And I watched as the Lamb opened the first of the seven seals, and I heard one of the four living creatures say, in a voice like thunder, “Come.” And I looked, and there was a white horse. Its rider held a bow, and he was given a wreath, and he went out winning, and to win.

When it opened the second seal, I heard the second living creature say, “Come.” And another horse came out, the colour of fire. Its rider was allowed to take peace away from the earth, so that people would slaughter one another, and he was given a great sword.

When it opened the third seal, I heard the third living creature say, “Come.” And I looked, and there was a black horse, and its rider held a pair of scales in his hand. And I heard what sounded like a voice from among the four living creatures saying, “A quart of wheat for a day’s wage, and three quarts of barley for a day’s wage — and do not damage the oil and the wine.”

When it opened the fourth seal, I heard the voice of the fourth living creature say, “Come.” And I looked, and there was a sickly green horse. Its rider was named Death, and the Grave was following along behind him. They were given authority over a quarter of the earth, to kill by sword and famine and disease, and by the wild animals of the earth.

When it opened the fifth seal, I saw under the altar the lives of those who had been slaughtered because of God’s message and the testimony they held on to. They shouted in a loud voice: “How long, Master — holy and true — before you judge the ones living on the earth and settle accounts for our blood?” And each of them was given a white robe, and they were told to rest a little longer, until the number was complete of their fellow servants and brothers who were going to be killed as they had been.

And I watched as it opened the sixth seal, and there was a great earthquake. The sun turned black as sackcloth woven from hair, and the whole moon turned like blood, and the stars of the sky fell to the earth the way a fig tree drops its unripe figs when a high wind shakes it. The sky was parted like a scroll being rolled up, and every mountain and island was moved out of its place.

And the kings of the earth, and the officials, and the commanders, and the rich, and the strong, and every slave and free person hid in the caves and among the rocks of the mountains. They said to the mountains and the rocks, “Fall on us, and hide us from the face of the one sitting on the throne, and from the anger of the Lamb — because the great day of their anger has come, and who is able to stand?”