Thursday 29 November 2012

1After these things,I saw another angel coming down out of the sky,having great authority.The earth was illuminated with his glory.2He cried with a mighty voice,saying, “Fallen, fallen is Babylon the great,and she has become a habitation of demons,a prison of every unclean spirit,and a prison of every unclean and hated bird!

· · · verses 3–20 are not read21A mighty angel took up a stone like a great millstoneand cast it into the sea,saying, “Thus with violence will Babylon,the great city, be thrown down,and will be found no more at all.22The voice of harpists,minstrels, flute players,and trumpeters will be heard no more at all in you.No craftsman of whatever craft will be found any more at all in you.The sound of a mill will be heard no more at all in you.23The light of a lamp will shine no more at all in you.The voice of the bridegroomand of the bride will be heard no more at all in you,for your merchants were the princes of the earth;for with your sorcery all the nations were deceived.

· · · some verses are not read1After these things I heard something like a loud voice of a great multitude in heaven,saying, “Hallelujah!Salvation, power, and glory belong to our God;2for his judgments are true and righteous.For he has judged the great prostitutewho corrupted the earth with her sexual immorality,and he has avenged the blood of his servants at her hand.”

3A second said, “Hallelujah!Her smoke goes up forever and ever.”

· · · verses 4–8 are not read9He said to me, “Write,‘Blessed are thosewho are invited to the wedding supper of the Lamb.’”He said to me, “These are true words of God.”

1Shout for joy to the Lord, all you lands!2Serve the Lord with gladness.Come before his presence with singing.

3Know that the Lord, he is God.It is he who has made us, and we are his.We are his people, and the sheep of his pasture.

4Enter into his gates with thanksgiving,and into his courts with praise.Give thanks to him, and bless his name.

5For the Lord is good.His loving kindness endures forever,his faithfulness to all generations.

20“But when you see Jerusalem surrounded by armies,then know that its desolation is at hand.21Then let those who are in Judea flee to the mountains.Let those who are in the middle of her depart.Let those who are in the country not enter therein.22For these are days of vengeance,that all things which are written may be fulfilled.23Woe to those who are pregnant and to thosewho nurse infants in those days!For there will be great distress in the landand wrath to this people.24They will fall by the edge of the sword,and will be led captive into all the nations.Jerusalem will be trampled down by the Gentiles until the times of the Gentiles are fulfilled.

25“There will be signs in the sun, moon, and stars;and on the earth anxiety of nations,in perplexity for the roaring of the sea and the waves;26men fainting for fear and for expectation of the thingswhich are coming on the world,for the powers of the heavens will be shaken.27Then they will see the Son of Man coming in a cloud with power and great glory.28But when these things begin to happen,look up and lift up your heads,because your redemption is near.”