Hello, this is Father Paul, and I'm glad we're
taking this journey together to read the Bible
in a year. Today's reading is from the book of
Revelation, chapters 13 through 16. Chapter 13
Then I stood on the sand of the sea, and I saw
a beast rising up out of the sea, having seven
heads and ten horns, and on his horns ten crowns,
and on his heads a blasphemous name. Now the
beast which I saw was like a leopard, his feet
were like the feet of a bear, and his mouth like
the mouth of a lion. The dragon gave him his
power, his throne, and great authority. And I
saw one of his heads as if it had been mortally
wounded, and his deadly wound was healed. And
all the world marveled and followed the beast.
So they worshipped the dragon who gave authority
to the beast, and they worshipped the beast,
saying, Who is like the beast? Who is able to
make war with him? And he was given a mouth speaking
great things and blasphemies, and he was given
authority to continue for forty -two months.
Then he opened his mouth in blasphemy against
God to blaspheme his name, his tabernacle, and
those who dwell in heaven. It was granted to
him to make war with the saints and to overcome
them. And authority was given him over every
tribe, tongue, and nation. All who dwell on the
earth will worship him. whose names have not
been written in the book of life of the Lamb
slain from the foundation of the world. If anyone
has an ear, let him hear. He who leads into captivity
shall go into captivity. He who kills with the
sword must be killed with the sword. Here is
the patience and the faith of the saints. Then
I saw another beast coming up out of the earth,
and he had two horns like a lamb and spoke like
a dragon. And he exercises all the authority
of the first beast in his presence and causes
the earth and those who dwell in it to worship
the first beast, whose deadly wound was healed.
He performs great signs so that he even makes
fire come down from heaven on the earth in the
sight of men. And he deceives those who dwell
on the earth by those signs which he was granted
to do in the sight of the beast, telling those
who dwell on the earth to make an image to the
beast who was wounded by the sword and lived.
He was granted power to give breath to the image
of the beast, that the image of the beast should
both speak and cause as many as would not worship
the image of the beast to be killed. He causes
all, both small and great, rich and poor, free
and slave, to receive a mark on their right hand
or on their foreheads, and that no one may buy
or sell except one who has the mark or the name
of the beast or the number of his name. Here
is wisdom. Calculate the number of the beast,
for it is the number of a man. His number is
666. Chapter 14 Then I looked, and behold, a
lamb standing on Mount Zion, and with him 144
,000, having his father's name written on their
foreheads. And I heard a voice from heaven, like
the voice of many waters, and like the voice
of loud thunder. And they heard the sound of
harpists playing their harps. They sang, as it
were, a new song before the throne, before the
four living creatures and the elders. And no
one could learn that song except the 144 ,000
who were redeemed from the earth. These are the
ones who were not defiled with women, for they
are virgins. These are the ones who follow the
Lamb wherever He goes. These were redeemed from
among men, being firstfruits to God and to the
Lamb. and in their mouth was found no deceit,
for they are without fault before the throne
of God. Then I saw another angel flying in the
midst of heaven, having the everlasting gospel
to preach to those who dwell on the earth, to
every nation, tribe, tongue, and people, saying
with a loud voice, Fear God and give glory to
him, for the hour of his judgment has come, and
worship him who made heaven and earth, the sea
and springs of water. And another angel followed,
saying, Babylon is fallen, is fallen, that great
city, because she has made all nations drink
of the wine of the wrath of her fornication.
Then a third angel followed them, saying with
a loud voice, If anyone worships the beast and
his image and receives his mark on his forehead
or on his hand, he himself shall also drink of
the wine of the wrath of God, which is poured
out full strength into the cup of his indignation.
He shall be tormented with fire and brimstone
in the presence of the holy angels and in the
presence of the Lamb. And the smoke of their
torment ascends forever and ever, and they have
no rest day or night who worship the beast and
his image, and whoever receives the mark of his
name. Here is the patience of the saints. Here
are those who keep the commandments of God and
the faith of Jesus. Then I heard a voice from
heaven saying to me, Write, Blessed are the dead
who die in the Lord from now on. Yes, says the
Spirit, that they may rest from their labors,
and their works follow them. Then I looked, and
behold, a white cloud, and on the cloud sat one
like the Son of Man, having on his head a golden
crown, and in his hand a sharp sickle. And another
angel came out of the temple, crying with a loud
voice to him who sat on the cloud, Thrust in
your sickle and reap, for the time has come for
you to reap, for the harvest of the earth is
ripe. So he who sat on the cloud thrust his sickle
on the earth, and the earth was reaped. Then
another angel came out of the temple, which is
in heaven, he also having a sharp sickle. And
another angel came out from the altar, who had
power over fire, and he cried with a loud cry
to him who had the sharp sickle, saying, Thrust
in your sharp sickle and gather the clusters
of the vine of the earth, for her grapes are
fully ripe. So the angel thrust his sickle into
the earth, and gathered the vine of the earth,
and threw it into the great winepress of the
wrath of God. And the winepress was trampled
outside the city, and blood came out of the winepress
up to the horse's bridles, for one thousand six
hundred furlongs. Chapter 15 Then I saw another
sign in heaven, great and marvelous. seven angels
having the seven last plagues for in them the
wrath of god is complete and i saw something
like a sea of glass mingled with fire and those
who have the victory over the beast over his
image and over his mark and over the number of
his name standing on a sea of glass having harps
of god they sing the song of moses the servant
of god and the song of the lamb saying Great
and marvelous are your works, Lord God Almighty.
Just and true are your ways, O King of the Saints.
Who shall not fear you, O Lord, and glorify your
name? For you alone are holy. For all nations
shall come and worship before you. For your judgments
have been manifested. After these things I looked,
and behold, the temple of the tabernacle of the
testimony in heaven was opened. And out of the
temple came the seven angels, having the seven
plagues, clothed in pure bright linen. and having
their chests girded with golden bands. Then one
of the four living creatures gave to the seven
angels seven golden bowls full of the wrath of
God who lives forever and ever. The temple was
filled with smoke from the glory of God and from
his power, and no one was able to enter the temple
till the seven plagues of the seven angels were
completed. Then I heard a loud voice from the
temple saying to the seven angels, Go and pour
out the bowls of the wrath of God on the earth.
So the first went and poured out his bowl upon
the earth, and a foul and loathsome sore came
upon the men who had the mark of the beast and
those who worshipped his image. Then the second
angel poured out his bowl on the sea, and it
became blood as of a dead man, and every living
creature in the sea died. Then the third angel
poured out his bowl, on the rivers and springs
of water, and they became blood. And I heard
the angel of the water saying, You are righteous,
O Lord, the one who is and who was and who is
to be, because you have judged these things.
For they have shed the blood of saints and prophets,
and you have given them blood to drink, for it
is their just due. And I heard another from the
altar saying, Even so, Lord God Almighty, true
and righteous are your judgments. Then the fourth
angel poured out his bowl on the sun, and power
was given to him to scorch men with fire. And
men were scorched with great heat, and they blasphemed
the name of God who has power over these plagues,
and they did not repent and give him glory. Then
the fifth angel poured out his bowl on the throne
of the beast, and his kingdom became full of
darkness, and they gnawed their tongues because
of the pain. they blasphemed the god of heaven
because of their pains and their sores and did
not repent of their deeds then a sixth angel
poured out his bowl on the great river euphrates
and its water was dried up so that the way of
the kings from the east might be prepared and
i saw three unclean spirits like frogs coming
out of the mouth of the dragon out of the mouth
of the beast and out of the mouth of the false
prophet for they are spirits of demons performing
signs which go out to the kings of the earth
and of the whole world to gather them to the
battle of that great day of god almighty behold
i am coming as a thief blessed is he who watches
and keeps his garments lest he walk naked and
they see his shame and they gathered them together
to the place called in hebrew armageddon Then
a seventh angel poured out his bowl into the
air, and a loud voice came out of the temple
of heaven from the throne, saying, It is done.
And there were noises and thunderings and lightnings,
and there was a great earthquake, such a mighty
and great earthquake as had not occurred since
men were on the earth. Now the great city was
divided into three parts, and the cities of the
nations fell. And great Babylon was remembered
before God to give her the cup of the wine of
the fierceness of his wrath. Then every island
fled away, and the mountains were not found.
And great hail from heaven fell upon men, each
hailstone about the weight of a talent. Men blasphemed
God because of the plague of the hail, since
that plague was exceedingly great. I hope you
enjoyed today's reading as much as I did, and
I look forward to seeing you again tomorrow to
continue on our journey. God bless you and have
a great day.