012. The Apostle John Sees the Redeemed of All Nations in Glory

John

I, John, am in exile on the Island of Patmos.
While praying, I am whisked up in the spirit
and see events in heaven in preparation
for the great Marriage Feast of the Lamb.
Hear a powerful angel’s mighty voice!

Angel

Fallen! Fallen! Fallen! Babylon the great has fallen!

Prompter & Echoes

God is judging the world!

John

I see what will happen in the future, and it frightens me.

Angel

That great city has become a dwelling of demons.
All peoples have drunk the wine of her immoral passion!
Kings have committed acts of immorality with her!
Merchants of the earth have become rich by the wealth
of her sensuality.

Prompter & Echoes

Woe! Woe!

John

That wicked city represents worldly civilization.
Now I hear thunder so deafening that I cover my ears!
No! It is God’s voice!

Voice

Come out of her, my people. Do not take part in her sins;
her crimes have piled up as high as heaven.
The rulers of the earth who lived sensuously with her
will weep and lament over her
when they see the smoke of her burning.

Angel

Woe, woe, you great city, Babylon!
In one hour your judgment has come.
Earth’s merchants weep over you;
no one buys your wares anymore!

Prompter & Echoes

Abandoned!

John

Look!
The powerful angel lifts a huge stone
and hurls it into the sea!

Angel

Thus you, Babylon, the great city,
will be thrown down with violence.
Musicians will perform in you no longer;
no artisans will practice their arts in you.

Prompter & Echoes

It is the end!

Angel

You deceived the nations with your sorcery,
and in you flows the blood of prophets and saints
whom you have slain on the earth.

John

I hear mighty peals of thunder
and the voice of a great crowd
like the sound of many oceans,
shouting praises to the Almighty.

Prompter & Echoes

He reigns forever!

Voice

Rejoice! The marriage of the Lamb is prepared
and his bride is ready.
She is clothed in fine linen, bright and clean.
This is the righteous acts of the saints.

Angel

Blessed are those who are invited
to the marriage supper of the Lamb.

John

I fall at the feet of the angel to worship him,
but he lifts me up.

Angel

Do not do that, John! Worship God.
I am only your servant,
and the servant of your brothers
who hold the testimony of Jesus,
which is the spirit of prophecy.

John

Look out! A white horse is racing by!
Its rider holds up a banner, FAITHFUL AND TRUE.

Prompter & Echoes

It is Jesus!

Angel

  (Shout) In righteousness he judges and wages war.
His eyes are flames; he wears many crowns.
His name is WORD OF GOD!

John

The armies of heaven, clothed in fine linen,
follow him on white horses.
A sharp sword comes from his mouth
and strikes down nations.

Angel

He rules them with a rod of iron!

Prompter & Echoes

King of Kings and Lord of Lords!

John

Now I see a huge white throne and him who sits on it,
from whose presence the old earth
and the old heaven have fled away.
The dead, great and small, stand before the throne.

Angel

Books are opened, and the book of life.
God judges the dead from the things recorded in the books,
according to their deeds.

Prompter & Echoes

His judgments are perfect!

John

The sea gives up the dead that were in it,
and death and Hades give up the dead that were in them.
God judges all, according to their deeds.

Angel

Those whose name does not appear in the book of life
he casts into the lake of fire.

John

Look! A new heaven and earth!
The first heaven and earth have passed away!
The holy city New Jerusalem is ready,
as a bride adorned for her husband.

Angel

Look! The dwelling of God is among men,
and they are his people.
God himself wipes away every tear from their eyes.
There will be no more death,
nor mourning, nor crying nor pain;
these things have all passed away, forever.

Prompter & Echoes

Eternal Joy!