1Derefter så jeg fire engle stå ved de fire verdenshjørner. De holdt jordens fire vinde tilbage, så de ikke kunne blæse over land og hav eller mod noget træ.2En femte engel trådte frem i den østlige horisont, og han havde den levende Guds segl med sig. Han råbte med høj røst til de fire engle, som havde fået magt til at skade både jord og hav:3„Rør ikke jorden eller havet eller noget træ, før vi har mærket vores Guds tjeneres pander med hans segl.”4Jeg hørte tallet på de beseglede. Det var 144.000 af alle Israels stammer,5-812.000 fra hver af de 12 stammer: Juda, Ruben, Gad, Asher, Naftali, Manasse, Simeon, Levi, Issakar, Zebulon, Josef og Benjamin.
Den store flok i Himlen af frelste fra alle folkeslag
9Derefter lagde jeg mærke til en stor flok mennesker, som stod foran Lammet og Guds trone i Himlen, klædt i lange, hvide dragter og med palmegrene i hænderne. Der var mennesker fra alle folkeslag og sprog, og der var så mange, at ingen kunne tælle dem.10De råbte: „Frelsen kom fra vores Gud, som sidder på tronen, og fra Lammet!”11Alle englene stod i en kreds omkring Guds trone og de 24 medregenter og de fire levende væsener. De faldt på knæ foran tronen, og med ansigtet mod jorden hyldede de Gud:12„Ja, det er rigtigt! Gud skal have ære, tak og lovprisning i al evighed. Han har al herlighed, visdom, kraft og magt. Amen!”13En af medregenterne vendte sig til mig og sagde: „Ved du, hvem de mennesker i hvide dragter er? Ved du, hvor de er kommet fra?”14„Nej, herre,” svarede jeg, „men du ved det.” „De er kommet ud af den store trængsel,” sagde han. „De har gjort deres dragter rene i Lammets blod, så de er helt hvide.15Derfor står de nu foran Guds trone og tjener ham dag og nat i hans helligdom. Han, som sidder på tronen, vil tage sig af dem,16og de skal aldrig mere sulte eller tørste eller døje under sol og hede.17Lammet, der står ved tronen, vil være deres hyrde og lede dem til kilden med det livgivende vand, og Gud vil tørre hver tåre af deres kinder.”
Åbenbaringen 7
King James Version
1And 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.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,3Saying, Hurt not the earth, neither the sea, nor the trees, till we have sealed the servants of our God in their foreheads.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.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.6Of 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.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.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.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;10And cried with a loud voice, saying, Salvation to our God which sitteth upon the throne, and unto 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,12Saying, Amen: Blessing, and glory, and wisdom, and thanksgiving, and honour, and power, and might, be unto our God for ever 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?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.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.16They shall hunger no more, neither thirst any more; neither shall the sun light on them, nor any heat.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.