"To the messenger of the church in Philadelphia write: 'The Holy and True One, who carries the keys of David, who opens and no one can shut, who shuts and no one can open, speaks as follows:

"I know what you are doing. See! I have put before you an open door that no one can shut. I know that you have but little strength, and yet you have obeyed my message and you have not disowned my name.

They have the power to shut up the sky, so that no rain will fall upon the earth as long as they prophesy, and they have power over the waters to turn them into blood, and to smite the earth with any plague as often as they please.

Because they have shed the blood of your people and prophets, you have given them blood to drink; they deserve it."

After this I heard something like the loud shout of a great multitude in heaven, saying: "Praise the Lord! Salvation, glory, and power belong to our God,

Then I heard something like the shout of a great multitude and the roar of many waters and the peal of mighty thunders, saying: "Praise the Lord! For the Lord, our Almighty God, has now begun to reign!

Let us be glad and shout for joy and give Him glory, because the marriage of the Lamb has come, and His bride has made herself ready.

From His mouth shot a sharp sword, so that He could smite the nations with it. He will rule them with a scepter of iron, and will tread the wine press of the raging wrath of the Almighty God.

The rest were killed with the sword that shot from the mouth of the horse's Rider, and all the birds were gorged with their flesh.