7:1 After this I saw four Messengers standing on the four cardinal points of the earth, holding back the four winds to keep them from blowing on the earth or sea or any trees.

7:2 Then I saw another Messenger ascending from the direction of the rising sun and possessing the Seal of the Living God. The Messenger called out in a loud voice to the four other Messengers, who were given permission to harm the earth and the sea,

7:3 “Do not harm the earth or the sea or the trees until we seal the slaves of our God on their foreheads.”

7:4 I heard the number of the sealed ones, and it was one hundred forty-four thousand from all the tribes of Israel, twelve thousand from each one:

7:5 Judah, Reuben, Gad,

7:6 Asher, Naphtali, Manasseh,

7:7 Simeon, Levi, Issachar,

7:8 Zebulon, Joseph, and Benjamin.

7:9 After these things, suddenly there was a crowd so large that no one could possibly count the number of people! They came from all the non-Judean tribes, people groups, and languages, and were standing before the throne and the Lamb. They were clothed in white robes and held palm branches in their hands.

7:10 They shouted in a loud voice, “Salvation to our God sitting on the throne, and to the Lamb!”

7:11 Then all the Messengers standing around the throne, as well as the elders and the four animals, fell down on their faces before the throne and worshiped God:

7:12 “Truly blessing, honor, wisdom, thanks, esteem, power, and strength belong to our God forever, absolutely!”

7:13 Then one of the elders asked me, “These who have been clothed in white robes: who are they and where did they come from?”

7:14 And I answered, “Sir, only you know!”“These are the people coming out of the Great Oppression,” he replied. “They soaked and whitened their robes in the blood of the Lamb,

7:15 and as a result they are before the throne of God. They offer divine service to him day and night in his temple, and the one sitting on the throne will shelter them personally.

7:16 No longer will they go hungry; no longer will they thirst; no longer will the sun beat down on them with its heat.

7:17 For the Lamb, the one in the center of the throne, will shepherd them and guide them to wells of water. And God will wipe every tear from their eyes.”