Study Desk

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

The sixth angel blew his trumpet. Then I heard a voice coming from the horns on the four corners of the golden altar that is before God.

In the days when the seventh angel is ready to blow his trumpet, God's secret plan will be completed—the Good News that God told to his servants, the prophets."

Then I was given a measuring rod as long as a walking stick. I was told, "Go and measure the temple of God and the altar, and count the people worshiping there.

But after three and a half days, God let life enter the two witnesses again. They stood on their feet. All those who saw them were filled with fear.

At that same time there was a great earthquake. A tenth of the city was destroyed. And 7000 people were killed in the earthquake. Those who did not die were very afraid. They gave glory to the God of heaven.

Then the 24 elders bowed down on their faces and worshiped God. These are the elders who sit on their thrones before God.

The elders said, "We give thanks to you, Lord God All-Powerful. You are the one who is and who always was. We thank you because you have used your great power and have begun to rule.

The woman gave birth to a son, who would rule all the nations with an iron rod. And her child was taken up to God and to his throne.

The woman ran away into the desert to a place that God had prepared for her. There she would be taken care of for 1260 days.

Then I heard a loud voice in heaven say, "The victory and the power and the kingdom of our God and the authority of his Messiah have now come. These things have come, because the accuser of our brothers and sisters has been thrown out. He is the one who accused them day and night before our God.

They defeated him by the blood sacrifice of the Lamb and by the message of God that they told people. They did not love their lives too much. They were not afraid of death.

The beast was allowed to boast and speak insults against God. It was allowed to use its power for 42 months.

The beast opened its mouth to insult God—to insult his name, the place where he lives, and all those who live in heaven.

These are the ones who did not do sinful things with women. They kept themselves pure. Now they follow the Lamb wherever he goes. They were bought from among the people of the earth as the first to be offered to God and the Lamb.

The angel said in a loud voice, "Fear God and give him praise. The time has come for God to judge all people. Worship God. He made the heavens, the earth, the sea, and the springs of water."

A third angel followed the first two angels. This third angel said in a loud voice, "God will punish all those who worship the beast and the beast's idol and agree to have the beast's mark on their forehead or on their hand.

I saw what looked like a sea of glass mixed with fire. All those who had won the victory over the beast and his idol and over the number of its name were standing by the sea. These people had harps that God had given them.

They sang the song of Moses, the servant of God, and the song of the Lamb: "Great and wonderful are the things you do, Lord God All-Powerful. Right and true are your ways, Ruler of the nations.

Then one of the four living beings gave seven golden bowls to the seven angels. The bowls were filled with the anger of God, who lives forever and ever.