Study Desk

Then I saw a Lamb standing in the center of the throne, surrounded by the four living creatures and the elders. The Lamb appeared to have been killed. It had seven horns and seven eyes, which are the seven spirits of God that have been sent through the whole earth.

They sang a new song: "You are worthy to take the scroll and to break open its seals. For you were killed, and by your sacrificial death you bought for God people from every tribe, language, nation, and race.

You have made them a kingdom of priests to serve our God, and they shall rule on earth."

And I saw another angel coming up from the east with the seal of the living God. He called out in a loud voice to the four angels to whom God had given the power to damage the earth and the sea.

The angel said, "Do not harm the earth, the sea, or the trees, until we mark the servants of our God with a seal on their foreheads."

They called out in a loud voice: "Salvation comes from our God, who sits on the throne, and from the Lamb!"

All the angels stood around the throne, the elders, and the four living creatures. Then they threw themselves face downward in front of the throne and worshiped God,

saying, "Amen! Praise, glory, wisdom, thanksgiving, honor, power, and might belong to our God forever and ever! Amen!"

because the Lamb, who is in the center of the throne, will be their shepherd, and he will guide them to springs of life-giving water. And God will wipe away every tear from their eyes."

Then I saw the seven angels who stand before God, and they were given seven trumpets.

The smoke of the burning incense went up with the prayers of God's people from the hands of the angel standing before God.

Then the sixth angel blew his trumpet. I heard a voice coming from the four corners of the gold altar standing before God.

and took a vow in the name of God, who lives forever and ever, who created heaven, earth, and the sea, and everything in them. The angel said, "There will be no more delay!

But when the seventh angel blows his trumpet, then God will accomplish his secret plan, as he announced to his servants, the prophets."

I was then given a stick that looked like a measuring-rod, and was told, "Go and measure the temple of God and the altar, and count those who are worshiping in the temple.

After three and a half days a life-giving breath came from God and entered them, and they stood up; and all who saw them were terrified.

At that very moment there was a violent earthquake; a tenth of the city was destroyed, and seven thousand people were killed. The rest of the people were terrified and praised the greatness of the God of heaven.

Then the twenty-four elders who sit on their thrones in front of God threw themselves face downward and worshiped God,

saying: "Lord God Almighty, the one who is and who was! We thank you that you have taken your great power and have begun to rule!

Then she gave birth to a son, who will rule over all nations with an iron rod. But the child was snatched away and taken to God and his throne.