<t /><p class="bodytext">I looked on when the Lamb opened one of the seven seals, and I heard one of the four living creatures saying with a thunderous voice,<n id="1" /> &#8220;Come!&#8221;<n id="2" />

<p class="bodytext">Then<n id="1" /> when the Lamb opened the third seal I heard the third living creature saying, &#8220;Come!&#8221; So<n id="2" /> I looked,<n id="3" /> and here came<n id="4" /> a black horse! The<n id="5" /> one who rode it<n id="6" /> had a balance scale<n id="7" /> in his hand.

<p class="bodytext">Now<n id="1" /> when the Lamb opened the fifth seal, I saw under the altar the souls of those who had been violently killed<n id="2" /> because of the word of God and because of the testimony they had given.

<p class="bodytext">Then<n id="1" /> I looked when the Lamb opened the sixth seal, and a huge<n id="2" /> earthquake took place; the sun became as black as sackcloth made of hair,<n id="3" /> and the full moon became blood red;<n id="4" />

He<n id="1" /> opened the shaft of the abyss and smoke rose out of it<n id="2" /> like smoke from a giant furnace. The<n id="3" /> sun and the air were darkened with smoke from the shaft.

He held<n id="1" /> in his hand a little scroll that was open, and he put his right foot on the sea and his left on the land.

<p class="bodytext">Then<n id="1" /> the temple of God in heaven was opened and the ark of his covenant was visible within his temple. And there were flashes of lightning, roaring,<n id="2" /> crashes of thunder, an earthquake, and a great hailstorm.<n id="3" />p>

but<n id="1" /> the earth came to her rescue;<n id="2" /> the ground opened up<n id="3" /> and swallowed the river that the dragon had spewed from his mouth.

<t /><p class="bodytext">Then<n id="1" /> I saw heaven opened and here came<n id="2" /> a white horse! The<n id="3" /> one riding it was called &#8220;Faithful&#8221; and &#8220;True,&#8221; and with justice<n id="4" /> he judges and goes to war.

But so that we don&#8217;t offend them, go to the lake and throw out a hook. Take the first fish that comes up, and when you open its mouth, you will find a four drachma coin.<n id="1" /> Take that and give it to them for me and you.&#8221;p>

Once<n id="1" /> the head of the house<n id="2" /> gets up<n id="3" /> and shuts the door, then you will stand outside and start to knock on the door and beg him, &#8216;Lord,<n id="4" /> let us in!&#8217;<n id="5" /> But he will answer you,<n id="6" /> &#8216;I don&#8217;t know where you come from.&#8217;<n id="7" />

After they had passed the first and second guards,<n id="1" /> they came to the iron<n id="2" /> gate leading into the city. It<n id="3" /> opened for them by itself,<n id="4" /> and they went outside and walked down one narrow street,<n id="5" /> when at once the angel left him.

&#8216;I know your deeds. (Look! I have put<n id="1" /> in front of you an open door that no one can shut.)<n id="2" /> I know<n id="3" /> that you have little strength,<n id="4" /> but<n id="5" /> you have obeyed<n id="6" /> my word and have not denied my name.

<t /><p class="bodytext">After these things I looked, and there was<n id="1" /> a door standing open in heaven!<n id="2" /> And the first voice I had heard speaking to me<n id="3" /> like a trumpet<n id="4" /> said: &#8220;Come up here so that<n id="5" /> I can show you what must happen after these things.&#8221;

They were singing a new song:<n id="1" />p> <p class="poetry">&#8220;You are worthy to take the scrollp> <p class="poetry">and to open its sealsp> <p class="poetry">because you were killed,<n id="2" />p> <p class="poetry">and at the cost of your own blood<n id="3" /> you have purchased<n id="4" /> for Godp> <p class="poetry">persons<n id="5" /> from every tribe, language,<n id="6" /> people, and nation.p>

Then<n id="1" /> the voice I had heard from heaven began to speak<n id="2" /> to me<n id="3" /> again,<n id="4" /> &#8220;Go and take the open<n id="5" /> scroll in the hand of the angel who is standing on the sea and on the land.&#8221;