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THE DAILY FOUNTAIN DAILY DEVOTIONAL GUIDE OF THE CHURCH OF NIGERIA (ANGLICAN COMMUNION) DATE: SUNDAY, 31ST OCTOBER, 2021 (TWENTY-SECOND SUNDAY AFTER TRINITY ) TOPIC: FROM SORROW TO JOY TEXT: JOHN 16:21-24  21. "A woman, when she is in labor, has sorrow because her hour has come; but as soon as she has given birth to the child, she no longer remembers the anguish, for joy that a human being has been born into the world. 22. "Therefore you now have sorrow; but I will see you again and your heart will rejoice, and your joy no one will take from you. 23. "And in that day you will ask Me nothing. Most assuredly, I say to you, whatever you ask the Father in My name He will give you. 24. "Until now you have asked nothing in My name. Ask, and you will receive, that your joy may be full. MESSAGE: Today's passage is Jesus' explanation to the question of and reaction of the disciples concerning His death and resurrection (vs. 16-20). Jesus assured the disciples tha

Hello friends, how have you been? So, someone sent me this message below, which was part of what I taught some time ago. It blessed my soul and I know it will bless you too.  Don't just read, also act and the Spirit of Jesus will help you.  Now, what are these tips?  1. Iron all your cloth before you sleep. 2. Polish/clean footwear before you sleep. 3. Get your Bible, jotter, etc. ready in one place. 4. Get your tithe &. offering ready. 5. Sleep a bit early. 6. Wake up on time. 7. Avoid saying "Even when I get there early, I won't meet anyone" Get there early and let someone come and meet you too. Don't forget you are also someone. The Bible says we must not join multitude to sin. 8. Washing on Sundays before church is not encouraged. It may delay you. 9. If it takes you 15 minutes to drive/walk to the church, always make allowance for extra time in case of anything. For instance, if service is 7am and it takes you 10 minutes to drive/walk to church, it's

THE DAILY FOUNTAIN DAILY DEVOTIONAL GUIDE OF THE CHURCH OF NIGERIA (ANGLICAN COMMUNION) DATE: SATURDAY, 30TH OCTOBER, 2021  TOPIC: ABUNDANCE OR VANITY: CHOOSE WISELY TEXT: ECCLESIASTES 5:11-20  11.  When goods increase, They increase who eat them; So what profit have the owners Except to see [them] with their eyes? 12.  The sleep of a laboring man [is] sweet, Whether he eats little or much; But the abundance of the rich will not permit him to sleep. 13.  There is a severe evil [which] I have seen under the sun: Riches kept for their owner to his hurt. 14.  But those riches perish through misfortune; When he begets a son, [there is] nothing in his hand. 15.  As he came from his mother's womb, naked shall he return, To go as he came; And he shall take nothing from his labor Which he may carry away in his hand. 16.  And this also [is] a severe evil -- Just exactly as he came, so shall he go. And what profit has he who has labored for the wind? 17.  All his days he also eats in darknes

THE DAILY FOUNTAIN DAILY DEVOTIONAL GUIDE OF THE CHURCH OF NIGERIA (ANGLICAN COMMUNION) DATE: FRIDAY, 29TH OCTOBER, 2021 TOPIC: CHASTITY AND CHARITY TEXT: ECCLESIASTES 5:1-10 1. Walk prudently when you go to the house of God; and draw near to hear rather than to give the sacrifice of fools, for they do not know that they do evil. 2. Do not be rash with your mouth, And let not your heart utter anything hastily before God. For God [is] in heaven, and you on earth; Therefore let your words be few. 3. For a dream comes through much activity, And a fool's voice [is known] by [his] many words. 4. When you make a vow to God, do not delay to pay it; For [He has] no pleasure in fools. Pay what you have vowed -- 5. Better not to vow than to vow and not pay. 6. Do not let your mouth cause your flesh to sin, nor say before the messenger [of God] that it [was] an error. Why should God be angry at your excuse and destroy the work of your hands? 7. For in the multitude of dreams and many words

THE DAILY FOUNTAIN DAILY DEVOTIONAL GUIDE OF THE CHURCH OF NIGERIA (ANGLICAN COMMUNION) DATE: THURSDAY, 28TH OCTOBER, 2021 (SAINTS SIMON AND JUDE THE APOSTLES) TOPIC: HE OVERCOMES THE WORLD TEXT: JOHN 15:17-27  17. "These things I command you, that you love one another. 18. " If the world hates you, you know that it hated Me before [it hated] you. 19. "If you were of the world, the world would love its own. Yet because you are not of the world, but I chose you out of the world, therefore the world hates you. 20. "Remember the word that I said to you, 'A servant is not greater than his master.' If they persecuted Me, they will also persecute you. If they kept My word, they will keep yours also. 21. "But all these things they will do to you for My name's sake because they do not know Him who sent Me. 22. "If I had not come and spoken to them, they would have no sin, but now they have no excuse for their sin. 23. "He who hates Me hates

THE DAILY FOUNTAIN DAILY DEVOTIONAL GUIDE OF THE CHURCH OF NIGERIA (ANGLICAN COMMUNION) DATE: WEDNESDAY, 27TH OCTOBER, 2021  TOPIC: ONE WITH GOD TEXT: ECCLESIASTES 4:9-16 9. Two [are] better than one, Because they have a good reward for their labor. 10. For if they fall, one will lift up his companion. But woe to him [who is] alone when he falls, For [he has] no one to help him up. 11. Again, if two lie down together, they will keep warm; But how can one be warm [alone?] 12. Though one may be overpowered by another, two can withstand him. And a threefold cord is not quickly broken. 13. Better a poor and wise youth Than an old and foolish king who will be admonished no more. 14. For he comes out of prison to be king, Although he was born poor in his kingdom. 15. I saw all the living who walk under the sun; They were with the second youth who stands in his place. 16. [There was] no end of all the people over whom he was made king; Yet those who come afterward will not rejoice in

THE DAILY FOUNTAIN DAILY DEVOTIONAL GUIDE OF THE CHURCH OF NIGERIA (ANGLICAN COMMUNION) DATE: TUESDAY, 26TH OCTOBER, 2021  TOPIC: LIFE WITHOUT JESUS IS A WASTE TEXT: ECCLESIASTES 4:1-8 1. Then I returned and considered all the oppression that is done under the sun: And look! The tears of the oppressed, But they have no comforter -- On the side of their oppressors [there is] power, But they have no comforter. 2. Therefore I praised the dead who were already dead, More than the living who are still alive. 3. Yet, better than both [is he] who has never existed, Who has not seen the evil work that is done under the sun. 4. Again, I saw that for all toil and every skillful work a man is envied by his neighbor. This also [is] vanity and grasping for the wind. 5. The fool folds his hands And consumes his own flesh. 6. Better a handful [with] quietness Than both hands full, [together with] toil and grasping for the wind. 7. Then I returned, and I saw vanity under the sun: 8. There is one a

THE DAILY FOUNTAIN DAILY DEVOTIONAL GUIDE OF THE CHURCH OF NIGERIA (ANGLICAN COMMUNION) DATE: MONDAY, 25TH OCTOBER, 2021  TOPIC: GOD'S JUDGEMENT IS CERTAIN TEXT: ECCLESIASTES 3:16-22  16. Moreover I saw under the sun: [In] the place of judgment, Wickedness [was] there; And [in] the place of righteousness, Iniquity [was] there. 17. I said in my heart, "God shall judge the righteous and the wicked, For [there is] a time there for every purpose and for every work." 18. I said in my heart, "Concerning the condition of the sons of men, God tests them, that they may see that they themselves are [like] animals." 19. For what happens to the sons of men also happens to animals; one thing befalls them: as one dies, so dies the other. Surely, they all have one breath; man has no advantage over animals, for all [is] vanity. 20. All go to one place: all are from the dust, and all return to dust. 21. Who knows the spirit of the sons of men, which goes upward, and the sp

 THE DAILY FOUNTAIN DAILY DEVOTIONAL GUIDE OF THE CHURCH OF NIGERIA (ANGLICAN COMMUNION) DATE: SUNDAY, 24TH OCTOBER, 2021  TOPIC: BE FAITHFUL! TEXT: LUKE 19:11-28 11. Now as they heard these things, He spoke another parable, because He was near Jerusalem and because they thought the kingdom of God would appear immediately. 12. Therefore He said: "A certain nobleman went into a far country to receive for himself a kingdom and to return. 13. "So he called ten of his servants, delivered to them ten minas, and said to them, 'Do business till I come.' 14. "But his citizens hated him, and sent a delegation after him, saying, 'We will not have this [man] to reign over us.' 15. "And so it was that when he returned, having received the kingdom, he then commanded these servants, to whom he had given the money, to be called to him, that he might know how much every man had gained by trading. 16. "Then came the first, saying, 'Master, your mina ha

THE DAILY FOUNTAIN DAILY DEVOTIONAL GUIDE OF THE CHURCH OF NIGERIA (ANGLICAN COMMUNION) DATE: SATURDAY, 23RD OCTOBER, 2021  TOPIC: THE DANGER OF FAMILIARITY TEXT: MATTHEW 13:53-58 53. Now it came to pass, when Jesus had finished these parables, that He departed from there. 54. And when He had come to His own country, He taught them in their synagogue, so that they were astonished and said, "Where did this [Man] get this wisdom and [these] mighty works? 55. "Is this not the carpenter's son? Is not His mother called Mary? And His brothers James, Joses, Simon, and Judas? 56. "And His sisters, are they not all with us? Where then did this [Man] get all these things?" 57. So they were offended at Him. But Jesus said to them, "A prophet is not without honor except in his own country and in his own house." 58. Now He did not do many mighty works there because of their unbelief. MESSAGE: Today's reading gives an interesting but saddening account of J

THE DAILY FOUNTAIN DAILY DEVOTIONAL GUIDE OF THE CHURCH OF NIGERIA (ANGLICAN COMMUNION) DATE: FRIDAY, 22ND OCTOBER, 2021 TOPIC: THE BEAUTY OF CREATION  TEXT: ECCLESIASTES 3:9-15 9. What profit has the worker from that in which he labors? 10. I have seen the God-given task with which the sons of men are to be occupied. 11. He has made everything beautiful in its time. Also He has put eternity in their hearts, except that no one can find out the work that God does from beginning to end. 12. I know that nothing [is] better for them than to rejoice, and to do good in their lives, 13. and also that every man should eat and drink and enjoy the good of all his labor -- it [is] the gift of God. 14. I know that whatever God does, It shall be forever. Nothing can be added to it, And nothing taken from it. God does [it,] that men should fear before Him. 15. That which is has already been, And what is to be has already been; And God requires an account of what is past. MESSAGE:  Yesterday,

THE DAILY FOUNTAIN DAILY DEVOTIONAL GUIDE OF THE CHURCH OF NIGERIA (ANGLICAN COMMUNION) DATE: THURSDAY, 21ST OCTOBER, 2021  TOPIC: A TIME CREATED FOR EVERYTHING TEXT: ECCLESIASTES 3:1-8  1. To everything [there is] a season, A time for every purpose under heaven: 2. A time to be born, And a time to die; A time to plant, And a time to pluck [what is] planted; 3. A time to kill, And a time to heal; A time to break down, And a time to build up; 4. A time to weep, And a time to laugh; A time to mourn, And a time to dance; 5. A time to cast away stones, And a time to gather stones; A time to embrace, And a time to refrain from embracing; 6. A time to gain, And a time to lose; A time to keep, And a time to throw away; 7. A time to tear, And a time to sew; A time to keep silence, And a time to speak; 8. A time to love, And a time to hate; A time of war, And a time of peace. MESSAGE: Everything that happens under the sun has its own time and this time is either fixed by humans or by nature

THE DAILY FOUNTAIN DAILY DEVOTIONAL GUIDE OF THE CHURCH OF NIGERIA (ANGLICAN COMMUNION) DATE: WEDNESDAY, 20TH OCTOBER, 2021 TOPIC: LESSONS FOR THE WISE TEXT: ECCLESIASTES 2:12-26 12. Then I turned myself to consider wisdom and madness and folly; For what [can] the man [do] who succeeds the king? -- [Only] what he has already done. 13. Then I saw that wisdom excels folly As light excels darkness. 14. The wise man's eyes [are] in his head, But the fool walks in darkness. Yet I myself perceived That the same event happens to them all. 15. So I said in my heart, "As it happens to the fool, It also happens to me, And why was I then more wise?" Then I said in my heart, "This also [is] vanity." 16. For [there is] no more remembrance of the wise than of the fool forever, Since all that now [is] will be forgotten in the days to come. And how does a wise [man] die? As the fool! 17. Therefore I hated life because the work that was done under the sun [was] distressing

THE DAILY FOUNTAIN DAILY DEVOTIONAL GUIDE OF THE CHURCH OF NIGERIA (ANGLICAN COMMUNION) DATE: TUESDAY, 19TH OCTOBER, 2021 TOPIC: TREASURE WITHOUT SATISFACTION TEXT: ECCLESIASTES 2: 1-11  1. I said in my heart, "Come now, I will test you with mirth; therefore enjoy pleasure"; but surely, this also [was] vanity. 2. I said of laughter -- "Madness!"; and of mirth, "What does it accomplish?" 3. I searched in my heart [how] to gratify my flesh with wine, while guiding my heart with wisdom, and how to lay hold on folly, till I might see what [was] good for the sons of men to do under heaven all the days of their lives. 4. I made my works great, I built myself houses, and planted myself vineyards. 5. I made myself gardens and orchards, and I planted all [kinds] of fruit trees in them. 6. I made myself water pools from which to water the growing trees of the grove. 7. I acquired male and female servants, and had servants born in my house. Yes, I had greater poss

THE DAILY FOUNTAIN DAILY DEVOTIONAL GUIDE OF THE CHURCH OF NIGERIA (ANGLICAN COMMUNION) DATE: MONDAY, 18TH OCTOBER, 2021 (ST. LUKE THE EVANGELIST) TOPIC: THE GREAT PHYSICIAN TEXT: LUKE 10:1 - 9  1. After these things the Lord appointed seventy others also, and sent them two by two before His face into every city and place where He Himself was about to go. 2. Then He said to them, "The harvest truly [is] great, but the laborers [are] few; therefore pray the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into His harvest. 3. "Go your way; behold, I send you out as lambs among wolves. 4. "Carry neither money bag, knapsack, nor sandals; and greet no one along the road. 5. "But whatever house you enter, first say, 'Peace to this house.' 6. "And if a son of peace is there, your peace will rest on it; if not, it will return to you. 7. "And remain in the same house, eating and drinking such things as they give, for the laborer is worthy of his wages. Do not g

THE DAILY FOUNTAIN DAILY DEVOTIONAL GUIDE OF THE CHURCH OF NIGERIA (ANGLICAN COMMUNION) DATE: SUNDAY, 17TH OCTOBER, 2021 (TWENTIETH SUNDAY AFTER TRINITY) TOPIC: THE HOPE OF RESURRECTION TEXT: JOHN 11:17-27 17. So when Jesus came, He found that he had already been in the tomb four days. 18. Now Bethany was near Jerusalem, about two miles away. 19. And many of the Jews had joined the women around Martha and Mary, to comfort them concerning their brother. 20. Then Martha, as soon as she heard that Jesus was coming, went and met Him, but Mary was sitting in the house. 21. Then Martha said to Jesus, "Lord, if You had been here, my brother would not have died. 22. "But even now I know that whatever You ask of God, God will give You." 23. Jesus said to her, "Your brother will rise again." 24. Martha said to Him, "I know that he will rise again in the resurrection at the last day." 25. Jesus said to her, "I am the resurrection and the life. He w

THE DAILY FOUNTAIN DAILY DEVOTIONAL GUIDE OF THE CHURCH OF NIGERIA (ANGLICAN COMMUNION) DATE: SATURDAY, 16TH OCTOBER, 2021 TOPIC: DIVINE WISDOM IS GREATER TEXT: ECCLESIASTES 1:12-18 12. I, the Preacher, was king over Israel in Jerusalem. 13. And I set my heart to seek and search out by wisdom concerning all that is done under heaven; this burdensome task God has given to the sons of man, by which they may be exercised. 14. I have seen all the works that are done under the sun; and indeed, all [is] vanity and grasping for the wind. 15. [What is] crooked cannot be made straight, And what is lacking cannot be numbered. 16. I communed with my heart, saying, "Look, I have attained greatness, and have gained more wisdom than all who were before me in Jerusalem. My heart has understood great wisdom and knowledge." 17. And I set my heart to know wisdom and to know madness and folly. I perceived that this also is grasping for the wind. 18. For in much wisdom [is] much grief, An

THE DAILY FOUNTAIN DAILY DEVOTIONAL GUIDE OF THE CHURCH OF NIGERIA (ANGLICAN COMMUNION) DATE: FRIDAY, 15TH OCTOBER, 2021 TOPIC: THE VANITY OF LIFE TEXT: ECCLESIASTES 1:1-11 1. The words of the Preacher, the son of David, king in Jerusalem. 2. "Vanity of vanities," says the Preacher; "Vanity of vanities, all [is] vanity." 3. What profit has a man from all his labor In which he toils under the sun? 4. [One] generation passes away, and [another] generation comes; But the earth abides forever. 5. The sun also rises, and the sun goes down, And hastens to the place where it arose. 6. The wind goes toward the south, And turns around to the north; The wind whirls about continually, And comes again on its circuit. 7. All the rivers run into the sea, Yet the sea [is] not full; To the place from which the rivers come, There they return again. 8. All things [are] full of labor; Man cannot express [it.] The eye is not satisfied with seeing, Nor the ear filled with hearing. 9

THE DAILY FOUNTAIN DAILY DEVOTIONAL GUIDE OF THE CHURCH OF NIGERIA (ANGLICAN COMMUNION) DATE: THURSDAY, 14TH OCTOBER, 2021 TOPIC: OUR WEAPONS OF WARFARE TEXT: REVELATION 12:7-17 7. And war broke out in heaven: Michael and his angels fought with the dragon; and the dragon and his angels fought, 8. but they did not prevail, nor was a place found for them in heaven any longer. 9. So the great dragon was cast out, that serpent of old, called the Devil and Satan, who deceives the whole world; he was cast to the earth, and his angels were cast out with him. 10. Then I heard a loud voice saying in heaven, "Now salvation, and strength, and the kingdom of our God, and the power of His Christ have come, for the accuser of our brethren, who accused them before our God day and night, has been cast down. 11. "And they overcame him by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony, and they did not love their lives to the death. 12. "Therefore rejoice, O heavens, and y

THE DAILY FOUNTAIN DAILY DEVOTIONAL GUIDE OF THE CHURCH OF NIGERIA (ANGLICAN COMMUNION) DATE: WEDNESDAY, 13TH OCTOBER, 2021 TOPIC: GOD WILL MAKE A WAY OF ESCAPE FOR YOU TEXT: REVELATION 12:1-6  1. Now a great sign appeared in heaven: a woman clothed with the sun, with the moon under her feet, and on her head a garland of twelve stars. 2. Then being with child, she cried out in labor and in pain to give birth. 3. And another sign appeared in heaven: behold, a great, fiery red dragon having seven heads and ten horns, and seven diadems on his heads. 4. His tail drew a third of the stars of heaven and threw them to the earth. And the dragon stood before the woman who was ready to give birth, to devour her Child as soon as it was born. 5. She bore a male Child who was to rule all nations with a rod of iron. And her Child was caught up to God and His throne. 6. Then the woman fled into the wilderness, where she has a place prepared by God, that they should feed her there one thousand two h

THE DAILY FOUNTAIN DAILY DEVOTIONAL GUIDE OF THE CHURCH OF NIGERIA (ANGLICAN COMMUNION) DATE: TUESDAY, 12TH OCTOBER, 2021 TOPIC: VICTORY AT LAST! TEXT: REVELATION 11:15 - 19 15. Then the seventh angel sounded: And there were loud voices in heaven, saying, "The kingdoms of this world have become [the kingdoms] of our Lord and of His Christ, and He shall reign forever and ever!" 16. And the twenty-four elders who sat before God on their thrones fell on their faces and worshiped God, 17. saying: "We give You thanks, O Lord God Almighty, The One who is and who was and who is to come, Because You have taken Your great power and reigned. 18. The nations were angry, and Your wrath has come, And the time of the dead, that they should be judged, And that You should reward Your servants the prophets and the saints, And those who fear Your name, small and great, And should destroy those who destroy the earth." 19. Then the temple of God was opened in heaven, and the ark o

THE DAILY FOUNTAIN DAILY DEVOTIONAL GUIDE OF THE CHURCH OF NIGERIA (ANGLICAN COMMUNION) DATE: MONDAY, 11TH OCTOBER, 2021 TOPIC: FAITHFUL WITNESSES TEXT: REVELATION 11:1 - 14 1. Then I was given a reed like a measuring rod. And the angel stood, saying, "Rise and measure the temple of God, the altar, and those who worship there. 2. "But leave out the court which is outside the temple, and do not measure it, for it has been given to the Gentiles. And they will tread the holy city underfoot [for] forty-two months. 3. "And I will give [power] to my two witnesses, and they will prophesy one thousand two hundred and sixty days, clothed in sackcloth." 4. These are the two olive trees and the two lampstands standing before the God of the earth. 5. And if anyone wants to harm them, fire proceeds from their mouth and devours their enemies. And if anyone wants to harm them, he must be killed in this manner. 6. These have power to shut heaven, so that no rain falls in the day

THE DAILY FOUNTAIN DAILY DEVOTIONAL GUIDE OF THE CHURCH OF NIGERIA (ANGLICAN COMMUNION) DATE: SUNDAY, 10TH OCTOBER, 2021 (NINETEENTH SUNDAY AFTER TRINITY) TOPIC: DOING THE FATHER'S WILL TEXT: MATTHEW 21:28-32 28. " But what do you think? A man had two sons, and he came to the first and said, 'Son, go, work today in my vineyard.' 29. "He answered and said, 'I will not,' but afterward he regretted it and went. 30. "Then he came to the second and said likewise. And he answered and said, 'I [go,] sir,' but he did not go. 31. "Which of the two did the will of [his] father?" They said to Him, "The first." Jesus said to them, "Assuredly, I say to you that tax collectors and harlots enter the kingdom of God before you. 32. "For John came to you in the way of righteousness, and you did not believe him; but tax collectors and harlots believed him; and when you saw [it,] you did not afterward relent and believe him. MES

 THE DAILY FOUNTAIN DAILY DEVOTIONAL GUIDE OF THE CHURCH OF NIGERIA (ANGLICAN COMMUNION) DATE: SATURDAY, 9TH OCTOBER, 2021 TOPIC: WALKING IN THE TRUTH TEXT: REVELATION 10:8-11 8.  Then the voice which I heard from heaven spoke to me again and said, "Go, take the little book which is open in the hand of the angel who stands on the sea and on the earth." 9.  So I went to the angel and said to him, "Give me the little book." And he said to me, "Take and eat it; and it will make your stomach bitter, but it will be as sweet as honey in your mouth." 10.  Then I took the little book out of the angel's hand and ate it, and it was as sweet as honey in my mouth. But when I had eaten it, my stomach became bitter. 11.  And he said to me, "You must prophesy again about many peoples, nations, tongues, and kings." MESSAGE: The times in which we live now, popularly referred to by many a 'end-times or the last days', are periods in which managing the

THE DAILY FOUNTAIN DAILY DEVOTIONAL GUIDE OF THE CHURCH OF NIGERIA (ANGLICAN COMMUNION) DATE: FRIDAY, 8TH OCTOBER, 2021 TOPIC: NO MORE DELAY TEXT: REVELATION 10:1-7  1. I saw still another mighty angel coming down from heaven, clothed with a cloud. And a rainbow [was] on his head, his face [was] like the sun, and his feet like pillars of fire. 2. He had a little book open in his hand. And he set his right foot on the sea and [his] left [foot] on the land, 3. and cried with a loud voice, as [when] a lion roars. When he cried out, seven thunders uttered their voices. 4. Now when the seven thunders uttered their voices, I was about to write; but I heard a voice from heaven saying to me, "Seal up the things which the seven thunders uttered, and do not write them." 5. The angel whom I saw standing on the sea and on the land raised up his hand to heaven 6. and swore by Him who lives forever and ever, who created heaven and the things that are in it, the earth and the things that

 THE DAILY FOUNTAIN DAILY DEVOTIONAL GUIDE OF THE CHURCH OF NIGERIA (ANGLICAN COMMUNION) DATE: WEDNESDAY, 6TH OCTOBER, 2021 TOPIC: LOSS OF ALL MEANINGFUL EXISTENCE TEXT: REVELATION 9:1-12 1. Then the fifth angel sounded: And I saw a star fallen from heaven to the earth. To him was given the key to the bottomless pit. 2. And he opened the bottomless pit, and smoke arose out of the pit like the smoke of a great furnace. So the sun and the air were darkened because of the smoke of the pit. 3. Then out of the smoke locusts came upon the earth. And to them was given power, as the scorpions of the earth have power. 4. They were commanded not to harm the grass of the earth, or any green thing, or any tree, but only those men who do not have the seal of God on their foreheads. 5. And they were not given [authority] to kill them, but to torment them [for] five months. Their torment [was] like the torment of a scorpion when it strikes a man. 6. In those days men will seek death and will not fi