1. AFTER these things I heard as it were the voice of a great multitude in heaven, saying, Alleluia, salvation and glory and honour and power belong to the Lord our God:

2. For true and just are his judgments; for he hath judged the great harlot who did corrupt the earth with her whoredom, and hath avenged the blood of his servants at her hand. 3. And a second time they said, Alleluia, and her smoke shall ascend unto ages of ages. 4. And the twenty-four elders, and the four animals, fell down and adored God, who sitteth upon the throne, saying, Amen, Alleluia. 5. And a voice came out of the throne, saying, Praise our God, all ye His servants, and ye that fear Him, both the small and the great. 6. And I heard as it were the voice of a great multitude, and as the voice of many waters, and as the voice of mighty thunderings, saying, Allelnia, for the Lord God the Omnipotent reigneth. 7. Let us rejoice and exult, and give glory to him, for the marriage of the Lamb is come, and his wife hath made herself ready. 8. And it was given her, that she should be arrayed in fine linen, clean and shining, for the fine linen is the righteousness of the saints. 9. And he said unto me, Write, Blessed are they that are called to the marriage supper of the Lamb; and he said unto me, These are true words of God. 10. And I fell down before his feet to adore Him; and He said unto me, See [thou do it] not, I am thy fellow-servant, and of thy brethren that have the testimony of Jesus; worship God, for the testimony of Jesus is the spirit of prophecy. 11. And I saw heaven opened, and behold a white horse, and he that sitteth upon him is called faithful and true, and in justice he doth judge and combat. 12. And his eyes [were] as a flame of fire, and upon his head [were] many diadems, having a name written which no one knoweth but himself. 13. And he was clothed with a vesture dipped in blood; and his name is called the Word of God. 14. And the armies which were in heaven followed him upon white horses, clothed in fine linen, white and clean. 15. And out of his mouth went a sharp sword, that by means of it he may smite the nations; and he will tend (pascet) them with a rod of iron, and he treadeth the wine press of the fury and anger of God Almighty. 16. And he hath on his vesture and on his thigh a name written, King of kings, and Lord of lords. 17. And I saw one angel standing in the sun; and he cried with a great voice, saying to all the birds that fly in the midst of heaven, Come and gather yourselves together unto the supper of the great God. 18. That ye may eat the flesh of kings and the flesh of captains, and the flesh of the mighty, and the flesh of horses, and of them that sit on them, and the flesh of both free and bond, and small and great. 19. And I saw the beast, and the kings of the earth, and their armies gathered together to make war with him who sat on the horse, and with his army. 20. And the beast was taken, and with it the false prophet, that wrought signs before it, wherewith lie seduced those receiving the mark of the beast and worshipping his image; these two were cast alive into the lake of fire that burneth with brimstone. 21. And the rest were slain with the sword of him that sat on the horse, which proceedeth out of his mouth; and all the birds were filled with their flesh.

EXPLANATION.

THE CONTENTS OF EACH VERSE.*

Glorification of the Lord by those in the lower heavens, because of their liberation from Babylon (verses 1, 2). That they will be liberated from her for ever (verse 3). Glorification of the Lord by the higher heavens because of these things (verse 4). Annunciation by the Lord out of heaven that they are to worship him (verse 5); and that they are to rejoice because a New Church is at hand (verses 6, 7). The nature of that Church (verse 8). Annunciation by the angels concerning a New Church to those who are on earth (verses 9, 10). The coming of the Lord in the Word, and the unfolding of the Word (verses 11-16). The calling of all men to that Church (verses 17, 18). Resistance by those who, are in faith separated, and their removal and damnation (verses 19-21).

Verses 1, 2, 3. AFTER these things I heard as it were the voice of a great multitude in heaven, saying, Alleluia, salvation and glory and honour and power belong to the Lord our God: for true and just are his judgments for he hath judged the great harlot who did corrupt the earth with her whoredom, and hath avenged the blood of his servants at her hand. And a second time they said, Alleluia, and her smoke shall ascend unto ages of ages.

"After these things I heard as it were the voice of a great multitude in heaven," signifies the joy and gladness of the angels of the higher heavens, on account of the damnation and casting out of those who are signified by Babylon and the beasts of the dragon, and the consequent shedding forth of the light of Divine Truth for a New Church, which is to be established by the Lord; "saying, Alleluia," signifies the glorification of the Lord; "salvation and honour and glory and power belong to the Lord our God," signifies because life eternal is from the Lord by means of Divine Truth and Divine Good from His Divine Omnipotence; "for true and just are his judgments," signifies that the laws of the Divine Providence, and all the works of the Lord, are of the Divine Wisdom and Divine Love; "for he hath judged the great harlot," signifies judgment upon those who arrogated to themselves dominion over the church and heaven; "who did corrupt the earth with her whoredom," signifies by whom all the truths of the church are falsified, and all its goods adulterated; "and hath avenged the blood of his servants at her hand," signifies the liberation of those who are in Divine truths from the Lord by the casting out of the Babylonians. "And a second time they said, Alleluia," signifies the joy and gladness of the angels of the lower heavens; "and her smoke shall ascend unto ages of ages," signifies that the falsity of evil which they possessed is for ever condemned to hell. * These contents of verses stand in the Photolithographic Edition at the end of Chapter xviii.