1And after this I saw four angels standing at the four corners of the earth, holding back the four winds of the earth, to prevent the wind from blowing on the land, sea, or on any tree. 2And then I saw another angel coming up from the east, having the seal of the living God; and he called out with a loud voice to the four angels, who had been given power to harm both land and sea, 3 “Do not harm the land, sea, nor trees, until we have put seals on the foreheads of the servants of our God.” (Ezek.9:4). 4And I heard the number of those who were sealed: one hundred forty-four thousand sealed from out of all the tribes of Israel: 5Of the tribe of Judah, twelve thousand; of the tribe of Reuben, twelve thousand; of the tribe of Gad, twelve thousand; 6Of the tribe of Asher, twelve thousand; of the tribe of Naphtali, twelve thousand; of the tribe of Manasseh, twelve thousand; 7Of the tribe of Simeon, twelve thousand; of the tribe of Levi, twelve thousand; of the tribe of Issachar, twelve thousand; 8Of the tribe of Zebulon, twelve thousand; of the tribe of Joseph, twelve thousand; and of the tribe of Benjamin, twelve thousand.

9After this I looked and saw a great multitude, which no one could count, from all nations - tribes, peoples, and tongues, standing before the throne, and before the Lamb, wearing white robes, and holding palm branches in their hands. 10And they cried out with a loud voice, “Salvation comes from our God Who sits upon the throne, and from the Lamb.” 11And all the angels were standing around the throne, and around the elders and the four living creatures, and they fell on their faces before the throne, and worshipped God, 12Saying, “Amen! Blessing, and glory, and wisdom, and thanksgiving, and honor, and power, and might, be to our God forever and ever. Amen.”

13And then one of the elders asked me, “Who are these arrayed in white robes? And where did they come from?” 14And I replied, “Sir, you know.” And he said to me, “These are those who came out of the great tribulation, and have washed their robes, and made them white in the blood of the Lamb. 15That is why they stand before the throne of God, and serve Him day and night in His Temple; and He Who sits on the throne shall shelter them with His presence. 16Never again shall they hunger or thirst; nor shall the sun beat upon them, nor any scorching heat. (Ps.121:6) 17For the Lamb at the center of the throne shall be their Shepherd; He shall feed them, and shall lead them to springs of living water; and God shall wipe away every tear from their eyes.” (Is.25:8)