Revelation 14

1I looked, and I saw the Lamb standing on Mount Zion. With him stood 144,000 people, whose foreheads bore his name and the name of his Father. 2From heaven I heard a sound like the voice of many waters and of great thunder, and the sound was that of harpists playing on their harps. 3Before the throne, the four living creatures, and the elders they sing what seems a new song, a song no one could learn except the 144,000 bought out of the earth. 4These have kept themselves from being defiled with women; they are virgins. They are the followers of the Lamb, going wherever he goes. From among humankind they were bought as firstfruits for God and for the Lamb, 5and no lie was found in what they said; they are without blemish.

6I saw another angel too, flying high in the sky, who carried an eternal gospel to proclaim to the people who live on the earth, to every nation, tribe, language, and people. 7In a loud voice he cried, “Stand in awe of God and give him glory, for the hour has come when he will judge. Worship the maker of heaven and earth, of the sea and the springs of water.”

8Another angel, a second one, came after him and said, “Babylon the great has fallen, has fallen! She made all the nations drink the wine of her raging immorality.”

9A third angel followed them, calling out in a loud voice: “If anyone worships the beast and its image, and takes its mark on the forehead or the hand, 10they will also drink the wine of God’s fury, unwatered, mixed in the cup of his anger, and will suffer torment in fire and sulfur before the holy angels and before the Lamb. 11Forever and ever the smoke of their torment goes up; day and night they have no rest, the worshipers of the beast and its image, and all who take the mark of its name.”

12This is where God’s holy people need endurance, those who keep God’s commandments and hold to their faith in Jesus.

13A voice from heaven spoke to me: “Write: From now on, how blessed are the dead who die in the Lord!” “Indeed,” the Spirit says, “let them rest from their toil, for what they have done goes with them.”

14Then I saw a white cloud, and on it sat one like a son of man. A gold crown was on his head, and in his hand a sharp sickle. 15Out of the temple came another angel, crying aloud to the one seated on the cloud, “Swing your sickle and gather the harvest! The hour for reaping is here; the earth’s harvest is dry and ready.” 16The one on the cloud swept his sickle across the earth, and the earth’s harvest was gathered in.

17Then from the temple in heaven came yet another angel, also holding a sharp sickle. 18And another angel came from the altar, the angel with power over the fire. In a great voice he called to the one holding the sharp sickle, “Swing your sharp sickle and cut the bunches from the vine of the earth, for its grapes are at their ripest.” 19The angel swept his sickle across the earth, cut the earth’s vintage, and flung it into the winepress of God’s fury, the great winepress. 20Outside the city the winepress was trodden, and out of it came blood, up to the horses’ bridles, for about 180 miles.