Read These Chapter
Chapter
9: The Fifth and Sixth Trumpets:
When the fifth
trumpet sounds, a star falls from heaven to earth and is given the key to the
Abyss. Upon opening it, smoke arises, and out of it come locusts resembling
armored horses with human faces and scorpion tails. Their mission isn't to harm
the earth's vegetation but to torment those without God's seal for five months.
The sixth trumpet releases four bound angels at the Euphrates River, leading a
massive army of two hundred million horse-like creatures that kill a third of
humanity. Their heads resemble lions, and they spew fire, smoke, and sulfur.
Their tails, bearing snakeheads, also possess the power to harm. Incredibly,
the remaining population, unaffected by these judgments, refuses to repent from
their wrongdoings, including idolatry, murder, sorcery, immorality, and theft.
Chapter
10: The Angel and the Little Scroll:
A mighty angel
descends from heaven, wrapped in a cloud with a rainbow above him. His face
shines like the sun, and his legs resemble fiery pillars. He holds a small open
scroll and sets one foot on the sea and the other on the land, declaring with a
roar that there will be no more delay in God's plan. When the seven thunders
speak, John is about to write down their words but is instructed to seal up
what they've said. The angel commands John to take the scroll and eat it. It
tastes sweet in his mouth but turns bitter in his stomach—a metaphor for the
nature of prophetic revelation.
Chapter
11: The Two Witnesses:
John is given a
measuring rod to measure the temple, excluding the outer court designated for
the Gentiles. The holy city will be trampled for 42 months. During this time,
two witnesses, clothed in sackcloth, will prophesy for 1,260 days. They possess
the power to shut the heavens and strike the earth with plagues. Once they
finish their testimony, the Beast will wage war against them, conquer and kill
them. Their corpses will lie in the great city for three and a half days,
witnessed by peoples from every nation. After this period, God breathes life
into them, causing great fear among those watching. A loud voice calls them to
heaven, followed by a severe earthquake destroying a tenth of the city and
killing seven thousand people, leading to the survivors giving glory to God.
Chapter
12: The Woman, Dragon, and Male Child:
A significant sign
appears in heaven: a pregnant woman, clothed with the sun, moon under her feet,
and a crown of twelve stars. She's in labor, about to give birth. A great red
dragon, with seven heads and ten horns, stands ready to devour her child upon
birth. This child is destined to rule the nations, and upon birth, he's
snatched up to God. The woman flees to the wilderness for protection for 1,260
days. A war breaks out in heaven. Michael and his angels combat the dragon,
identified as Satan, and his angels. Defeated, the dragon and his cohorts are
thrown to the earth. While heaven rejoices, the dragon, realizing his limited
time, furiously pursues the woman. She's given wings to escape, and when the
dragon tries to drown her with a flood, the earth helps by swallowing the
water. Thwarted, the dragon declares war against the woman's offspring, those
keeping God's commands and testifying about Jesus.
symbolizing the bittersweet nature of prophecy. Two witnesses prophesy for 1,260 days, displaying great power. After completing their testimony, the Beast kills them, but they resurrect and ascend to heaven. A great sign appears: a woman, representing Israel, gives birth to a male child, symbolizing Christ. The dragon, Satan, tries to devour the child, but he's thwarted. A war erupts in heaven, with Michael and his angels defeating the dragon, casting him to the earth, leading to rejoicing in heaven but woe to the earth.
