Revelation 15 and 16 : Easy-to-Read Version
The Angels with the Last Plagues
15 1Then I saw another wonder in heaven. It was great and amazing. There were seven angels bringing seven troubles. These are the last troubles, because after these troubles God's anger is finished. 2I saw what looked like a sea of glass mixed with fire. All the people who had won the victory over the animal and his idol* and over the number of his name were standing by the sea. These people had harps* that God had given them. 3They sang the song of Moses,* the servant of God, and the song of the Lamb: "Great and wonderful are the things you do, Lord God All-Powerful. Right and true are your ways, Ruler of the nations. 4All people will fear you, O Lord. All people will praise your name. Only you are holy. All people will come and worship before you, because it is clear that you do the things that are right." 5After this I saw the temple* (the holy place of God's presence*) in heaven. The temple was opened. 6And the seven angels bringing the seven troubles came out of the temple. They were dressed in clean, shining linen cloth. They wore golden bands tied around their chests. 7Then one of the four living things gave seven golden bowls to the seven angels. The bowls were filled with the anger of God, who lives forever and ever. 8The temple was filled with smoke from the glory and the power of God. No one could enter the temple until the seven troubles of the seven angels were finished.
idol(s) Idols are statues or other objects that people worshiped as gods. harp A musical instrument with strings. Moses One of the most important leaders of the Jewish people during the time of the Old Testament. temple God's house--the place where God's people worship and serve him. holy place of God's presence Literally, "tent of the testimony." In the Old Testament this was a name for the room inside the Holy Tent where the Ten Commandments written on flat stones were kept. These were the "testimony" or "proof" of God's Agreement with his people. This room is where God lived among his people. (Read Ex. 25:8-22.)
The Bowls Filled with God's Anger
16 1Then I heard a loud voice from the temple.* The voice said to the seven angels, "Go and pour out the seven bowls of God's anger on the earth." 2The first angel left. He poured out his bowl on the land. Then all the people who had the mark of the animal and who worshiped his idol* got sores that were ugly and painful. 3The second angel poured out his bowl on the sea. Then the sea became blood like the blood of a dead man. Every living thing in the sea died. 4The third angel poured out his bowl on the rivers and the springs of water. The rivers and the springs of water became blood. 5Then I heard the angel of the waters say [to God]: "You are the One who is and who [always] was. You are the Holy One. You are right in these judgments that you have made. 6The people have spilled the blood of your holy people* and your prophets.* Now you have given those people blood to drink. This is what they deserve." 7And I heard the altar* say: "Yes, Lord God All-Powerful, your judgments are true and right." 8The fourth angel poured out his bowl on the sun. The sun was given power to burn the people with fire. 9The people were burned by the great heat. Those people cursed the name of God. God is the One who had control over these troubles. But the people refused to change their hearts and lives and give glory to God. 10The fifth angel poured out his bowl on the throne of the animal. And darkness covered the animal's kingdom. People bit their tongues because of the pain. 11People cursed the God of heaven because of their pain and the sores they had. But the people refused to change their hearts and turn away from the [bad] things they did. 12The sixth angel poured out his bowl on the great river Euphrates. The water in the river was dried up. This prepared the way for the rulers from the east to come. 13Then I saw three unclean (evil) spirits that looked like frogs. They came out of the mouth of the giant snake, out of the mouth of the animal, and out of the mouth of the false prophet.* 14These evil spirits are the spirits of demons.* They [have power to] do miracles.* These evil spirits go out to the rulers of the whole world. They go out to gather the rulers for battle on the great day of God the All-Powerful. 15"Listen! I will come, [and it will be a surprise,] like when a thief comes! Happy is the person that stays awake and keeps his clothes with him. Then he will not have to go without clothes, and people will not see the things he is ashamed for them to see." 16Then the evil spirits gathered the rulers together to the place that is called Armageddon in the Hebrew language. 17The seventh angel poured out his bowl into the air. Then a loud voice came out of the temple* from the throne. The voice said, "It is finished!" 18Then there were flashes of lightning, noises, thunder, and a big earthquake. This was the worst earthquake that has ever happened since people have been on earth. 19The great city split into three parts. The cities of the nations were destroyed. And God did not forget [to punish] Babylon the Great. He gave that city the cup filled with the wine of his terrible anger. 20Every island disappeared and there were no more mountains. 21Giant hailstones fell on the people from the sky. These hailstones weighed about 100 pounds each. People cursed God because of this trouble of the hail. This trouble was a terrible thing.
temple God's house--the place where God's people worship and serve him. idol(s) Idols are statues or other objects that people worshiped as gods. holy people God's people are called holy because they are made pure through Christ, and they belong only to God. prophets People that spoke for God. altar Place where sacrifices or gifts are offered to God. false prophet A person that says he speaks for God but does not really speak God's truth. demon(s) Demons are evil spirits from the devil. miracles False miracles--powerful acts done by the power of the devil.