Study Desk

“Write to the angel of the church in Thyatira: Thus says the Son of God,

Flashes of lightning and rumblings and peals of thunder came from the throne. Seven fiery torches were burning before the throne, which are the seven spirits of God.

Our Lord and God,you are worthy to receiveglory and honor and power,because you have created all things,and by your willthey exist and were created.

Then I saw one like a slaughtered lamb standing in the midst of the throne and the four living creatures and among the elders. He had seven horns and seven eyes, which are the seven spirits of God sent into all the earth.

You made them a kingdomand priests to our God,and they will reign on the earth.

When he opened the fifth seal, I saw under the altar the souls of those who had been slaughtered because of the word of God and the testimony they had given.

Then I saw another angel rising up from the east, who had the seal of the living God. He cried out in a loud voice to the four angels who were allowed to harm the earth and the sea:

“Don’t harm the earth or the sea or the trees until we seal the servants of our God on their foreheads.”

All the angels stood around the throne, and along with the elders and the four living creatures they fell facedown before the throne and worshiped God,

For this reason they are before the throne of God,and they serve him day and night in his temple.The one seated on the throne will shelter them:

For the Lamb who is at the center of the thronewill shepherd them;he will guide them to springs of the waters of life,and God will wipe away every tear from their eyes.

Then I saw the seven angels who stand in the presence of God; seven trumpets were given to them.

The smoke of the incense, with the prayers of the saints, went up in the presence of God from the angel’s hand.

The sixth angel blew his trumpet. From the four horns of the golden altar that is before God, I heard a voice

but in the days when the seventh angel will blow his trumpet, then the mystery of God will be completed, as he announced to his servants the prophets.”

Then I was given a measuring reed like a rod, with these words: “Go and measure the temple of God and the altar, and count those who worship there.

But after three and a half days, the breath of life from God entered them, and they stood on their feet. Great fear fell on those who saw them.

At that moment a violent earthquake took place, a tenth of the city fell, and seven thousand people were killed in the earthquake. The survivors were terrified and gave glory to the God of heaven.

The twenty-four elders, who were seated before God on their thrones, fell facedown and worshiped God,

Then the temple of God in heaven was opened, and the ark of his covenant appeared in his temple. There were flashes of lightning, rumblings and peals of thunder, an earthquake, and severe hail.