They were singing a new song: ¹  “You are worthy to take the scroll and to open its seals because you were killed, ²  and at the cost of your own blood ³  you have purchased ⁴  for God persons ⁵  from every tribe, language, ⁶  people, and nation.

So ¹  I threw myself down ²  at his feet to worship him, but ³  he said, “Do not do this! ⁴  I am only ⁵  a fellow servant ⁶  with you and your brothers ⁷  who hold to the testimony about ⁸  Jesus. Worship God, for the testimony about Jesus is the spirit of prophecy.”

Then ¹  he said to me, “Do not seal up the words of the prophecy contained in this book, because the time is near.

and the stars in the sky ¹  fell to the earth like a fig tree dropping ²  its unripe figs ³  when shaken by a fierce ⁴  wind.

Then ¹  the four angels who had been prepared for this ²  hour, day, ³  month, and year were set free to kill ⁴  a third of humanity.

because they poured out the blood of your saints and prophets, so ¹  you have given them blood to drink. They got what they deserved!” ² 

Then ¹  I looked, and I heard an ²  eagle ³  flying directly overhead, ⁴  proclaiming with a loud voice, “Woe! Woe! Woe to those who live on the earth because of the remaining sounds of the trumpets of the three angels who are about to blow them!” ⁵ 

Wake up then, and strengthen what remains that was about ¹  to die, because I have not found your deeds complete ²  in the sight ³  of my God.

Then ¹  I saw an angel descending from heaven, holding ²  in his hand the key to the abyss and a huge chain.

The one who has an ear had better hear what the Spirit says to the churches. The one who conquers ¹  will in no way be harmed by the second death.’

Then ¹  I heard every creature – in heaven, on earth, under the earth, in the sea, and all that is in them – singing: ²  “To the one seated on the throne and to the Lamb be praise, honor, glory, and ruling power ³  forever and ever!”

Each ¹  of them was given a long white robe and they were told to rest for a little longer, until the full number was reached ²  of both their fellow servants ³  and their brothers who were going to be killed just as they had been.

And another horse, fiery red, ¹  came out, and the one who rode it ²  was granted permission ³  to take peace from the earth, so that people would butcher ⁴  one another, and he was given a huge sword.

I will grant the one ¹  who conquers ²  permission ³  to sit with me on my throne, just as I too conquered ⁴  and sat down with my Father on his throne.

with these words: ¹  “We give you thanks, Lord God, the All-Powerful, ²  the one who is and who was, because you have taken your great power and begun to reign. ³ 

This requires ¹  the steadfast endurance ²  of the saints – those who obey ³  God’s commandments and hold to ⁴  their faith in Jesus. ⁵ 

Then ¹  one of the elders said ²  to me, “Stop weeping! ³  Look, the Lion of the tribe of Judah, the root of David, has conquered; ⁴  thus he can open ⁵  the scroll and its seven seals.”

He also measured its wall, one hundred forty-four cubits ¹  according to human measurement, which is also the angel’s. ² 

all of whom ¹  were singing ²  in a loud voice: “Worthy is the lamb who was killed ³  to receive power and wealth and wisdom and might and honor and glory and praise!”

‘I know your works as well as your ¹  labor and steadfast endurance, and that you cannot tolerate ²  evil. You have even put to the test ³  those who refer to themselves as apostles (but are not), and have discovered that they are false.