Study Desk

they all had to have this mark, or else they could not buy or sell anything. This mark stood for the name of the beast and for the number of its name.

All of these are pure virgins, and they follow the Lamb wherever he leads. They have been rescued to be presented to God and the Lamb as the most precious people on earth.

They never tell lies, and they are innocent.

God's people must learn to endure. They must also obey his commands and have faith in Jesus.

Then I heard a voice from heaven say, "Put this in writing. From now on, the Lord will bless everyone who has faith in him when they die." The Spirit answered, "Yes, they will rest from their hard work, and they will be rewarded for what they have done."

The angel swung his sickle on earth and cut off its grapes. He threw them into a pit where they were trampled on as a sign of God's anger.

Then I saw something that looked like a glass sea mixed with fire, and people were standing on it. They were the ones who had defeated the beast and the idol and the number that tells the name of the beast. God had given them harps,

and they were singing the song that his servant Moses and the Lamb had sung. They were singing, "Lord God All-Powerful, you have done great and marvelous things. You are the ruler of all nations, and you do what is right and fair.

And the seven angels who were bringing the terrible troubles were coming out of it. They were dressed in robes of pure white linen and wore belts made of pure gold.

The third angel emptied his bowl into the rivers and streams. At once they turned to blood.

They poured out the blood of your people and your prophets. So you gave them blood to drink, as they deserve!"

And because of their painful sores, they cursed the God who rules in heaven. But still they did not stop doing evil things.

The beast you saw is one that used to be and no longer is. It will come back from the deep pit, but only to be destroyed. Everyone on earth whose names were not written in the book of life before the time of creation will be amazed. They will see this beast that used to be and no longer is, but will be once more.

The ten horns that you saw are ten more kings, who have not yet come into power, and they will rule with the beast for only a short time.

They all think alike and will give their power and authority to the beast.

The ten horns and the beast will start hating the shameless woman. They will strip off her clothes and leave her naked. Then they will eat her flesh and throw the rest of her body into a fire.

God is the one who made these kings all think alike and decide to give their power to the beast. And they will do this until what God has said comes true.

Every king on earth who slept with her and shared in her luxury will mourn. They will weep, when they see the smoke from that fire.

Her sufferings will frighten them, and they will stand at a distance and say, "Pity that great and powerful city! Pity Babylon! In a single hour her judgment has come."

The merchants had become rich because of her. But when they saw her sufferings, they were terrified. They stood at a distance, crying and mourning.