The Message
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Chapter 6
Unsealing the Scroll
1I watched while the Lamb ripped off the first of the seven seals. I heard one of the Animals roar, “Come out!” 2I looked-I saw a white horse. Its rider carried a bow and was given a victory garland. He rode off victorious, conquering right and left. 3When the Lamb ripped off the second seal, I heard the second Animal cry, “Come out!” 4Another horse appeared, this one red. Its rider was off to take peace from the earth, setting people at each other's throats, killing one another. He was given a huge sword. 5When he ripped off the third seal, I heard the third Animal cry, “Come out!” I looked. A black horse this time. Its rider carried a set of scales in his hand. 6I heard a message (it seemed to issue from the Four Animals): “A quart of wheat for a day's wages, or three quarts of barley, but all the oil and wine you want.” 7When he ripped off the fourth seal, I heard the fourth Animal cry, “Come out!” 8I looked. A colorless horse, sickly pale. Its rider was Death, and Hell was close on its heels. They were given power to destroy a fourth of the earth by war, famine, disease, and wild beasts. 9When he ripped off the fifth seal, I saw the souls of those killed because they had held firm in their witness to the Word of God. They were gathered under the Altar, 10and cried out in loud prayers, “How long, Strong God, Holy and True? How long before you step in and avenge our murders?” 11Then each martyr was given a white robe and told to sit back and wait until the full number of martyrs was filled from among their servant companions and friends in the faith. 12I watched while he ripped off the sixth seal: a bone-jarring earthquake, sun turned black as ink, moon all bloody, 13stars falling out of the sky like figs shaken from a tree in a high wind, 14sky snapped shut like a book, islands and mountains sliding this way and that. 15And then pandemonium, everyone and his dog running for cover-kings, princes, generals, rich and strong, along with every commoner, slave or free. They hid in mountain caves and rocky dens, 16calling out to mountains and rocks, “Refuge! Hide us from the One Seated on the Throne and the wrath of the Lamb! 17The great Day of their wrath has come-who can stand it?” Chapter 7
The Servants of God
1Immediately I saw Four Angels standing at the four corners of earth, standing steady with a firm grip on the four winds so no wind would blow on earth or sea, not even rustle a tree.2Then I saw another Angel rising from where the sun rose, carrying the seal of the Living God. He thundered to the Four Angels assigned the task of hurting earth and sea, 3“Don't hurt the earth! Don't hurt the sea! Don't so much as hurt a tree until I've sealed the servants of our God on their foreheads!” 4I heard the count of those who were sealed: 144,000! They were sealed out of every Tribe of Israel: 512,000 sealed from Judah, 12,000 from Reuben, 12,000 from Gad, 612,000 from Asher, 12,000 from Naphtali, 12,000 from Manasseh, 712,000 from Simeon, 12,000 from Levi, 12,000 from Issachar, 812,000 from Zebulun, 12,000 from Joseph, 12,000 sealed from Benjamin. 9I looked again. I saw a huge crowd, too huge to count. Everyone was there-all nations and tribes, all races and languages. And they were standing, dressed in white robes and waving palm branches, standing before the Throne and the Lamb 10and heartily singing: Salvation to our God on his Throne! Salvation to the Lamb! 11All who were standing around the Throne-Angels, Elders, Animals-fell on their faces before the Throne and worshiped God, 12singing: Oh, Yes! The blessing and glory and wisdom and thanksgiving, The honor and power and strength, To our God forever and ever and ever! Oh, Yes! 13Just then one of the Elders addressed me: “Who are these dressed in white robes, and where did they come from?” 14Taken aback, I said, “O Sir, I have no idea-but you must know.” Then he told me, “These are those who come from the great tribulation, and they've washed their robes, scrubbed them clean in the blood of the Lamb. 15That's why they're standing before God's Throne. They serve him day and night in his Temple. The One on the Throne will pitch his tent there for them: 16no more hunger, no more thirst, no more scorching heat. 17The Lamb on the Throne will shepherd them, will lead them to spring waters of Life. And God will wipe every last tear from their eyes.” Chapter 8
1When the Lamb ripped off the seventh seal, Heaven fell quiet-complete silence for about half an hour.Blowing the Trumpets
2I saw the Seven Angels who are always in readiness before God handed seven trumpets. 3Then another Angel, carrying a gold censer, came and stood at the Altar. He was given a great quantity of incense so that he could offer up the prayers of all the holy people of God on the Golden Altar before the Throne. 4Smoke billowed up from the incense-laced prayers of the holy ones, rose before God from the hand of the Angel. 5Then the Angel filled the censer with fire from the Altar and heaved it to earth. It set off thunders, voices, lightnings, and an earthquake. 6The Seven Angels with the trumpets got ready to blow them. 7At the first trumpet blast, hail and fire mixed with blood were dumped on earth. A third of the earth was scorched, a third of the trees, and every blade of green grass-burned to a crisp. 8The second Angel trumpeted. Something like a huge mountain blazing with fire was flung into the sea. A third of the sea turned to blood, 9a third of the living sea creatures died, and a third of the ships sank. 10The third Angel trumpeted. A huge Star, blazing like a torch, fell from Heaven, wiping out a third of the rivers and a third of the springs. 11The Star's name was Wormwood. A third of the water turned bitter, and many people died from the poisoned water. 12The fourth Angel trumpeted. A third of the sun, a third of the moon, and a third of the stars were hit, blacked out by a third, both day and night in one-third blackout. 13I looked hard; I heard a lone eagle, flying through Middle-Heaven, crying out ominously, “Doom! Doom! Doom to everyone left on earth! There are three more Angels about to blow their trumpets. Doom is on its way!” |
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