Part 818 (1/2)

16:4. And the third poured out his vial upon the rivers and the fountains of waters. And there was made blood.

16:5. And I heard the angel of the waters saying: Thou art just, O Lord, who art and who wast, the Holy One, because thou hast judged these things.

16:6. For they have shed the blood of saints and prophets: and thou hast given them blood to drink. For they are worthy.

16:7. And I heard another, from the altar, saying: Yea, O Lord G.o.d Almighty, true and just are thy judgments.

16:8. And the fourth angel poured out his vial upon the sun. And it was given unto him to afflict men with heat and fire.

16:9. And men were scorched with great heat: and they blasphemed the name of G.o.d, who hath power over these plagues. Neither did they penance to give him glory.

16:10. And the fifth angel poured out his vial upon the seat of the beast. And his kingdom became dark: and they gnawed their tongues for pain.

16:11. And they blasphemed the G.o.d of heaven, because of their pains and wounds: and did not penance for their works.

16:12. And the sixth angel poured out his vial upon that great river Euphrates and dried up the water thereof, that a way might be prepared for the kings from the rising of the sun.

16:13. And I saw from the mouth of the dragon and from the mouth of the beast and from the mouth of the false prophet, three unclean spirits like frogs.

16:14. For they are the spirits of devils, working signs: and they go forth unto the kings of the whole earth, to gather them to battle against the great day of the Almighty G.o.d.

16:15. Behold, I come as a thief. Blessed is he that watcheth and keepeth his garments, lest he walk naked, and they see his shame.

16:16. And he shall gather them together into a place which in Hebrew is called Armagedon.

Armagedon... That is, the hill of robbers.

16:17. And the seventh angel poured out his vial upon the air. And there came a great voice out of the temple from the throne, saying: It is done.

16:18. And there were lightnings and voices and thunders: and there was a great earthquake, such an one as never had been since men were upon the earth, such an earthquake, so great.

16:19. And the great city was divided into three parts: and the cities of the Gentiles fell. And great Babylon came in remembrance before G.o.d, to give her the cup of the wine of the indignation of his wrath.

16:20. And every island fled away: and the mountains were not found.

16:21. And great hail, like a talent, came down from heaven upon men: and men blasphemed G.o.d, for the plague of the hail: because it was exceeding great.

Apocalypse Chapter 17

The description of the great harlot and of the beast upon which she sits.

17:1. And there came one of the seven angels who had the seven vials and spoke with me, saying: Come, I will shew thee the condemnation of the great harlot, who sitteth upon many waters:

17:2. With whom the kings of the earth have committed fornication. And they who inhabit the earth have been made drunk with the wine of her wh.o.r.edom.

17:3. And he took me away in spirit into the desert. And I saw a woman sitting upon a scarlet coloured beast, full of names of blasphemy, having seven heads and ten horns.

17:4. And the woman was clothed round about with purple and scarlet, and gilt with gold and precious stones and pearls, having a golden cup in her hand, full of the abomination and filthiness of her fornication.

17:5. And on her forehead a name was written: A mystery: Babylon the great, the mother of the fornications and the abominations of the earth.

A mystery... That is, a secret; because what follows of the name and t.i.tle of the great harlot is to be taken in a mystical sense. Babylon...