16
The Seven Angels Pour Out Their Bowls
1 I heard a loud voice from the temple saying to the seven angels, “Pour the seven bowls of God’s anger over the earth.”
2 The first angel poured his bowl over the earth. Horrible, painful sores appeared on the people who had the brand of the beast and worshiped its statue.
3 The second angel poured his bowl over the sea. The sea turned into blood like the blood of a dead man, and every living thing in the sea died.
4 The third angel poured his bowl over the rivers and the springs. They turned into blood. 5 Then I heard the angel of the water say,
“You are fair.
You are the one who is and the one who was, the holy one,
because you have judged these things.
6 You have given them blood to drink
because they have poured out
the blood of God’s people and prophets.
This is what they deserve.”
7 Then I heard the altar answer,
“Yes, Lord God Almighty, your judgments are true and fair.”
8 The fourth angel poured his bowl on the sun. The sun was allowed to burn people with fire. 9 They were severely burned. They cursed the name of God, who has the authority over these plagues. They would not change the way they think and act and give him glory.
10 The fifth angel poured his bowl on the throne of the beast. Its kingdom turned dark. People gnawed on their tongues in anguish 11 and cursed the God of heaven for their pains and their sores. However, they would not stop what they were doing.
12 The sixth angel poured his bowl on the great Euphrates River. The water in the river dried up to make a road for the kings from the east. 13 Then I saw three evil spirits like frogs come out of the mouths of the serpent, the beast, and the false prophet. 14 They are spirits of demons that do miracles. These spirits go to the kings of the whole world and gather them for the war on the frightening day of God Almighty.
15 “See, I am coming like a thief. Blessed is the one who remains alert and doesn’t lose his clothes. He will not have to go naked and let others see his shame.”
16 The spirits gathered the kings at the place which is called Armageddon in Hebrew.
17 The seventh angel poured his bowl into the air. A loud voice came from the throne in the temple, and said, “It has happened!” 18 There was lightning, noise, thunder, and a powerful earthquake. There has never been such a powerful earthquake since humans have been on earth. 19 The important city split into three parts, and the cities of the nations fell. God remembered to give Babylon the Great the cup of wine from his fierce anger. 20 Every island vanished, and the mountains could no longer be seen. 21 Large, heavy hailstones fell from the sky on people. The people cursed God because the plague of hail was such a terrible plague.