< Revelation 16 >
1 And I heard a great voice out of the sanctuary saying to the seven messengers, 'Go away, and pour out the vials of the wrath of God to the earth;'
Then I heard a loud voice coming from the Temple telling the seven angels, “Go and pour out the seven bowls of God's judgment on the earth.”
2 and the first did go away, and did pour out his vial upon the land, and there came a sore — bad and grievous — to men, those having the mark of the beast, and those bowing to his image.
So the first angel went and poured out his bowl on the earth, and terrible, painful sores broke out on those who had the mark of the beast and who worshiped his image.
3 And the second messenger did pour out his vial to the sea, and there came blood as of [one] dead, and every living soul died in the sea.
The second poured out his bowl on the sea, and it became like the blood of a corpse and everything living in the sea died.
4 And the third messenger did pour out his vial to the rivers, and to the fountains of the waters, and there came blood,
The third poured out his bowl on the rivers and springs of water, and the water turned into blood.
5 and I heard the messenger of the waters, saying, 'righteous, O Lord, art Thou, who art, and who wast, and who shalt be, because these things Thou didst judge,
I heard the angel who had power over the waters declare, “You are truly right, you who are and was, the Holy One, as this judgment demonstrates.
6 because blood of saints and prophets they did pour out, and blood to them Thou didst give to drink, for they are worthy;'
These people shed the blood of believers. Now you've given them blood to drink, as they deserve!”
7 and I heard another out of the altar, saying, 'Yes, Lord God, the Almighty, true and righteous [are] Thy judgments.'
I heard a voice from the altar saying, “Yes, Lord God, the All-powerful One, your judgments are right and true!”
8 And the fourth messenger did pour out his vial upon the sun, and there was given to him to scorch men with fire,
The fourth angel poured out his bowl on the sun, and it was given the power to scorch people with fire.
9 and men were scorched with great heat, and they did speak evil of the name of God, who hath authority over these plagues, and they did not reform — to give to Him glory.
They were scorched by intense heat, and they cursed the name of God who controlled these plagues. They did not repent and give him glory.
10 And the fifth messenger did pour out his vial upon the throne of the beast, and his kingdom did become darkened, and they were gnawing their tongues from the pain,
The fifth angel poured out his bowl on the beast's throne, and darkness fell over his kingdom. The people bit their tongues because of the pain they felt,
11 and they did speak evil of the God of the heaven, from their pains, and from their sores, and they did not reform from their works.
and they cursed the God of heaven because of their pain and their sores, but they did not repent and stop what they were doing.
12 And the sixth messenger did pour out his vial upon the great river, the Euphrates, and dried up was its water, that the way of the kings who are from the rising of the sun may be made ready;
The sixth angel poured out his bowl on the mighty River Euphrates, and its water was dried up, so that a way could be prepared for the kings that come from the east.
13 and I saw [come] 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 —
Then I saw three evil spirits that looked like frogs coming out of the mouths of the dragon, the beast, and the false prophet.
14 for they are spirits of demons, doing signs — which go forth unto the kings of the earth, and of the whole world, to bring them together to the battle of that great day of God the Almighty; —
These are demonic spirits that perform miracles, going out to gather together all the kings of the whole world for the battle on God the All-powerful One's great day of judgment.
15 'lo, I do come as a thief; happy [is] he who is watching, and keeping his garments, that he may not walk naked, and they may see his unseemliness,' —
(Pay attention! I will come like a thief. Blessed are those who keep watch, and have their clothes ready so that they don't have to go out naked and be embarrassed.)
16 and they did bring them together to the place that is called in Hebrew Armageddon.
The evil spirits gathered the kings for battle at a place called Armageddon in Hebrew.
17 And the seventh messenger did pour out his vial to the air, and there came forth a great voice from the sanctuary of the heaven, from the throne, saying, 'It hath come!'
The seventh angel poured out his bowl on the air, and a loud voice came from the Temple, from the throne, shouting out, “It's over!”
18 and there came voices, and thunders, and lightnings; and a great earthquake came, such as came not since men came upon the earth, so mighty an earthquake — so great!
Lightning flashed and thunder boomed, and a massive earthquake shook the earth. It was the worst earthquake that had ever happened since people lived there.
19 And it came — the great city — into three parts, and the cities of the nations did fall, and Babylon the great was remembered before God, to give to her the cup of the wine of the wrath of His anger,
The great city was split into three. The cities of the nations were destroyed. Babylon the great was remembered in God's presence so that she should be given the cup filled with the wine of his hostility.
20 and every island did flee away, and mountains were not found,
All the islands vanished, and all the mountains disappeared.
21 and great hail (as of talent weight) doth come down out of the heaven upon men, and men did speak evil of God because of the plague of the hail, because its plague is very great.
Huge hailstones, each one weighing one hundred pounds, rained down from the sky on people. The people cursed God because the plague of hail was so terrible.