| Verse
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King James Version
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Proposed Conservative Translation
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Analysis
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| 1
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And when he had opened the seventh seal, there was silence in heaven about the space of half an hour.
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When He had opened the seventh seal, silence fell in heaven for half an hour.
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| 2
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And I saw the seven angels which stood before God; and to them were given seven trumpets.
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And I saw the seven Messengers standing before God. Seven trumpets were given to them.
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| 3
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And another angel came and stood at the altar, having a golden censer; and there was given unto him much incense, that he should offer it with the prayers of all saints upon the golden altar which was before the throne.
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Then another Messenger came and stood at the altar, holding a golden censer. A lot of incense was given to him, in order that he offer it with the prayers of all saints on the golden altar in front of the throne.
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| 4
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And the smoke of the incense, which came with the prayers of the saints, ascended up before God out of the angel's hand.
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The smoke from the incense, that came with the prayers of the saints, rose up before God out of the Messenger's hand.
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| 5
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And the angel took the censer, and filled it with fire of the altar, and cast it into the earth: and there were voices, and thunderings, and lightnings, and an earthquake.
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The Messenger took the censer, filled it with hot coals from the altar, and threw it to the earth. This produces voices, and thunderings, and lightnings, and an earthquake.
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| 6
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And the seven angels which had the seven trumpets prepared themselves to sound.
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Then the seven Messengers that had the seven trumpets got ready to blow them.
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| 7
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The first angel sounded, and there followed hail and fire mingled with blood, and they were cast upon the earth: and the third part of trees was burnt up, and all green grass was burnt up.
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The first Messenger blew his trumpet, and hail and fire mixed with blood fell on the earth. One-third of the trees were burned up, and all the green grass was burned up.
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| 8
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And the second angel sounded, and as it were a great mountain burning with fire was cast into the sea: and the third part of the sea became blood;
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The second Messenger blew his trumpet, and an object like a great flaming mountain was thrown into the sea. One-third of the sea became blood,
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This could be a catastrophic fall of a near-earth asteroid.
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| 9
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And the third part of the creatures which were in the sea, and had life, died; and the third part of the ships were destroyed.
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one-third of all the living creatures of the sea died, and one-third of the ships were sunk.
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| 10
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And the third angel sounded, and there fell a great star from heaven, burning as it were a lamp, and it fell upon the third part of the rivers, and upon the fountains of waters;
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The third Messenger blew his trumpet, and a great star-like object fell from heaven, burning like a lamp. It fell on one-third of the rivers, and on the fresh-water springs.
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This is definitely a near-earth asteroid.
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| 11
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And the name of the star is called Wormwood: and the third part of the waters became wormwood; and many men died of the waters, because they were made bitter.
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The name of the star was Absinthe. One-third of the waters were turned into absinthe. Many men died from the waters, because they became bitter.
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The actual Greek name is Αψινθος (Apsinthos). Absinthe is a known neurotoxin, which is why it is today a completely illegal drug. According to legend, President Franklin Delano Roosevelt took absinthe, though in very small amounts.
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| 12
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And the fourth angel sounded, and the third part of the sun was smitten, and the third part of the moon, and the third part of the stars; so as the third part of them was darkened, and the day shone not for a third part of it, and the night likewise.
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The fourth Messenger blew his trumpet, and one-third of the sun was affected, as was one-third of the moon and one-third of the stars. It was as if the third part them was darkened, and the day failed to shine for one-third of its length, and the night had one-third less light.
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| 13
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And I beheld, and heard an angel flying through the midst of heaven, saying with a loud voice, Woe, woe, woe, to the inhabiters of the earth by reason of the other voices of the trumpet of the three angels, which are yet to sound!
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And I watched, and heard a Messenger flying through the middle of the sky, saying with a loud voice, "Woe! Woe! Woe to those who inhabit the earth, on account of the other trumpet voices from the three Messengers who haven't yet blown their trumpets!"
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The Greek expression is Ουαι, Ουαι, Ουαι, which is an almost direct transliteration of the Hebrew אוי ,אוי ,אוי (Oy! Oy! Oy!).
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| Verse
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King James Version
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Proposed Conservative Translation
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Analysis
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| 1
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And the fifth angel sounded, and I saw a star fall from heaven unto the earth: and to him was given the key of the bottomless pit.
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The fifth Messenger blew his trumpet, and I saw a star fall out of the sky to the earth. The key of the Abyss was given to him.
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This region is the special prison of demons.
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| 2
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And he opened the bottomless pit; and there arose a smoke out of the pit, as the smoke of a great furnace; and the sun and the air were darkened by reason of the smoke of the pit.
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He opened the well of the Abyss, and smoke came out of the well, like the smoke of a great furnace. The sun and the air were darkened from the smoke from the well.
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| 3
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And there came out of the smoke locusts upon the earth: and unto them was given power, as the scorpions of the earth have power.
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Out of that smoke came locusts on the earth. To them was given a capability similar to that of the scorpions of the earth.
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| 4
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And it was commanded them that they should not hurt the grass of the earth, neither any green thing, neither any tree; but only those men which have not the seal of God in their foreheads.
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They were ordered not to harm the grass of the earth, or any green thing, or any tree, but only those men who did not have the seal of God on their foreheads.
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This would include the 144,000 mentioned earlier and might (or might not) include members of the crowd too numerous to count.
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| 5
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And to them it was given that they should not kill them, but that they should be tormented five months: and their torment was as the torment of a scorpion, when he striketh a man.
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They were told not to kill those men, but to torment them for five months. Their torment would be like that from a scorpion sting.
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| 6
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And in those days shall men seek death, and shall not find it; and shall desire to die, and death shall flee from them.
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In those days men will look for death and not find it. They will want to die but not be able to.
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| 7
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And the shapes of the locusts were like unto horses prepared unto battle; and on their heads were as it were crowns like gold, and their faces were as the faces of men.
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In shape and form the locusts were like war horses. On their heads were golden crown-like objects, and their faces were like men's faces.
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| 8
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And they had hair as the hair of women, and their teeth were as the teeth of lions.
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They had hair like a woman's hair, and their teeth were like lion's teeth.
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| 9
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And they had breastplates, as it were breastplates of iron; and the sound of their wings was as the sound of chariots of many horses running to battle.
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They had breastplates that were hard as iron, and their wings made a sound like that of many horse-drawn chariots going into battle.
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| 10
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And they had tails like unto scorpions, and there were stings in their tails: and their power was to hurt men five months.
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They had scorpion-like tails, and those tails had stings, and they were capable of harming men for five months.
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| 11
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And they had a king over them, which is the angel of the bottomless pit, whose name in the Hebrew tongue is Abaddon, but in the Greek tongue hath his name Apollyon.
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They had a king over them, who is the Messenger of the Abyss. His name in Hebrew is Abaddon, and in Greek is Apollyon.
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Hebrew אבדון, Greek Απολλυων. Both names mean "Destroyer."
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| 12
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One woe is past; and, behold, there come two woes more hereafter.
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One woe has passed. Now two more woes come after this.
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| 13
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And the sixth angel sounded, and I heard a voice from the four horns of the golden altar which is before God,
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Now the sixth Messenger blew his trumpet. I heard a voice from the four horns of the golden altar that stands before God.
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This altar is probably a match for the altar of incense in the Tabernacle.
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| 14
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Saying to the sixth angel which had the trumpet, Loose the four angels which are bound in the great river Euphrates.
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The voice said to the sixth Messenger who was holding the trumpet, "Release the four Messengers who are restrained in the Euphrates River."
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| 15
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And the four angels were loosed, which were prepared for an hour, and a day, and a month, and a year, for to slay the third part of men.
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And those four Messengers were released. They had been prepared for an hour, a day, a month and a year, to kill one-third of all men.
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| 16
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And the number of the army of the horsemen were two hundred thousand thousand: and I heard the number of them.
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The number of the cavalrymen were two hundred million; I heard that number.
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The Greek number is given as δισμυριαδες μυριαδων, literally "two myriads of myriads." This is exactly how a Greek would say a number equivalent to two hundred million. It could also stand for "twenty thousand divisions" or "two divisions of divisions." Ancient armies often named their military units after the nearest round (and imprecise) number, e.g. "hundred" for "company", "thousand" for "cohort" or "regiment", and "myriad" for "division."
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| 17
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And thus I saw the horses in the vision, and them that sat on them, having breastplates of fire, and of jacinth, and brimstone: and the heads of the horses were as the heads of lions; and out of their mouths issued fire and smoke and brimstone.
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And so I saw the horses in the vision, and their riders. They had breastplates of fire, and of jacinth, and of burning sulfur. The horses' heads were like lion's heads, and out of their mouths poured fire and smoke and burning sulfur.
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| 18
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By these three was the third part of men killed, by the fire, and by the smoke, and by the brimstone, which issued out of their mouths.
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By these three substances, one-third of all men were killed, by the fire and smoke and burning sulfure that poured out of their mouths.
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| 19
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For their power is in their mouth, and in their tails: for their tails were like unto serpents, and had heads, and with them they do hurt.
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The horses' capability was in their mouths, and in their tails. Their tails were like snakes, and had heads, and with those heads they could bring harm.
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| 20
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And the rest of the men which were not killed by these plagues yet repented not of the works of their hands, that they should not worship devils, and idols of gold, and silver, and brass, and stone, and of wood: which neither can see, nor hear, nor walk:
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The remainder of the men who were not killed by these plagues did not get their minds away from the works of their hands, and did not stop worshipping demons and idols of gold and silver and bronze and stone, and wood, things that can neither hear nor see nor walk.
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| 21
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Neither repented they of their murders, nor of their sorceries, nor of their fornication, nor of their thefts.
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Neither did they change their hearts away from their murders, their drug abuse, their immoral sexual lifestyles, or their thefts.
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The Greek word rendered "sorcery" in the KJV is φαρμακεια (pharmakeia), from which come words like pharmacy and pharmaceutical and other words having to do with drugs. The word actually stood for the use and abuse of hallucinogenic substances to achieve altered states of consciousness.
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| Verse
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King James Version
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Proposed Conservative Translation
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Analysis
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| 1
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And I saw another mighty angel come down from heaven, clothed with a cloud: and a rainbow was upon his head, and his face was as it were the sun, and his feet as pillars of fire:
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Then I saw another high-ranking Messenger come down from the sky, dressed in a cloud. He had a rainbow on his head, and His face was as bright as the sun, and His feet were like pillars of fire.
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This is certainly no ordinary angel and might in fact be Christ Himself, hence the capitalization.
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| 2
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And he had in his hand a little book open: and he set his right foot upon the sea, and his left foot on the earth,
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He had in His hand a little open scroll. He set His right foot on the sea and His left foot on the land.
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| 3
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And cried with a loud voice, as when a lion roareth: and when he had cried, seven thunders uttered their voices.
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He cried out with a voice like a roaring lion, and seven thunders answered Him.
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| 4
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And when the seven thunders had uttered their voices, I was about to write: and I heard a voice from heaven saying unto me, Seal up those things which the seven thunders uttered, and write them not.
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I was about to write down what the seven thunders had said, but then I heard a voice out of heaven telling me, "Those things that the thunders said are classified. Don't write them down."
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This is the second instance in the Biblical record of an Apostle receiving Heavenly classified information and being told not to repeat it. The first was when Paul describes his visit to the Third Heaven.
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| 5
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And the angel which I saw stand upon the sea and upon the earth lifted up his hand to heaven,
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The Messenger Whom I saw standing on the sea and on the land lifted up His hand to heaven,
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| 6
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And sware by him that liveth for ever and ever, who created heaven, and the things that therein are, and the earth, and the things that therein are, and the sea, and the things which are therein, that there should be time no longer:
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and swore by Him Who lives for ever and ever, Who created heaven, and the things in it, and the earth, and the things in it, and the sea, and the things in it, that there would be no further delay.
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Literally, "there shall be no more time."
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| 7
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But in the days of the voice of the seventh angel, when he shall begin to sound, the mystery of God should be finished, as he hath declared to his servants the prophets.
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On the contrary, in the days of the voice of the seventh Messenger, when he will begin to blow his trumpet, the secret of God will be complete, as He has declared to His slaves, the prophets.
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| 8
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And the voice which I heard from heaven spake unto me again, and said, Go and take the little book which is open in the hand of the angel which standeth upon the sea and upon the earth.
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The voice that I had heard from heaven spoke to me again, and said, "Go and take that little open scroll out of the hand of the Messenger standing on sea and land."
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| 9
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And I went unto the angel, and said unto him, Give me the little book. And he said unto me, Take it, and eat it up; and it shall make thy belly bitter, but it shall be in thy mouth sweet as honey.
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I went up to the Messenger, and said to Him, "Give me that little scroll." And He said to me, "Take it, and eat it up. It will give you a bellyache, even though it will taste as sweet as honey in your mouth."
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| 10
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And I took the little book out of the angel's hand, and ate it up; and it was in my mouth sweet as honey: and as soon as I had eaten it, my belly was bitter.
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So I took the little scroll out of the Messenger's hand, and ate it up. It tasted as sweet as honey in my mouth, but as soon as I had eaten it, I had a bellyache.
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| 11
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And he said unto me, Thou must prophesy again before many peoples, and nations, and tongues, and kings.
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And He told me, "You have to prophesy again in front of many peoples, and ethnic groups, and languages, and heads-of-state."
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| Verse
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King James Version
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Proposed Conservative Translation
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Analysis
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| 1
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And there was given me a reed like unto a rod: and the angel stood, saying, Rise, and measure the temple of God, and the altar, and them that worship therein.
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Then He gave me a reed, like a measuring rod. He said, "Get up and measure the Temple of God, and the altar, and all those who are worshiping inside.
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"He" is the Ranking Messenger of Chapter 10, the One Who plants one foot on the sea and the other on land. His interview with John continues here.
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| 2
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But the court which is without the temple leave out, and measure it not; for it is given unto the Gentiles: and the holy city shall they tread under foot forty and two months.
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But leave out the outer courtyard outside the Temple, and don't measure that. It has been given to the Gentiles, and they will tread the Holy City underfoot for forty-two months.
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Some manuscripts say "inner," not "outer." The Holy City is, of course, Jerusalem.
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| 3
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And I will give power unto my two witnesses, and they shall prophesy a thousand two hundred and threescore days, clothed in sackcloth.
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And I will enable My Two Witnesses, and they will prophesy for 1260 days, while wearing sackcloth.
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Further evidence that the Ranking Messenger is Jesus Christ Himself. The Witnesses are probably Moses and Elijah, who held a staff meeting with Jesus during His Transfiguration.
The Greek σακκος means "sackcloth" and could mean burlap.
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| 4
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These are the two olive trees, and the two candlesticks standing before the God of the earth.
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These are the two olive trees, and the two candlesticks that stand before the God of the earth.
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| 5
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And if any man will hurt them, fire proceedeth out of their mouth, and devoureth their enemies: and if any man will hurt them, he must in this manner be killed.
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If anyone tries to hurt them, fire comes out of their mouth and burns up their enemies. If any man thinks he can hurt them, then he must be killed just this way.
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| 6
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These have power to shut heaven, that it rain not in the days of their prophecy: and have power over waters to turn them to blood, and to smite the earth with all plagues, as often as they will.
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These men have the authority to close the sky, so that the rain will not fall in the days of their prophesying. They have the authority over the waters, to transform them toblood, and to strike the land with all sorts of plagues, at their sole discretion.
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Either Elijah or Moses was known to do at least one of these things during their respective careers.
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| 7
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And when they shall have finished their testimony, the beast that ascendeth out of the bottomless pit shall make war against them, and shall overcome them, and kill them.
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And when they have finished testifying, the ravening monster coming out of the Abyss will go to war against them, defeat them, and kill them.
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| 8
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And their dead bodies shall lie in the street of the great city, which spiritually is called Sodom and Egypt, where also our Lord was crucified.
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Their dead bodies will lie in the street of the great city. This city is spiritually called Sodom and Egypt, and our Lord was also crucified here.
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Positive identification of the city as Jerusalem, along with a scathing indictment of it.
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| 9
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And they of the people and kindreds and tongues and nations shall see their dead bodies three days and a half, and shall not suffer their dead bodies to be put in graves.
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And representative members of the peoples and clans and languages and ethnic groups will watch their dead bodies for three and a half days, and will not allow their dead bodies to be buried.
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| 10
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And they that dwell upon the earth shall rejoice over them, and make merry, and shall send gifts one to another; because these two prophets tormented them that dwelt on the earth.
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Those who are living on the earth will be glad that they're dead, and celebrate, and exchange gifts, because these two prophets will have tormented everyone living on earth at the time."
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The Messenger probably stops speaking here, because the rest of the description switches from the future to the aorist, i.e. past, tense.
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| 11
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And after three days and an half the Spirit of life from God entered into them, and they stood upon their feet; and great fear fell upon them which saw them.
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And after the three and a half days, the Spirit of Life from God came into them. They stood on their feet, and great fear fell on the spectators.
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| 12
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And they heard a great voice from heaven saying unto them, Come up hither. And they ascended up to heaven in a cloud; and their enemies beheld them.
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They heard a great voice from the sky telling them, "Come up here!" And they rose up to the sky in a cloud, and their enemies watched them rise.
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| 13
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And the same hour was there a great earthquake, and the tenth part of the city fell, and in the earthquake were slain of men seven thousand: and the remnant were affrighted, and gave glory to the God of heaven.
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In that same moment a great earthquake struck the city, destroying ten percent of the buildings and causing seven thousand deaths. The rest of the city's residents were frightened, and gave glory to the God of heaven.
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| 14
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The second woe is past; and, behold, the third woe cometh quickly.
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The second woe is past. The third woe is coming quickly.
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| 15
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And the seventh angel sounded; and there were great voices in heaven, saying, The kingdoms of this world are become the kingdoms of our Lord, and of his Christ; and he shall reign for ever and ever.
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Now the seventh Messenger blew his trumpet. Great voices in heaven shouted, "The kingdoms of the world have become the Kingdom of our Lord, and of His Christ, and He shall reign for ever and ever!"
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| 16
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And the four and twenty elders, which sat before God on their seats, fell upon their faces, and worshipped God,
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The twenty-four elders, who were sitting in front of God in their seats, fell on their faces and kissed God's feet.
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| 17
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Saying, We give thee thanks, O Lord God Almighty, which art, and wast, and art to come; because thou hast taken to thee thy great power, and hast reigned.
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They said, "We thank You, Lord God Almighty, Who are, and was, and are to come, because You have taken to Yourself great power, and have become a King indeed!
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| 18
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And the nations were angry, and thy wrath is come, and the time of the dead, that they should be judged, and that thou shouldest give reward unto thy servants the prophets, and to the saints, and them that fear thy name, small and great; and shouldest destroy them which destroy the earth.
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The Gentiles were angry, and Your Magisterial Wrath came, as did the time for the dead to be judged, and for the giving of a reward to Your slaves the prophets, and to the saints, and to those, both small and great, who give respect and awe to Your Name, and for the destroyers of the earth to be destroyed!"
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| 19
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And the temple of God was opened in heaven, and there was seen in his temple the ark of his testament: and there were lightnings, and voices, and thunderings, and an earthquake, and great hail.
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And the Temple of God was opened in heaven. Inside His Temple the Ark of the Covenant was seen. Lightnings, voices, thunderings, an earthquake, and great hail occurred.
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This last is a capsule summary of the events to be described in detail in succeeding chapters.
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| Verse
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King James Version
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Proposed Conservative Translation
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Analysis
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| 1
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And there appeared a great wonder in heaven; a woman clothed with the sun, and the moon under her feet, and upon her head a crown of twelve stars:
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Now a great sign appeared in the sky: a woman clothed with the sun, with the moon under her feet, and on her head a crown with twelve stars in it.
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The woman is ethnic Israel. The twelve stars are the twelve sons of Israel.
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| 2
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And she being with child cried, travailing in birth, and pained to be delivered.
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She was pregnant and in labor. She cried out in pain, because parturition was about to occur.
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| 3
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And there appeared another wonder in heaven; and behold a great red dragon, having seven heads and ten horns, and seven crowns upon his heads.
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Then another sign appeared in the sky: a giant fire-red dragon, having seven heads and ten horns, and seven diadems on his heads.
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The diadem is significantly different from the crown, or stephanos, that the Sun-clad woman wears. The diadem indicates pride and even usurpation.
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| 4
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And his tail drew the third part of the stars of heaven, and did cast them to the earth: and the dragon stood before the woman which was ready to be delivered, for to devour her child as soon as it was born.
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Its tail dragged one-third of the stars out of the sky and threw them to the earth. The dragon stood in front of the pregnant woman, waiting to eat up her Child as soon as it was born.
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| 5
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And she brought forth a man child, who was to rule all nations with a rod of iron: and her child was caught up unto God, and to his throne.
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She was delivered of a Man-Child, Who was destined to rule over all ethnic groups with a rod of iron. Her Child was snatched up to God, and to His throne.
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That Child can only be Jesus Christ.
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| 6
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And the woman fled into the wilderness, where she hath a place prepared of God, that they should feed her there a thousand two hundred and threescore days.
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Then the woman fled into the desert, where she had a place prepared by God, so that they would feed her there for 1260 days.
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| 7
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And there was war in heaven: Michael and his angels fought against the dragon; and the dragon fought and his angels,
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And war broke out in heaven. Michael and his Messengers fought against the dragon, and the dragon and his Messengers fought back.
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| 8
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And prevailed not; neither was their place found any more in heaven.
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They lost, both the war and their place in heaven.
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| 9
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And the great dragon was cast out, that old serpent, called the Devil, and Satan, which deceiveth the whole world: he was cast out into the earth, and his angels were cast out with him.
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The giant dragon, that old serpent, called the Devil and Satan, who deceives the entire world, was thrown out intothe earth, and his Messengers were thrown out with him.
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That is to say, Satan and all his demons were expelled permanently from heaven.
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| 10
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And I heard a loud voice saying in heaven, Now is come salvation, and strength, and the kingdom of our God, and the power of his Christ: for the accuser of our brethren is cast down, which accused them before our God day and night.
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I heard a loud voice in the sky, saying, "Now salvation has come, and strength, and the Kingdom of our God, and the authority of His Christ! The accuser of our brothers, who accused them in front of God day and night, has been thrown down!
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| 11
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And they overcame him by the blood of the Lamb, and by the word of their testimony; and they loved not their lives unto the death.
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They beat him by reason of the blood of the Lamb and the Truth of their testimony. They did not love their lives more than death.
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| 12
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Therefore rejoice, ye heavens, and ye that dwell in them. Woe to the inhabiters of the earth and of the sea! for the devil is come down unto you, having great wrath, because he knoweth that he hath but a short time.
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For that reason, be glad, you skies, and you who live in them. But it will go badly for those who live on land and sea! The devil has come down to you, in towering out-of-control fury, because he knows that his time is limited!"
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| 13
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And when the dragon saw that he was cast unto the earth, he persecuted the woman which brought forth the man child.
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And when the dragon realized that he had been thrown to earth, he persecuted the woman who had given birth to the Man-Child.
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A direct reference to the persecution of the Jews, from the destruction of the Temple until today.
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| 14
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And to the woman were given two wings of a great eagle, that she might fly into the wilderness, into her place, where she is nourished for a time, and times, and half a time, from the face of the serpent.
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The woman was given two wings of a great eagle, so that she might fly into the wilderness, into her place, to be nourished for three and one-half years, from the face of the Big Snake.
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Literally, "time, times, and half a time," which is a repetition in Greek of a Hebrew idiom, first used in Daniel 7:25. "Times," as used in Hebrew, would have a dual number and therefore mean, specifically, "two years."
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| 15
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And the serpent cast out of his mouth water as a flood after the woman, that he might cause her to be carried away of the flood.
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The Snake belched water out of his mouth like a flood after the woman, trying to wash her away.
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The Snake and the Dragon are the same creature.
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| 16
|
And the earth helped the woman, and the earth opened her mouth, and swallowed up the flood which the dragon cast out of his mouth.
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And the land helped the woman. The land opened its mouth, and swallowed up the flood that the dragon belched out of his mouth.
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| 17
|
And the dragon was wroth with the woman, and went to make war with the remnant of her seed, which keep the commandments of God, and have the testimony of Jesus Christ.
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The dragon was angry with the woman, and went to war against the remainder of her descendants, who keep the commandments of God, and have the testimony of Jesus Christ.
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| 18
|
(Continued as Revelation 13:1)
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And he stood on the seashore.
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The dragon waits for the first of his human instruments to come to power.
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| Verse
|
King James Version
|
Proposed Conservative Translation
|
Analysis
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| 1
|
And I stood upon the sand of the sea, and saw a beast rise up out of the sea, having seven heads and ten horns, and upon his horns ten crowns, and upon his heads the name of blasphemy.
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And I saw rising out of the sea a murderous, ravening, monstrous creature. He had seven heads and ten horns, and ten diadems on his horns, and blasphemous names on his heads.
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The Greek θηριον (therion) means a murderous, ravening man-eater, of the sort often released into a Roman arena, like the Colosseum, to eat up a prisoner or to fight against a gladiator. The modern Greek word θηριο (therio), derived from this word, typically translates as "monster."
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| 2
|
And the beast which I saw was like unto a leopard, and his feet were as the feet of a bear, and his mouth as the mouth of a lion: and the dragon gave him his power, and his seat, and great authority.
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And the ravener that I saw was like a leopard, and his feet were like bear's feet, and his mouth like a lion's mouth. The dragon gave him his power, and his capital, and great authority.
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|
| 3
|
And I saw one of his heads as it were wounded to death; and his deadly wound was healed: and all the world wondered after the beast.
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And one of his heads seemed to have a fatal wound, and the fatal wound had healed. All the earth was awe-struck at the ravener.
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| 4
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And they worshipped the dragon which gave power unto the beast: and they worshipped the beast, saying, Who is like unto the beast? who is able to make war with him?
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They worshipped the dragon that had given his authority to the ravener, and they worshipped the ravener, too. They said, "Is there anyone like this guy? Who can make war against him and win?"
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|
| 5
|
And there was given unto him a mouth speaking great things and blasphemies; and power was given unto him to continue forty and two months.
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A mouth speaking big and blasphemous words was given to him, and also the authority to continue in office for forty-two months.
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|
| 6
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And he opened his mouth in blasphemy against God, to blaspheme his name, and his tabernacle, and them that dwell in heaven.
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He opened his mouth in blasphemy against God, to insult His Name, and His tabernacle, and those living in heaven.
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|
| 7
|
And it was given unto him to make war with the saints, and to overcome them: and power was given him over all kindreds, and tongues, and nations.
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And he was given the capability to fight a war with the saints, and beat them, and authority was given him over every clan and language and ethnic group.
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|
| 8
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And all that dwell upon the earth shall worship him, whose names are not written in the book of life of the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world.
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Everyone who lives on the earth will worship him, everyone whose name has not been written in the Book of Life of the Slain Lamb since the foundation of the world.
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|
| 9
|
If any man have an ear, let him hear.
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Anyone willing to understand, understand this:
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|
| 10
|
He that leadeth into captivity shall go into captivity: he that killeth with the sword must be killed with the sword. Here is the patience and the faith of the saints.
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Anyone who takes a group of captives, will go into captivity himself, and he who kills with the sword will be killed with the sword. Here is the patience and faith of the saints.
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Or: "If anyone is going to get captured, he'll get captured, and if he's going to die from the sword, then he must die from the sword." The exact wording is unsettled and difficult to settle.
The "sword" mentioned here is a government-issue sidearm.
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| 11
|
And I beheld another beast coming up out of the earth; and he had two horns like a lamb, and he spake as a dragon.
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And I saw another ravener coming up out of the land. He had two horns like lamb's horns, but he spoke like a dragon.
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|
| 12
|
And he exerciseth all the power of the first beast before him, and causeth the earth and them which dwell therein to worship the first beast, whose deadly wound was healed.
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He exercises all the authority that the first ravener had before him, and passes a law that the earth and those living in it must worship the first ravener, the one with the healed fatal wound.
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|
| 13
|
And he doeth great wonders, so that he maketh fire come down from heaven on the earth in the sight of men,
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He makes great signs, even to making fire come down from the sky to the earth for men to see,
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|
| 14
|
And deceiveth them that dwell on the earth by the means of those miracles which he had power to do in the sight of the beast; saying to them that dwell on the earth, that they should make an image to the beast, which had the wound by a sword, and did live.
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and deceives those who live on the earth through those signs that he is given power to make within sight of the (first) ravener. He tells those who live on the earth to make a statue to the ravener, the one who had been wounded by a sword and still lived.
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|
| 15
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And he had power to give life unto the image of the beast, that the image of the beast should both speak, and cause that as many as would not worship the image of the beast should be killed.
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He is capable of giving breath to the statue of the ravener, so that the statue of the ravener can speak, so that everyone who will not worship the statue of the ravener will be subject to execution.
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|
| 16
|
And he causeth all, both small and great, rich and poor, free and bond, to receive a mark in their right hand, or in their foreheads:
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He also passes a law to give to everyone, small and great, rich and poor, lawful resident and inmate, a cattle-brand-like stamp in the right hand, or on the forehead,
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|
| 17
|
And that no man might buy or sell, save he that had the mark, or the name of the beast, or the number of his name.
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so that no man would be allowed to buy or sell, if he didn't have the mark. That mark is either the name of the ravener or the numerical value of his name.
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|
| 18
|
Here is wisdom. Let him that hath understanding count the number of the beast: for it is the number of a man; and his number is Six hundred threescore and six.
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Here is a matter for insight. Anyone who can understand, can calculate the number of the ravener. It is a man's number, and that number is 666.
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Literally, χξς, or the letters chi, xi, and stigma, which is how a Greek would write the number 666. It might also be a Greek letterword for the words Khristos, xulon, and stavros—Christ, wood, cross. That, of course, points to the true role of this false prophet: he pretends to be Christ, even to enacting a travesty of the Crucifixion.
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| Verse
|
King James Version
|
Proposed Conservative Translation
|
Analysis
|
| 1
|
And I looked, and, lo, a Lamb stood on the mount Sion, and with him an hundred forty and four thousand, having his Father's name written in their foreheads.
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I looked, and saw the Lamb standing on Mount Zion. With Him were 144,000 men who had His Name and His Father's Name written on their foreheads.
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These Holy Innocents aren't the same as the 144,000 Jews appointed earlier, because they have a different kind of seal: both Names, not just one.
|
| 2
|
And I heard a voice from heaven, as the voice of many waters, and as the voice of a great thunder: and I heard the voice of harpers harping with their harps:
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I heard a voice out of the sky, like the voice of a lot of rushing water, and the voice of a great thunderclap. I heard the sound of harp players playing on their harps.
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|
| 3
|
And they sung as it were a new song before the throne, and before the four beasts, and the elders: and no man could learn that song but the hundred and forty and four thousand, which were redeemed from the earth.
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They sang a new song in front of the throne, and in front of the four living creatures, and the elders. No man could learn that song except the 144,000, which have been redeemed from the earth.
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Again: this 144,000 is in heaven. The other group is still on the earth.
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| 4
|
These are they which were not defiled with women; for they are virgins. These are they which follow the Lamb whithersoever he goeth. These were redeemed from among men, being the firstfruits unto God and to the Lamb.
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These are men who have not defiled themselves with women, because they have never been married. These are the men who follow the Lamb wherever He goes. They have been redeemed from among men, and are the firstfruits to God and to the Lamb.
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|
| 5
|
And in their mouth was found no guile: for they are without fault before the throne of God.
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Not a lie was ever found in their mouth, because they are faultless and unblemished.
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|
| 6
|
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,
|
Then I saw another Messenger flying in the middle of the sky. He had the everlasting good news, to preach to those who live on earth, and to every ethnic group, clan, language, and people.
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|
| 7
|
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.
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He said with a loud voice, "Be afraid of God and give Him glory! The hour of His judgment has come! Worship Him Who made heaven, and earth, and the sea, and the springs!"
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|
| 8
|
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.
|
A second Messenger followed. He said, "Fallen, fallen is Babylon the Great! In her out-of-control sexual immorality she made every ethnic group take part!"
|
The word rendered "wrath" here is θυμος or thumos, which means out-of-control fury or out-of-control lust. "To drink from the wine" is idiomatic for "take part."
|
| 9
|
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,
|
A third Messenger followed them, saying with a loud voice, "If any man worships the ravener and his statue, and accepts his cattle stamp on his forehead or in his hand,
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|
| 10
|
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:
|
that man will feel the full weight of God's fury, which is added full-strength to His magisterial indignation. He will be tormented with fire and burning sulfur in front of the Holy Messengers, and in front of the Lamb,
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|
| 11
|
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.
|
and the smoke of their torment will rise up for ever and ever. They will have no rest day or night, those who worship the ravener and his image, and anyone who gets stamped like cattle with his name on them!"
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|
| 12
|
Here is the patience of the saints: here are they that keep the commandments of God, and the faith of Jesus.
|
Here is where the patience of the saints, those who keep the commandments of God and the faith of Jesus, pays off.
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|
| 13
|
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.
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I heard a voice from heaven saying to me, "Write: 'The dead, meaning whoever dies in the Lord from this moment forward, will not be cut off.' Indeed, says the Spirit, they will have rest from their hard work, and their deeds follow them."
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|
| 14
|
And I looked, and behold a white cloud, and upon the cloud one sat like unto the Son of man, having on his head a golden crown, and in his hand a sharp sickle.
|
I looked, and saw a white cloud. On that cloud sat One looking like the Son of man. He had a golden crown on His head, and in His hand he carried a sharp sickle.
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|
| 15
|
And another angel came out of the temple, crying with a loud voice to him that sat on the cloud, Thrust in thy sickle, and reap: for the time is come for thee to reap; for the harvest of the earth is ripe.
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Another Messenger came out of the temple, crying with a loud voice to Him Who was sitting on the cloud, "Thrust in Your sickle, and take Your harvest! The time has come for You to harvest Your crop, and the harvest of the earth is ripe!"
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|
| 16
|
And he that sat on the cloud thrust in his sickle on the earth; and the earth was reaped.
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The Man sitting on the cloud thrust in His sickle on the earth, and the earth was harvested.
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|
| 17
|
And another angel came out of the temple which is in heaven, he also having a sharp sickle.
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Then another Messenger came out of the temple in heaven. He also held a sharp sickle.
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|
| 18
|
And another angel came out from the altar, which had power over fire; and cried with a loud cry to him that had the sharp sickle, saying, Thrust in thy sharp sickle, and gather the clusters of the vine of the earth; for her grapes are fully ripe.
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And another Messenger came from the altar, one having authority over fire. He cried with a loud cry to the holder of the sharp sickle, "Thrust in your sharp sickle, and gather the clusters of grapes from the earth; the grapes are fully ripe.
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These are the "grapes of wrath."
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| 19
|
And the angel thrust in his sickle into the earth, and gathered the vine of the earth, and cast it into the great winepress of the wrath of God.
|
And the Messenger thrust in his sickle into the earth, and gathered the vintage of the earth, and threw it into the winepress of the great out-of-control fury of God.
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|
| 20
|
And the winepress was trodden without the city, and blood came out of the winepress, even unto the horse bridles, by the space of a thousand and six hundred furlongs.
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The winepress was tread on outside the city. Blood came out of the winepress, as high as horses' bridles, for a distance of 1600 furlongs.
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Literally, 1600 Roman stadia. A stadium was one-eighth of a Roman mile. This verse speaks of a great battle to come, with extremely heavy casualties.
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| Verse
|
King James Version
|
Proposed Conservative Translation
|
Analysis
|
| 1
|
And I saw another sign in heaven, great and marvellous, seven angels having the seven last plagues; for in them is filled up the wrath of God.
|
And I saw another sign in the heavens, a great and truly awesome sign: seven Messengers of God having the seven last plagues. In them the out-of-control rage of God is filled up.
|
Divine Patience has its limit, and is now exhausted.
|
| 2
|
And I saw as it were a sea of glass mingled with fire: and them that had gotten the victory over the beast, and over his image, and over his mark, and over the number of his name, stand on the sea of glass, having the harps of God.
|
I saw something like a sea of glass mixed with fire. Those who had won the victory over the ravener, and over his statue, and over the number of his name, were standing on the sea of glass, holding harps from God.
|
|
| 3
|
And they sing the song of Moses the servant of God, and the song of the Lamb, saying, Great and marvellous are thy works, Lord God Almighty; just and true are thy ways, thou King of saints.
|
They were singing the song of Moses, the slave of God, and the song of the Lamb, saying, "Great and awesome are Your deeds, Lord God Almighty! Just and true are Your ways, King of saints!
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|
| 4
|
Who shall not fear thee, O Lord, and glorify thy name? for thou only art holy: for all nations shall come and worship before thee; for thy judgments are made manifest.
|
Will anyone not fear You and glorify Your Name? You alone are holy. All ethnic groups will come and worship before You, because Your verdicts are made clear!"
|
|
| 5
|
And after that I looked, and, behold, the temple of the tabernacle of the testimony in heaven was opened:
|
And after this I looked, and the Temple of the Tabernacle of the Testimony in heaven was opened.
|
|
| 6
|
And the seven angels came out of the temple, having the seven plagues, clothed in pure and white linen, and having their breasts girded with golden girdles.
|
The seven Messengers came out of the Temple, holding the seven plagues. They wore clean and brightly shining linen, and wore golden belts around their chests.
|
|
| 7
|
And one of the four beasts gave unto the seven angels seven golden vials full of the wrath of God, who liveth for ever and ever.
|
One of the four living creatures gave the seven Messengers seven golden vials full of the rage of God, Who lives for ever and ever.
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|
| 8
|
And the temple was filled with smoke from the glory of God, and from his power; and no man was able to enter into the temple, till the seven plagues of the seven angels were fulfilled.
|
The temple was filled with smoke from the glory of God, and from His power. No man could enter the Temple, until the seven plagues from the seven Messengers had run their course.
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From Conservapedia 
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KSF