As I watched, the Lamb broke the first of the seven seals on the scroll. Then I heard one of the four living beings say with a voice like thunder, “Come!” I
looked up and saw a white horse standing there. Its rider carried a
bow, and a crown was placed on his head. He rode out to win many battles
and gain the victory.
When the Lamb broke the second seal, I heard the second living being say, “Come!” Then
another horse appeared, a red one. Its rider was given a mighty sword
and the authority to take peace from the earth. And there was war and
slaughter everywhere.
When
the Lamb broke the third seal, I heard the third living being say,
“Come!” I looked up and saw a black horse, and its rider was holding a
pair of scales in his hand. And
I heard a voice from among the four living beings say, “A loaf of wheat
bread or three loaves of barley will cost a day’s pay. And don’t waste the olive oil and wine.”
When the Lamb broke the fourth seal, I heard the fourth living being say, “Come!” I looked up and saw a horse whose color was pale green. Its rider was named Death, and his companion was the Grave. These two were given authority over one-fourth of the earth, to kill with the sword and famine and disease and wild animals.
When
the Lamb broke the fifth seal, I saw under the altar the souls of all
who had been martyred for the word of God and for being faithful in
their testimony. They
shouted to the Lord and said, “O Sovereign Lord, holy and true, how
long before you judge the people who belong to this world and avenge our
blood for what they have done to us?” Then
a white robe was given to each of them. And they were told to rest a
little longer until the full number of their brothers and sisters—their fellow servants of Jesus who were to be martyred—had joined them.

Then
everyone—the kings of the earth, the rulers, the generals, the wealthy,
the powerful, and every slave and free person—all hid themselves in the
caves and among the rocks of the mountains. And
they cried to the mountains and the rocks, “Fall on us and hide us from
the face of the one who sits on the throne and from the wrath of the
Lamb. For the great day of their wrath has come, and who is able to survive?”
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