Category: Scripture

When the Lamb broke he fifth seal, I saw under the altar the souls of all who had been martyred for the word of God and for being faithful to their testimony. They shouted to the Lord and said, “O Sovereign Lord, holy and true, how long before you judge the people who belong to this world and avenge our blood for that they have done to us?” Then a white robe was given to each one of them. And they were told to rest a little longer until the full number of their brothers and sisters – their fellow servants of Jesus who were to be martyred- had joined them.

I watched as the Lamb broke the sixth seal, and there was a great earthquake. The son became dark as black cloth, and the moon became as red a blood. Then the stars of the sky fell to the earth like green figs falling from a tree shaken by a strong wind. The sky was rolled up like a scroll, and all of the mountains and islands were removed from their places.

Then everyone-the kings of the earth, the rulers, the generals, the wealthy, the powerful, and every slave and free person-all hid themselves in the caves and among the rocks of the mountains. And they cried to the mountains and the rocks, “Fall on us and hide us from the face of the One who sits on the throne and from the wrath of the Lamb. For the great day of their wrath has come and who is able to survive? (vv. 9-17, NLT)

As I watched, the Lamb broke the first of the seven seals on the scroll. Then I heard of of the four living beings say with a voice like thunder, “Come!” I looked up and saw a white horse standing there. Its rider carried a bow, and a crown was placed on his head. He word out to win many battles and gained victory.

When the Lamb broke the second seal, I heard the second living being say, “Come!” Then another horse appeared, a red one. Its rider was given a mighty sword and authority to take peace from the earth. And there was war and slaughter everywhere.

When the Lamb broke the third seal, I heard the third living being say, “Come!” I looked up and saw a black horse, and its rider was holding a pair of scales in his hand. And I heard a voice from among the four living beings say, “A loaf of wheat bread and three loaves of barley will cost a day’s pay. And don’t waste the olive oil and wine.”

When the Lamb broke the fourth seal, I heard the fourth being say, “Come!” I looked up and saw a horse whose color was pale green. Its rider was named Death and his companion was the Grave. These two were give authority to kill with the sword famine and disease and wild animals. (vv. 1-8, NLT)

Then I saw a scroll in the right hand of the One who was sitting on the throne. There was a scroll , and it was sealed with seven seals. And I saw a strong angel, who shouted with a loud voice:”Who is worthy to break the seals on thi scroll and open it?” But no one in heaven or on earth or under the earth was able to open the scroll and read it.

Then I began to weep bitterly because no one was found worthy to open the scroll and read it. But one of the twenty-four elders said to me, “Stop weeping! Look, the Lion of the tribe of Judah, the heir to David’s throne, has won the victory. He is worthy to open the scroll and its seven seals.”

Then I saw the Lamb that looked as if it had been slaughtered, but was now standing between the throne and the four living beings and among the twenty-four elders. He had seven horns and seven eyes, which represented the sevenfold Sprit of God that is sent out into every part of the earth. He stepped forward and took the scroll from the right hand of the One sitting on the throne. And when He took the scroll, the four living beings and the twenty-four elders fell down before the Lamb. Each one had a harp, and they held gold bowls filled with incense, which are the prayers of God’s people. And they sang a new song with these words:

“You are worthy to take the scroll and beak its seals and open it. For you were slaughtered, and your blood has ransomed people for God from every tribe and language and people and nation. And You have caused them to become a Kingdom of priests for our God. And they will reign on the earth.” (vv. 1-10, NLT)

Then as I looked, I saw a door standing open in heaven, and the same voice I had heard before spoke to me like a trumpet blast. The voice said, “Come up here, and I will show you what must happen after this.” And instantly I was in the Spirit, and I saw a throne in heaven and someone sitting on it. The One sitting on the throne was as brilliant as gemstones -like jasper and carnelian. And the glow of and emerald circled His throne like a rainbow. Twenty-four thrones surrounded him, and twenty-four elders sat on them. They were all clothed in white and had gold crowns on their heads. From the throne came flashes of lightning and the rumble of thunder. And in front of the throne were seven torches with burning flames. This is the sevenfold Spirit of God. In front of the throne was a shiny sea of glass, sparkling like crystal.

In the center and around the throne were four living beings, each covered with eyes, front and back. The first of these living beings was like a lion; the second was like and an ox; the third had a human face; and the fourth was like an eagle in flight. Each of these living beings had six wings , and their wings were covered all over with eyes, inside and out. Day after day and night after night they keep on saying,

“Holy, holy, holy is the Lord God, the Almighty -the One who always was, who is, and who is still to come.”

Whenever the living beings give glory and honor and thanks to the One sitting on the throne (the One who lives forever and ever), the twenty-four elders fall down and worship the One sitting on the throne ( the One who lives for ever and ever). And they lay their crowns before the throne and say,

“You are worthy, O Lord our God, to receive glory and honor and power. For You created all things, and they exist because You created what you pleased.”

“Write this letter to the angel of the church in Laodicea. This is the message from the One who is the Amen- the faithful and true witness, in the beginning of God’s new creation:

I know all the things you do, that you are neither hot nor cold. I wish that you were one or the other! But since you are like lukewarm water, neither hot nor cold, I will spit you out of my. mouth! You say, ‘I am rich. I have everything I want. I don’t need a thing! And you don’t realize that you are wretched and miserable and poor and blind and naked. So I advise you to by gold from Me- gold that has been purified by fire. Then you will be rich. Also buy white garments from Me so you will not be shamed by your nakedness, and ointment for your eyes so you will be able to see. ”

“I correct and discipline everyone I love. So be diligent and turn from your indifference. “

“Look! I stand at the door and knock. If you hear My voice and open the door, I will come in, and we will share a meal together as friends. Those who are victorious will sit with Me on My throne, just as I was victorious and sat with My Father on His throne.”

“Anyone with ears to hear must listen to the Spirit and understand what He is saying to the churches.” (vv. 14-22, NLT)

“Write this letter to the angel of the church in Philadelphia. ”

“This message is from the One who is holy and true, the One who has the key of David. When He opens, no one can close; and what He closes, no one can open.”

“I know all the things you do, and I have opened a door for you that no one can close. You have little strength, and yet you obeyed My word, and did not deny Me. Look, I will forse those who belong to Satan’s synagogue-those liars who say they are Jews but are not-to come and bow down at your feet. They will acknowledge that you are the ones I love.”

“Because you have obeyed My command to preserve, I will protect you from the great time of testing tho those who belong to this world. I am coming soon. Hold on to what you have, so that no one can take away your crown. All who are victorious will become pillars in the Temple of My God, and they will never have to leave it. And I will write on the the name of My God, and they wll be citizens in the city of My God-the new Jerusalem that comes down from heaven from My God. And I will also write on them a new name.”

“Anyone with ears to hear must listen to the Spirit and understand what He is saying to the churches.” (vv. 7-13, NLT)

“Write this letter to the angel of the church in Sardis. This is the message from the One who has the sevenfold Spirit of God and the seven stars:”

“I know all the things you do, and that you have a reputation for being alive – but you are dead. Wake up! Strengthen what little remains, for even what is left is almost dead. I find that your actions do not meet the requirements of My God. Go back to what you heard and believed at first; hold to it firmly. Repent and tun to Me again. If you don’t wake up, I will come to you suddenly, unexpected as a thief.”

“Yet there are some in the church in Sardis who have not soiled their clothes with evil. They will walk with Me in white, for they are worthy. All who are victorious will be clothed in white. I will never erase their names from the Book of Life, but I will announce before My Father and HIs angels that they are mine.”

“Anyone with ears to hear must listen to the Spirit and understand what He is saying to the churches.: (vv. 1-6, NLT)

“Write this letter to the angel of the church in Thyatira. This is the message from the Son of God, whose eyes are like flames of fire, whose feet are like polished bronze:

“I know all the things you do, I have see your love, faith, your service, and your patient endurance. And I can see your constant improvement in all these things.”

“But I have this complaint against you. You are permitting that woman-that Jezebel who calls herself a prophet-to lead my servants astray. She teaches them to commit sexual sin and to eat food offered to idols. I gave her time to repent, but she does not want to turn away from her immorality.”

“Therefore, I will throw her on a bed of suffering, and those who commit adultery wiht her sill suffer greatly unless they turn away form her evil deeds. I will strike her children dead. Then all the churches will know that I am the One who searches out the thoughts and intentions of every person. And I will give to each of you what you deserve.”

“But I also have a message for the rest of you in Thyratira who have not followed this false teaching (‘deeper truths, as they call them -depths of Satan, actually). I will ask nothing more of you except that you hold tightly to what you have until I come. to all who are victorious, who obey me to the very end,

To them I will give authority over all the nations. They will rule the nations with an iron rod and smash them like clay pots. They will have the same authority I received from My Father, and I will also gie them the. morning star!”

“Anyone with ears to hear must listen to the Spirit and understand what he is saying to the churches.” (vv. 18-29, NLT)

White this letter to the angel of the church in Pergamum. This is the message from the One wiht the sharp two-edged sword:

“I know that you live in the city where Satan has his throne, yet you have remained loyal to Me. You refused to deny Me even when Antipas, My faithful witness, was martyred among you there in Satan’s city. “

“But I have a few complaints against you. You tolerate some among you, whose teachings is like that of Balaam, who showed Balak how to trip up the people of Israel. He taught them to sin by eating food offered to idols and by committing sexual sin. In a similar way you have some Nicolatians among you who follow the same teaching. Repent of your sin, or I will come to you suddenly and fight against them with the sword of My mouth. “

“Anyone with ears to hear must listen to the Spirit and understand what He is saying to the churches. To everyone who is victorious I will give some of the manna that has been hidden away in heaven. And I will give to each one a white stone, and on the stone will be engraved a new name that no one understands except those who receive it.” (vv. 12-17, NLT)

Write this letter to the angel of the church in Smyrna. Thsi is the message from the One who is the First and the Last, who was dead but is now alive:

“I know about your suffering and your poverty – but you are rich! I know the blasphemy of those opposing you. They say they are Jews, but they are not, because their synagogue belongs to Satan. Don’t be afraid of what you are about to suffer. The devil will throw some of you into prison to test you. You will suffer for ten days. But if you remain faithful even when facing death, I will give you the crown of life.”

“Anyone with ears to hear must listen to the Spirit and understand what He is saying to the churches. Whoever is victorious will not be harmed by the second death. (vv. 8-11, NLT)