An Interlude

After this I saw (A)four angels standing at the (B)four corners of the earth, holding back (C)the four winds of the earth (D)so that no wind would blow on the earth, or on the sea, or on any tree. And I saw another angel ascending (E)from the rising of the sun, holding the (F)seal of (G)the living God; and he called out with a loud voice to the (H)four angels to whom it was granted to harm the earth and the sea, saying, “(I)Do not harm the earth, or the sea, or the trees until we have (J)sealed the bond-servants of our God on their (K)foreheads.”

The 144,000

And I heard the (L)number of those who were sealed: (M)144,000, sealed from every tribe of the sons of Israel:

from the tribe of Judah, twelve thousand were sealed, from the tribe of Reuben twelve thousand, from the tribe of Gad twelve thousand, from the tribe of Asher twelve thousand, from the tribe of Naphtali twelve thousand, from the tribe of Manasseh twelve thousand, from the tribe of Simeon twelve thousand, from the tribe of Levi twelve thousand, from the tribe of Issachar twelve thousand, from the tribe of Zebulun twelve thousand, from the tribe of Joseph twelve thousand, and from the tribe of Benjamin, twelve thousand were sealed.

A Multitude from the Tribulation

After these things I looked, and behold, a great multitude which no one could count, from (N)every nation and all the tribes, peoples, and languages, standing (O)before the throne and (P)before the Lamb, clothed in (Q)white robes, and (R)palm branches were in their hands; 10 and they *cried out with a loud voice, saying,

(S)Salvation belongs to our God (T)who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb.”

11 And all the angels were standing (U)around the throne and around (V)the elders and the (W)four living creatures; and they (X)fell on their faces before the throne and worshiped God, 12 saying,

(Y)Amen, (Z)blessing, glory, wisdom, thanksgiving, honor, power, and might belong to our God forever and ever. (AA)Amen.”

13 Then one of the elders (AB)responded, saying to me, “These who are clothed in the (AC)white robes, who are they, and where have they come from?” 14 I [a]said to him, “My lord, you know.” And he said to me, “These are the ones who come out of the (AD)great tribulation, and they have (AE)washed their robes and made them (AF)white in the (AG)blood of the Lamb. 15 For this reason they are (AH)before the throne of God, and they (AI)serve Him day and night in His [b](AJ)temple; and (AK)He who sits on the throne will spread His (AL)tabernacle over them. 16 (AM)They will no longer hunger nor thirst, nor will the sun [c]beat down on them, nor any scorching heat; 17 for the Lamb in the center of the throne will be their (AN)shepherd, and will guide them to springs of the [d](AO)water of life; and (AP)God will wipe every tear from their eyes.”

Footnotes

  1. Revelation 7:14 Lit have said
  2. Revelation 7:15 Or sanctuary
  3. Revelation 7:16 Lit fall
  4. Revelation 7:17 Lit waters

Angels Seal 144,000 Slaves of God On Their Foreheads With The Seal of God

After this[a] I saw four angels standing at the four corners of the earth, holding-back the four winds of the earth in order that a wind might not blow on the land, nor on the sea, nor against any tree. And I saw another angel coming-up from the rising of the sun[b], having a seal of the living God. And he cried-out with a loud voice to the four angels to whom authority was given to them to harm the land and the sea, saying “Do not harm the land nor the sea nor the trees until we seal[c] the slaves of our God upon their foreheads”. And I heard the number of the ones having been sealed, one-hundred forty four thousand, having been sealed from every tribe of the sons of Israel— from[d] the tribe of Judah, twelve thousand having been sealed; from the tribe of Reuben, twelve thousand; from the tribe of Gad, twelve thousand; from the tribe of Asher, twelve thousand; from the tribe of Naphtali, twelve thousand; from the tribe of Manasseh, twelve thousand; from the tribe of Simeon, twelve thousand; from the tribe of Levi, twelve thousand; from the tribe of Issachar, twelve thousand; from the tribe of Zebulun, twelve thousand; from the tribe of Joseph, twelve thousand; from the tribe of Benjamin, twelve thousand having been sealed.

A Multitude Having Died In The Great Affliction Worship God Before His Throne

After these things I saw, and behold— there was a great multitude (which, no one was able to number it) from every nation and all tribes and peoples and tongues, standing before the throne and before the Lamb, having been clothed-with[e] white robes, and palm-branches in their hands. 10 And they are crying-out with a loud voice, saying “Salvation[f] belongs to[g] our God sitting on the throne and to the Lamb”. 11 And all the angels were standing around the throne and the elders and the four living-creatures. And they fell on their faces before the throne and gave-worship to God, 12 saying “Amen. The blessing and the glory and the wisdom and the thanksgiving and the honor and the power and the strength be to our God forever and ever, amen”. 13 And one of the elders responded, saying to me, “These ones having been clothed-with the white robes— who are they, and from where did they come?” 14 And I have said to him, “My lord, you know”. And he said to me, “These are the ones coming out of the great affliction[h]. And they washed their robes and made them white[i] in the blood of the Lamb. 15 For this reason, they are before the throne of God, and they are serving[j] Him by day and by night in His temple. And the One sitting on the throne will dwell over them. 16 They will not hunger anymore, nor thirst anymore, nor may the sun fall upon them, nor any scorching-heat. 17 Because the Lamb at the center of the throne will shepherd them, and guide them to springs of the waters of life. And God will wipe-away[k] every tear from their eyes”.

Footnotes

  1. Revelation 7:1 That is, the next thing to happen; or, the next thing I saw.
  2. Revelation 7:2 That is, from the east.
  3. Revelation 7:3 It is a seal of protection. 9:4.
  4. Revelation 7:5 Or, out-of.
  5. Revelation 7:9 Or, having put-on.
  6. Revelation 7:10 Or, The deliverance; that is, the victory.
  7. Revelation 7:10 Or, is in.
  8. Revelation 7:14 Or, tribulation, oppression, trouble, distress.
  9. Revelation 7:14 Or, whitened them.
  10. Revelation 7:15 Or, worshiping.
  11. Revelation 7:17 wipe-away... eyes. Same phrase as in 21:4.