Revelation 14

1 But then I saw the [one who is like a] lamb standing on Zion Hill [in Jerusalem]. With him were 144,000 [people]. His name and his Father’s name had been written {[He] had written his name and his Father’s name} on their foreheads.

Then I looked and saw the Lamb standing on Mount Zion, and with Him 144,000 who had His name and His Father’s name written on their foreheads.

2 I heard a sound from heaven, which was as [loud] [SIM] as the sound of a huge waterfall (OR, a great/wide [river of rushing] water) and which was [also as loud as] [SIM] mighty thunder. The sound that I heard was like [the sound that] people make when they are playing their harps.

And I heard a sound from heaven like the roar of many waters and the loud rumbling of thunder. And the sound I heard was like harpists strumming their harps.

3 The 144,000 people were singing a new song [while they stood] in front of the throne, in front of the four living [creatures], and in front of the elders. Only the 144,000 [people], the ones who have been {whom [the one who is like a lamb] has} redeemed/bought from among the people on the earth, could learn that song. No one else could learn the song [that they sang].

And they sang a new song before the throne and before the four living creatures and the elders. And no one could learn the song except the 144,000 who had been redeemed from the earth.

4 Those 144,000 are the people who are [spiritually] pure, [like] virgins [are morally pure]. They have not (defiled themselves/made themselves impure) [MET] [by worshipping any false god]. They are the ones who accompany Jesus, the [one who is like a] lamb, wherever he goes. They [represent all those whom he has] redeemed/bought for God from among the people [of earth, in order that he might offer] them to God and to [himself].

These are the ones who have not been defiled with women, for they are virgins. They follow the Lamb wherever He goes. They have been redeemed from among men as firstfruits to God and to the Lamb.

5 [Those people] never lie when they speak [MTY], and they never act immorally.

And no lie was found in their mouths; they are blameless.

6 I saw another angel that was flying between the sky and heaven. He was bringing [God’s] eternal good message [to earth], in order that he might proclaim it to people who live on the earth. He will proclaim it to every nation, [to every] tribe, [to speakers of every] language [MTY], and [to every] people-[group]. (aiōnios g166)

Then I saw another angel flying overhead, with the eternal gospel to proclaim to those who dwell on the earth—to every nation and tribe and tongue and people. (aiōnios g166)

7 He said in a loud voice, “Revere God and honor him, because it is now time for him to judge [people]! Worship [God, because he is] the one who created the heaven, the earth, the ocean, and the springs of water.”

And he said in a loud voice, “Fear God and give Him glory, because the hour of His judgment has come. Worship the One who made the heavens and the earth and the sea and the springs of waters.”

8 A second angel came after him saying, “The very evil [cities] (OR, [city]) [represented by] Babylon are completely destroyed! [God] has punished [their people because] they [have persuaded people of] all the nations [to forsake God, just like a prostitute] [MET] persuades [men] to drink [strong] wine and [as a result] commit sexual immorality.”

Then a second angel followed, saying, “Fallen, fallen is Babylon the great, who has made all the nations drink the wine of the passion of her immorality.”

9 A third angel came next, saying in a loud voice, “If people worship the beast and its image and [allow] its mark to be put {its [agent to] put its mark} on their foreheads or on their hands,

And a third angel followed them, calling out in a loud voice, “If anyone worships the beast and its image, and receives its mark on his forehead or on his hand,

10 God will be angry with them and punish them very severely [MET]. They will be tormented {[God] will torment them} in burning sulfur in the presence of his holy angels and in the presence of the [one who is like a] lamb.

he too will drink the wine of God’s anger, poured undiluted into the cup of His wrath. And he will be tormented in fire and sulfur in the presence of the holy angels and of the Lamb.

11 The smoke [from the fire] that torments them will rise forever. [They will] be tormented {[God will] torment them} continually, day and night. [That is what will happen to] the people who worship the beast and its image and who allow its name to be marked on them {allow [its agent] to mark them with its name}.” (aiōn g165)

And the smoke of their torment rises forever and ever. Day and night there is no rest for those who worship the beast and its image, or for anyone who receives the mark of its name.” (aiōn g165)

12 So God’s people, those who obey what God commands and who trust in Jesus, must faithfully continue [obeying and trusting him].

Here is a call for the perseverance of the saints who keep the commandments of God and the faith of Jesus.

13 I heard a voice from heaven saying, “Write [this: God will] now [abundantly] bless the people who have a close relationship with the Lord [Jesus] for the rest of [their lives].” [God’s] Spirit says, “Yes, [after they die], they will no longer have to work hard. Instead, they will rest, and [the record of the good deeds] [MTY] that they have done will go with them (OR, [God] will [reward them] for the good deeds that they have done).”

And I heard a voice from heaven telling me to write, “Blessed are the dead—those who die in the Lord from this moment on.” “Yes,” says the Spirit, “they will rest from their labors, for their deeds will follow them.”

14 Then I was surprised to see a white cloud, and on the cloud [someone] was sitting who looked like the one who came from heaven. He [was wearing] a golden crown on his head. In his hand [he held] a sharp sickle.

And I looked and saw a white cloud, and seated on the cloud was One like the Son of Man, with a golden crown on His head and a sharp sickle in His hand.

15 Another angel came out of the temple [in heaven]. In a loud voice, [speaking figuratively about gathering people for God to judge them], he said to the one who was sitting on the cloud, “The time has come to reap [the grain on the earth], so with your sickle [reap] the [grain], because the grain on the earth is ripe.”

Then another angel came out of the temple, crying out in a loud voice to the One seated on the cloud, “Swing Your sickle and reap, because the time has come to harvest; for the crop of the earth is ripe.”

16 The one who was sitting on the cloud forcefully gathered together [all the people] on earth, [as] [MET] [a farmer] reaps grain with his sickle.

So the One seated on the cloud swung His sickle over the earth, and the earth was harvested.

17 Another angel came out of the sanctuary in heaven. He also held a sharp sickle.

Then another angel came out of the temple in heaven, and he too had a sharp sickle.

18 From the altar came another angel. He is the one who takes care of the fire [of the altar. Also speaking figuratively about gathering the wicked people for God to judge and punish them], he said in a loud voice to the angel who held the sharp sickle, “With your sharp sickle cut off the clusters of grapes in the vineyards on the earth! Then gather the clusters of grapes together, because its grapes are ripe!”

Still another angel, with authority over the fire, came from the altar and called out in a loud voice to the angel with the sharp sickle, “Swing your sharp sickle and gather the clusters of grapes from the vine of the earth, because its grapes are ripe.”

19 So, [just like a man would] cut off with his sickle the clusters of grapes in his vineyard [MET], an angel forcefully [gathered the wicked people] on the earth. Then he threw them into the huge place where God will angrily punish them.

So the angel swung his sickle over the earth and gathered the grapes of the earth, and he threw them into the great winepress of God’s wrath.

20 [The wicked people] were trampled on {[God’s agent] trod on [the wicked people]} [in] the winepress outside the city. The blood that came out from the winepress flowed [in a stream so deep that it reached] to the bridles of the horses, [and extended] (180 miles/300 kilometers).

And the winepress was trodden outside the city, and the blood that flowed from it rose as high as the bridles of the horses for a distance of 1,600 stadia.