Read the Modern Pastor’s Version

And I looked, and there stood a Lamb on Mount Zion, with him 144,000 who had his name written in their foreheads. They sang a new song before the throne, accompanied by harpists playing their instruments. The sound was like the roar of many rushing waters and a loud thunder that echoed from heaven.

Only the 144,000 could learn this song, for they were the ones who had been redeemed from the earth as the firstfruits to God and to the Lamb. They were not defiled by women; they were virgins, and in their mouths was found no deceit, for they were blameless before God.

These followers of the Lamb had been chosen to be his companions wherever he goes. I saw another angel flying in mid-heaven, bringing eternal good tidings to proclaim unto those who dwell on earth and every nation, tribe, tongue, and people. He declared: "Fear God, and give glory to him! The hour of his judgment has come, and worship the One who made heaven, earth, sea, and the fountains of waters."

Another angel followed, crying out with a loud voice: "Babylon is fallen, is fallen, that great city!" It had brought all nations into her fornication by making them drink from the wine of her immorality. A third angel then shouted, saying, "If anyone worships the beast and his image or receives his mark on their forehead or hand, they will be punished."

The punishment is to drink from the cup of God's wrath, poured out undiluted into his indignation. Those who worship the beast and receive its mark will be tormented by fire and brimstone in the presence of the holy angels and the Lamb.

Their torment will continue forever and ever, with no rest day or night, for those who choose to follow the beast and its image rather than God's way. But here is the patience of the saints: they keep God's commands and hold fast to their faith in Jesus.

I heard a voice from heaven saying to me, "Write this: Blessed are those who die in the Lord from now on! They will rest from their labors, and their deeds will follow them." I looked, and there before me was a white cloud with one seated on it like a son of man. He wore on his head a golden crown and held in his hand a sharp sickle.

Another angel emerged from the temple, shouting to him who sat on the cloud with a loud voice: "Thrust your sickle into the earth and reap! The time has come to harvest, for the earth's crop is ripe." He who sat on the cloud took up his sickle, reaping the earth. Another angel came out of the temple in heaven, also holding a sharp sickle.

Another angel emerged from the altar, which had authority over fire. He cried out to the one with the sharp sickle, saying, "Thrust your sickle into the clusters of the earth's vine! Its grapes are fully ripe." The angel seized his sickle and gathered the vine of the earth, casting it into the great winepress of God's wrath.

The winepress was trodden outside the city, and blood flowed out of it up to the bridles of the horses over a distance of one thousand six hundred stadia.