Revelation 7

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.

1After this I saw four angels. They stood at the four corners of the earth. They were holding back the four winds. So no wind blew on the land, or the sea, or any tree.

2And 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,

2Then I saw another angel coming up from the east. He carried the seal of the living God. He shouted to the four angels. Those four had been given power to harm the land and the sea.

3Saying, Hurt not the earth, neither the sea, nor the trees, till we have sealed the servants of our God in their foreheads.

3He said, "Do not harm the land or the sea or the trees. Wait until we have marked God's servants on their foreheads."

NoteA seal was a stamped mark. It showed who a person or thing belonged to.

4And 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.

4Then I heard how many people were marked. There were 144,000 of them. They came from all the tribes of Israel. A tribe is a big family group.

5Of 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.

5From the tribe of Judah, 12,000 were marked. From the tribe of Reuben, 12,000. From the tribe of Gad, 12,000.

6Of the tribe of Aser were sealed twelve thousand. Of the tribe of Nephthalim were sealed twelve thousand. Of the tribe of Manasses were sealed twelve thousand.

6From the tribe of Asher, 12,000. From the tribe of Naphtali, 12,000. From the tribe of Manasseh, 12,000.

7Of 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.

7From the tribe of Simeon, 12,000. From the tribe of Levi, 12,000. From the tribe of Issachar, 12,000.

8Of 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.

8From the tribe of Zebulun, 12,000. From the tribe of Joseph, 12,000. From the tribe of Benjamin, 12,000.

9After 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;

9After that I looked and saw a huge crowd. No one could count them all. They came from every nation, tribe, people, and language. They stood in front of the throne and in front of the Lamb. They wore white robes and held palm branches.

NotePeople waved palm branches to cheer and celebrate. "The Lamb" is the name this book uses for Jesus.

10And cried with a loud voice, saying, Salvation to our God which sitteth upon the throne, and unto the Lamb.

10They called out in a loud voice. They said, "Saving belongs to our God, who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb!"

11And 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,

11All the angels stood around the throne. They also stood around the elders and the four living creatures. Then they bowed with their faces to the ground and worshiped God.

12Saying, Amen: Blessing, and glory, and wisdom, and thanksgiving, and honour, and power, and might, be unto our God for ever and ever. Amen.

12They said, "Amen! That word means yes, it is true. Blessing and glory and wisdom and thanks belong to our God. Honor and power and strength belong to him forever and ever. Amen."

13And one of the elders answered, saying unto me, What are these which are arrayed in white robes? and whence came they?

13Then one of the elders spoke to me. He asked, "Who are these people in white robes? Where did they come from?"

14And 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.

14I said, "Sir, you know." He told me, "These people came through the great time of trouble. They washed their robes in the blood of the Lamb. That made their robes white."

NoteThe old word here is "tribulation." It means a time of great trouble and suffering.

15Therefore 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.

15That is why they stand in front of God's throne. They serve him day and night in his temple. The one who sits on the throne will spread his shelter over them.

16They shall hunger no more, neither thirst any more; neither shall the sun light on them, nor any heat.

16They will never be hungry again. They will never be thirsty again. The sun will not beat down on them. No burning heat will hurt them.

17For 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.

17The Lamb stands in the middle of the throne. He will care for them like a shepherd cares for sheep. He will lead them to springs of fresh water. And God will wipe every tear from their eyes.