Study Desk

The Seals

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!"

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)

When the Lamb opened the second seal, I heard the second living creature^(h) say, "Come!"

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.

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.

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!"

When the Lamb opened the fourth seal, I heard the voice of the fourth living creature^(p) say, "Come!"

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)

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.

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)

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)

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,

and the stars in the sky fell to earth,^(ah) as figs drop from a fig tree^(ai) when shaken by a strong wind.

The heavens receded like a scroll being rolled up,^(aj) and every mountain and island was removed from its place.^(ak)

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)

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!

For the great day^(ap) of their^[g] wrath has come, and who can withstand it?"^(aq)