December 23
Rev 14:1-20
I saw, and behold, the
Lamb standing on Mount Zion, and with him a number, one hundred forty-four
thousand, having his name, and the name of his Father, written on their
foreheads. I heard a sound from heaven, like the sound of many waters, and
like the sound of a great thunder. The sound which I heard was like that of
harpists playing on their harps. They sing a new song before the throne, and
before the four living creatures and the elders. No one could learn the song
except the one hundred forty-four thousand, those who had been redeemed out
of the earth. These are those who were not defiled with women, for they are
virgins. These are those who follow the Lamb wherever he goes. These were
redeemed by Jesus from among men, the first fruits to God and to the Lamb.
In their mouth was found no lie, for they are blameless.
I saw an angel flying in mid heaven, having an eternal Good News to proclaim
to those who dwell on the earth, and to every nation, tribe, language, and
people. 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!”
Another, a second angel, followed, saying, “Babylon the great has fallen,
which has made all the nations to drink of the wine of the wrath of her
sexual immorality.”
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, 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.
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. Here is the patience of the saints, those who keep the
commandments of God, and the faith of Jesus.”
I heard the voice from heaven saying, “Write, ‘Blessed are the dead who die
in the Lord from now on.’”
“Yes,” says the Spirit, “that they may rest from their labors; for their
works follow with them.”
I looked, and behold, 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.
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!” He who sat on the cloud thrust
his sickle on the earth, and the earth was reaped.
Another angel came out of the temple which is in heaven. He also had a sharp
sickle. 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!” The angel thrust his sickle into the
earth, and gathered the vintage of the earth, and threw it into the great
wine press of the wrath of God. The wine press was trodden outside of the
city, and blood came out of the wine press, even to the bridles of the
horses, as far as one thousand six hundred stadia.
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