Add parallel Print Page Options

The 144,000 People of Israel

After ·the vision of these things [L this] I saw four angels standing at the four corners [C from 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. Then I saw another angel coming up from the ·east [L rising 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. 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 [C to spare them from harm; Ezek. 9:4–6] of the ·people who serve [L the slaves/servants of] our God.” Then I heard how many people were ·marked with the sign [sealed]. There were one hundred forty-four thousand [C the square of 12 multiplied by 1000; a symbolic number indicating completeness] from every tribe of the ·people [children; sons] of Israel.

From the tribe of Judah twelve thousand were ·marked with the sign [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 [C one of the two sons of Joseph; he replaces Dan in the list, perhaps because the tribe of Dan fell into idolatry; Judg. 18] 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 [C in OT lists Manasseh and Ephraim are named instead of their father Joseph; here Joseph replaces Ephraim, perhaps because of Ephraim’s bad reputation],
and from the tribe of Benjamin twelve thousand were ·marked with the sign [sealed].

The Great Crowd Worships God

After ·the vision of these things [L these things] I looked, and ·there was a great number of people [L behold 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 [C signifying high status and purity] and holding palm branches [C used 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.” 11 [L And] All the angels were standing around the throne and the elders [4:4] and the four living creatures. They all ·bowed [fell] down on their faces before the throne and worshiped God, 12 saying, “Amen [C Hebrew for “so be it”]! ·Praise [Blessing], glory, wisdom, thanks, honor, power, and ·strength [might] belong to our God forever and ever. Amen!”

13 Then one of the elders asked me, “Who are these people dressed in white robes? Where did they come from?”

14 I answered, “You know, ·sir [or my lord].”

And the elder said to me, “These are the people who have come out of the great ·distress [persecution; tribulation]. They have washed their robes and made them white in the blood of the Lamb [C having believed in Jesus, their sins are forgiven through Christ’s death and resurrection]. 15 Because of this, they are before the throne of God. They worship him day and night in his temple. And the One who sits on the throne will ·be present with [dwell with; or shelter; spread his tent over] them. 16 Those people will never be hungry again, and they will never be thirsty again. The sun will not ·hurt [strike; beat on; Is. 49:10] them, and no [scorching] heat will burn them, 17 because the Lamb at the center of the throne will be their shepherd [Ps. 23; John 10]. He will ·lead [guide] them to springs of ·water that give life [living water; the water of life; John 4:14]. And God will wipe away every tear from their eyes [21:4; Is. 25:8].”

印了十四萬四千個以色列人

這事以後,我看見四位天使站在地的四極,掌握著地上的四風,不使風吹在地上、海上和任何樹上。 我又看見另外一位天使,從日出之地上來,拿著永活 神的印,向那四位得了權柄可以傷害地和海的天使,大聲呼喊, 說:“你們不要傷害地、海和樹木,等我們在 神眾僕人的額上先蓋上了印。” 我聽見被蓋印的人的數目,以色列子孫各支派中被蓋印的共有十四萬四千人:

猶大支派中被蓋印的,一萬二千人;

流本支派中,一萬二千人;

迦得支派中,一萬二千人;

亞設支派中,一萬二千人;

拿弗他利支派中,一萬二千人;

瑪拿西支派中,一萬二千人;

西緬支派中,一萬二千人;

利未支派中,一萬二千人;

以薩迦支派中,一萬二千人;

西布倫支派中,一萬二千人;

約瑟支派中,一萬二千人;

便雅憫支派中,一萬二千人。

各國各族的群眾前來敬拜

這些事以後,我觀看,見有一大群人,沒有人能數得過來,是從各邦國、各支派、各民族、各方言來的。他們都站在寶座和羊羔面前,身穿白袍,手裡拿著棕樹枝。 10 他們大聲呼喊,說:

“願救恩歸給那坐在寶座上我們的 神,也歸給羊羔!”

11 所有的天使都站在寶座、眾長老和四個活物的四周。他們在寶座前,面伏在地上敬拜 神, 12 說:

“阿們!願頌讚、榮耀、智慧、

感謝、尊貴、權能、力量,

都歸給我們的 神,

直到永永遠遠。阿們!”

13 長老中有一位問我:“這些身穿白袍的是誰?他們是從哪裡來的呢?” 14 我對他說:“我主啊,你是知道的。”他告訴我:“這些人是從大患難中出來的。他們用羊羔的血,把自己的衣袍洗潔白了。 15 因此,他們可以在 神的寶座前,並且日夜在他的聖所裡事奉他。那坐在寶座上的必展開帳幕覆庇他們。 16 他們必不再餓,也不再渴;太陽和一切炎熱必不傷害他們。 17 因為在寶座中間的羊羔必牧養他們,領他們到生命水的泉源那裡。 神也必抹去他們的一切眼淚。”