¹⁰ ·The Word [^LHe] was in the world, and the world ·was made [was created; came into being] ·by [through] him, but the world did not ·know [recognize] him. ¹¹ He came to ·the world that was his own [or his own country; ^Lthat which was his own], but his own people did not ·accept [receive] him. ¹² But to all who did ·accept [receive] him and believe ·in him [^Lin his name; ^Cthe name indicating the character of the person] he gave the ·right [power; authority] to become children of God. ¹³ They did not become his children ·in any human way [by natural descent; by physical birth; ^Lby blood]—by ·any human parents [human passion/decision; ^Ldesire/will of the flesh] or ·human desire [a husband’s decision; ^Ldesire/will of a man/husband]. They were born of God.

¹⁴ The Word became ·a human [^Tflesh] and ·lived [made his home; pitched his tabernacle; ^CGod’s glorious presence dwelt in Israel’s tabernacle in the wilderness] among us. We saw his ·glory [majesty]—the glory that belongs to the ·only Son [one and only; ^Tonly begotten] ·of [who came from] the Father—and he was full of ·grace and truth [God’s gracious love and faithfulness; Ex. 34:5–7].

The 144,000 People of Israel

7 After ·the vision of these things [^Lthis] I saw four angels standing at the four corners [^Cfrom every direction] of the earth. The angels were ·holding [restraining] the four winds [Dan. 7:2; 8:8; 11:4] of the earth to keep them from blowing on the land or on the sea or on any tree. ² Then I saw another angel coming up from the ·east [^Lrising of the sun] who had the seal [5:1] of the living God. And he ·called out [cried out; shouted] in a loud voice to the four angels to whom God had given power to ·harm [damage] the earth and the sea. ³ He said to them, “Do not ·harm [damage] the land or the sea or the trees until we ·mark with a sign [place a seal upon] the foreheads [^Cto spare them from harm; Ezek. 9:4–6] of the ·people who serve [^Lthe slaves/servants of] our God.” ⁴ Then I heard how many people were ·marked with the sign [sealed]. There were one hundred forty-four thousand [^Cthe square of 12 multiplied by 1000; a symbolic number indicating completeness] from every tribe of the ·people [children; sons] of Israel.

The Great Crowd Worships God

⁹ After ·the vision of these things [^Lthese things] I looked, and ·there was a great number of people [^Lbehold a great crowd/multitude], so many that no one could count them. They were from every nation, tribe, people, and language of the earth. They were all standing before the throne and before the Lamb, wearing white robes [^Csignifying high status and purity] and holding palm branches [^Cused to celebrate a festive occasion, specifically a victory] in their hands. ¹⁰ They were ·shouting [crying out] in a loud voice, “Salvation belongs to our God, who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb.”

The New Jerusalem

21 Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth [Is. 65:17; 66:22; 2 Pet. 3:13]. [^LFor] The first heaven and the first earth had ·disappeared [passed away], and there was no sea anymore [^Cthe sea represents chaos and evil, so its absence indicates peace and security]. ² And I saw the holy city, the new Jerusalem [^Cthe believers’ eternal dwelling place; 3:12], coming down out of heaven from God. It was prepared like a bride ·dressed [adorned] for her husband [19:7, 9]. ³ And I heard a loud voice from the throne, saying, “[^LLook; ^TBehold] Now God’s ·presence [dwelling; tabernacle] is with people, and he will ·live [dwell; tabernacle; John 1:14] with them, and they will be his people [Ex. 29:45; Jer. 31:33; Ezek. 37:27]. God himself will be with them and will be their God.^{[a] 4} He will wipe away every tear from their eyes [7:17; Is. 25:8], and there will be no more death [Is. 25:8; 1 Cor. 15:54], ·sadness [mourning], crying, or pain, because ·all the old ways [the old order; ^Lthe first things] are gone.”