1
When He (the Lamb) broke open the seventh seal, there was silence in heaven for about half an hour [in awe of God's impending judgment].
2
Then I saw the seven angels who stand before God, and seven [1]trumpets were given to them.
3
Another angel came and stood at the altar. He had a golden [2]censer, and much [3]incense was given to him, so that he might add it to the prayers of all the saints (God's people) on the golden altar in front of the throne.
4
And the smoke and fragrant aroma of the incense, with the prayers of the saints (God's people), ascended before God from the angel's hand.
5
So the angel took the censer and filled it with fire from the altar, and hurled it to the earth; and there were peals of thunder and loud rumblings and sounds and flashes of lightning and an earthquake.
6
Then the seven angels who had the seven trumpets prepared themselves to sound them [initiating the judgments].
7
The first [angel] sounded [his trumpet], and there was [a storm of] hail and fire, mixed with blood, and it was hurled to the earth; and a third of the earth was burned up, and a third of the trees were burned up, and all the green grass was burned up.
8
The second angel sounded [his trumpet], and something like a great mountain blazing with fire was hurled into the sea; and a third of the sea was turned to blood;
9
and a third of the living creatures that were in the sea died, and a third of the ships were destroyed.
10
The third angel sounded [his trumpet], and a great star fell from heaven, burning like a torch [flashing across the sky], and it fell on a third of the rivers and on the springs of [fresh] waters.
11
The name of the star is [4]Wormwood; and a third of the waters became wormwood, and many people died from the waters, because they had become bitter (toxic).
12
Then the fourth angel sounded [his trumpet], and a third of the sun and a third of the moon and a third of the stars were struck, so that a third of them would be darkened and a third of the daylight would not shine, and the night in the same way [would not shine].
13
Then I looked, and I heard a solitary eagle flying in [5]midheaven [for all to see], saying with a loud voice, "[6]Woe, woe, woe [great wrath is coming] to those who dwell on the earth, because of the remaining blasts of the trumpets which the three angels are about to sound [announcing ever greater judgments]!"