The Time of the End

12 “Now at that time ^(A)Michael, the great prince who stands guard over the sons of your people, will arise. And there will be a ^(B)time of distress ^(C)such as never occurred since there was a nation until that time; and at that time your people, everyone who is found written in the ^(D)book, will be rescued. ² And ^(E)many of those who sleep in the dust of the ground will awake, ^(F)these to everlasting life, but the others to disgrace and everlasting ^[a]contempt. ³ And ^[b]those who have ^(G)insight will ^(H)shine like the glow of the ^[c]expanse of heaven, and those who ^[d](I)lead the many to righteousness, like the stars forever and ever. ⁴ But as for you, Daniel, ^(J)keep these words secret and ^(K)seal up the book until the ^(L)end of time; ^(M)many will roam about, and knowledge will increase.”

The Seventh Seal: Trumpets

8 When the Lamb broke the ^(A)seventh seal, there was silence in heaven for about half an hour. ² And I saw ^(B)the seven angels who stand before God, and seven ^(C)trumpets were given to them.

^3 (D)Another angel came and stood at the ^(E)altar, holding a ^(F)golden censer; and much ^(G)incense was given to him, so that he might ^[a]add it to the ^(H)prayers of all the ^[b]saints on the ^(I)golden altar which was before the throne. ⁴ And ^(J)the smoke of the incense ascended from the angel’s hand with the prayers of the ^[c]saints before God. ⁵ Then the angel ^[d]took the ^[e]censer and ^(K)filled it with the fire of the altar, and ^(L)hurled it to the earth; and there were ^(M)peals of thunder and sounds, and flashes of lightning and an ^(N)earthquake.

^6 (O)And the seven angels who had the seven trumpets prepared themselves to sound them.