Haggai 1; Haggai 2; Revelation 17

1 A message came to the prophet Haggai from the Lord. Haggai gave it to Zerubbabel and Jeshua. It came on the first day of the sixth month of the second year that Darius was king of Persia. Zerubbabel was governor of Judah and the son of Shealtiel. Jeshua was high priest and the son of Jehozadak. Here is what Haggai said.

2 The LORD who rules over all says, "The people of Judah are saying, 'The time hasn't come yet for the LORD's temple to be rebuilt.' "

3 So the message came to me from the Lord. He said,

4 "My temple is still destroyed. In spite of that, you are living in your houses that have beautiful wooden walls."

5 The LORD who rules over all says, "Think carefully about how you are living.

6 You have planted many seeds. But the crops you have gathered are small. So you eat. But you never have enough. You drink. But you are never full. You put your clothes on. But you are not warm. You earn your pay. But it will not buy everything you need."

7 He continues, "Think carefully about how you are living.

8 Go up into the mountains. Bring logs down. Use them to rebuild my house. Then I will enjoy it. And you will honor me," says the Lord.

9 "You expected a lot. But you can see what a small amount it turned out to be," announces the LORD who rules over all. "I blew away what you brought home. Why? Because my temple is still destroyed. In spite of that, each one of you is busy with your own house.

10 "So because of what you have done, the heavens have held back the dew. And the earth has not produced its crops.

11 I ordered the rain not to fall on the fields and mountains. Then the ground did not produce any grain. There were not enough grapes to make fresh wine. The trees did not bear enough olives to make oil. People and cattle suffered. All of your hard work failed."

12 Then Zerubbabel, the son of Shealtiel, and the high priest Jeshua, the son of Jehozadak, obeyed the LORD their God. So did all of the LORD's people who were still left alive. He had given his message to them through me. He had sent me to speak to them. And the people had respect for him.

13 I was the LORD's messenger. So I gave his message to the people. I told them, "The LORD announces, 'I am with you.' "

14 So the LORD stirred up the spirits of Zerubbabel, the governor of Judah, and the high priest Jeshua. He also stirred up the rest of the people to help them. Then everyone began to work on the temple of the LORD who rules over all. He is their God.

15 It was the 24th day of the sixth month of the second year that Darius was king.

1 A second message came to me from the Lord. It came on the 21st day of the seventh month. The LORD said,

2 "Speak to Zerubbabel, the governor of Judah and the son of Shealtiel. Also speak to the high priest Jeshua, the son of Jehozadak. And speak to all of my people who are still left alive. Ask them,

3 'Did any of you who are here see how beautiful this temple used to be? How does it look to you now? It doesn't look so good, does it?

4 " 'But be strong, Zerubbabel,' announces the Lord. 'Be strong, Jeshua. Be strong, all of you people in the land,' announces the Lord. 'Start rebuilding. I am with you,' announces the LORD who rules over all.

5 'That is what I promised you when you came out of Egypt. My Spirit continues to be with you. So do not be afraid.' "

6 The LORD says, "In a little while I will shake the heavens and the earth once more. I will also shake the ocean and the dry land.

7 I will shake all of the nations. Then what they consider to be priceless will come to my temple. And I will fill the temple with glory," says the LORD who rules over all.

8 "The silver belongs to me. So does the gold," announces the LORD.

9 "The new temple will be more beautiful than the first one was," says the Lord. "And in this place I will give peace to my people," announces the LORD who rules over all.

10 A third message came to me from the Lord. It came on the 24th day of the ninth month of the second year that Darius was king.

11 The LORD who rules over all speaks. He says, "Ask the priests what the law says.

12 Suppose someone carries holy meat in the clothes he is wearing. And the clothes touch some bread or stew. Or they touch some wine, olive oil or other food. Then do those things also become holy?" The priests answered, "No."

13 So I said, "Suppose someone is made 'unclean' by touching a dead body. And then he touches one of those things. Does it become 'unclean' too?" "Yes," the priests replied. "It does."

14 Then I said, "The LORD announces, 'That is how I look at these people and this nation. Anything they do and anything they sacrifice on the altar is "unclean."

15 " 'Now think carefully about the time before one stone was laid on top of another in my temple.

16 People went to get 20 measures of grain. But they could find only 10. They went to where the wine was stored to get 50 measures. But only 20 were there.

17 You worked very hard to produce all of those things. But I struck them with rot, mold and hail. And you still did not turn to me,' announces the Lord.

18 " 'It is the 24th day of the ninth month. From this day on, think carefully about the day when the foundation of my temple was laid. Think about it carefully.

19 Are any seeds still left in your barns? Until now, your vines and fig trees have not produced any fruit. Your pomegranate and olive trees have not produced any either. " 'But from this day on I will bless you.' "

20 A final message came to me from the Lord. It also came on the 24th day of the ninth month. He said,

21 "Speak to Zerubbabel, the governor of Judah. Tell him I will shake the heavens and the earth.

22 I will throw down royal thrones. I will smash the power of other kingdoms. I will destroy chariots and their drivers. Horses and their riders will fall. They will be killed with the swords of their relatives.

23 " 'Zerubbabel, at that time I will pick you,' announces the Lord. 'You are my servant,' announces the Lord. 'You will be like a ring that has my royal seal on it. I have chosen you,' announces the LORD who rules over all."

1 One of the seven angels who had the seven bowls came to me. He said, "Come. I will show you how the great prostitute will be punished. She is the one who sits on many waters.

2 The kings of the earth took part in her evil ways. The people living on earth were drunk with the wine of her terrible sins."

3 Then the angel carried me away in a vision. The Holy Spirit took me into a desert. There I saw a woman sitting on a bright red beast. It was covered with names that say evil things that are displeasing to God. It had seven heads and ten horns.

4 The woman was dressed in purple and bright red. She was gleaming with gold, jewels and pearls. In her hand she held a golden cup filled with things that God hates. It was filled with her terrible, dirty sins.

5 Here is the name that was written on her forehead. MYSTERY THE GREAT CITY OF BABYLON THE MOTHER OF PROSTITUTES THE MOTHER OF EVERYTHING ON EARTH THAT GOD HATES

6 I saw that the woman was drunk with the blood of God's people. They are the ones who gave witness to Jesus. When I saw her, I was very amazed.

7 Then the angel said to me, "Why are you amazed? I will explain to you the mystery of the woman and of the beast she rides on. The beast is the one who has the seven heads and ten horns.

8 The beast that you saw used to exist. But now he does not. He will come up out of the Abyss. He will be destroyed. Some of the people who live on the earth will be amazed when they see the beast. Their names have not been written in the Book of Life from the time the world was created. They will be amazed because even though the beast used to exist and now does not, he will come again.

9 "Here is a problem that you have to be wise to understand. The seven heads are seven hills that the woman sits on.

10 They are also seven kings. Five have fallen, one is ruling, and the other has still not come. When he does come, he must remain for a little while.

11 "The beast who used to exist, and now does not, is an eighth king. He belongs to the other seven. He will be destroyed.

12 "The ten horns you saw are ten kings. They have not yet received a kingdom. But for one hour they will receive authority to rule together with the beast.

13 They have only one purpose. So they give their power and authority to the beast.

14 They will make war against the Lamb. But the Lamb will overcome them because he is the most powerful Lord of all and the greatest King of all. His appointed, chosen and faithful followers will be with him."

15 Then the angel spoke to me. "You saw the waters the prostitute sits on," he said. "They stand for all the nations of the world, no matter what their race or language is.

16 The beast and the ten horns you saw will hate the prostitute. They will destroy her and leave her naked. They will eat her flesh and burn her with fire.

17 God has put it into their hearts to carry out his purpose. So they agreed to give the beast their power to rule. They will give him that power until God's words come true.

18 "The woman you saw stands for the great city that rules over the kings of the earth."