Revelation 6

The Seven Seals

1 I watched as the Lamb cracked open the first seal. One of the four living beings, with a voice like thunder, said, “Come through!”

2 I looked, and there was a white horse. The rider had a bow, and a crown was given to him. He rode out as a conqueror, ready to take over.

3 When the Lamb opened the second seal, I heard the second living being say, “Come through!”

4 Another horse came out, this one fiery red. The rider was given power to take peace from the earth, so people would start wilding on each other. He was given a big sword.

5 When the Lamb cracked the third seal, I heard the third living being say, “Come through!” I looked, and there was a black horse. The rider was holding a pair of scales.

6 Then I heard a voice from among the four living beings, saying, “A day’s wages for a quart of wheat, and three quarts of barley for a day’s wages. But do not mess with the olive oil and wine.”

7 When the Lamb opened the fourth seal, I heard the voice of the fourth living being say, “Come through!”

8 I looked, and there was a pale horse. The rider’s name was Death, and the grave followed close behind. They were given authority over a fourth of the earth, to kill with the sword, famine, disease, and wild beasts.

9 When the Lamb cracked the fifth seal, I saw under the altar the souls of those who had been killed for holding it down for God’s word and their testimony.

10 They called out, “How long, Lord, holy and true, until you judge those on the earth and get justice for us?”

11 They each got a fresh white robe and were told to chill a little longer, until the full number of their brothers and sisters who were also going to get killed for the faith was reached.

12 When the Lamb opened the sixth seal, there was a massive earthquake. The sun turned black like mourning clothes, the whole moon turned blood-red,

13 And the stars in the sky dropped to earth like figs falling from a tree when a strong wind hits.

14 The sky vanished like a scroll being rolled up, and every mountain and island got moved out of place.

15 The kings, the big shots, the rich and powerful, every slave, and free person all hid in caves and the mountains’ rocks.

16 They called to the mountains and rocks, “Fall on us and hide us from the face of the One sitting on the throne and from the Lamb’s wrath!

17 The great day of their wrath has come, and who can stand up to it?”