1When he opened the seventh seal, there was silence in heaven for about half an hour. 2I saw the seven angels who stand before God, and seven trumpets were given to them.
3Another angel came and stood over the altar, having a golden censer. Much incense was given to him, that he should add it to the prayers of all the saints on the golden altar which was before the throne. 4The smoke of the incense, with the prayers of the saints, went up before God out of the angel’s hand. 5The angel took the censer, and he filled it with the fire of the altar, then threw it on the earth. Thunders, sounds, lightnings, and an earthquake followed.
6The seven angels who had the seven trumpets prepared themselves to sound.
7The first sounded, and there followed hail and fire, mixed with blood, and they were thrown to the earth. One third of the earth was burned up, and one third of the trees were burned up, and all green grass was burned up.
8The second angel sounded, and something like a great burning mountain was thrown into the sea. One third of the sea became blood, 9and one third of the living creatures which were in the sea died. One third of the ships were destroyed.
10The third angel sounded, and a great star fell from the sky, burning like a torch, and it fell on one third of the rivers, and on the springs of water. 11The name of the star is “Wormwood.” One third of the waters became wormwood. Many people died from the waters, because they were made bitter.
12The fourth angel sounded, and one third of the sun was struck, and one third of the moon, and one third of the stars, so that one third of them would be darkened; and the day wouldn’t shine for one third of it, and the night in the same way. 13I saw, and I heard an eagle, flying in mid heaven, saying with a loud voice, “Woe! Woe! Woe to those who dwell on the earth, because of the other blasts of the trumpets of the three angels, who are yet to sound!”
In the northwest corner of the theater, atop the left staircase, is a most interesting inscription that dates to A.D. 4-5. It is carved into a block whose right side is partially missing. The first row features symbols situated above 5 ½ ovals; these symbols seemingly refer to particular archangels. Between them are 34 repeating Greek vowels plus 2 Νs — Ι Ε Ο Υ Α Η Ω Ι Α Ω Α Ι Ε Ο Υ Α Η Ω Ι Ω Α Ε Η Ο Υ Ι Α Ω Ι Η Ε Ο Υ Ε Ν Ο N. Such formulas were used in magical papyri and meant to be pronounced for greater efficacy. Inside each oval was a sequence of these seven vowels begun by each of the vowels in alphabetical order. Then follows the prayer: “Holy One, protect the city of the Milesians and all of its inhabitants!” The last line declares, “Archangels, the city of the Milesians and all its inhabitants are protected!” While the names of the seven archangels are unnamed, they are known from the London Papyrus—Michael, Raphael, Gabriel, Souriel, Zaziel, Badakiel, and Suliel. Seven angels are mentioned in Tobit 12:15 and repeatedly in Revelation (8:6 ff). Michael is named as an archangel in Jude 1:9 and Revelation 12:7; the angels Gabriel in Luke 1:19, 26 and Raphael in Tobit 5:4. The other four are only mentioned in the pseudepigraphical book of Tobit. Because of its biblical connections, the inscription was thought to be Jewish or Christian. However, the lack of symbols related to either of these religions suggests that it is pagan. Civic officials apparently erected it to invoke protection from the archangels for their city from disease and plague that perhaps came from the Aegean Sea and Meander River.