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St. John of Patmos (St. John
the Divine), from Revelation
Revelation,
the last book of the Bible's New Testament,
is the only one which is an Apocalypse, in
the sense of the Greek word for "revelation." Its
author, described in the title as "John
the Divine," has traditionally been
identified with St. John the Apostle, who
is believed to have written the book of Revelation
during his exile on the Greek island of Patmos.
The two sections of Revelation excerpted
here describe parts of St. John's vision
of the transformation of the world at the
time of Christ's return. In Chapter Five,
he sees a holy book which only Christ can
open, and in Chapter Six, he sees the appearance
of four horsemen as executants of four fates
of humankind.
Chapter 5
The
book sealed with seven seals, which only
the Lamb that was slain is worthy to open.
And I saw in the right hand of him that sat
on the throne a book written within and on
the backside, sealed with seven seals.
2. And I saw a strong angel proclaiming with
a loud voice, Who is worthy to open the book, and to loose the seals thereof?
3. And no man in heaven, nor in earth, neither
under the earth, was able to open the book, neither to look thereon.
4. And I wept much, because no man was found
worthy to open and to read the book, neither to look thereon.
5. And one of the elders saith unto me, Weep
not: behold, the Lion of the tribe of Juda, the Root of David, hath prevailed
to open the book, and to loose the seven seals thereof.
6. And I beheld, and, lo, in the midst of
the throne and of the four beasts, and in the midst of the elders, stood a Lamb
as it had been slain, having seven horns and seven eyes, which are the seven
spirits of God sent forth into all the earth.
7. And he came and took the book out of the
right hand of him that sat upon the throne.
8. And when he had taken the book, the four
beasts and four and twenty elders fell down before the Lamb, having every one
of them harps, and golden vials full of odours, which are the prayers of saints.
9. And they sung a new song, saying, Thou
art worthy to take the book, and to open the seals thereof: for thou wast slain,
and hast redeemed us to God by thy blood out of every kindred, and tongue, and
people and nation;
10. And hast made us unto our God kings and
priests: and we shall reign on the earth.
11. And I beheld, and I heard the voice of
many angels round about the throne and the beasts and the elders: and the number
of them was ten thousand times ten thousand, and thousands of thousands;
12. Saying with a loud voice, Worthy is the
Lamb that was slain to receive power, and riches, and wisdom, and strength, and
honour, and glory, and blessing.
13. And every creature which is in heaven,
and on the earth, and under the earth, and such as are in the sea, and all that
are in them, heard I saying, Blessing, and honour, and glory, and power, be unto
him that sitteth upon the throne, and unto the Lamb for ever and ever.
14. And the four beasts said, Amen. And the
four and twenty elders fell down and worshipped him that liveth for ever and
ever.
Chapter 6
The
opening of the seals in order etc., containing
a prophecy to the end of the world. And I
saw when the Lamb opened one of the seals,
and I heard as it were the noise of thunder,
one of the four beasts saying, Come and see.
2. And I saw, and behold a white horse: and
he that sat on him had a bow; and a crown was given unto him: and he went forth
conquering, and to conquer.
3. And when he had opened the second seal,
I heard the second beast say, Come and see.
4. And there went out another horse that was
red: and power was given to him that sat thereon to take peace from the earth,
and that they should kill one another: and there was given unto him a great sword.
5. And when he had opened the third seal,
I heard the third beast say, Come and see. And I beheld, and lo a black horse;
and he that sat on him had a pair of balances in his hand.
6. And I heard a voice in the midst of the
four beasts say, A measure of wheat for a penny, and three measures of barley
for a penny: and see thou hurt not the oil and the wine.
7. And when he had opened the fourth seal,
I heard the voice of the fourth beast say, Come and see.
8. And I looked, and behold a pale horse:
and his name that sat on him was Death, and Hell followed with him. And power
was given unto them over the fourth part of the earth, to kill with sword, and
with hunger, and with death, and with the beasts of the earth.
9. And when he had opened the fifth seal,
I saw under the altar the souls of them that were slain for the word of God,
and for the testimony which they held:
10. And they cried with a loud voice, saying,
How long, O Lord, holy and true, dost thou not judge and avenge our blood on
them that dwell on the earth?
11. And white robes were given unto every
one of them; and it was said unto them, that they should rest yet for a little
season, until their fellow-servants also and their brethren, that they should
be killed as they were, should be fulfilled.
12. And I beheld when he had opened the sixth
seal, and lo, there was a great earthquake; and the sun became black as sackcloth
of hair, and the moon became as blood;
13. And
the stars of heaven fell unto the earth, even as a fig tree casteth her untimely
figs, when she is shaken of a mighty wind.
14. And the heaven departed as a scroll when
it is rolled together; and every mountain and island were moved out of their
places.
15. And the kings of the earth, and the great
men, and the rich men, and the chief captains, and the mighty men, and every
bondman, and every free man, hid themselves in the dens and in the rocks of the
mountains;
16. And said to the mountains and rocks, Fall
on us, and hide us from the face of him that sitteth on the throne, and from
the wrath of the Lamb:
17. For the great day of his wrath is come;
and who shall be able to stand?
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