Revelation
Summary
The Lamb begins to open the seven seals of the book, releasing the dramatic Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse: conquest on a white horse, war on a red horse, famine on a black horse, and death on a pale horse. When the fifth seal is opened, John sees the souls of the "martyrs under the altar" crying out for justice. The opening of the sixth seal triggers a cosmic upheaval, a "great earthquake," the sun turning black, and the moon becoming as blood. Earthly rulers and all people hide in caves from the "wrath of the Lamb," asking who shall be able to stand.
And I saw when the Lamb opened one of the seals, and I heard, as it were the noise of thunder, one of the four beasts saying, "Come and see."
And I saw, and behold a white horse: and he who sat on him had a bow; and a crown was given to him: and he went forth conquering, and to conquer.
And when He had opened the second seal, I heard the second beast say, "Come and see."
And there went out another horse that was red: and power was given to him who sat thereon to take peace from the earth, and that they should kill one another: and there was given to him a great sword.
And when He had opened the third seal, I heard the third beast say, "Come and see." And I beheld, and lo a black horse; and he who sat on him had a pair of balances in his hand.
And I heard a voice in the midst of the four beasts say, "A measure of wheat for a penny, and three measures of barley for a penny; and see you hurt not the oil and the wine."
And when He had opened the fourth seal, I heard the voice of the fourth beast say, "Come and see."
And I looked, and behold a pale horse: and his name who sat on him was Death, and Hell followed with him. And power was given to them over the fourth part of the earth, to kill with sword, and with hunger, and with death, and with the beasts of the earth.
And when He had opened the fifth seal, I saw under the altar the souls of those who were slain for the word of God, and for the testimony which they held:
And they cried with a loud voice, saying, "How long, O Lord, holy and true, do You not judge and avenge our blood on those who dwell on the earth?"
And white robes were given to every one of them; and it was said to them, that they should rest yet for a little season, until their fellow servants also and their brothers, that should be killed as they were, should be fulfilled.
And I beheld when He had opened the sixth seal, and, lo, there was a great earthquake; and the sun became black as sackcloth of hair, and the moon became as blood;
And the stars of heaven fell to the earth, even as a fig tree casts her untimely figs, when she is shaken of a mighty wind.
And the heaven departed as a scroll when it is rolled together; and every mountain and island were moved out of their places.
And the kings of the earth, and the great people, and the rich people, and the chief captains, and the mighty people, and every bondman, and every free man, hid themselves in the dens and in the rocks of the mountains;
And said to the mountains and rocks, "Fall on us, and hide us from the face of Him who sits on the throne, and from the wrath of the Lamb:"
"For the great day of His wrath is come; and who shall be able to stand?"