為上帝的僕人蓋印

這些事情之後,我看見四位天使分別站在地的四個角落控制著四面的風,使風不再吹向地面、海洋和樹木。 我又看見一位天使從東方日出之地上來,手裡拿著永活上帝的印。他對那領受權柄能傷害地和海的四位天使大聲說: 「我們還沒在上帝的奴僕額上蓋印之前,你們不可傷害地、海和樹木。」 我聽見以色列各支派中蓋了印的共有十四萬四千人: 猶大支派有一萬二千,呂便支派有一萬二千,迦得支派有一萬二千, 亞設支派有一萬二千,拿弗他利支派有一萬二千,瑪拿西支派有一萬二千, 西緬支派有一萬二千,利未支派有一萬二千,以薩迦支派有一萬二千, 西布倫支派有一萬二千,約瑟支派有一萬二千,便雅憫支派有一萬二千。

劫後餘生的上帝子民

後來我又看見一大群人,多得不可勝數。他們來自各國家、各部落、各民族、各語言族群,身穿白袍,手拿棕樹枝,站在寶座和羔羊面前, 10 大聲呼喊說:「救恩來自我們坐在寶座上的上帝,也來自羔羊!」 11 眾天使都站在寶座、眾長老和四個活物的周圍,在寶座前俯伏敬拜上帝,說: 12 「阿們!願頌讚、榮耀、智慧、感謝、尊貴、權柄、能力都歸給我們的上帝,直到永永遠遠。阿們!」

13 長老中有一位問我:「這些身穿白袍的人是誰?他們從哪裡來?」

14 我回答說:「先生,你知道答案。」

他便說:「這些都是經過大災難的人,他們用羔羊的血將衣裳洗得純淨潔白。 15 因此,他們在寶座前,在聖殿中不分晝夜地事奉上帝。坐在寶座上的那位要庇護他們。 16 他們不會再受饑餓和乾渴的折磨,也不會再受太陽和酷熱的煎熬, 17 因為在寶座中央的羔羊要作他們的牧人,引導他們到生命之泉那裡,上帝要擦乾他們所有的眼淚。」

After these things I saw four angels standing on the four corners of the earth, holding [the] four winds of the earth, that they blew not on the earth [that they blow not on the earth], neither on the sea, neither on any tree.

And I saw another angel ascending up from the rising of the sun, that had a sign of the living God [And I saw another angel ascending from the rising of the sun, having a sign of quick God]. And he cried with a great voice to the four angels, to which it was given [to whom it is given] to harm the earth, and the sea,

and said [saying], Do not ye harm the earth, and the sea, neither [to] trees, till we mark [till we sign, or mark] the servants of our God in the foreheads of them.

And I heard the number of men that were marked, an hundred thousand and four and forty thousand marked [And I heard the number of them signed, or marked, an hundred and four and forty thousand signed], of every lineage of the sons of Israel;

of the lineage of Juda, twelve thousand marked [signed]; of the lineage of Reuben, twelve thousand marked [signed]; of the lineage of Gad, twelve thousand marked [signed];

of the lineage of Aser, twelve thousand marked [signed]; of the lineage of Nephthalim, twelve thousand marked [signed]; of the lineage of Manasses, twelve thousand marked [signed];

of the lineage of Simeon, twelve thousand marked [signed]; of the lineage of Levi, twelve thousand marked [signed]; of the lineage of Issachar, twelve thousand marked [signed];

of the lineage of Zabulon, twelve thousand marked [signed]; of the lineage of Joseph, twelve thousand marked [signed]; of the lineage of Benjamin, twelve thousand marked [signed].

After these things I saw a great people, whom no man might number, of all folks, and lineages, and peoples, and languages, standing before the throne, in the sight of the lamb; and they were clothed with white stoles, and palms were in the hands of them. [After these things I saw a great company, whom no man might number, of all folks and lineages, and peoples, and tongues, standing before the throne, in the sight of the lamb, covered, or clothed, with white stoles, and palms in the hands of them.]

10 And they cried with a great voice, and said [saying], Health to our God, that sitteth on the throne, and to the lamb.

11 And all the angels stood all about the throne, and of the elder men, and the four beasts [And all angels stood in compass of the throne, and of the seniors, or elders, and four beasts]. And they fell down in the sight of the throne, on their faces, and worshipped God,

12 and said [saying], Amen! blessing, and clearness, and wisdom, and doing of thankings, and honour, and virtue, and strength to our God, into worlds of worlds. Amen.

13 And one of the elder men answered [And one of the seniors answered], and said to me, Who be these, that be clothed with white stoles? and from whence came they [and of whence came they]?

14 And I said to him, My lord, thou knowest. And he said to me, These be they, that came from great tribulation, and washed their stoles, and made them white in the blood of the lamb.

15 Therefore they be before the throne of God, and serve to him day and night [and serve him day and night], in his temple. And he that sitteth in the throne, dwelleth on [upon] them.

16 They shall no more hunger, neither thirst, neither [the] sun shall fall on them, nor any heat.

17 For the lamb, that is in the middle of the throne, shall govern them, and shall lead forth them [and shall lead them forth] to the wells of [the] waters of life; and God shall wipe away each tear from the eyes of them.