cargo of gold, silver, gems, pearls, fine linen, purple cloth, silk, bright red cloth, all kinds of citron wood, articles made of ivory and very costly wood, bronze, iron, marble, 13 cinnamon, spices, incense, perfume, frankincense, wine, olive oil, flour, wheat, cattle, sheep, horses, wagons, slaves (that is, humans).
14 'The fruit you craved is gone.
All your luxuries and your splendor have disappeared.
No one will ever find them again.'
15 "Frightened by her torture, the merchants who had become rich by selling these things will stand far away. They will cry and mourn, 16 saying, 'How horrible, how horrible for that important city which was wearing fine linen, purple clothes, bright red clothes, gold jewelry, gems, and pearls.
17 In one moment all this wealth has been destroyed!'
Every ship's captain, everyone who traveled by ship, sailors, and everyone who made their living from the sea stood far away. 18 When they saw the smoke rise from her raging fire, they repeatedly cried out, 'Was there ever a city as important as this?' 19 Then they threw dust on their heads and shouted while crying and mourning, 'How horrible, how horrible for that important city.
Everyone who had a ship at sea grew rich because of that city's high prices.
In one moment it has been destroyed!'
20 "Gloat over it, heaven, God's people, apostles, and prophets.
God has condemned it for you."
21 Then a powerful angel picked up a stone that was like a large millstone. He threw it into the sea and said, "The important city Babylon will be thrown down with the same force.
It will never be found again.
22 The sound of harpists, musicians, flutists, and trumpeters will never be heard in it again.
A skilled craftsman-regardless of the type of craft- will never be found in it again.
The sound of a millstone will never be heard in it again.
23 Light from lamps will never shine in it again.
Voices of brides and grooms will never be heard in it again.
Its merchants were the important people of the world, because all the nations were deceived by its witchcraft.
24 "The blood of prophets, God's people, and everyone who had been murdered on earth was found in it."
KING OF KINGS.
The Jewish people at the time of Christ longed for a coming king who would be descended from their great king, David. In Matthew's Gospel (21:1-9), Jesus fulfills the messianic prophecy of Zechariah 9:9 by riding into Jerusalem on a donkey, an animal that symbolized both peace and humility. Though Jesus is mightier than any earthly sovereign and more powerful than the unseen powers of the universe, he entered the world humbly, as an infant born in Bethlehem. Despite this, Magi from the East still recognized the newborn King.
When you think about what it means that Jesus is the King of Kings, call to mind his mastery not merely over human beings but over nature, disease, and death itself.
The passage from Revelation 19 presents Jesus riding not on a lowly donkey but on a magnificent white horse, as befits the greatest of all kings. Throughout the New Testament, Jesus is variously referred to as "King," "King of the ages," "King of the Jews," "King of Israel," and "King of Kings"-this last one translated from the Greek phrase Basileus Basileon. Even today some Christian churches are called "basilicas," a phrase meaning "the hall of the king."
Praying to the King of Kings Turn on any news channel and it would be hard not to conclude that the nation is obsessed with politics. We have succumbed to what some have called the "political illusion," believing that every human ill has a corresponding political solution. No wonder our divisions have become so bitterly entrenched. A lot is hanging in the balance.
Of course, political divisiveness is not limited to our era. Jesus himself was born into a highly divisive political environment. It was into this environment that he began speaking of his kingdom. Jesus performed miracle after miracle, each of which was designed to pull back a curtain of sorts, revealing God's power over death, disease, and darkness. Every miracle exposed a hidden reality, one that many of us still miss-that despite appearances God and no one else is in charge of the universe.
Many people misinterpret Jesus' words about entering the kingdom of heaven. They think he was talking about going to heaven when we die. But his words in this regard were not primarily about the after life. Instead, Jesus was issuing an invitation to live the greatest life possible beginning right now and extending into eternity. We become great only as we advance the cause of the greatest of all kings. We enter Christ's kingdom by believing in him and by living under his reign through the power of grace. Our loving obedience acts like a catalyst to advance his kingdom as more and more people embrace the gospel and begin living by his standards. And, get this: Christ's kingdom is composed of people we sometimes despise-both Democrats and Republicans, liberals and conservatives. It might even contain a few lobbyists and lawyers! Anyone who is primarily aligned with Christ's purposes through the power of his Spirit is living in and advancing his kingdom.
Maybe it's time we drop the mistaken idea that the political world is capable of delivering everything we long for. Instead of letting political commentators erode our respect for each other, perhaps it's time to realize a more primary allegiance, an allegiance to the one we call King of Kings and Lord of Lords. Only he can establish a world in which peace and justice are the norm by which we all live.
Lord, you taught us to pray, "Thy kingdom come, thy will be done." Today I recommit myself to you, my only King. Help me to join other members of your kingdom so that together, animated by your Spirit, we might become useful instruments in your hands.
Promises Associated with the Name KING OF KINGS.
And why worry about clothes? Notice how the flowers grow in the field. They never work or spin yarn for clothes. But I say that not even Solomon in all his majesty was dressed like one of these flowers. That's the way God clothes the grass in the field. Today it's alive, and tomorrow it's thrown into an incinerator. So how much more will he clothe you people who have so little faith? Don't ever worry and say, "What are we going to eat?" or "What are we going to drink?" or "What are we going to wear?" Everyone is concerned about these things, and your heavenly Father certainly knows you need all of them. But first, be concerned about his kingdom and what has his approval. Then all these things will be provided for you. (Matthew 6:28-33)
The Lamb's Wedding 19 1 After these things I heard what sounded like the loud noise from a large crowd in heaven, saying, "Hallelujah!
Salvation, glory, and power belong to our God.
2 His judgments are true and fair.
He has condemned the notorious prostitute who corrupted the world with her sexual sins.
He has taken revenge on her for the blood of his servants."
3 A second time they said, "Hallelujah! The smoke goes up from her forever and ever." 4 The 24 leaders and the 4 living creatures bowed and worshiped God, who was sitting on the throne. They said, "Amen! Hallelujah!" 5 A voice came from the throne. It said, "Praise our God, all who serve and fear him, no matter who you are."
6 I heard what sounded like the noise from a large crowd, like the noise of raging waters, like the noise of loud thunder, saying, "Hallelujah! The Lord our God, the Almighty, has become king.
7 Let us rejoice, be happy, and give him glory because it's time for the marriage of the lamb.
His bride has made herself ready.
8 She has been given the privilege of wearing dazzling, pure linen."
This fine linen represents the things that God's holy people do that have his approval.
9 Then the angel said to me, "Write this: 'Blessed are those who are invited to the lamb's wedding banquet.'" He also told me, "These are the true words of God." 10 I bowed at his feet to worship him. But he told me, "Don't do that! I am your coworker and a coworker of the Christians who hold on to the testimony of Yeshua . Worship God, because the testimony of Yeshua is the spirit of prophecy!"
The Great Banquet of God 11 I saw heaven standing open. There was a white horse, and its rider is named Faithful and True. With integrity he judges and wages war. 12 His eyes are flames of fire. On his head are many crowns. He has a name written on him, but only he knows what it is. 13 He wears clothes dipped in blood, and his name is the Word of God.
14 The armies of heaven, wearing pure, white linen, follow him on white horses. 15 A sharp sword comes out of his mouth to defeat the nations. He will rule them with an iron scepter and tread the winepress of the fierce anger of God Almighty. 16 0n his clothes and his thigh he has a name written: King of Kings and Lord of Lords.