1   After this I saw four angels stationed at the four corners of the earth, holding back the four winds so that no wind should blow on sea or land or on any tree. 2   Then I saw another angel rising out of the east, carrying the seal of the living God; and he called aloud to the four angels who had been given the power to ravage land and sea: 3   ‘Do no damage to sea or land or trees until we have set the seal of our God upon the foreheads of his servants.’ 4   And I heard the number of those who had received the seal. From all the tribes of Israel there were a hundred and forty-four thousand: 5   twelve thousand from the tribe of Judah, twelve thousand from the tribe of Reuben, 6   twelve thousand from the tribe of Gad, twelve thousand from the tribe of Asher, twelve thousand from the tribe of Naphtali, twelve thousand from the tribe of Manasseh, 7   twelve thousand from the tribe of Simeon, twelve thousand from the tribe of Levi, twelve thousand from the tribe of Issachar, 8   twelve thousand from the tribe of Zebulun, twelve thousand from the tribe of Joseph, and twelve thousand from the tribe of Benjamin.

The opening of the sealed book

9   After this I looked and saw a vast throng, which no one could count, from every nation, of all tribes, peoples, and languages, standing in front of the throne and before the Lamb. They were robed in white and had palms in their hands, 10   and they shouted together:

  ‘Victory to our God who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb!’
11   And all the angels stood round the throne and the elders and the four living creatures, and they fell on their faces before the throne and worshipped God, 12   crying:

  ‘Amen! Praise and glory and wisdom, thanksgiving and honour, power and might, be to our God for ever and ever! Amen.’

13   Then one of the elders turned to me and said, ‘These men that are robed in white—who are they and from where do they come?’ 14   But I answered, ‘My lord, you know, not I.’ Then he said to me, ‘These are the men who have passed through the great ordeal; they have washed their robes and made them white in the blood of the Lamb. 15   That is why they stand before the throne of God and minister to him day and night in his temple; and he who sits on the throne will dwell with them. 16   They shall never again feel hunger or thirst, the sun shall not beat on them nor any scorching heat, 17   because the Lamb who is at the heart of the throne will be their shepherd and will guide them to the springs of the water of life; and God will wipe all tears from their eyes.’

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