Study Desk

After this I saw four angels. Each one was standing on one of the earth's four corners. The angels held back the four winds, so that no wind would blow on the earth or on the sea or on any tree. These angels had also been given the power to harm the earth and the sea. Then I saw another angel come up from where the sun rises in the east, and he was ready to put the mark of the living God on people. He shouted to the four angels,

"Don't harm the earth or the sea or any tree! Wait until I have marked the foreheads of the servants of our God."

as they shouted, "Our God, who sits upon the throne, has the power to save his people, and so does the Lamb."

The angels who stood around the throne knelt in front of it with their faces to the ground. The elders and the four living creatures knelt there with them. Then they all worshiped God

and said, "Amen! Praise, glory, wisdom, thanks, honor, power, and strength belong to our God forever and ever! Amen!"

And so they stand before the throne of God and worship him in his temple day and night. The one who sits on the throne will spread his tent over them.

The Lamb in the center of the throne will be their shepherd. He will lead them to streams of life-giving water, and God will wipe all tears from their eyes."

I noticed that the seven angels who stood before God were each given a trumpet.

Then the smoke of the incense, together with the prayers of God's people, went up to God from the hand of the angel.

Then the sixth angel blew his trumpet. I heard a voice speak from the four corners of the gold altar that stands in the presence of God.

He made a promise in the name of God who lives forever and who created heaven, earth, the sea, and every living creature. The angel said, "You won't have to wait any longer.

God told his secret plans to his servants the prophets, and it will all happen by the time the seventh angel sounds his trumpet."

But don't measure the courtyard outside the temple building. Leave it out. It has been given to those people who don't know God, and they will trample all over the holy city for forty-two months.

But three and a half days later, God will breathe life into their bodies. They will stand up, and everyone who sees them will be terrified.

At that same moment there was a terrible earthquake that destroyed a tenth of the city. Seven thousand people were killed, and the rest were frightened and praised the God who rules in heaven.

They said, "Lord God All-Powerful, you are and you were, and we thank you. You used your great power and started ruling.

The woman gave birth to a son, who would rule all nations with an iron rod. The boy was snatched away. He was taken to God and placed on his throne.

The woman ran into the desert to a place that God had prepared for her. There she would be taken care of for one thousand two hundred sixty days.

Then I heard a voice from heaven shout, "Our God has shown his saving power, and his kingdom has come! God's own Chosen One has shown his authority. Satan accused our people in the presence of God day and night. Now he has been thrown out!

Our people defeated Satan because of the blood of the Lamb and the message of God. They were willing to give up their lives.