The Seals of the Scroll Are Broken
1I watched as the Lamb broke open the first of the seven seals. Then I heard one of the four living creatures say in a voice that sounded like thunder, “Come!” 2I looked, and there in front of me was a white horse! Its rider held a bow in his hands. He was given a crown. He rode out like a hero on his way to victory.
3The Lamb broke open the second seal. Then I heard the second living creature say, “Come!” 4Another horse came out. It was red like fire. Its rider was given power to take peace from the earth. He was given power to make people kill each other. He was given a large sword.
5The Lamb broke open the third seal. Then I heard the third living creature say, “Come!” I looked, and there in front of me was a black horse! Its rider was holding a pair of scales in his hand. 6Next, I heard what sounded like a voice coming from among the four living creatures. It said, “Two pounds of wheat for a day’s pay. And six pounds of barley for a day’s pay. And leave the olive oil and the wine alone!”
7The Lamb broke open the fourth seal. Then I heard the voice of the fourth living creature say, “Come!” 8I looked, and there in front of me was a pale horse! Its rider’s name was Death. Following close behind him was Hell. They were given power over a fourth of the earth. They were given power to kill people by swords. They could also use hunger, sickness and the earth’s wild animals to kill.
9The Lamb broke open the fifth seal. I saw souls under the altar. They were the souls of people who had been killed. They had been killed because of God’s word and their faithful witness. 10They called out in a loud voice. “How long, Lord and King, holy and true?” they asked. “How long will you wait to judge those who live on the earth? How long will it be until you pay them back for killing us?” 11Then each of them was given a white robe. “Wait a little longer,” they were told. “There are still more of your believing brothers and sisters who will be killed. They will be killed just as you were.”
12I watched as the Lamb broke open the sixth seal. There was a powerful earthquake. The sun turned black like the clothes people wear when they’re sad. Those clothes are made out of goat’s hair. The whole moon turned as red as blood. 13The stars in the sky fell to earth. They dropped like figs from a tree shaken by a strong wind. 14The sky rolled back like a scroll. Every mountain and island was moved out of its place.
15Everyone hid in caves and among the rocks of the mountains. This included the kings of the earth, the princes and the generals. It included rich people and powerful people. It also included everyone else, both slaves and people who were free. 16They called out to the mountains and rocks, “Fall on us! Hide us from the face of the one who sits on the throne! Hide us from the anger of the Lamb! 17The great day of their anger has come. Who can live through it?”
Os Selos
1Observei quando o Cordeiro abriu o primeiro dos sete selos. Então ouvi um dos seres viventes dizer com voz de trovão: “Venha!” 2Olhei, e diante de mim estava um cavalo branco. Seu cavaleiro empunhava um arco, e foi-lhe dada uma coroa; ele cavalgava como vencedor determinado a vencer.
3Quando o Cordeiro abriu o segundo selo, ouvi o segundo ser vivente dizer: “Venha!” 4Então saiu outro cavalo; e este era vermelho. Seu cavaleiro recebeu poder para tirar a paz da terra e fazer que os homens se matassem uns aos outros. E lhe foi dada uma grande espada.
5Quando o Cordeiro abriu o terceiro selo, ouvi o terceiro ser vivente dizer: “Venha!” Olhei, e diante de mim estava um cavalo preto. Seu cavaleiro tinha na mão uma balança. 6Então ouvi o que parecia uma voz entre os quatro seres viventes, dizendo: “Um quilo6.6 Grego: choinix. de trigo por um denário6.6 O denário era uma moeda de prata equivalente à diária de um trabalhador braçal. e três quilos de cevada por um denário, e não danifique o azeite e o vinho!”
7Quando o Cordeiro abriu o quarto selo, ouvi a voz do quarto ser vivente dizer: “Venha!” 8Olhei, e diante de mim estava um cavalo amarelo. Seu cavaleiro chamava-se Morte, e o Hades6.8 Essa palavra pode ser traduzida por inferno, sepulcro, morte ou profundezas. o seguia de perto. Foi-lhes dado poder sobre um quarto da terra para matar pela espada, pela fome, por pragas e por meio dos animais selvagens da terra.
9Quando ele abriu o quinto selo, vi debaixo do altar as almas daqueles que haviam sido mortos por causa da palavra de Deus e do testemunho que deram. 10Eles clamavam em alta voz: “Até quando, ó Soberano, santo e verdadeiro, esperarás para julgar os habitantes da terra e vingar o nosso sangue?” 11Então cada um deles recebeu uma veste branca, e foi-lhes dito que esperassem um pouco mais, até que se completasse o número dos seus conservos e irmãos que deveriam ser mortos como eles.
12Observei quando ele abriu o sexto selo. Houve um grande terremoto. O sol ficou escuro como tecido de crina negra, toda a lua tornou-se vermelha como sangue, 13e as estrelas do céu caíram sobre a terra como figos verdes caem da figueira quando sacudidos por um vento forte. 14O céu se recolheu como se enrola um pergaminho, e todas as montanhas e ilhas foram removidas de seus lugares.
15Então os reis da terra, os príncipes, os generais, os ricos, os poderosos—todos, escravos e livres, se esconderam em cavernas e entre as rochas das montanhas. 16Eles gritavam às montanhas e às rochas: “Caiam sobre nós e escondam-nos da face daquele que está assentado no trono e da ira do Cordeiro! 17Pois chegou o grande dia da ira deles; e quem poderá suportar?”
