Three cheers for Babylon’s doom
1 After these things I heard the sound of a huge crowd in heaven saying, “Hallelujah! Salvation, honor, and power to our God, 2 because his judgments are true and right. For he judged the great harlot who destroyed the earth with her harlotry, and avenged the blood of his slaves shed by her hand.” 3 A second time they shouted, “Hallelujah! The smoke from her burning rises forever!”
4 Then the twenty-four elders and the four creatures fell down and worshiped God sitting on his throne: “Hallelujah, absolutely!” 5 And a voice came out of the throne saying, “Praise our God, all his slaves, and let the small and the great fear him!”
6 Then I heard a sound like a huge crowd or the rushing of many waters or strong thunder saying, “Hallelujah, for Master God Almighty has established his reign! 7 Let us be happy and rejoice and give him honor, because the wedding of the Lamb has come and his bride has made herself ready.” 8 And she was given shining, clean linen to wear, because the fine linen represents the just reward of the holy people.
9 Then the angel says to me, “Write this: Happy is the one who has been invited to the wedding dinner of the Lamb!” And he adds, “These are the genuine words of God.” 10 I fell at his feet to worship him, but he said to me, “No! I am a co-slave with you and your sisters and brothers who hold to the testimony of Jesus. Worship God, for the testimony of Jesus is the spirit of prophecy.”
Jesus returns to defeat the Beast
11 Then I saw the sky open up, and suddenly there was a white horse, whose rider is called Trustworthy and True, who judges and battles righteously. 12 His eyes are like blazing fire, and on his head are many royal crowns, as well as a name written that only he knows. 13 He is clothed in a garment that had been immersed in blood, and his name is called The Word of God.
14 The armies of heaven followed him on white horses, clothed in clean, fine, white linen. 15 And out of his mouth goes a sharp broadsword with which to strike the nations. He will shepherd the nations with an iron rod, and he himself treads out the winepress of the fury and anger of God Almighty. 16 On his garment and thigh had been written his name: King of Kings and Master of Masters.
17 Then I saw an angel standing in the sun, who called out in a loud voice to all the birds and other things that fly in midair, “Come here and gather for the great feast of God, 18 that you may eat the flesh of kings, rulers over thousands, the strong, horses and riders, free and slave, small and great!”
19 And I saw the beast and the kings of the earth and their armies gathered to do battle with the one riding the horse and his army. 20 But the beast was captured, along with the false prophet who had performed signs on its behalf and mislead people into taking its inscription and worshiping it. They were thrown alive into the fiery lake of burning sulfur. 21 The rest were killed by the broadsword coming out of the mouth of the rider on the horse, and all the birds gorged themselves on their flesh.