Revelation 14

1I looked, and there stood the Lamb on holy Mount Zion! Standing with Him were 144,000 sealed believers. His name and His Father's name were engraved upon their foreheads!

2I heard a roaring sound from heaven like crashing ocean waters. It sounded like rolling thunder and harpists strumming their harps.

3They sang a brand-new victory song before the throne! No one could learn that song except the 144,000 redeemed believers.

4They kept themselves spiritually pure from all idol corruption. They follow the Lamb wherever He leads them. Jesus purchased them from among humanity as a holy firstfruits offering!

5No deceit was ever found in their speech; they stand blameless.

6I saw another angel flying high across midair. He carried the eternal Gospel to preach to earth's inhabitants. He announced it to every nation, tribe, language, and people!

7He shouted: Fear God and give Him glory! The hour of His divine judgment has arrived! Worship the Creator who made the heavens, earth, and waters!

8A second angel followed, shouting: Fallen! Babylon the Great has fallen! She made all nations drink the intoxicating wine of her immorality!

9A third angel followed, shouting with a booming voice: Whoever worships the beast and receives its brand mark,

10they will drink the undiluted wine of God's fierce fury! God poured His wrath full strength into the cup of indignation. They will endure agonizing torment in fire and burning sulfur! The Lamb and holy angels will witness their punishment.

11The suffocating smoke of their torment rises forever and ever! There is no rest day or night for those who worship the beast and its image, or for anyone who receives the mark of its name.

12This calls for patient endurance from God's holy people, who obey His commands and stay faithful to Jesus.

13Then I heard a voice from heaven say: Write this: From now on, blessed are the dead who die belonging to the Lord. Yes, says the Spirit, they will rest from their hard work, for what they have done goes with them.

14I looked, and there floated a pure white cloud! Seated upon the cloud was Someone like the Son of Man. He wore a golden royal crown upon His head. He held a razor-sharp harvest sickle in His hand!

15An angel emerged from the heavenly temple, crying out: Swing Your sharp sickle and reap the harvest! The appointed hour has come; earth's grain crop is ripe!

16So the Son of Man swung His sickle across the earth. And He gathered earth's grain harvest to Himself!

17Then another angel came out of the heavenly temple. He also held a razor-sharp curved sickle.

18A third angel, who held authority over fire, came from the altar. He shouted: Swing your sickle and gather earth's ripe grape clusters!

19The angel swung his sickle and cut down earth's heavy vineyard. He hurled the grape clusters into the massive winepress of God's fury!

20Enemies stomped the winepress outside the holy city. A terrifying river of blood gushed out of the press! The blood surged as high as horses' bridles for 180 miles!