# to close up the sky so that no rain will fall

John speaks of the sky as if it had a door that can be opened to let rain fall or closed to stop the rain. Alternate translation: "to keep rain from falling from the sky" (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/jit/figs-metaphor]])

# the days that they prophesy

"the time that they prophesy." The word "days" here can refer to weeks, months, or years.

# to turn

"to change"

# to strike the earth with every kind of plague

John speaks of the plagues as if they were a stick that someone could hit the earth with. Alternate translation: "to cause all kinds of trouble to occur on earth" (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/jit/figs-metaphor]])