Chapter 19

1After this, I heard what sounded like the loud voice of a huge crowd in heaven. They were saying, “Praise God! Rescue, honor, and power belong to our God,

2because his judgments are true and just. He has judged the great prostitute who ruined the earth with her prostitution. He has avenged the blood of his servants that she shed.”

3They said a second time, “Praise God! The smoke from her destruction rises forever and ever.”

4The twenty-four elders and the four living creatures fell down and worshiped God, who was seated on the throne. They said, “Yes! Praise God!”

5Then a voice came from the throne: “Praise our God, all you who serve him and all who honor him with reverence, both low and high.”

6Then I heard what sounded like a huge crowd, roaring waters, and mighty thunder. They were saying, “Praise God! The Lord God Almighty has begun to reign.

7Let us rejoice and celebrate, and we will honor him! The wedding of the Lamb has come, and his bride has made herself ready.

8She was given bright, clean, fine linen to wear.” The fine linen represents the just deeds of the people who belong to God.

9Then the angel told me, “Write this: How fortunate are those invited to the Lamb’s wedding feast!” He added, “These words from God are true.”

10I fell at the angel’s feet to worship him, but he told me, “Do not do that! I serve alongside you and your fellow believers who bear witness to Jesus. Worship God! For bearing witness to Jesus is the heart of prophecy—the speaking of messages from God.”

11Then I saw heaven standing open. There was a white horse, and its rider was called Faithful and True. He judges and wages war with justice.

12His eyes are a flame of fire, and many royal crowns are on his head. He has a written name that no one knows except himself.

13He is dressed in a robe dipped in blood, and his name is “The Word of God.”

14Heaven’s armies followed him on white horses. They were dressed in clean, white, fine linen.

15A sharp sword comes from his mouth so that he can strike the nations with it. He will rule them like a shepherd with an iron staff. He also treads the winepress of God Almighty’s furious anger, crushing his enemies like grapes.

16A name is written on his robe and on his thigh: “King over every king and Lord over every lord.”

17Then I saw an angel standing in the sun. He shouted loudly to all the birds flying high overhead, “Come! Gather for God’s great feast,

18so that you may eat the flesh of kings, army commanders, powerful people, horses and their riders, and everyone else—free people and slaves, low and high.”

19Then I saw the beast, the kings of the earth, and their armies gathered to make war against the rider on the horse and against his army.

20The beast was captured, along with the false prophet who had performed signs in its presence. With those signs, the false prophet had deceived the people who received the beast’s mark and worshiped its image. Both were thrown alive into the lake of fire burning with sulfur.

21The rest were killed by the sword that came from the mouth of the rider on the horse, and all the birds stuffed themselves with their flesh.