1   Now when the Lamb broke the seventh seal, there was silence in heaven for what seemed half an hour. 2   Then I looked, and the seven angels that stand in the presence of God were given seven trumpets.

3   Then another angel came and stood at the altar, holding a golden censer; and he was given a great quantity of incense to offer with the prayers of all God's people upon the golden altar in front of the throne. 4   And from the angel's hand the smoke of the incense went up before God with the prayers of his people. 5   Then the angel took the censer, filled it from the altar fire, and threw it down upon the earth; and there were peals of thunder, lightning, and an earthquake.

The powers of darkness conquered

6   Then the seven angels that held the seven trumpets prepared to blow them.

7   The first blew his trumpet; and there came hail and fire mingled with blood, and this was hurled upon the earth. A third of the earth was burnt, a third of the trees were burnt, all the green grass was burnt.

8   The second angel blew his trumpet; and what looked like a great blazing mountain was hurled into the sea. A third of the sea was turned to blood, 9   a third of the living creatures in it died, and a third of the ships on it foundered.

10   The third angel blew his trumpet; and a great star shot from the sky, flaming like a torch; and it fell on a third of the rivers and springs. 11   The name of the star was Wormwood; and a third of the water turned to wormwood, and men in great numbers died of the water because it had been poisoned.

12   The fourth angel blew his trumpet; and a third part of the sun was struck, a third of the moon, and a third of the stars, so that the third part went dark and a third of the light of the day failed, and of the night.

13   Then I looked, and I heard an eagle calling with a loud cry as it flew in mid-heaven: ‘Woe, woe, woe to the inhabitants of the earth when the trumpets sound which the three last angels must now blow!’

Previous section

Next section