When he opened the fifth seal, I saw under(A) the altar(B) the souls of those who had been slain(C) because of the word of God(D) and the testimony they had maintained. 10 They called out in a loud voice, “How long,(E) Sovereign Lord,(F) holy and true,(G) until you judge the inhabitants of the earth(H) and avenge our blood?”(I) 11 Then each of them was given a white robe,(J) and they were told to wait a little longer, until the full number of their fellow servants, their brothers and sisters,[a] were killed just as they had been.(K)

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

15 Then the kings of the earth, the princes, the generals, the rich, the mighty, and everyone else, both slave and free,(S) hid in caves and among the rocks of the mountains.(T) 16 They called to the mountains and the rocks, “Fall on us(U) and hide us[b] from the face of him who sits on the throne(V) and from the wrath of the Lamb! 17 For the great day(W) of their[c] wrath has come, and who can withstand it?”(X)

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Footnotes

  1. 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.
  2. Revelation 6:16 See Hosea 10:8.
  3. Revelation 6:17 Some manuscripts his

Fifth Seal: The Cry of the Martyrs

When He opened the fifth seal, I saw under (A)the altar (B)the souls of those who had been slain (C)for the word of God and for (D)the testimony which they held. 10 And they cried with a loud voice, saying, (E)“How long, O Lord, (F)holy and true, (G)until You judge and avenge our blood on those who dwell on the earth?” 11 Then a (H)white robe was given to each of them; and it was said to them (I)that they should rest a little while longer, until both the number of their fellow servants and their brethren, who would be killed as they were, was completed.

Sixth Seal: Cosmic Disturbances

12 I looked when He opened the sixth seal, (J)and [a]behold, there was a great earthquake; and (K)the sun became black as sackcloth of hair, and the [b]moon became like blood. 13 (L)And the stars of heaven fell to the earth, as a fig tree drops its late figs when it is shaken by a mighty wind. 14 (M)Then the sky [c]receded as a scroll when it is rolled up, and (N)every mountain and island was moved out of its place. 15 And the (O)kings of the earth, the great men, [d]the rich men, the commanders, the mighty men, every slave and every free man, (P)hid themselves in the caves and in the rocks of the mountains, 16 (Q)and said to the mountains and rocks, “Fall on us and hide us from the face of Him who (R)sits on the throne and from the wrath of the Lamb! 17 For the great day of His wrath has come, (S)and who is able to stand?”

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Footnotes

  1. Revelation 6:12 NU, M omit behold
  2. Revelation 6:12 NU, M whole moon
  3. Revelation 6:14 Or split apart
  4. Revelation 6:15 NU, M the commanders, the rich men,