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Revelation 6-11
Amplified Bible

The First Seal—The Conqueror

6 Then I saw as the Lamb (Christ) broke one of the seven [a]seals [of the scroll initiating the judgments], and I heard one of the four living creatures call out as with a voice of thunder, “[b]Come.” 2 I looked, and behold, a [c]white horse [of victory] whose rider carried a [d]bow; and a crown [of victory] was given to him, and he rode forth conquering and to conquer.(A)

The Second Seal—War

3 When He (the Lamb) broke the second seal, I heard the second living creature call out, “Come.” 4 And another, a [e]fiery red horse [of bloodshed], came out; and its rider was empowered to take peace from the earth, so that men would slaughter one another; and a great sword [of war and violent death] was given to him.(B)

The Third Seal—Famine

5 When He (the Lamb) broke open the third seal, I heard the third living creature call out, “Come.” I looked, and behold, a black horse [of famine]; and the rider had in his hand a pair of scales (a balance).(C) 6 And I heard something like a voice in the midst of the four living creatures saying, “A quart of wheat for a denarius (a day’s wages), and three quarts of barley for a denarius; and do not [f]damage the oil and the wine.”(D)

The Fourth Seal—Death

7 When He (the Lamb) broke open the fourth seal, I heard the voice of the fourth living creature call out, “Come.” 8 So I looked, and behold, an ashen (pale greenish gray) horse [like a corpse, representing death and pestilence]; and its rider’s name was Death; and Hades (the realm of the dead) was following with him. They were given authority and power over a fourth part of the earth, to kill with the sword and with famine and with [g]plague (pestilence, disease) and by the wild beasts of the earth.(E)

The Fifth Seal—Martyrs

9 When He (the Lamb) broke open the fifth seal, I saw underneath the altar the souls of those who had been slaughtered because of the word of God, and because of the testimony which they had maintained [out of loyalty to Christ]. 10 They cried in a loud voice, saying, “O Lord, holy and true, how long now before You will sit in judgment and avenge our blood on those [unregenerate ones] who dwell on the earth?”(F) 11 Then they were each given a white robe; and they were told to rest and wait quietly for a little while longer, until the number of their fellow servants and their brothers and sisters who were to be killed even as they had been, would be completed.

The Sixth Seal—Terror

12 I looked when He (the Lamb) broke open the sixth seal, and there was a great earthquake; and the sun became black as [h]sackcloth [made] of hair, and the whole moon became like blood;(G) 13 and the stars of the sky fell to the earth, like a fig tree shedding its late [summer] figs when shaken by a strong wind.(H) 14 The sky was split [separated from the land] and rolled up like a scroll, and every mountain and island were dislodged and moved out of their places. 15 Then the kings of the earth and the great men and the [i]military commanders and the wealthy and the strong and everyone, [whether] slave or free, hid themselves in the caves and among the rocks of the mountains; 16 and they called to the mountains and the rocks, “Fall on us and hide us from the face of Him who sits on the throne, and from the [righteous] wrath and indignation of the Lamb;(I) 17 for the great day of their wrath and vengeance and retribution has come, and who is able to [face God and] stand [before the wrath of the Lamb]?”(J)

An Interlude

7 After this I saw four angels stationed at the four corners of the earth, holding back the [j]four winds of the earth so that no wind would blow on the earth or on the sea or on any tree.(K) 2 Then I saw another angel coming up from the rising of the sun, holding the seal of the living God; and with a loud voice he called out to the four angels to whom it was granted [to have authority and power] to harm the earth and the sea, 3 saying, “Do not harm the earth nor the sea nor the trees until we [k]seal (mark) the bond-servants of our God on their foreheads.”(L)

The 144,000

4 And I heard how many were sealed, a hundred and forty-four thousand; [twelve thousand] sealed from [l]every tribe of the sons of Israel:

5 
Twelve thousand were sealed from the tribe of Judah, twelve thousand from the tribe of Reuben, twelve thousand from the tribe of Gad,
6 
twelve thousand from the tribe of Asher, twelve thousand from the tribe of Naphtali, twelve thousand from the tribe of Manasseh,
7 
twelve thousand from the tribe of Simeon, twelve thousand from the tribe of Levi, twelve thousand from the tribe of Issachar,
8 
twelve thousand from the tribe of Zebulun, twelve thousand from the tribe of Joseph, and twelve thousand from the tribe of Benjamin were sealed (marked, redeemed, protected).

A Multitude from the Tribulation

9 After these things I looked, and this is what I saw: a vast multitude which no one could count, [gathered] from every nation and from all the tribes and peoples and languages [of the earth], standing before the throne and before the Lamb (Christ), dressed in white robes, with [m]palm branches in their hands; 10 and in a loud voice they cried out, saying,

“Salvation [belongs] to our God who is seated on the throne, and to the Lamb [our salvation is the Trinity’s to give, and to God the Trinity we owe our deliverance].” 11 And all the angels were standing around the throne and around the [twenty-four] elders and the four living creatures; and they fell to their faces before the throne and worshiped God, 12 saying,

“Amen! Blessing and glory and majesty and wisdom and thanksgiving and honor and power and might belong to our God forever and ever. Amen.”

13 Then one of the elders responded, saying to me, “These who are dressed in the long white robes—who are they, and from where did they come?” 14 I said to him, “My lord, you know [the answer].” And he said to me, “These are the people who come out of the great tribulation (persecution), and they have washed their robes and made them white in the blood of the Lamb [because of His atoning sacrifice].(M) 15 For this reason, they are [standing] before the throne of God; and they serve Him [in worship] day and night in His temple; and He who sits on the throne will [n]spread His tabernacle over them and shelter and protect them [with His presence].(N) 16 They will hunger no longer, nor thirst anymore; nor will the sun [o]beat down on them, nor any [scorching] heat;(O) 17 for the Lamb who is in the center of the throne will be their Shepherd, and He will guide them to springs of the waters of life; and God will wipe every tear from their eyes [giving them eternal comfort].”(P)

The Seventh Seal—the Trumpets

8 When He (the Lamb) broke open the seventh seal, there was silence in heaven for about half an hour [in awe of God’s impending judgment].(Q) 2 Then I saw the seven angels who stand before God, and seven [p]trumpets were given to them.

3 Another angel came and stood at the altar. He had a golden [q]censer, and much [r]incense was given to him, so that he might add it to the prayers of all the saints (God’s people) on the golden altar in front of the throne.(R) 4 And the smoke and fragrant aroma of the incense, with the prayers of the saints (God’s people), ascended before God from the angel’s hand. 5 So the angel took the censer and filled it with fire from the altar, and hurled it to the earth; and there were peals of thunder and loud rumblings and sounds and flashes of lightning and an earthquake.(S)

6 Then the seven angels who had the seven trumpets prepared themselves to sound them [initiating the judgments].

7 The first [angel] sounded [his trumpet], and there was [a storm of] hail and fire, mixed with blood, and it was hurled to the earth; and a third of the earth was burned up, and a third of the trees were burned up, and all the green grass was burned up.(T)

8 The second angel sounded [his trumpet], and something like a great mountain blazing with fire was hurled into the sea; and a third of the sea was turned to blood;(U) 9 and a third of the living creatures that were in the sea died, and a third of the ships were destroyed.

10 The third angel sounded [his trumpet], and a great star fell from heaven, burning like a torch [flashing across the sky], and it fell on a third of the rivers and on the springs of [fresh] waters. 11 The name of the star is [s]Wormwood; and a third of the waters became wormwood, and many people died from the waters, because they had become bitter (toxic).

12 Then the fourth angel sounded [his trumpet], and a third of the sun and a third of the moon and a third of the stars were struck, so that a third of them would be darkened and a third of the daylight would not shine, and the night in the same way [would not shine].(V)

13 Then I looked, and I heard a solitary eagle flying in [t]midheaven [for all to see], saying with a loud voice, “[u]Woe, woe, woe [great wrath is coming] to those who dwell on the earth, because of the remaining blasts of the trumpets which the three angels are about to sound [announcing ever greater judgments]!”

The Fifth Trumpet—the Bottomless Pit

9 Then the fifth angel sounded [his trumpet], and I saw a star (angelic being) that had fallen from heaven to the earth; and the key of the bottomless pit (abyss) was given to him (the star-angel).(W) 2 He opened the bottomless pit, and smoke like the smoke of a great furnace flowed out of the pit; and the sun and the atmosphere were darkened by the smoke from the pit.(X) 3 Then out of the smoke came locusts upon the earth, and power [to hurt] was given to them, like the power which the earth’s scorpions have.(Y) 4 They were told not to hurt the grass of the earth, nor any green thing, nor any tree, but [to hurt] only the people who do not have the seal (mark of ownership, protection) of God on their foreheads.(Z) 5 They were not permitted to kill anyone, but to torment and cause them extreme pain for five months; and their torment was like the torment from a scorpion when it stings a man. 6 And in those days people will seek death and will not find it; and they will long to die [to escape the pain], but [will discover that] death evades them.(AA)

7 The locusts resembled horses prepared and equipped for battle; and on their heads appeared to be [something like] golden crowns, and their faces resembled human faces.(AB) 8 They had hair like the hair of women, and their teeth were like the teeth of lions.(AC) 9 They had breastplates (scales) like breastplates made of iron; and the [whirring] noise of their wings was like the [thunderous] noise of countless horse-drawn chariots charging [at full speed] into battle.(AD) 10 They have tails like scorpions, and stingers; and in their tails is their power to hurt people for five months.(AE) 11 They have as king over them, the angel of the abyss (the bottomless pit); in Hebrew his name is Abaddon (destruction), and in Greek he is called Apollyon (destroyer-king).

12 The first woe has passed; behold, two woes are still coming after these things.

The Sixth Trumpet—Army from the East

13 Then the sixth angel sounded [his trumpet], and I heard a solitary voice from the four horns of the golden altar which stands before God, 14 saying to the sixth angel who had the trumpet, “Release the four angels who are bound at the great river Euphrates.” 15 So the four angels, who had been prepared for the [appointed] hour and day and month and year, were released to kill a third of mankind. 16 The number of the troops of cavalry was twice ten thousand times ten thousand (two hundred million); I heard the number of them. 17 And this is how I saw the horses and their riders in my vision: the riders had breastplates [the color] of fire and of hyacinth (sapphire blue) and of brimstone (yellow); and the heads of the horses looked like the heads of lions; and from out of their mouths came fire and smoke and brimstone (burning sulfur). 18 A third of mankind was killed by these three plagues—by the fire and the smoke and the brimstone that came from the mouths of the horses. 19 For the power of the horses [to do harm] is in their mouths and in their tails; for their tails are like serpents and have heads, and it is with them that they do harm.

20 The rest of mankind, who were not killed by these plagues, [v]did not repent even then of the works of their hands, so as to cease worshiping and paying homage to the demons and the idols of gold and of silver and of bronze and of stone and of wood, which can neither see nor hear nor walk;(AF) 21 and they did not repent of their murders nor of their sorceries (drugs, intoxications) nor of their [sexual] immorality nor of their thefts.

The Angel and the Little Book

10 Then I saw another mighty angel coming down from heaven, clothed in a cloud, with a rainbow (halo) over his head; and his face was like the sun, and his feet (legs) were like columns of fire;(AG) 2 and he had a little book (scroll) open in his hand. He set his right foot on the sea and his left foot on the land;(AH) 3 and he shouted with a loud voice, like the roaring of a lion [compelling attention and inspiring awe]; and when he had shouted out, the seven peals of thunder spoke with their own voices [uttering their message in distinct words].(AI) 4 And when the seven peals of thunder had spoken, I was about to write; but I heard a voice from heaven saying, “Seal up the things which the seven peals of thunder have spoken and do not write them down.”(AJ) 5 Then the angel whom I had seen standing on the sea and the land raised his right hand [to swear an oath] to heaven,(AK) 6 and swore [an oath] by [the name of] Him who lives forever 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 will be delay no longer,(AL) 7 but [w]when it is time for the [x]trumpet call of the seventh angel, when he is about to sound, then the mystery of God [that is, His hidden purpose and plan] is finished, as He announced the gospel to His servants the prophets.(AM)

8 Then the voice which I heard from heaven, I heard again speaking to me, and saying, “Go, take the book (scroll) which is open in the hand of the angel who is standing on the sea and on the land.” 9 So I went up to the angel and told him to give me the little book. And he said to me, “Take it and eat it; it will make your stomach bitter, but in your mouth it will be as sweet as honey.”(AN) 10 So I took the little book from the angel’s hand and ate it, and in my mouth it was as sweet as honey; but once I had swallowed it, my stomach was [y]bitter.(AO) 11 Then they said to me, “You must prophesy again concerning many peoples and nations and languages and kings.”(AP)

The Two Witnesses

11 Then there was given to me a [z]measuring rod like a staff; and someone said, “[aa]Rise and measure the temple of God and the altar [of incense], and [count] those who worship in it.(AQ) 2 But leave out the court [of the Gentiles] which is outside the temple and do not measure it, because it has been given to the Gentiles (the nations); and they will trample the holy city for forty-two months (three and one-half years).(AR) 3 And I will grant authority to My two witnesses, and they will prophesy for twelve hundred and sixty days (forty-two months; three and one-half years), dressed in [ab]sackcloth.”(AS) 4 These [witnesses] are the two olive trees and the two lampstands which stand before the Lord of the earth.(AT) 5 And if anyone wants to harm them, fire comes out of their mouth and devours their enemies; so if anyone wants to harm them, he must be killed in this way.(AU) 6 These [two witnesses] have the power [from God] to shut up the sky, so that no rain will fall during the days of their prophesying [regarding judgment and salvation]; and they have power over the waters (seas, rivers) to turn them into blood, and to strike the earth with every [kind of] plague, as often as they wish.(AV)

7 When they have finished their testimony and given their evidence, the beast that comes up out of the abyss (bottomless pit) will wage war with them, and overcome them and kill them.(AW) 8 And their dead bodies will lie exposed in the open street of the great city (Jerusalem), which in a spiritual sense is called [by the symbolic and allegorical names of] Sodom and Egypt, where also their Lord was crucified.(AX) 9 Those from the peoples and tribes and languages and nations [ac]look at their dead bodies for three and a half days, and will not allow their dead bodies to be laid in a tomb. 10 And those [non-believers] who live on the earth will gloat over them and rejoice; and they will send gifts [in celebration] to one another, because these two prophets tormented and troubled those who live on the earth.

11 But after three and a half days, the breath of life from God came into them, and they stood on their feet; and great fear and panic fell on those who were watching them.(AY) 12 And the two witnesses heard a loud voice from heaven saying to them, “Come up here.” Then they ascended into heaven in the cloud, and their enemies watched them.(AZ) 13 And in that [very] hour there was a great earthquake, and a tenth of the city fell and was destroyed; seven thousand [ad]people were killed in the earthquake, and the rest [who survived] were overcome with terror, and [ae]they glorified the God of heaven [as they recognized His awesome power].

14 The second woe is past; behold, the third woe is coming quickly.

The Seventh Trumpet—Christ’s Reign Foreseen

15 Then the seventh angel sounded [his trumpet]; and there were loud voices in heaven, saying,

“The kingdom (dominion, rule) of the world has become the kingdom of our Lord and of His Christ; and He will reign forever and ever.”(BA) 16 And the twenty-four elders, who sit on their thrones before God, fell face downward and worshiped God, 17 saying,

“To You we give thanks, O Lord God Almighty [the Omnipotent, the Ruler of all], Who are and Who were, because You have taken Your great power and the sovereignty [which is rightly Yours] and have [now] begun to reign. 18 And the nations (Gentiles) became enraged, and Your wrath and indignation came, and the time came for the dead to be judged, and [the time came] to reward Your bond-servants the prophets and the saints (God’s people) and those who fear Your name, the small and the great, and [the time came] to destroy the destroyers of the earth.”(BB)

19 And the temple of God which is in heaven was opened; and the ark of His covenant appeared in His temple, and there were flashes of lightning, loud rumblings and peals of thunder and an earthquake and a great hailstorm.(BC)

Footnotes

  1. Revelation 6:1 A seal, sphragis, could only be broken by the one who has authority over it. In breaking the seals and disclosing God’s judgments, Christ demonstrated His own divine authority over creation.
  2. Revelation 6:1 One early ms reads Come and see. Also vv 3, 5, 7.
  3. Revelation 6:2 Some interpreters note that the rabbis said that if one sees a white horse in a dream, it is a good sign (Talmud). Jewish believers who heard these words being read in their church (see 1:3) probably would think that the vision indicated Israel would soon be freed from foreign domination. In the Roman world a white horse was a symbol of victory in battle. In this case the peace is deceptive because it will not be lasting. Other interpreters argue that the horseman represents the conquering Christ, as in 19:11.
  4. Revelation 6:2 Without an arrow (if arrows are not to be assumed) the bow may symbolize a bloodless victory or conquest.
  5. Revelation 6:4 In contrast to the white horse, the rabbis said that if one saw a red horse walking gently, it was a good sign, but if the horse was galloping, it was a bad sign. It was also said that the man riding the red horse in Zechariah’s vision (Zech 1:8) was a sign that God intended to turn the whole world into blood (Talmud).
  6. Revelation 6:6 This may be a warning to be very careful handling olive oil and wine, which ordinarily are basic commodities, because famine will make them very expensive. The vision indicates that famine and inflation will take such a toll that a laborer will earn only enough to feed himself with wheat, or to provide barley for a small family. He will have almost nothing left for clothing, shelter, and incidentals.
  7. Revelation 6:8 Or death.
  8. Revelation 6:12 This was a coarse, uncomfortable material usually made of black goat hair and customarily worn as a sign of mourning or repentance.
  9. Revelation 6:15 Lit chiliarchs, a Greek word literally meaning a ruler (commander) of a thousand men, but used generally of high-ranking military officers.
  10. Revelation 7:1 The Jews and other ancient peoples were very observant of the four winds, that is, the winds that came from each point of the compass. It was said in the Talmud that if the winds ceased to blow, the world could not continue to exist.
  11. Revelation 7:3 The seal indicates both ownership and protection by God.
  12. Revelation 7:4 The tribe of Dan is omitted from the following passage without explanation. The tribe of Manasseh, Joseph’s older son, replaces Dan, so the count remains at twelve.
  13. Revelation 7:9 I.e. symbols of victory and joy used on festive occasions.
  14. Revelation 7:15 Lit pitch His tent.
  15. Revelation 7:16 Lit fall.
  16. Revelation 8:2 In the Old Testament, trumpets announced God’s commands to congregate, move camp, and prepare for war (Num 10:1-9). Trumpets were also used to announce celebrations (Num 10:10; 29:1), royal coronations (1 Kin 1:34, 39; 2 Kin 9:13), and God’s impending wrath (Josh 6:1-8; Zeph 1:14-16). Angels will blow trumpets during the judgment and resurrection (Matt 24:31; 1 Cor 15:52; 1 Thess 4:16).
  17. Revelation 8:3 I.e. a special container for burning incense.
  18. Revelation 8:3 I.e. fragrant spices which exude perfume when burned.
  19. Revelation 8:11 Gr apsinthos, cf Eng “absinthe.” This is a plant from which a bitter oil is extracted that is highly toxic to the nervous system. The name “wormwood” comes from the fact that the oil was used medicinally to kill intestinal worms.
  20. Revelation 8:13 The Greek word used here refers to the meridian or zenith, the highest point of the sun in the sky, where the sun is directly overhead.
  21. Revelation 8:13 During the first four trumpets, judgment fell on nature, but in the final three trumpet judgments (chs 9-11), unbelieving humanity will be directly punished through torment, death, and at last total destruction.
  22. Revelation 9:20 The wickedness of idolatry is so deep and deceptive that idolaters refuse to repent in spite of the overwhelming evidence of God’s displeasure with them (Ps 115:8; 135:18).
  23. Revelation 10:7 Lit in the days of.
  24. Revelation 10:7 Lit voice.
  25. Revelation 10:10 I.e. John was encouraged by the Word of God but was saddened as he realized the approaching judgment on unbelievers.
  26. Revelation 11:1 John is describing a rod that is about six feet long.
  27. Revelation 11:1 The Greek corresponds to a Hebrew verb meaning “to stand” or “arise” which can be an instruction to prepare to fulfill a command, somewhat similar to the military command “attention.”
  28. Revelation 11:3 See note 6:12.
  29. Revelation 11:9 In Revelation John sometimes uses the present tense to refer vividly to the future.
  30. Revelation 11:13 Lit names of people.
  31. Revelation 11:13 These give glory out of servile fear, not worship from the heart.
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Revelation 6-11
New International Version

The Seals

6 I watched as the Lamb(A) opened the first of the seven seals.(B) Then I heard one of the four living creatures(C) say in a voice like thunder,(D) “Come!” 2 I looked, and there before me was a white horse!(E) Its rider held a bow, and he was given a crown,(F) and he rode out as a conqueror bent on conquest.(G)

3 When the Lamb opened the second seal, I heard the second living creature(H) say, “Come!” 4 Then another horse came out, a fiery red one.(I) Its rider was given power to take peace from the earth(J) and to make people kill each other. To him was given a large sword.

5 When the Lamb opened the third seal, I heard the third living creature(K) say, “Come!” I looked, and there before me was a black horse!(L) Its rider was holding a pair of scales in his hand. 6 Then I heard what sounded like a voice among the four living creatures,(M) saying, “Two pounds[a] of wheat for a day’s wages,[b] and six pounds[c] of barley for a day’s wages,[d](N) and do not damage(O) the oil and the wine!”

7 When the Lamb opened the fourth seal, I heard the voice of the fourth living creature(P) say, “Come!” 8 I looked, and there before me was a pale horse!(Q) Its rider was named Death, and Hades(R) was following close behind him. They were given power over a fourth of the earth to kill by sword, famine and plague, and by the wild beasts of the earth.(S)

9 When he opened the fifth seal, I saw under(T) the altar(U) the souls of those who had been slain(V) because of the word of God(W) and the testimony they had maintained. 10 They called out in a loud voice, “How long,(X) Sovereign Lord,(Y) holy and true,(Z) until you judge the inhabitants of the earth(AA) and avenge our blood?”(AB) 11 Then each of them was given a white robe,(AC) and they were told to wait a little longer, until the full number of their fellow servants, their brothers and sisters,[e] were killed just as they had been.(AD)

12 I watched as he opened the sixth seal. There was a great earthquake.(AE) The sun turned black(AF) like sackcloth(AG) made of goat hair, the whole moon turned blood red, 13 and the stars in the sky fell to earth,(AH) as figs drop from a fig tree(AI) when shaken by a strong wind. 14 The heavens receded like a scroll being rolled up,(AJ) and every mountain and island was removed from its place.(AK)

15 Then the kings of the earth, the princes, the generals, the rich, the mighty, and everyone else, both slave and free,(AL) hid in caves and among the rocks of the mountains.(AM) 16 They called to the mountains and the rocks, “Fall on us(AN) and hide us[f] from the face of him who sits on the throne(AO) and from the wrath of the Lamb! 17 For the great day(AP) of their[g] wrath has come, and who can withstand it?”(AQ)

144,000 Sealed

7 After this I saw four angels standing at the four corners(AR) of the earth, holding back the four winds(AS) of the earth to prevent(AT) any wind from blowing on the land or on the sea or on any tree. 2 Then I saw another angel coming up from the east, having the seal(AU) of the living God.(AV) He called out in a loud voice to the four angels who had been given power to harm the land and the sea:(AW) 3 “Do not harm(AX) the land or the sea or the trees until we put a seal on the foreheads(AY) of the servants of our God.” 4 Then I heard the number(AZ) of those who were sealed: 144,000(BA) from all the tribes of Israel.

5 From the tribe of Judah 12,000 were sealed,

from the tribe of Reuben 12,000,

from the tribe of Gad 12,000,

6 from the tribe of Asher 12,000,

from the tribe of Naphtali 12,000,

from the tribe of Manasseh 12,000,

7 from the tribe of Simeon 12,000,

from the tribe of Levi 12,000,

from the tribe of Issachar 12,000,

8 from the tribe of Zebulun 12,000,

from the tribe of Joseph 12,000,

from the tribe of Benjamin 12,000.

The Great Multitude in White Robes

9 After this I looked, and there before me was a great multitude that no one could count, from every nation, tribe, people and language,(BB) standing before the throne(BC) and before the Lamb. They were wearing white robes(BD) and were holding palm branches in their hands. 10 And they cried out in a loud voice:

“Salvation belongs to our God,(BE)
who sits on the throne,(BF)
and to the Lamb.”

11 All the angels were standing around the throne and around the elders(BG) and the four living creatures.(BH) They fell down on their faces(BI) before the throne and worshiped God, 12 saying:

“Amen!
Praise and glory
and wisdom and thanks and honor
and power and strength
be to our God for ever and ever.
Amen!”(BJ)

13 Then one of the elders asked me, “These in white robes(BK)—who are they, and where did they come from?”

14 I answered, “Sir, you know.”

And he said, “These are they who have come out of the great tribulation; they have washed their robes(BL) and made them white in the blood of the Lamb.(BM) 15 Therefore,

“they are before the throne of God(BN)
    and serve him(BO) day and night in his temple;(BP)
and he who sits on the throne(BQ)
    will shelter them with his presence.(BR)
16 ‘Never again will they hunger;
    never again will they thirst.(BS)
The sun will not beat down on them,’[h]
    nor any scorching heat.(BT)
17 For the Lamb at the center of the throne
    will be their shepherd;(BU)
‘he will lead them to springs of living water.’[i](BV)
    ‘And God will wipe away every tear from their eyes.’[j]”(BW)

The Seventh Seal and the Golden Censer

8 When he opened the seventh seal,(BX) there was silence in heaven for about half an hour.

2 And I saw the seven angels(BY) who stand before God, and seven trumpets were given to them.(BZ)

3 Another angel,(CA) who had a golden censer, came and stood at the altar. He was given much incense to offer, with the prayers of all God’s people,(CB) on the golden altar(CC) in front of the throne. 4 The smoke of the incense, together with the prayers of God’s people, went up before God(CD) from the angel’s hand. 5 Then the angel took the censer, filled it with fire from the altar,(CE) and hurled it on the earth; and there came peals of thunder,(CF) rumblings, flashes of lightning and an earthquake.(CG)

The Trumpets

6 Then the seven angels who had the seven trumpets(CH) prepared to sound them.

7 The first angel(CI) sounded his trumpet, and there came hail and fire(CJ) mixed with blood, and it was hurled down on the earth. A third(CK) of the earth was burned up, a third of the trees were burned up, and all the green grass was burned up.(CL)

8 The second angel sounded his trumpet, and something like a huge mountain,(CM) all ablaze, was thrown into the sea. A third(CN) of the sea turned into blood,(CO) 9 a third(CP) of the living creatures in the sea died, and a third of the ships were destroyed.

10 The third angel sounded his trumpet, and a great star, blazing like a torch, fell from the sky(CQ) on a third of the rivers and on the springs of water(CR)— 11 the name of the star is Wormwood.[k] A third(CS) of the waters turned bitter, and many people died from the waters that had become bitter.(CT)

12 The fourth angel sounded his trumpet, and a third of the sun was struck, a third of the moon, and a third of the stars, so that a third(CU) of them turned dark.(CV) A third of the day was without light, and also a third of the night.(CW)

13 As I watched, I heard an eagle that was flying in midair(CX) call out in a loud voice: “Woe! Woe! Woe(CY) to the inhabitants of the earth,(CZ) because of the trumpet blasts about to be sounded by the other three angels!”

9 The fifth angel sounded his trumpet, and I saw a star that had fallen from the sky to the earth.(DA) The star was given the key(DB) to the shaft of the Abyss.(DC) 2 When he opened the Abyss, smoke rose from it like the smoke from a gigantic furnace.(DD) The sun and sky were darkened(DE) by the smoke from the Abyss.(DF) 3 And out of the smoke locusts(DG) came down on the earth and were given power like that of scorpions(DH) of the earth. 4 They were told not to harm(DI) the grass of the earth or any plant or tree,(DJ) but only those people who did not have the seal of God on their foreheads.(DK) 5 They were not allowed to kill them but only to torture them for five months.(DL) And the agony they suffered was like that of the sting of a scorpion(DM) when it strikes. 6 During those days people will seek death but will not find it; they will long to die, but death will elude them.(DN)

7 The locusts looked like horses prepared for battle.(DO) On their heads they wore something like crowns of gold, and their faces resembled human faces.(DP) 8 Their hair was like women’s hair, and their teeth were like lions’ teeth.(DQ) 9 They had breastplates like breastplates of iron, and the sound of their wings was like the thundering of many horses and chariots rushing into battle.(DR) 10 They had tails with stingers, like scorpions, and in their tails they had power to torment people for five months.(DS) 11 They had as king over them the angel of the Abyss,(DT) whose name in Hebrew(DU) is Abaddon(DV) and in Greek is Apollyon (that is, Destroyer).

12 The first woe is past; two other woes are yet to come.(DW)

13 The sixth angel sounded his trumpet, and I heard a voice coming from the four horns(DX) of the golden altar that is before God.(DY) 14 It said to the sixth angel who had the trumpet, “Release the four angels(DZ) who are bound at the great river Euphrates.”(EA) 15 And the four angels who had been kept ready for this very hour and day and month and year were released(EB) to kill a third(EC) of mankind.(ED) 16 The number of the mounted troops was twice ten thousand times ten thousand. I heard their number.(EE)

17 The horses and riders I saw in my vision looked like this: Their breastplates were fiery red, dark blue, and yellow as sulfur. The heads of the horses resembled the heads of lions, and out of their mouths(EF) came fire, smoke and sulfur.(EG) 18 A third(EH) of mankind was killed(EI) by the three plagues of fire, smoke and sulfur(EJ) that came out of their mouths. 19 The power of the horses was in their mouths and in their tails; for their tails were like snakes, having heads with which they inflict injury.

20 The rest of mankind who were not killed by these plagues still did not repent(EK) of the work of their hands;(EL) they did not stop worshiping demons,(EM) and idols of gold, silver, bronze, stone and wood—idols that cannot see or hear or walk.(EN) 21 Nor did they repent(EO) of their murders, their magic arts,(EP) their sexual immorality(EQ) or their thefts.

The Angel and the Little Scroll

10 Then I saw another mighty angel(ER) coming down from heaven.(ES) He was robed in a cloud, with a rainbow(ET) above his head; his face was like the sun,(EU) and his legs were like fiery pillars.(EV) 2 He was holding a little scroll,(EW) which lay open in his hand. He planted his right foot on the sea and his left foot on the land,(EX) 3 and he gave a loud shout like the roar of a lion.(EY) When he shouted, the voices of the seven thunders(EZ) spoke. 4 And when the seven thunders spoke, I was about to write;(FA) but I heard a voice from heaven(FB) say, “Seal up what the seven thunders have said and do not write it down.”(FC)

5 Then the angel I had seen standing on the sea and on the land(FD) raised his right hand to heaven.(FE) 6 And he swore(FF) by him who lives for ever and ever,(FG) who created the heavens and all that is in them, the earth and all that is in it, and the sea and all that is in it,(FH) and said, “There will be no more delay!(FI) 7 But in the days when the seventh angel is about to sound his trumpet,(FJ) the mystery(FK) of God will be accomplished, just as he announced to his servants the prophets.”(FL)

8 Then the voice that I had heard from heaven(FM) spoke to me once more: “Go, take the scroll(FN) that lies open in the hand of the angel who is standing on the sea and on the land.”

9 So I went to the angel and asked him to give me the little scroll. He said to me, “Take it and eat it. It will turn your stomach sour, but ‘in your mouth it will be as sweet as honey.’[l]”(FO) 10 I took the little scroll from the angel’s hand and ate it. It tasted as sweet as honey in my mouth,(FP) but when I had eaten it, my stomach turned sour. 11 Then I was told, “You must prophesy(FQ) again about many peoples, nations, languages and kings.”(FR)

The Two Witnesses

11 I was given a reed like a measuring rod(FS) and was told, “Go and measure the temple of God and the altar, with its worshipers. 2 But exclude the outer court;(FT) do not measure it, because it has been given to the Gentiles.(FU) They will trample on the holy city(FV) for 42 months.(FW) 3 And I will appoint my two witnesses,(FX) and they will prophesy for 1,260 days,(FY) clothed in sackcloth.”(FZ) 4 They are “the two olive trees”(GA) and the two lampstands, and “they stand before the Lord of the earth.”[m](GB) 5 If anyone tries to harm them, fire comes from their mouths and devours their enemies.(GC) This is how anyone who wants to harm them must die.(GD) 6 They have power to shut up the heavens(GE) so that it will not rain during the time they are prophesying;(GF) and they have power to turn the waters into blood(GG) and to strike the earth with every kind of plague as often as they want.

7 Now when they have finished their testimony, the beast(GH) that comes up from the Abyss(GI) will attack them,(GJ) and overpower and kill them. 8 Their bodies will lie in the public square of the great city(GK)—which is figuratively called Sodom(GL) and Egypt—where also their Lord was crucified.(GM) 9 For three and a half days some from every people, tribe, language and nation(GN) will gaze on their bodies and refuse them burial.(GO) 10 The inhabitants of the earth(GP) will gloat over them and will celebrate by sending each other gifts,(GQ) because these two prophets had tormented those who live on the earth.

11 But after the three and a half days(GR) the breath[n] of life from God entered them,(GS) and they stood on their feet, and terror struck those who saw them. 12 Then they heard a loud voice from heaven saying to them, “Come up here.”(GT) And they went up to heaven in a cloud,(GU) while their enemies looked on.

13 At that very hour there was a severe earthquake(GV) and a tenth of the city collapsed. Seven thousand people were killed in the earthquake, and the survivors were terrified and gave glory(GW) to the God of heaven.(GX)

14 The second woe has passed; the third woe is coming soon.(GY)

The Seventh Trumpet

15 The seventh angel sounded his trumpet,(GZ) and there were loud voices(HA) in heaven, which said:

“The kingdom of the world has become
    the kingdom of our Lord and of his Messiah,(HB)
    and he will reign for ever and ever.”(HC)

16 And the twenty-four elders,(HD) who were seated on their thrones before God, fell on their faces(HE) and worshiped God, 17 saying:

“We give thanks(HF) to you, Lord God Almighty,(HG)
    the One who is and who was,(HH)
because you have taken your great power
    and have begun to reign.(HI)
18 The nations were angry,(HJ)
    and your wrath has come.
The time has come for judging the dead,(HK)
    and for rewarding your servants the prophets(HL)
and your people who revere your name,
    both great and small(HM)—
and for destroying those who destroy the earth.”

19 Then God’s temple(HN) in heaven was opened, and within his temple was seen the ark of his covenant.(HO) And there came flashes of lightning, rumblings, peals of thunder,(HP) an earthquake and a severe hailstorm.(HQ)

Footnotes

  1. Revelation 6:6 Or about 1 kilogram
  2. Revelation 6:6 Greek a denarius
  3. Revelation 6:6 Or about 3 kilograms
  4. Revelation 6:6 Greek a denarius
  5. Revelation 6:11 The Greek word for brothers and sisters (adelphoi) refers here to believers, both men and women, as part of God’s family; also in 12:10; 19:10.
  6. Revelation 6:16 See Hosea 10:8.
  7. Revelation 6:17 Some manuscripts his
  8. Revelation 7:16 Isaiah 49:10
  9. Revelation 7:17 Isaiah 49:10
  10. Revelation 7:17 Isaiah 25:8
  11. Revelation 8:11 Wormwood is a bitter substance.
  12. Revelation 10:9 Ezek. 3:3
  13. Revelation 11:4 See Zech. 4:3,11,14.
  14. Revelation 11:11 Or Spirit (see Ezek. 37:5,14)
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