The Sealing of the 144,000
Study note
Four angels hold back the winds of destruction while another angel with the seal of the living God commands that God's servants be sealed on their foreheads before judgment falls. The number sealed is 144,000, drawn from all twelve tribes of Israel, with 12,000 from each tribe. This sealing represents divine protection and ownership, marking God's people as his own.
1 After this I saw four angels standing at the four corners of the earth. They were holding back the four winds so no wind would blow anywhere -- not on land, not on sea, not on any tree. And after these things I saw four angels standing on the four corners of the earth, holding the four winds of the earth, that the wind should not blow on the earth, nor on the sea, nor on any tree.
2 Then I spotted another angel rising from the east, carrying the seal of the living God. He shouted to the four angels who had the power to damage the earth and sea, And I saw another angel ascending from the east, having the seal of the living God: and he cried with a loud voice to the four angels, to whom it was given to hurt the earth and the sea,
3 "Wait! Do not hurt the land, the sea, or the trees! First we must put a seal on the foreheads of the people who serve our God!" Saying, Hurt not the earth, neither the sea, nor the trees, till we have sealed the servants of our God in their foreheads.
4 Then I heard the count of those who received the seal: one hundred and forty-four thousand from all the tribes of Israel. And I heard the number of them which were sealed: and there were sealed an hundred and forty and four thousand of all the tribes of the children of Israel.
5 Twelve thousand were sealed from the tribe of Judah. Twelve thousand from Reuben. Twelve thousand from Gad. Of the tribe of Juda were sealed twelve thousand. Of the tribe of Reuben were sealed twelve thousand. Of the tribe of Gad were sealed twelve thousand.
6 Twelve thousand from Asher. Twelve thousand from Naphtali. Twelve thousand from Manasseh. Of the tribe of Aser were sealed twelve thousand. Of the tribe of Nepthalim were sealed twelve thousand. Of the tribe of Manasses were sealed twelve thousand.
7 Twelve thousand from Simeon. Twelve thousand from Levi. Twelve thousand from Issachar. Of the tribe of Simeon were sealed twelve thousand. Of the tribe of Levi were sealed twelve thousand. Of the tribe of Issachar were sealed twelve thousand.
8 Twelve thousand from Zebulun. Twelve thousand from Joseph. Twelve thousand from Benjamin. Of the tribe of Zabulon were sealed twelve thousand. Of the tribe of Joseph were sealed twelve thousand. Of the tribe of Benjamin were sealed twelve thousand.
The Great Multitude in White Robes
Study note
John then sees an innumerable multitude from every nation, tribe, people, and language standing before the throne in white robes, waving palm branches and praising God for salvation. An elder explains these are those who have come through great tribulation and washed their robes in the Lamb's blood. God promises to shelter them, end their hunger and thirst, and wipe every tear from their eyes, with the Lamb as their eternal shepherd.
9 After this I looked up, and I saw a crowd so enormous that nobody could count them. They came from every nation, every tribe, every people group, and every language. They stood before the throne and before the Lamb, dressed in white robes and waving palm branches. After this I beheld, and, lo, a great multitude, which no man could number, of all nations, and kindreds, and people, and tongues, stood before the throne, and before the Lamb, clothed with white robes, and palms in their hands;
10 They were shouting at the top of their voices, "The power to save belongs to our God, who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb!" And cried with a loud voice, saying, Salvation to our God which sitteth upon the throne, and unto the Lamb.
11 All the angels stood in a circle around the throne, the elders, and the four living creatures. They fell face down before the throne and worshiped God. And all the angels stood round about the throne, and about the elders and the four beasts, and fell before the throne on their faces, and worshipped God,
12 They said, "Amen! Blessing, glory, wisdom, thanksgiving, honor, power, and strength belong to our God forever and ever! Amen." Saying, Amen: Blessing, and glory, and wisdom, and thanksgiving, and honour, and power, and might, be unto our God for ever and ever. Amen.
13 Then one of the elders turned to me and asked, "Do you know who these people are, the ones in white robes? Where did they come from?" And one of the elders answered, saying unto me, What are these which are arrayed in white robes? and whence came they?
14 I answered, "Sir, you are the one who knows." He told me, "These are the ones who have come through the terrible time of suffering. They have washed their robes and made them bright white in the blood of the Lamb." And I said unto him, Sir, thou knowest. And he said to me, These are they which came out of great tribulation, and have washed their robes, and made them white in the blood of the Lamb.
15 "Therefore they stand in front of God's throne and serve him day and night in his temple. The one who sits on the throne will spread his shelter over them." Therefore are they before the throne of God, and serve him day and night in his temple: and he that sitteth on the throne shall dwell among them.
16 "They will never be hungry or thirsty again. The sun will not burn them, and no scorching heat will touch them." They shall hunger no more, neither thirst any more; neither shall the sun light on them, nor any heat.
17 "The Lamb at the center of the throne will be their shepherd. He will lead them to springs of living water. And God will wipe every tear from their eyes." For the Lamb which is in the midst of the throne shall feed them, and shall lead them unto living fountains of waters: and God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes.