Beginning

He sees heaven open, and the seat, and one sitting upon it, and 24 seats around it with 24 elders sitting upon them, and four creatures praising God day and night.

4 After this I looked, and behold, a door was open in heaven, and the first voice that I heard was as it were of a trumpet talking with me, which said, Come up here, and I will show you things that must be fulfilled hereafter. ² And immediately I was in the Spirit, and behold, a seat was put in heaven, and one sat on the seat. ³ And he that sat was to look upon like a jasper stone and a sardine stone. And there was a rainbow about the seat, in sight like an emerald. ⁴ And around the seat were 24 seats, and upon the seats 24 elders sitting clothed in white raiment, and they had on their heads crowns of gold.

⁵ And out of the seat proceeded lightnings and thunderings and voices. And there were seven lamps of fire burning before the seat, which are the seven spirits of God. ⁶ And before the seat there was a sea of glass like a crystal, and in the midst of the seat, and round about the seat, were four living creatures full of eyes in front and behind. ⁷ And the first creature was like a lion, the second creature like a calf, and the third creature had a face as of a man, and the fourth creature was like a flying eagle. ⁸ And the four creatures had each one of them six wings about him, and they were full of eyes within. And they had no rest day or night, saying, Holy, holy, holy, Lord God Almighty, who was and is and is to come!

⁹ And when those creatures gave glory and honour and thanks to him who sat on the seat, who lives forever and ever, ¹⁰ the 24 elders fell down before him who sat on the throne and worshipped him who lives forever, and cast their crowns before the throne, saying, ¹¹ You are worthy, Lord, to receive glory and honour and power, for you have created all things, and for your will’s sake they exist and were created.

He sees the Lamb taking the scroll to open it, and for this the four living creatures, the 24 elders, and the angels, praise the Lamb and worship him.

5 And I saw in the right hand of him that sat in the throne a scroll written within and on the back side, sealed with seven seals. ² And I saw a strong angel who cried with a loud voice, Who is worthy to open the scroll and to loose the seals thereof? ³ And no man in heaven or on earth, nor under the earth, was able to open the scroll, nor to look on it. ⁴ And I wept much, because no one was found worthy to open and to read the scroll, neither to look on it.

⁵ And one of the elders said to me, Weep not! Behold, a lion being of the tribe of Judah, the root of David, has prevailed to open the scroll and to loose the seven seals thereof.

⁶ And I looked, and lo, in the midst of the seat and of the four living creatures, and in the midst of the elders, stood a Lamb as though he had been killed, having seven horns and seven eyes, which are the spirits of God sent into all the world. ⁷ And he came and took the scroll out of the right hand of him that sat upon the seat.

⁸ And when he had taken the scroll, the four creatures and 24 elders fell down before the Lamb, having harps and golden vials full of incense, which are the prayers of the saints. ⁹ And they sang a new song, saying, You are worthy to take the scroll and to open its seals. For you were killed, and have redeemed us by your blood out of all kindreds and tongues and people and nations, ¹⁰ and have made us kings and priests unto our God, and we shall reign on the earth.

¹¹ And I looked, and I heard the voice of many angels around the throne, and around the living creatures and the elders. And I heard thousands of thousands ¹² saying with a loud voice, Worthy is the Lamb that was killed to receive power and riches and wisdom, and strength and honour and glory and blessing! ¹³ And all the creatures that are in heaven and on the earth, and under the earth and in the sea, and all that are in them, I heard saying, Blessing, honour, glory, and power be to him who sits upon the seat, and to the Lamb forevermore! ¹⁴ And the four living creatures said, Amen! And the 24 elders fell upon their faces and worshipped him who lives forevermore.

The Lamb opens six of the seven seals, and many things follow the opening thereof.

6 And I saw when the Lamb opened one of the seals, and I heard one of the four living creatures say, as it were the noise of thunder, Come and see. ² And I saw, and behold, there was a white horse, and he that sat on him had a bow, and a crown was given to him, and he went forth conquering, and to overcome.

³ And when he opened the second seal, I heard the second creature say, Come and see. ⁴ And there went out another horse that was red. And power was given to him that sat thereon to take peace from the earth, and that people should kill one another. And there was given to him a great sword.

⁵ And when he opened the third seal, I heard the third creature say, Come and see. And I looked, and lo, a black horse, and he that sat on him had a pair of balances in his hand. ⁶ And I heard a voice in the midst of the four creatures say, A measure of wheat for a denarius, and three measures of barley for a denarius; and oil and wine, see you do not harm.

⁷ And when he opened the fourth seal, I heard the voice of the fourth creature say, Come and see. ⁸ And I looked, and behold, a green horse. And the name of him who sat on it was death, and hell followed after him, and power was given to them over the fourth part of the earth, to kill with sword, and with hunger, and with death that comes by the dangerous creatures of the earth.

⁹ And when he opened the fifth seal, I saw under the altar the souls of those who were killed for the word of God and for the testimony that they had. ¹⁰ And they cried with a loud voice, saying, How long will you wait, O Lord holy and true, to judge, and to avenge our blood on them that dwell on the earth? ¹¹ And long white garments were given to every one of them. And it was said to them that they should rest for a little season, until the number of their fellows and brethren, and of those who would be killed as they were, was fulfilled.

¹² And I looked when he opened the sixth seal, and lo, there was a great earthquake, and the sun was as black as sackcloth made of hair. And the moon became even as blood; ¹³ and the stars of heaven fell to the earth, even as a fig tree casts from her her figs when she is shaken by a mighty wind. ¹⁴ And heaven vanished away, like a scroll when it is rolled together. And all mountains and isles were moved out of their places.

¹⁵ And the kings of the earth, and the great leaders, and the rich, and the high commanders, and the mighty, and every bondman, and every free man, hid themselves in dens and in the rocks of the hills, ¹⁶ and said to the hills and rocks, Fall on us, and hide us from the presence of him that sits on the seat, and from the wrath of the Lamb! ¹⁷ For the great day of his wrath is come, and who can endure it?

He sees the servants of God sealed in their foreheads out of all nations and peoples, who, though they suffer trouble, yet the Lamb feeds them, and leads them to the fountains of living waters. God will wipe away all tears from their eyes.

7 And after that, I saw four angels stand on the four corners of the earth, holding the four winds of the earth so that the winds would not blow on the land, nor on the sea, nor on any tree.  ² And I saw another angel ascend from the rising of the sun, who had the seal of the living God, and he cried with a loud voice to the four angels (to whom power was given to hurt the land and the sea), ³ saying, Do not hurt the land, nor the sea, nor the trees, till we have sealed the servants of our God in their foreheads.

⁴ And I heard the number of those who were sealed, and there were sealed 144,000 of all the tribes of the children of Israel. ⁵ Of the tribe of Judah were sealed twelve thousand. Of the tribe of Reuben were sealed twelve thousand. Of the tribe of Gad were sealed twelve thousand. ⁶ Of the tribe of Asher were sealed twelve thousand. Of the tribe of Naphtali were sealed twelve thousand. Of the tribe of Manasseh were sealed twelve thousand. ⁷ Of the tribe of Simeon were sealed twelve thousand. Of the tribe of Levi were sealed twelve thousand. Of the tribe of Issachar were sealed twelve thousand. ⁸ Of the tribe of Zebulun were sealed twelve thousand. Of the tribe of Joseph were sealed twelve thousand. Of the tribe of Benjamin were sealed twelve thousand.

⁹ After this I looked, and lo, a great multitude which no man could number of all nations and people and tongues stood before the seat and before the Lamb, clothed with long white garments and palms in their hands, ¹⁰ and cried out with a loud voice, saying, Salvation be ascribed to him who sits upon the seat of our God and to the Lamb! ¹¹ And all the angels stood round about the seat, and about the elders and the four living creatures, and fell before the seat on their faces and worshipped God, ¹² saying, Amen! Blessing and glory, wisdom and thanks, and honour, and power, and might, be to our God forevermore. Amen.

¹³ And one of the elders spoke, saying to me, Who are these who are arrayed in long white garments, and where are they from? ¹⁴ And I said to him, Lord, you know. And he said to me, They are those who came out of great tribulation, and made their garments large, and made them white in the blood of the Lamb. ¹⁵ Therefore they are in the presence of the seat of God and serve him day and night in his temple. And he who sits in the seat will dwell among them. ¹⁶ They will hunger no more, neither thirst; nor will the sun light on them, nor any heat. ¹⁷ For the Lamb who is at the centre of the seat shall feed them, and shall lead them to fountains of living water, and God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes.

The seventh seal is opened. There is silence in heaven. The four angels blow their trumpets, and great plagues follow upon the earth.

8 And when he had opened the seventh seal, there was silence in heaven about the space of half an hour. ² And I saw angels standing before God, and to them were given seven trumpets. ³ And another angel came and stood before the altar having a golden censer, and much incense was given to him, that he should offer of the prayers of all the saints upon the golden altar that was before the seat. ⁴ And the smoke of the incense of the prayers of all the saints ascended up before God out of the angel’s hand.

⁵ And the angel took the censer and filled it with fire from the altar, and cast it into the earth; and voices were made, and thunderings, and lightnings, and an earthquake.

⁶ And the seven angels that had the seven trumpets prepared themselves to blow. ⁷ The first angel blew, and there was made hail and fire, which were mingled with blood. And they were cast into the earth, and the third part of trees was burnt, and all the green grass was burnt.

⁸ And the second angel blew, and as it were a great mountain burning with fire was cast into the sea, and the third part of the sea turned to blood. ⁹ And the third part of the creatures that had life in the sea died, and the third part of ships was destroyed.

¹⁰ And the third angel blew, and there fell a great star from heaven, burning as it were a lamp. And it fell into the third part of the rivers, and into springs of waters. ¹¹ And the name of the star is called wormwood. And the third part of the waters was turned to wormwood, and many men died from the waters, because they were made bitter.

¹² And the fourth angel blew, and the third part of the sun was smitten, and the third part of the moon, and the third part of stars, so that the third part of them was darkened. And the day was smitten, so that the third part of it did not shine, and likewise the night.

¹³ And I looked, and heard an angel flying through the midst of heaven saying with a loud voice, Woe, woe, to the inhabiters of the earth, because of the blasts to come of the trumpet of the three angels who were yet to blow.