REV 14:6-13

The Three Angels and Babylonʼs Fall

6Then John saw another angel flying in midheaven, who had an everlasting message of glad tidings to proclaim to those dwelling on the earth — to every nation and tribe and tongue and people. [14:7] He said with a loud voice: "Do fear God and give him glory, because the hour of his judgment has come. Worship him who made the heaven and the earth and the sea and springs of water." [14:8] A second angel followed, saying: "Fallen, fallen is Babylon the great, who has made all the nations drink of the wine of the fury of her immorality." [14:9] A third angel followed them, saying with a loud voice: "If anyone worships the beast and its image and receives a mark on his forehead or on his hand, [14:10] he also will drink from the wine of the fury of God, poured undiluted into the cup of his wrath, and he will be tormented with fire and sulfur before the holy angels and before the Lamb. [14:11] The smoke of their torment goes up into the ages of the ages, and they have no rest day or night — those who worship the beast and its image and whoever receives the mark of its name." [14:12] Here is the endurance of the saints — those who keep the commandments of God and the faith of Jesus. [14:13] Then John heard a voice from heaven say: "Write: Blessed are the dead who die in the Lord from now on." "Yes," says the Spirit, "so that they may rest from their labors, for their works follow with them."

In the world it was spoken into

In the first century, the proclamation of an angel flying in mid-heaven with 'everlasting glad tidings' would evoke imperial announcements, where heralds declared news of military victories or imperial decrees. Here, the angel’s message subverts this, declaring God’s eternal gospel to all nations, tribes, tongues, and peoples—a universal call that transcends Roman imperial boundaries. The command to 'fear God' and give Him glory reflects Jewish and Greco-Roman reverence for divine authority, emphasizing worship of the Creator over earthly powers. The mention of Babylon’s fall draws on Jewish apocalyptic tradition, where Babylon symbolizes oppressive empires, likely resonating with early Christians under Roman domination. The undiluted wine of Babylon’s wrath contrasts with the diluted wine typical of Greco-Roman dining, symbolizing the full intensity of divine judgment. The call for endurance amidst suffering reflects the lived reality of early Christians, who faced persecution and societal marginalization, urging steadfast faith in the face of trials.

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How other translations render this

REV 14:6

KJV: And I saw another angel fly in the midst of heaven, having the everlasting gospel to preach unto them that dwell on the earth, and to every nation, and kindred, and tongue, and people,
BSB: Then I saw another angel flying overhead, with the eternal gospel to proclaim to those who dwell on the earth—to every nation and tribe and tongue and people.
Koinōnos: Then John saw another angel flying in midheaven, who had an everlasting message of glad tidings to proclaim to those dwelling on the earth — to every nation and tribe and tongue and people.

REV 14:7

KJV: Saying with a loud voice, Fear God, and give glory to him; for the hour of his judgment is come: and worship him that made heaven, and earth, and the sea, and the fountains of waters.
BSB: And he said in a loud voice, “Fear God and give Him glory, because the hour of His judgment has come. Worship the One who made the heavens and the earth and the sea and the springs of waters.”
Koinōnos: He said with a loud voice: "Do fear God and give him glory, because the hour of his judgment has come. Worship him who made the heaven and the earth and the sea and springs of water.

REV 14:8

KJV: And there followed another angel, saying, Babylon is fallen, is fallen, that great city, because she made all nations drink of the wine of the wrath of her fornication.
BSB: Then a second angel followed, saying, “Fallen, fallen is Babylon the great, who has made all the nations drink the wine of the passion of her immorality.”
Koinōnos: A second angel followed, saying: "Fallen, fallen is Babylon the great, who has made all the nations drink of the wine of the fury of her immorality.

REV 14:9

KJV: And the third angel followed them, saying with a loud voice, If any man worship the beast and his image, and receive his mark in his forehead, or in his hand,
BSB: And a third angel followed them, calling out in a loud voice, “If anyone worships the beast and its image, and receives its mark on his forehead or on his hand,
Koinōnos: A third angel followed them, saying with a loud voice: "If anyone worships the beast and its image and receives a mark on his forehead or on his hand,

REV 14:10

KJV: The same shall drink of the wine of the wrath of God, which is poured out without mixture into the cup of his indignation; and he shall be tormented with fire and brimstone in the presence of the holy angels, and in the presence of the Lamb:
BSB: he too will drink the wine of Godʼs anger, poured undiluted into the cup of His wrath. And he will be tormented in fire and sulfur in the presence of the holy angels and of the Lamb.
Koinōnos: he also will drink from the wine of the fury of God, poured undiluted into the cup of his wrath, and he will be tormented with fire and sulfur before the holy angels and before the Lamb.

REV 14:11

KJV: And the smoke of their torment ascendeth up for ever and ever: and they have no rest day nor night, who worship the beast and his image, and whosoever receiveth the mark of his name.
BSB: And the smoke of their torment rises forever and ever. Day and night there is no rest for those who worship the beast and its image, or for anyone who receives the mark of its name.”
Koinōnos: The smoke of their torment goes up into the ages of the ages, and they have no rest day or night — those who worship the beast and its image and whoever receives the mark of its name.

REV 14:12

KJV: Here is the patience of the saints: here are they that keep the commandments of God, and the faith of Jesus.
BSB: Here is a call for the perseverance of the saints who keep the commandments of God and the faith of Jesus.
Koinōnos: Here is the endurance of the saints — those who keep the commandments of God and the faith of Jesus.

REV 14:13

KJV: And I heard a voice from heaven saying unto me, Write, Blessed are the dead which die in the Lord from henceforth: Yea, saith the Spirit, that they may rest from their labours; and their works do follow them.
BSB: And I heard a voice from heaven telling me to write, “Blessed are the dead—those who die in the Lord from this moment on.” “Yes,” says the Spirit, “they will rest from their labors, for their deeds will follow them.”
Koinōnos: Then John heard a voice from heaven say: "Write: Blessed are the dead who die in the Lord from now on." "Yes," says the Spirit, "so that they may rest from their labors, for their works follow with them.

Only verses where the wording diverges meaningfully are shown. Identical phrasings are suppressed.

Translator's notes

REV 14:6

[the] glad tidings:The word translated 'glad tidings' referred to a message that brought great joy, often associated with a victory or a significant event, and could even imply a reward given to the messenger for such good news.

REV 14:7

do fear:The term translated 'do fear' could imply a sense of awe and reverence towards a powerful entity, not just simple fright or terror.

REV 14:10

undiluted:The word translated 'undiluted' was commonly used to describe wine that had not been mixed with water, indicating its full strength and potency.

REV 14:12

endurance:The word translated 'endurance' carried the sense of steadfast perseverance under difficult circumstances, not merely passive waiting, but actively remaining firm and constant.