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Unveiling of the Royal Arch Standards

Written by Past High Priest David L. Gray (10/25/99)

Lincoln Chapter #2, RAM

Prince Hall Affiliated

Xenia, Ohio

Brief History of the Royal Arch Degree

The first mention of the Royal Arch, occurred in Faulkner�s Dublin Journal for January 10-14, 1743, which reported that Youghall Lodge No. 21, celebrated St. John�s Day with a parade in which there was "The Royal Arch carried by two excellent Masons." Excellent Masons is presumed to being referring to Past Masters in this case.

The first undeniable Masonic reference to the Royal Arch Degree can be found in the minutes of the Grand Committee for the body of the Ancient Grand Lodge, on March 4, 1752. There, a complaint was lodged that Thomas Phelan and John Mackey, known as "leg of mutton Masons," had initiated many persons for a dinner or support and that those whom they had pretended to make "Royal Archmen" had not the slightest idea of the secret.

The first record of a Royal Arch Degree being conferred by a Lodge are in the minutes of the Lodge at Fredericksburg, Virginia on December 22, 1753. Although, on August 7^th, 1758 at Bristol, England the first conferring of the Royal Arch Degree by a warranted Lodge is recorded to have taken place.

As you would find the Legend of Hiram Abif is part of the Ancient Landmarks, and therefore worked in some fashion in every regular jurisdiction of Freemasons, the same does not hold true for the Royal Arch Degree. From the United States to England to Ireland/Scotland and to Australia you will from a variety of differences � Ranging from the position and titles of principal officers, arrangement of the chapter, the teachings and ritual of the degree, prerequisite degrees and many others. Although, the focus of this paper is not to point out what is different about the various systems, but to elaborate upon what is the same.

The hidden allegory and symbolism in the Masonic Degree never ceases to amaze me. The Unveiling of the Royal Arch Standards stands as the continued beacon of the light of discovery beyond the surface.

The Royal Arch Standards

Exhibit � A

Exhibit � B

This (see exhibit � A) is the typical set of standards you would find used in the United States and its� dependencies. These are also the typical color assignment thereto, but it also varies for some jurisdictions. The standards represent the four principal Tribes of Children of Israel as written about in the Holy Bible.

Exhibit � B, represents the set of Banners you would find used in other Royal Arch jurisdictions. Each banner represents one of the Twelve Tribes of the Children of Israel.

Many Masonic authors have presented arguments concerning which of these applications are correct, along with which RAM Degree system makes more sense. What no one (from what I�ve read) has said is that both of these Standard Applications are essentially the same.

Exhibit � A1 (USA Tribe Application)

TRIBE NAME	CAMP POSITION	TRIBE CAPTAIN	ASSIGNED TRIBES	COLOR ASSIGNED	EMBLEM ASSIGNED	ZODIAC SIGN

Judah	East	Nahshon	Issachar, Zebulun	Blue	Lion	Leo
Ephraim	West	Elishama	Manaseh, Benjamin	Purple	Ox	Taurus
Reuben	South	Elizur	Simeon, Gad	Red	Man	Aquarius
Dan	North	Ahiezer	Asher, Naphtali	White	Eagle	Scorpio

Assigned Colors of the Standards

I would suppose the first and deceiving thing that sticks about between both sets of standards in both of the exhibits, is the colors applied to each. The colors assigned to these standards, means little if anything in the terms of the deeper relationship. The only colors assigned to the Twelve Tribes of the Children of Israel are the colors of the stones that were upon the breastplate of the High Priest representing each Tribe. Needless to say, the colors of those stones upon the breastplate of the High Priest are not the same colors the standards used in either system.

It would be good to point out, that the colors of Red, Blue and Purple was the best choice of any to be used for the colors of the banners of the four principals Tribes of the Children of Israel in the American System. The colors of purple, blue and scarlet (red) are mentioned together twenty six times in the book of Exodus, and twice in the book of Chronicles. That in itself, denotes the significance that those colors held for the people that Royal Arch Degree tell a story about.

EXODUS 38:23

And with him [was] Aholiab, son of Ahisamach, of the Tribe of Dan, an engraver, and a cunning workman, and an embroiderer in blue, and in purple, and in scarlet, and fine linen.

Exhibit � B1 (Standards used outside USA)

TRIBE NAME	COLOR ASSIGNED	EMBLEM ASSIGNED

Judah	Crimson	A Lion and Scepter
Naphtali	Blue	A Hind
Asher	Purple	A Golden Cup
Dan	Bright Green	A Horse and Rider
Benjamin	Green	A Wolf
Mannasseh	Flesh Color	A Vine by a Well
Issachar	Sky Blue	A Vine by a Well
Zebulun	Purple	A Ship
Reuben	Scarlet	An Agitated surface of water
Simeon/Levi	Yellow	A sword and dagger
Gad	White	A troop of horsemen
Ephraim	Green	An Ox

Exhibit � C (Zodiac/Color/Symbol Assignment)

ZODIAC SIGN	COLOR ASSIGNED	EMBLEM ASSIGNED

Aries	Red	Ram
Taurus	Red/Orange	Bull/Ox
Gemini	Pure Orange	Twins
Cancer	Orange/Yellow	Crab
Leo	Pure Yellow	Lion
Virgo	Yellow/Green	Angel
Libra	Pure Green	Balance
Scorpio	Green/Blue	Scorpion/Eagle
Sagittarius	Pure Blue	Centaur - Man/Horse
Capricorn	Blue/Violet	Goat
Aquarius	Pure Violet	Man with Water
Pisces	Violet/Red	Fish

Assigned Symbols on the Standards

Revelation 4:7

And the first beast [was] like a lion, and the second beast like a calf, and the third beast had a face as a man, and the fourth beast [was] like a flying eagle.

JUDAH

The Standard of Judah � Is, in both Royal Arch Systems mentioned, symbolized with the Lion, and represents the fifth zodiac sign of Leo. The grip of a lion�s paw is as important to the Freemason as the Leo is to the astrological charts.

Leo, Robert Hewitt Brown in Stellar "Theology and Masonic Astronomy" writes, "On the 21^st of June, when the sun arrives at the summer solstice, the constellation Leo � being but 30 degrees in advance of the sun � appears to be leading the way, and to aid by his powerful paw in lifting the sun up to the summit of the zodiacal arch. � This visible connection between the constellation Leo and the return of the sun to his place of power and glory, at the summit of the Royal Arch of heaven, was the principal reason why that constellation was held in such high esteem and reverence by the ancients. The astrologers distinguished Leo as the sole house of the sun, and taught that the world was created when the sun was in that sign. The lion was adored in the east and the west by the Egyptians and he Mexicans."

The Lion as a symbol of the Sun also holds deep Egyptian significance.

EPHRAIM

The Standard of Ephraim � Is, in both Royal Arch Systems mentioned, symbolized with the Ox/Bull, and represents the second zodiac sign of Taurus, which like the Lion was venerated as a powerful sign of the Sun.

The sacred Apis was presumed to be the incarnation of the god Osiris � hence a symbol of a sepulchre or tomb. The Sun�s entry into Taurus was celebrated as a Feast of Maya (Maia) or currently called May Day � the Sun represented by a white bull with a golden disc between his horns, followed by a procession of virgins exemplifying the fecundity of Nature in Spring.

REUBEN

The Standard of Reuben � Is, in the American Royal Arch System symbolized as "The Man" and in other Royal Arch Systems as "A(n) (Agitated) Body of Water".

The American System using "Man" as the key symbol on the standard of Reuben is incorrect, and let me explain why. Reuben represents the eleventh zodiac sign of Aquarius.

Aquarius is called the Sign of the Water Bearer, or the man with a jug of water on his shoulder mentioned in the New Testament. This is sometimes represented as an angelic figure, supposedly androgynous, either pouring water from an urn or carrying the vessel upon its� shoulder. The water pouring from the urn of Aquarius under the name of the "the water of eternal life" appears many times in symbolism.

The symbol for Aquarius is that of two streams of wavy water, exactly as the symbol on the Non-American standards. The American system seems to have veiled itself and when with a human man to represent Reuben.

DAN

The Standard of Dan � Is, in the American Royal Arch System symbolized as "An Eagle" and in other Royal Arch Systems as "A Horse and Rider".

Just the opposite of Reuben � The American System using "Eagle" as the key symbol on the standard of Dan is correct, and let me explain why. Dan represents the eighth zodiac sign of Scorpio. Again, the American Royal Arch System proves itself to be cunning and deceiving. Although, it should be noted that the Non-American system choice in "A Horse and Rider" as the symbol upon the standard of Dan seems to have been a biblical selection and a good one at that.

The Eagle is the most uncommon symbol used for Scorpio. Most often, the Scorpio is portrayed with the Scorpion. The arrangement of the stars of the constellation bears as much resemblance to a flying bird as to a scorpion. Scorpio, being the sign of the occult initiation, the flying eagle � the king of bids � represents the highest and most spiritual type of Scorpio, in which it transcends the venomous insect of the east

GENESIS 49:17

Dan shall be a serpent by the way, an adder in the path, that biteth the horse heels, so that his rider shall fall backward.

The Fixed Signs

Making up the 2^nd, 5^th, 8^th, and 11^th Zodiac Signs - Taurus, Leo, Scorpio, Aquarius are also The Fixed Signs of the Zodiac. So called "Fixed" because they represent a balance of conflicting forces. They are also referred to as the "Foundation Signs", because they typify each element. They have been called "Earthquake Signs", on the assumption that earthquakes most frequently occurs when the Sun or Moon is in a Fixed sign. They are the Power-Houses of the zodiac.

Other Interesting Aspects of the Fixed Signs

The Fixed Signs of Taurus, Leo, Scorpio, and Aquarius all represent the four seasons of Spring, Summer, Autumn and Winter respectively. They are symbolized in the figures of the Cherubim, and in the Assyrian "Winged Lion." The Egyptian Sphinx as a Bull�s Body (Taurus), the Lion�s paws and tail (Leo), the Eagle�s wings (Scorpio), and the Human head (Aquarius). More interesting, they represent The Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse.

The Relationship of the Royal Arch and Heads of the Beast

It is generally accepted that the modern prototype of the four principal Tribes of the Children of Israel along with their fellow eight attached tribes is assigned as follows: The British nation (Judah), Italy (Dan), United States (Naphtali), and the Jews (Reuben). I have no opinion (yet), whether or not I agree with these.

So what consequence is it to the Royal Arch Mason that the Symbols upon his Chapter Standards are those of the Apocalyptic Beast of the Earth? Very, very interesting question to say the least. Enough can�t be said about the knowledge, intent, and spirit of the many contributors to our rituals.

With that said, I believe the Royal Arch Degree is similar to the 32^nd Degree of the AASR. I believe it tells a story of ending, and how the Freemason must continue the improvements of his own spiritual temple to prepare for that day which at last much come upon to us all � When the body returns to dust and to him who gave it.

The combination of the Apocalyptic Beast and the frequently of the number seven in the Book of Revelations which this Degree draws so much, leads me to that conclusion.

The number 3 is heavily used in the 1st Degree, just as the number 7 is used in the Royal Arch Degree. These numbers signify the beginning and the end of life. It is now proper to mention that the number 3 is often used in the first book of the Holy Bible (Genesis) - Just as it is proper to mention, the number 7 is heavily used in the last book of the Holy Bible (Revelation).

Three is the most mentioned and significant number in the Holy Bible. In the "Guide to the Royal Arch Chapter", but John Sheville and James L. Gould, we read, "The number three was a symbol of marriage, friendship, and peace, because it was said to unite contraries; it was also an emblem of wisdom and prudence, because men are said to order the present, foresee the future, and learn experience from the past. Its' influence was said to extend to all nature, embracing the birth, life, and death of men and all living things, the commencement, middle and end of all earthly matters, and the past, present, and future of universal space. In the same way, the universe was divided into three zones, the Earth, air, and rest." Even though the number 3 is repeatedly mentioned in the Holy Bible, its' roots are in the beginning of the Bible where the seed of the universe and man was planted.

In the beginning there we some very significant three's that shaped the destiny of the Earth and Man. In three days God created the Heaven and the Earth. God created three great lights in the firmament of the heaven (Sun, Moon, and Stars) to divide the day from the night, to be a sign for the changing of season, days, and years. God created the three Earthly living things (Creatures, Man and Woman). Adam had three sons (Cain, Able, and Seth). Immediately in Genesis we read of the "Three First"; The first Sabbath, the first Curse, and the first Murder. Noah had three sons, (Shem, Ham, Japheth). Abraham, Issac, and Jacob were particularly blessed by God. These seven events in the beginning of Earth�s time shaped the destiny of Man. It is no wonder that as we were shaped by 3 in the beginning, that we would also either be blessed or cursed by 7 in the end.

The number 7 in Revelation is so often mentioned it is scary. The person who reads the book of Revelation with an open mind has to come to the conclusion that represents the END of the Earth as we know it. Revelation 2:1, "Unto the angle of the church of Ephesus write; These things saith he that holdeth the seven stars in his right hand, who walketh in the midst of the seven golden candlesticks; ...(Rev 2:7). He that hath an ear let him hear the Spirit saith unto the churches; To him that overcometh will I give to eat of the tree of life, which is in the middle of the paradise of God." These Churches John is referring to is the "Seven Churches" of the Earth which are; The Churches of Ephesus, Smyrna, Pergamos, Thyatira, Sardis, Philadelphia, and Laodicea.

What we read next in Revelation is a passage concerning the Seven Spirit of God, which allude to the Book with Seven Seals. REV 5:4,5,6, "And I wept much, because no man was found worthy to open and read the book, neither to look thereon. And one of the elders saith unto me, Weep not: behold, the Lion of the tribe of Judah, the Root of David, hath prevailed to pen the book, and to loose the seven seals thereof. And I beheld, and lo, in the midst of the throne and of the four beast, 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." The book of Revelations refers to Jesus as the Lamb, and this portion of Revelation deals with the preparing of the second coming of Jesus. John goes on to tell of how the Host adored the Lamb, and the terror attending the opening of the seals, Each of the first four seals opened contained a beast, each with a specific job sent forth by the Most High to set havoc upon the world.

The fifth seal contained the souls of them that were slain for the word of the Most High God, and for the testimony which they held. REV 6:12,13 "And I beheld when he had opened the sixth seal, and lo, there was a great earthquake, and the sun became black as a sackcloth of hair, and the moon became blood, and the stars of heaven fell unto the Earth, even as a fig tree casteth untimely figs, when she is shaken of a mighty wind." The sixth seal is the final preparation of the Earth before the arrival of Jesus. Before the last seal is opened the children of the 12 Tribes of Israel must be taken off the Earth, because they must not suffer (REV 7:4-8). REV 8:1,2 "And when he had opened the seventh seal, there was silence in heaven about the space of half and hour. And I saw the seven angles which stood before God; and to them were seven trumpets."

Each of the first four Angles Down represents some form of Fire. REV 11:15, "And the seventh angle sounded; and there were great voices in heaven, saying, The Kingdom of this world are become the kingdoms of our Lord, and of his Christ; and he shall reign for ever and ever." Form the last trumpet to the next time seven is mentioned represents the last days of earth before the arrival of Jesus. Rev 12, "And I saw another sign in heaven great and marvelous, seven angles having the last seven plagues; for in them is filled up the wraith of God." After destroying the Beast, the Angels will use these plagues to follow the Divine Command of the Most High God - Destroying all of which is on Earth that is not righteous.

The last time seven is mentioned is after the sudden Coming and Armageddon, when referring to the "Woman on the Seven Hills".

It is purely evident, and clear that the number seven refers to the end of our days.

DANIEL Chapter 7

7:1 In the first year of Belshazzar king of Babylon Daniel had a dream and visions of his head upon his bed: then he wrote the dream, [and] told the sum of the matters.

7:2 Daniel spake and said, I saw in my vision by night, and, behold, the four winds of the heaven strove upon the great sea.

7:3 And four great beasts came up from the sea, diverse one from another.

7:4 The first [was] like a lion, and had eagle's wings: I beheld till the wings thereof were plucked, and it was lifted up from the earth, and made stand upon the feet as a man, and a man's heart was given to it.

7:5 And behold another beast, a second, like to a bear, and it raised up itself on one side, and [it had] three ribs in the mouth of it between the teeth of it: and they said thus unto it, Arise, devour much flesh.

7:6 After this I beheld, and lo another, like a leopard, which had upon the back of it four wings of a fowl; the beast had also four heads; and dominion was given to it.

7:7 After this I saw in the night visions, and behold a fourth beast, dreadful and terrible, and strong exceedingly; and it had great iron teeth: it devoured and brake in pieces, and stamped the residue with the feet of it: and it [was] diverse from all the beasts that [were] before it; and it had ten horns.

7:8 I considered the horns, and, behold, there came up among them another little horn, before whom there were three of the first horns plucked up by the roots: and, behold, in this horn [were] eyes like the eyes of man, and a mouth speaking great things.

7:9 I beheld till the thrones were cast down, and the Ancient of days did sit, whose garment [was] white as snow, and the hair of his head like the pure wool: his throne [was like] the fiery flame, [and] his wheels [as] burning fire.

7:10 A fiery stream issued and came forth from before him: thousand thousands ministered unto him, and ten thousand times ten thousand stood before him: the judgment was set, and the books were opened.

7:11 I beheld then because of the voice of the great words which the horn spake: I beheld [even] till the beast was slain, and his body destroyed, and given to the burning flame.

7:12 As concerning the rest of the beasts, they had their dominion taken away: yet their lives were prolonged for a season and time.

7:13 I saw in the night visions, and, behold, [one] like the Son of man came with the clouds of heaven, and came to the Ancient of days, and they brought him near before him.

7:14 And there was given him dominion, and glory, and a kingdom, that all people, nations, and languages, should serve him: his dominion [is] an everlasting dominion, which shall not pass away, and his kingdom [that] which shall not be destroyed.

7:15 I Daniel was grieved in my spirit in the midst of [my] body, and the visions of my head troubled me.

7:16 I came near unto one of them that stood by, and asked him the truth of all this. So he told me, and made me know the interpretation of the things.

7:17 These great beasts, which are four, [are] four kings, [which] shall arise out of the earth.

7:18 But the saints of the most High shall take the kingdom, and possess the kingdom for ever, even for ever and ever.

7:19 Then I would know the truth of the fourth beast, which was diverse from all the others, exceeding dreadful, whose teeth [were of] iron, and his nails [of] brass; [which] devoured, brake in pieces, and stamped the residue with his feet;

7:20 And of the ten horns that [were] in his head, and [of] the other which came up, and before whom three fell; even [of] that horn that had eyes, and a mouth that spake very great things, whose look [was] more stout than his fellows.

7:21 I beheld, and the same horn made war with the saints, and prevailed against them;

7:22 Until the Ancient of days came, and judgment was given to the saints of the most High; and the time came that the saints possessed the kingdom.

7:23 Thus he said, The fourth beast shall be the fourth kingdom upon earth, which shall be diverse from all kingdoms, and shall devour the whole earth, and shall tread it down, and break it in pieces.

7:24 And the ten horns out of this kingdom [are] ten kings [that] shall arise: and another shall rise after them; and he shall be diverse from the first, and he shall subdue three kings.

7:25 And he shall speak [great] words against the most High, and shall wear out the saints of the most High, and think to change times and laws: and they shall be given into his hand until a time and times and the dividing of time.

7:26 But the judgment shall sit, and they shall take away his dominion, to consume and to destroy [it] unto the end.

7:27 And the kingdom and dominion, and the greatness of the kingdom under the whole heaven, shall be given to the people of the saints of the most High, whose kingdom [is] an everlasting kingdom, and all dominions shall serve and obey him.

7:28 Hitherto [is] the end of the matter. As for me Daniel, my cogitations much troubled me, and my countenance changed in me: but I kept the matter in my heart.

REVELATION Chapter 4

4:1 After this I looked, and, behold, a door [was] opened in heaven: and the first voice which I heard [was] as it were of a trumpet talking with me; which said, Come up hither, and I will shew thee things which must be hereafter.

4:2 And immediately I was in the spirit: and, behold, a throne was set in heaven, and [one] sat on the throne.

4:3 And he that sat was to look upon like a jasper and a sardine stone: and [there was] a rainbow round about the throne, in sight like unto an emerald.

4:4 And round about the throne [were] four and twenty seats: and upon the seats I saw four and twenty elders sitting, clothed in white raiment; and they had on their heads crowns of gold.

4:5 And out of the throne proceeded lightnings and thunderings and voices: and [there were] seven lamps of fire burning before the throne, which are the seven Spirits of God.

4:6 And before the throne [there was] a sea of glass like unto crystal: and in the midst of the throne, and round about the throne, [were] four beasts full of eyes before and behind.

4:7 And the first beast [was] like a lion, and the second beast like a calf, and the third beast had a face as a man, and the fourth beast [was] like a flying eagle.

4:8 And the four beasts had each of them six wings about [him]; and [they were] full of eyes within: and they rest not day and night, saying, Holy, holy, holy, Lord God Almighty, which was, and is, and is to come.

4:9 And when those beasts give glory and honour and thanks to him that sat on the throne, who liveth for ever and ever,

4:10 The four and twenty elders fall down before him that sat on the throne, and worship him that liveth for ever and ever, and cast their crowns before the throne, saying,

4:11 Thou art worthy, O Lord, to receive glory and honour and power: for thou hast created all things, and for thy pleasure they are and were created.

5:1 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.

5:2 And I saw a strong angel proclaiming with a loud voice, Who is worthy to open the book, and to loose the seals thereof?

5:3 And no man in heaven, nor in earth, neither under the earth, was able to open the book, neither to look thereon.

5:4 And I wept much, because no man was found worthy to open and to read the book, neither to look thereon.

5:5 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.

5:6 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.

5:7 And he came and took the book out of the right hand of him that sat upon the throne.

5:8 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.

5:9 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;

5:10 And hast made us unto our God kings and priests: and we shall reign on the earth.

5:11 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;

5:12 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.

5:13 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.

5:14 And the four beasts said, Amen. And the four [and] twenty elders fell down and worshipped him that liveth for ever and ever.

REVELATION Chapter 6

6:1 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.

6:2 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.

6:3 And when he had opened the second seal, I heard the second beast say, Come and see.

6:4 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.

6:5 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.

6:6 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.

6:7 And when he had opened the fourth seal, I heard the voice of the fourth beast say, Come and see.

6:8 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.

6:9 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:

6:10 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?

6:11 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 should be killed as they [were], should be fulfilled.

6:12 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;

6:13 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.

6:14 And the heaven departed as a scroll when it is rolled together; and every mountain and island were moved out of their places.

6:15 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;

6:16 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:

6:17 For the great day of his wrath is come; and who shall be able to stand?

REVELATION Chapter 7

7:1 And after these things I saw four angels standing on the four corners of the earth, holding the four winds of the earth, that the wind should not blow on the earth, nor on the sea, nor on any tree.

7:2 And I saw another angel ascending from the east, having the seal of the living God: and he cried with a loud voice to the four angels, to whom it was given to hurt the earth and the sea,

7:3 Saying, Hurt not the earth, neither the sea, nor the trees, till we have sealed the servants of our God in their foreheads.

7:4 And I heard the number of them which were sealed: [and there were] sealed an hundred [and] forty [and] four thousand of all the tribes of the children of Israel.

7:5 Of the tribe of Juda [were] sealed twelve thousand. Of the tribe of Reuben [were] sealed twelve thousand. Of the tribe of Gad [were] sealed twelve thousand.

7:6 Of the tribe of Aser [were] sealed twelve thousand. Of the tribe of Nepthalim [were] sealed twelve thousand. Of the tribe of Manasses [were] sealed twelve thousand.

7:7 Of the tribe of Simeon [were] sealed twelve thousand. Of the tribe of Levi [were] sealed twelve thousand. Of the tribe of Issachar [were] sealed twelve thousand.

7:8 Of the tribe of Zabulon [were] sealed twelve thousand. Of the tribe of Joseph [were] sealed twelve thousand. Of the tribe of Benjamin [were] sealed twelve thousand.

7:9 After this I beheld, and, lo, a great multitude, which no man could number, of all nations, and kindreds, and people, and tongues, stood before the throne, and before the Lamb, clothed with white robes, and palms in their hands;

7:10 And cried with a loud voice, saying, Salvation to our God which sitteth upon the throne, and unto the Lamb.

7:11 And all the angels stood round about the throne, and [about] the elders and the four beasts, and fell before the throne on their faces, and worshipped God,

7:12 Saying, Amen: Blessing, and glory, and wisdom, and thanksgiving, and honour, and power, and might, [be] unto our God for ever and ever. Amen.

7:13 And one of the elders answered, saying unto me, What are these which are arrayed in white robes? and whence came they?

7:14 And I said unto him, Sir, thou knowest. And he said to me, These are they which came out of great tribulation, and have washed their robes, and made them white in the blood of the Lamb.

7:15 Therefore are they before the throne of God, and serve him day and night in his temple: and he that sitteth on the throne shall dwell among them.

7:16 They shall hunger no more, neither thirst any more; neither shall the sun light on them, nor any heat.

7:17 For the Lamb which is in the midst of the throne shall feed them, and shall lead them unto living fountains of waters: and God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes.

REVELATION Chapter 11

11:1 And there was given me a reed like unto a rod: and the angel stood, saying, Rise, and measure the temple of God, and the altar, and them that worship therein.

11:2 But the court which is without the temple leave out, and measure it not; for it is given unto the Gentiles: and the holy city shall they tread under foot forty [and] two months.

11:3 And I will give [power] unto my two witnesses, and they shall prophesy a thousand two hundred [and] threescore days, clothed in sackcloth.

11:4 These are the two olive trees, and the two candlesticks standing before the God of the earth.

11:5 And if any man will hurt them, fire proceedeth out of their mouth, and devoureth their enemies: and if any man will hurt them, he must in this manner be killed.

11:6 These have power to shut heaven, that it rain not in the days of their prophecy: and have power over waters to turn them to blood, and to smite the earth with all plagues, as often as they will.

11:7 And when they shall have finished their testimony, the beast that ascendeth out of the bottomless pit shall make war against them, and shall overcome them, and kill them.

11:8 And their dead bodies [shall lie] in the street of the great city, which spiritually is called Sodom and Egypt, where also our Lord was crucified.

11:9 And they of the people and kindreds and tongues and nations shall see their dead bodies three days and an half, and shall not suffer their dead bodies to be put in graves.

11:10 And they that dwell upon the earth shall rejoice over them, and make merry, and shall send gifts one to another; because these two prophets tormented them that dwelt on the earth.

11:11 And after three days and an half the Spirit of life from God entered into them, and they stood upon their feet; and great fear fell upon them which saw them.

11:12 And they heard a great voice from heaven saying unto them, Come up hither. And they ascended up to heaven in a cloud; and their enemies beheld them.

11:13 And the same hour was there a great earthquake, and the tenth part of the city fell, and in the earthquake were slain of men seven thousand: and the remnant were affrighted, and gave glory to the God of heaven.

11:14 The second woe is past; [and], behold, the third woe cometh quickly.

11:15 And the seventh angel sounded; and there were great voices in heaven, saying, The kingdoms of this world are become [the kingdoms] of our Lord, and of his Christ; and he shall reign for ever and ever.

11:16 And the four and twenty elders, which sat before God on their seats, fell upon their faces, and worshipped God,

11:17 Saying, We give thee thanks, O Lord God Almighty, which art, and wast, and art to come; because thou hast taken to thee thy great power, and hast reigned.

11:18 And the nations were angry, and thy wrath is come, and the time of the dead, that they should be judged, and that thou shouldest give reward unto thy servants the prophets, and to the saints, and them that fear thy name, small and great; and shouldest destroy them which destroy the earth.

11:19 And the temple of God was opened in heaven, and there was seen in his temple the ark of his testament: and there were lightnings, and voices, and thunderings, and an earthquake, and great hail.

REVELATION Chapter 13

13:1 And I stood upon the sand of the sea, and saw a beast rise up out of the sea, having seven heads and ten horns, and upon his horns ten crowns, and upon his heads the name of blasphemy.

13:2 And the beast which I saw was like unto a leopard, and his feet were as [the feet] of a bear, and his mouth as the mouth of a lion: and the dragon gave him his power, and his seat, and great authority.

13:3 And I saw one of his heads as it were wounded to death; and his deadly wound was healed: and all the world wondered after the beast.

13:4 And they worshipped the dragon which gave power unto the beast: and they worshipped the beast, saying, Who [is] like unto the beast? who is able to make war with him?

13:5 And there was given unto him a mouth speaking great things and blasphemies; and power was given unto him to continue forty [and] two months.

13:6 And he opened his mouth in blasphemy against God, to blaspheme his name, and his tabernacle, and them that dwell in heaven.

13:7 And it was given unto him to make war with the saints, and to overcome them: and power was given him over all kindreds, and tongues, and nations.

13:8 And all that dwell upon the earth shall worship him, whose names are not written in the book of life of the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world.

13:9 If any man have an ear, let him hear.

13:10 He that leadeth into captivity shall go into captivity: he that killeth with the sword must be killed with the sword. Here is the patience and the faith of the saints.

13:11 And I beheld another beast coming up out of the earth; and he had two horns like a lamb, and he spake as a dragon.

13:12 And he exerciseth all the power of the first beast before him, and causeth the earth and them which dwell therein to worship the first beast, whose deadly wound was healed.

13:13 And he doeth great wonders, so that he maketh fire come down from heaven on the earth in the sight of men,

13:14 And deceiveth them that dwell on the earth by [the means of] those miracles which he had power to do in the sight of the beast; saying to them that dwell on the earth, that they should make an image to the beast, which had the wound by a sword, and did live.

13:15 And he had power to give life unto the image of the beast, that the image of the beast should both speak, and cause that as many as would not worship the image of the beast should be killed.

13:16 And he causeth all, both small and great, rich and poor, free and bond, to receive a mark in their right hand, or in their foreheads:

13:17 And that no man might buy or sell, save he that had the mark, or the name of the beast, or the number of his name.

13:18 Here is wisdom. Let him that hath understanding count the number of the beast: for it is the number of a man; and his number [is] Six hundred threescore [and] six.

REVELATION Chapter 14

14:1 And I looked, and, lo, a Lamb stood on the mount Sion, and with him an hundred forty [and] four thousand, having his Father's name written in their foreheads.

14:2 And I heard a voice from heaven, as the voice of many waters, and as the voice of a great thunder: and I heard the voice of harpers harping with their harps:

14:3 And they sung as it were a new song before the throne, and before the four beasts, and the elders: and no man could learn that song but the hundred [and] forty [and] four thousand, which were redeemed from the earth.

14:4 These are they which were not defiled with women; for they are virgins. These are they which follow the Lamb whithersoever he goeth. These were redeemed from among men, [being] the firstfruits unto God and to the Lamb.

14:5 And in their mouth was found no guile: for they are without fault before the throne of God.

14:6 And I saw another angel fly in the midst of heaven, having the everlasting gospel to preach unto them that dwell on the earth, and to every nation, and kindred, and tongue, and people,
14:11 And the smoke of their torment ascendeth up for ever and ever: and they have no rest day nor night, who worship the beast and his image, and whosoever receiveth the mark of his name.

14:12 Here is the patience of the saints: here [are] they that keep the commandments of God, and the faith of Jesus.

14:13 And I heard a voice from heaven saying unto me, Write, Blessed [are] the dead which die in the Lord from henceforth: Yea, saith the Spirit, that they may rest from their labours; and their works do follow them.

14:14 And I looked, and behold a white cloud, and upon the cloud [one] sat like unto the Son of man, having on his head a golden crown, and in his hand a sharp sickle.

14:15 And another angel came out of the temple, crying with a loud voice to him that sat on the cloud, Thrust in thy sickle, and reap: for the time is come for thee to reap; for the harvest of the earth is ripe.

14:16 And he that sat on the cloud thrust in his sickle on the earth; and the earth was reaped.

14:17 And another angel came out of the temple which is in heaven, he also having a sharp sickle.

14:18 And another angel came out from the altar, which had power over fire; and cried with a loud cry to him that had the sharp sickle, saying, Thrust in thy sharp sickle, and gather the clusters of the vine of the earth; for her grapes are fully ripe.

14:19 And the angel thrust in his sickle into the earth, and gathered the vine of the earth, and cast [it] into the great winepress of the wrath of God.

14:20 And the winepress was trodden without the city, and blood came out of the winepress, even unto the horse bridles, by the space of a thousand [and] six hundred furlongs.

REVELATION Chapter 15

15:1 And I saw another sign in heaven, great and marvellous, seven angels having the seven last plagues; for in them is filled up the wrath of God.

15:2 And I saw as it were a sea of glass mingled with fire: and them that had gotten the victory over the beast, and over his image, and over his mark, [and] over the number of his name, stand on the sea of glass, having the harps of God.

15:3 And they sing the song of Moses the servant of God, and the song of the Lamb, saying, Great and marvellous [are] thy works, Lord God Almighty; just and true [are] thy ways, thou King of saints.

15:4 Who shall not fear thee, O Lord, and glorify thy name? for [thou] only [art] holy: for all nations shall come and worship before thee; for thy judgments are made manifest.

15:5 And after that I looked, and, behold, the temple of the tabernacle of the testimony in heaven was opened:

15:6 And the seven angels came out of the temple, having the seven plagues, clothed in pure and white linen, and having their breasts girded with golden girdles.

15:7 And one of the four beasts gave unto the seven angels seven golden vials full of the wrath of God, who liveth for ever and ever.

15:8 And the temple was filled with smoke from the glory of God, and from his power; and no man was able to enter into the temple, till the seven plagues of the seven angels were fulfilled.

REVELATION Chapter 16

16:1 And I heard a great voice out of the temple saying to the seven angels, Go your ways, and pour out the vials of the wrath of God upon the earth.

16:2 And the first went, and poured out his vial upon the earth; and there fell a noisome and grievous sore upon the men which had the mark of the beast, and [upon] them which worshipped his image.

16:3 And the second angel poured out his vial upon the sea; and it became as the blood of a dead [man]: and every living soul died in the sea.

16:4 And the third angel poured out his vial upon the rivers and fountains of waters; and they became blood.

16:5 And I heard the angel of the waters say, Thou art righteous, O Lord, which art, and wast, and shalt be, because thou hast judged thus.

16:6 For they have shed the blood of saints and prophets, and thou hast given them blood to drink; for they are worthy.

16:7 And I heard another out of the altar say, Even so, Lord God Almighty, true and righteous [are] thy judgments.

16:8 And the fourth angel poured out his vial upon the sun; and power was given unto him to scorch men with fire.

16:9 And men were scorched with great heat, and blasphemed the name of God, which hath power over these plagues: and they repented not to give him glory.

16:10 And the fifth angel poured out his vial upon the seat of the beast; and his kingdom was full of darkness; and they gnawed their tongues for pain,

16:11 And blasphemed the God of heaven because of their pains and their sores, and repented not of their deeds.

16:12 And the sixth angel poured out his vial upon the great river Euphrates; and the water thereof was dried up, that the way of the kings of the east might be prepared.

16:13 And I saw three unclean spirits like frogs [come] out of the mouth of the dragon, and out of the mouth of the beast, and out of the mouth of the false prophet.

16:14 For they are the spirits of devils, working miracles, [which] go forth unto the kings of the earth and of the whole world, to gather them to the battle of that great day of God Almighty.

16:15 Behold, I come as a thief. Blessed [is] he that watcheth, and keepeth his garments, lest he walk naked, and they see his shame.

16:16 And he gathered them together into a place called in the Hebrew tongue Armageddon.

16:17 And the seventh angel poured out his vial into the air; and there came a great voice out of the temple of heaven, from the throne, saying, It is done.

16:18 And there were voices, and thunders, and lightnings; and there was a great earthquake, such as was not since men were upon the earth, so mighty an earthquake, [and] so great.

16:19 And the great city was divided into three parts, and the cities of the nations fell: and great Babylon came in remembrance before God, to give unto her the cup of the wine of the fierceness of his wrath.

16:20 And every island fled away, and the mountains were not found.

16:21 And there fell upon men a great hail out of heaven, [every stone] about the weight of a talent: and men blasphemed God because of the plague of the hail; for the plague thereof was exceeding great.

REVELATION Chapter 17

17:1 And there came one of the seven angels which had the seven vials, and talked with me, saying unto me, Come hither; I will shew unto thee the judgment of the great whore that sitteth upon many waters:

17:2 With whom the kings of the earth have committed fornication, and the inhabitants of the earth have been made drunk with the wine of her fornication.

17:3 So he carried me away in the spirit into the wilderness: and I saw a woman sit upon a scarlet coloured beast, full of names of blasphemy, having seven heads and ten horns.

17:4 And the woman was arrayed in purple and scarlet colour, and decked with gold and precious stones and pearls, having a golden cup in her hand full of abominations and filthiness of her fornication:

17:5 And upon her forehead [was] a name written, MYSTERY, BABYLON THE GREAT, THE MOTHER OF HARLOTS AND ABOMINATIONS OF THE EARTH.

17:6 And I saw the woman drunken with the blood of the saints, and with the blood of the martyrs of Jesus: and when I saw her, I wondered with great admiration.

17:7 And the angel said unto me, Wherefore didst thou marvel? I will tell thee the mystery of the woman, and of the beast that carrieth her, which hath the seven heads and ten horns.

17:8 The beast that thou sawest was, and is not; and shall ascend out of the bottomless pit, and go into perdition: and they that dwell on the earth shall wonder, whose names were not written in the book of life from the foundation of the world, when they behold the beast that was, and is not, and yet is.

17:9 And here [is] the mind which hath wisdom. The seven heads are seven mountains, on which the woman sitteth.

17:10 And there are seven kings: five are fallen, and one is, [and] the other is not yet come; and when he cometh, he must continue a short space.

17:11 And the beast that was, and is not, even he is the eighth, and is of the seven, and goeth into perdition.

17:12 And the ten horns which thou sawest are ten kings, which have received no kingdom as yet; but receive power as kings one hour with the beast.

17:13 These have one mind, and shall give their power and strength unto the beast.

17:14 These shall make war with the Lamb, and the Lamb shall overcome them: for he is Lord of lords, and King of kings: and they that are with him [are] called, and chosen, and faithful.

17:15 And he saith unto me, The waters which thou sawest, where the whore sitteth, are peoples, and multitudes, and nations, and tongues.

17:16 And the ten horns which thou sawest upon the beast, these shall hate the whore, and shall make her desolate and naked, and shall eat her flesh, and burn her with fire.

17:17 For God hath put in their hearts to fulfil his will, and to agree, and give their kingdom unto the beast, until the words of God shall be fulfilled.

17:18 And the woman which thou sawest is that great city, which reigneth over the kings of the earth.

REVELATION Chapter 19

19:1 And after these things I heard a great voice of much people in heaven, saying, Alleluia; Salvation, and glory, and honour, and power, unto the Lord our God:

19:2 For true and righteous [are] his judgments: for he hath judged the great whore, which did corrupt the earth with her fornication, and hath avenged the blood of his servants at her hand.

19:3 And again they said, Alleluia. And her smoke rose up for ever and ever.

19:4 And the four and twenty elders and the four beasts fell down and worshipped God that sat on the throne, saying, Amen; Alleluia.

19:5 And a voice came out of the throne, saying, Praise our God, all ye his servants, and ye that fear him, both small and great.

19:6 And I heard as it were the voice of a great multitude, and as the voice of many waters, and as the voice of mighty thunderings, saying, Alleluia: for the Lord God omnipotent reigneth.

19:7 Let us be glad and rejoice, and give honour to him: for the marriage of the Lamb is come, and his wife hath made herself ready.

19:8 And to her was granted that she should be arrayed in fine linen, clean and white: for the fine linen is the righteousness of saints.

19:9 And he saith unto me, Write, Blessed [are] they which are called unto the marriage supper of the Lamb. And he saith unto me, These are the true sayings of God.

19:10 And I fell at his feet to worship him. And he said unto me, See [thou do it] not: I am thy fellowservant, and of thy brethren that have the testimony of Jesus: worship God: for the testimony of Jesus is the spirit of prophecy.

19:11 And I saw heaven opened, and behold a white horse; and he that sat upon him [was] called Faithful and True, and in righteousness he doth judge and make war.

19:12 His eyes [were] as a flame of fire, and on his head [were] many crowns; and he had a name written, that no man knew, but he himself.

19:13 And he [was] clothed with a vesture dipped in blood: and his name is called The Word of God.

19:14 And the armies [which were] in heaven followed him upon white horses, clothed in fine linen, white and clean.

19:15 And out of his mouth goeth a sharp sword, that with it he should smite the nations: and he shall rule them with a rod of iron: and he treadeth the winepress of the fierceness and wrath of Almighty God.

19:16 And he hath on [his] vesture and on his thigh a name written, KING OF KINGS, AND LORD OF LORDS.

19:17 And I saw an angel standing in the sun; and he cried with a loud voice, saying to all the fowls that fly in the midst of heaven, Come and gather yourselves together unto the supper of the great God;

19:18 That ye may eat the flesh of kings, and the flesh of captains, and the flesh of mighty men, and the flesh of horses, and of them that sit on them, and the flesh of all [men, both] free and bond, both small and great.

19:19 And I saw the beast, and the kings of the earth, and their armies, gathered together to make war against him that sat on the horse, and against his army.

19:20 And the beast was taken, and with him the false prophet that wrought miracles before him, with which he deceived them that had received the mark of the beast, and them that worshipped his image. These both were cast alive into a lake of fire burning with brimstone.

19:21 And the remnant were slain with the sword of him that sat upon the horse, which [sword] proceeded out of his mouth: and all the fowls were filled with their flesh.

REVELATION Chapter 20

20:1 And I saw an angel come down from heaven, having the key of the bottomless pit and a great chain in his hand.

20:2 And he laid hold on the dragon, that old serpent, which is the Devil, and Satan, and bound him a thousand years,

20:3 And cast him into the bottomless pit, and shut him up, and set a seal upon him, that he should deceive the nations no more, till the thousand years should be fulfilled: and after that he must be loosed a little season.

20:4 And I saw thrones, and they sat upon them, and judgment was given unto them: and [I saw] the souls of them that were beheaded for the witness of Jesus, and for the word of God, and which had not worshipped the beast, neither his image, neither had received [his] mark upon their foreheads, or in their hands; and they lived and reigned with Christ a thousand years.

20:5 But the rest of the dead lived not again until the thousand years were finished. This [is] the first resurrection.

20:6 Blessed and holy [is] he that hath part in the first resurrection: on such the second death hath no power, but they shall be priests of God and of Christ, and shall reign with him a thousand years.

20:7 And when the thousand years are expired, Satan shall be loosed out of his prison,

20:8 And shall go out to deceive the nations which are in the four quarters of the earth, Gog and Magog, to gather them together to battle: the number of whom [is] as the sand of the sea.

20:9 And they went up on the breadth of the earth, and compassed the camp of the saints about, and the beloved city: and fire came down from God out of heaven, and devoured them.

20:10 And the devil that deceived them was cast into the lake of fire and brimstone, where the beast and the false prophet [are], and shall be tormented day and night for ever and ever.

20:11 And I saw a great white throne, and him that sat on it, from whose face the earth and the heaven fled away; and there was found no place for them.

20:12 And I saw the dead, small and great, stand before God; and the books were opened: and another book was opened, which is [the book] of life: and the dead were judged out of those things which were written in the books, according to their works.

20:13 And the sea gave up the dead which were in it; and death and hell delivered up the dead which were in them: and they were judged every man according to their works.

20:14 And death and hell were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death.

20:15 And whosoever was not found written in the book of life was cast into the lake of fire.