1 After this I saw four angels {angeloi: Heavenly Messengers} positioned at the four corners {goniai: Outer Boundaries} of the earth, restraining the four winds of the earth so that no wind would blow on the earth, on the sea, or on any tree.
2 Then I saw another angel coming up from the rising of the sun, carrying the seal of the living God {Theos, Ever-Living Protector}; and he called out in a loud voice to the four angels who had been permitted to harm the earth {ge: inhabited realm} and the sea.
3 He said, “Do not harm the earth, the sea, or the trees, until we have sealed the servants of our God {Theos, Sealing Protector} on their foreheads {metopon: visible identification}.”
4 And I heard the number {arithmon: counted total} of those who were sealed: one hundred forty-four thousand, sealed from every tribe of the sons of Israel {Israēl: covenant people}.
5 From the tribe of Judah {Iouda: messianic lineage} twelve thousand were sealed {esphragismenoi: marked with divine authority}; from the tribe of Reuben twelve thousand were sealed; from the tribe of Gad twelve thousand were sealed.
6 From the tribe of Asher {Aser: one of twelve tribes}, twelve thousand {dodeka: exact count} were sealed; from the tribe of Naphtali, twelve thousand were sealed; and from the tribe of Manasseh, twelve thousand were sealed.
7 From the tribe {phyle: ancestral clan} of Simeon, twelve thousand {chiliades: groups of thousand} were sealed; from the tribe of Levi, twelve thousand were sealed; and from the tribe of Issachar, twelve thousand were sealed.
8 From the tribe of Zebulun, twelve {dodeka: precise counted total} thousand {chiliades: complete groupings} were sealed; from the tribe of Joseph, twelve thousand were sealed; from the tribe of Benjamin, twelve thousand were sealed.
9 After these things I saw, and behold, a vast multitude—far too many for anyone to count—originating from every nation, tribe, people, and tongue, standing before the throne and before the Lamb {Arnion, Slain Redeemer}, clothed in white robes {stolas: ceremonial garments} and holding palm branches in their hands.
10 And they cried out with a great voice, saying, “Salvation is to our God {Theos, Divine Sovereign}, the One seated on the throne, and to the Lamb {Arnion, Sacrificial Redeemer}.”
11 And all the angels {angeloi: heavenly messengers} stood all around the throne, and around the elders and the four living creatures, and they fell before the throne on their faces and worshiped God {Theos, Supreme One Worshiped}.
12 Saying, “Amen! To our God {Theos, Universal Sovereign} belong the blessing, and the glory, and the wisdom, and the thanksgiving {eucharistia: grateful praise}, and the honor, and the power, and the might forever and ever. Amen.”
13 And one of the elders {presbyteros: mature leader} spoke up and said to me, “These who have been clothed in the white robes {stolas: long festival garments}—who are they, and from where did they come?”
14 And I said to him, “Sir, you know.” He replied, “These are the ones emerging from the great tribulation. They have washed their robes {stolas: ceremonial garments} and made them white in the blood of the Lamb {arnion, Atoning Sacrifice}.”
15 Because of this, they are before the throne of God {Theos, Worshiped King}, and they serve Him day and night in His temple {naos: sacred dwelling}; and the One who sits on the throne will spread His shelter over them.
16 They will never hunger {peinasousin: lack food} again, and they will never thirst again; the sun will not strike them, and no heat {kauma: burning intensity} will burn them.
17 For the Lamb {Arnion, Exalted Shepherd King} enthroned at the very center of the throne will shepherd them, and He will direct them to fountains flowing with the water of life, and God {Theos, Tender Comforter} will wipe away every tear from their eyes.