Revelation 17; Isaiah 1; Isaiah 2; Psalms 108

Revelation 17

1 Then one of the seven angels who had the seven bowls came and spoke with me: "Come, I will show you the judgment of the notorious prostitute who sits on many waters.

2 The kings of the earth committed sexual immorality with her, and those who live on the earth became drunk on the wine of her sexual immorality."

3 So he carried me away in the Spirit to a desert. I saw a woman sitting on a scarlet beast that was covered with blasphemous names, having seven heads and 10 horns.

4 The woman was dressed in purple and scarlet, adorned with gold, precious stones, and pearls. She had a gold cup in her hand filled with everything vile and with the impurities of her prostitution.

5 On her forehead a cryptic name was written: BABYLON THE GREAT THE MOTHER OF PROSTITUTES AND OF THE VILE THINGS OF THE EARTH

6 Then I saw that the woman was drunk on the blood of the saints and on the blood of the witnesses to Jesus. When I saw her, I was utterly astounded.

7 Then the angel said to me, "Why are you astounded? I will tell you the secret meaning of the woman and of the beast, with the seven heads and the 10 horns, that carries her.

8 The beast that you saw was, and is not, and is about to come up from the abyss and go to destruction. Those who live on the earth whose names were not written in the book of life from the foundation of the world will be astounded when they see the beast that was, and is not, and will be present [again].

9 "Here is the mind with wisdom: the seven heads are seven mountains on which the woman is seated.

10 They are also seven kings: five have fallen, one is, the other has not yet come, and when he comes, he must remain for a little while.

11 The beast that was and is not, is himself the eighth, yet is of the seven and goes to destruction.

12 The 10 horns you saw are 10 kings who have not yet received a kingdom, but they will receive authority as kings with the beast for one hour.

13 These have one purpose, and they give their power and authority to the beast.

14 These will make war against the Lamb, but the Lamb will conquer them because He is Lord of lords and King of kings. Those with Him are called and elect and faithful."

15 He also said to me, "The waters you saw, where the prostitute was seated, are peoples, multitudes, nations, and languages.

16 The 10 horns you saw, and the beast, will hate the prostitute. They will make her desolate and naked, devour her flesh, and burn her up with fire.

17 For God has put it into their hearts to carry out His plan by having one purpose, and to give their kingdom to the beast until God's words are accomplished.

18 And the woman you saw is the great city that has an empire over the kings of the earth."

Isaiah 1

1 The vision concerning Judah and Jerusalem that Isaiah son of Amoz saw during the reigns of Uzziah, Jotham, Ahaz, and Hezekiah, kings of Judah.

2 Listen, heavens, and pay attention, earth, for the Lord has spoken: "I have raised children and brought them up, but they have rebelled against Me.

3 The ox knows its owner, and the donkey its master's feeding-trough, [but] Israel does not know; My people do not understand."

4 Oh-sinful nation, people weighed down with iniquity, brood of evildoers, depraved children! They have abandoned the Lord; they have despised the Holy One of Israel; they have turned their backs [on Him].

5 Why do you want more beatings? Why do you keep on rebelling? The whole head is hurt, and the whole heart is sick.

6 From the sole of the foot even to the head, no spot is uninjured- wounds, welts, and festering sores not cleansed, bandaged, or soothed with oil.

7 Your land is desolate, your cities burned with fire; before your very eyes foreigners devour your fields- a desolation overthrown by foreigners.

8 Daughter Zion is abandoned like a shelter in a vineyard, like a shack in a cucumber field, like a besieged city.

9 If the Lord of Hosts had not left us a few survivors, we would be like Sodom, we would resemble Gomorrah.

10 Hear the word of the Lord, you rulers of Sodom! Listen to the instruction of our God, you people of Gomorrah!

11 "What are all your sacrifices to Me?" asks the Lord. "I have had enough of burnt offerings and rams and the fat of well-fed cattle; I have no desire for the blood of bulls, lambs, or male goats.

12 When you come to appear before Me, who requires this from you- [this] trampling of My courts?

13 Stop bringing useless offerings. I despise [your] incense. New Moons and Sabbaths, and the calling of solemn assemblies- I cannot stand iniquity with a festival.

14 I hate your New Moons and prescribed festivals. They have become a burden to Me; I am tired of putting up with [them].

15 When you lift up your hands [in prayer], I will refuse to look at you; even if you offer countless prayers, I will not listen. Your hands are covered with blood.

16 "Wash yourselves. Cleanse yourselves. Remove your evil deeds from My sight. Stop doing evil.

17 Learn to do what is good. Seek justice. Correct the oppressor. Defend the rights of the fatherless. Plead the widow's cause.

18 "Come, let us discuss this," says the Lord. "Though your sins are like scarlet, they will be as white as snow; though they are as red as crimson, they will be like wool.

19 If you are willing and obedient, you will eat the good things of the land.

20 But if you refuse and rebel, you will be devoured by the sword." For the mouth of the Lord has spoken.

21 The faithful city- what an adulteress she has become! She was once full of justice. Righteousness once dwelt in her- but now, murderers!

22 Your silver has become dross, your beer is diluted with water.

23 Your rulers are rebels, friends of thieves. They all love graft and chase after bribes. They do not defend the rights of the fatherless, and the widow's case never comes before them."

24 Therefore the Lord God of Hosts, the Mighty One of Israel, declares: "Ah, I will gain satisfaction against My foes; I will take revenge against My enemies.

25 I will turn My hand against you and will burn away your dross completely; I will remove all your impurities.

26 I will restore your judges to what they once were, and your advisers to their former state. Afterwards you will be called the Righteous City, a Faithful City."

27 Zion will be redeemed by justice, her repentant ones by righteousness.

28 But both rebels and sinners will be destroyed, and those who abandon the Lord will perish.

29 Indeed, they will be ashamed of the sacred trees you desired, and you will be embarrassed because of the gardens you have chosen.

30 For you will become like an oak whose leaves are withered, and like a garden without water.

31 The strong one will become tinder, and his work a spark; both will burn together, with no one to quench [the flames].

Isaiah 2

1 The vision that Isaiah son of Amoz saw concerning Judah and Jerusalem:

2 In the last days the mountain of the Lord's house will be established at the top of the mountains and will be raised above the hills. All nations will stream to it,

3 and many peoples will come and say, "Come, let us go up to the mountain of the Lord, to the house of the God of Jacob. He will teach us about His ways so that we may walk in His paths." For instruction will go out of Zion and the word of the Lord from Jerusalem.

4 He will settle disputes among the nations and provide arbitration for many peoples. They will turn their swords into plows and their spears into pruning knives. Nations will not take up the sword against [other] nations, and they will never again train for war.

5 House of Jacob, come and let us walk in the Lord's light.

6 For You have abandoned Your people, the house of Jacob, because they are full of [divination] from the East and of fortune-tellers like the Philistines. They are in league with foreigners.

7 Their land is full of silver and gold, and there is no limit to their treasures; their land is full of horses, and there is no limit to their chariots.

8 Their land is full of idols; they bow down to the work of their hands, to what their fingers have made.

9 So humanity is brought low, and man is humbled. Do not forgive them!

10 Go into the rocks and hide in the dust from the terror of the Lord and from His majestic splendor.

11 Human pride will be humbled, and the loftiness of men will be brought low; the Lord alone will be exalted on that day.

12 For a day belonging to the Lord of Hosts is [coming] against all that is proud and lofty, against all that is lifted up-it will be humbled-

13 against all the cedars of Lebanon, lofty and lifted up, against all the oaks of Bashan,

14 against all the high mountains, against all the lofty hills,

15 against every high tower, against every fortified wall,

16 against every ship of Tarshish, and against every splendid sea vessel.

17 So human pride will be brought low, and the loftiness of men will be humbled; the Lord alone will be exalted on that day.

18 The idols will vanish completely.

19 People will go into caves in the rocks and holes in the ground, away from the terror of the Lord and from His majestic splendor, when He rises to terrify the earth.

20 On that day people will throw their silver and gold idols, which they made to worship, to the moles and the bats.

21 They will go into the caves of the rocks and the crevices in the cliffs, away from the terror of the Lord and from His majestic splendor, when He rises to terrify the earth.

22 Put no more trust in man, who has only the breath in his nostrils. What is he really worth?

Psalms 108

1 My heart is confident, God; I will sing; I will sing praises with the whole of my being.

2 Wake up, harp and lyre! I will wake up the dawn.

3 I will praise You, Lord, among the peoples; I will sing praises to You among the nations.

4 For Your faithful love is higher than the heavens; Your faithfulness reaches the clouds.

5 God, be exalted above the heavens; let Your glory be over the whole earth.

6 Save with Your right hand and answer me so that those You love may be rescued.

7 God has spoken in His sanctuary: "I will triumph! I will divide up Shechem. I will apportion the Valley of Succoth.

8 Gilead is Mine, Manasseh is Mine, and Ephraim is My helmet; Judah is My scepter.

9 Moab is My washbasin; on Edom I throw My sandal. Over Philistia I shout in triumph."

10 Who will bring me to the fortified city? Who will lead me to Edom?

11 Have You not rejected us, God? God, You do not march out with our armies.

12 Give us aid against the foe, for human help is worthless.

13 With God we will perform valiantly; He will trample our foes.