Watu 144,000 Wawekewa Muhuri

Baada ya haya nikaona malaika wanne wamesimama katika pembe zote nne za dunia wakizuia pepo nne za dunia, ili upepo usivume nchi kavu wala baharini wala kwenye mti wo wote. Kisha nikaona malaika mwingine akija kutoka mashariki akiwa na muhuri wa Mungu aliye hai. Akawaita kwa sauti kuu wale malaika waliokuwa wamepewa mamlaka kuidhuru nchi na bahari, akisema, “Msiidhuru nchi wala bahari, wala miti, mpaka tutakapoweka mihuri kwenye vipaji vya nyuso za watumishi wa Mungu wetu.”

Ndipo nikasikia idadi ya wale waliowekewa mihuri, watu 144,000 kutoka katika kila kabila la Waisraeli. Kabila la Yuda, 12,000, kabila la Rubeni 12,000, kabila la Gadi 12,000, kabila la Asheri 12,000, kabila la Naftali 12,000, kabila la Manase 12,000, kabila la Simioni 12,000, kabila la Lawi 12,000, kabila la Isakari 12,000, kabila la Zabuloni 12,000, kabila la Yusufu 12,000, kabila la Benyamini 12,000.

Umati Wa Watu Waliokombolewa

Kisha nikatazama, nikaona umati mkubwa wa watu ambao hakuna mtu awezaye kuwahesabu: watu wa kila taifa, kila kabila, kila jamaa na kila lugha, wamesimama mbele ya kile kiti cha enzi na mbele ya Mwana-Kondoo. Walikuwa wamevaa mavazi meupe na wameshika matawi ya mitende mikononi mwao. 10 Nao walikuwa wakisema kwa sauti kuu, “Ukombozi hutoka kwa Mungu wetu aketiye katika kiti cha enzi, na kwa Mwana-Kondoo!” 11 Na wale malaika wote wakasi mama kuzunguka kile kiti cha enzi na wale wazee na wale viumbe hai wanne, wakaanguka chini mbele ya kile kiti cha enzi wakamwab udu Mungu, 12 wakisema, “ Amina! Sifa na utukufu na hekima na shukrani na heshima na nguvu na uweza ni za Mungu wetu milele na milele! Amina”. 13 Kisha mmoja wa wale wazee akaniuliza, “Hawa watu waliovaa mavazi meupe, ni kina nani? Nao wametoka wapi?” 14 Nikamjibu, “Bwana, wewe ndiye unayefahamu.” Naye akasema, “Hawa ni wale waliotoka katika ile dhiki kuu; wameosha mavazi yao katika damu ya Mwana-Kondoo yakawa meupe kabisa. 15 Kwa hiyo, wanakaa mbele ya kiti cha enzi cha Mungu na kumtumikia katika Hekalu lake usiku na mchana; naye aketiye katika kile kiti cha enzi atakuwa pamoja nao na kuwalinda. 16 Kamwe hawataona njaa wala kiu tena; jua wala joto kali halitawachoma tena. Kwa maana Mwana-Kondoo aliye katikati ya kiti cha enzi atakuwa mchun gaji wao. Naye atawaongoza kwenye chemchemi za maji ya uzima; na

144,000 Sealed

After this I saw four angels standing at the four corners(A) of the earth, holding back the four winds(B) of the earth to prevent(C) any wind from blowing on the land or on the sea or on any tree. Then I saw another angel coming up from the east, having the seal(D) of the living God.(E) He called out in a loud voice to the four angels who had been given power to harm the land and the sea:(F) “Do not harm(G) the land or the sea or the trees until we put a seal on the foreheads(H) of the servants of our God.” Then I heard the number(I) of those who were sealed: 144,000(J) from all the tribes of Israel.

From the tribe of Judah 12,000 were sealed,

from the tribe of Reuben 12,000,

from the tribe of Gad 12,000,

from the tribe of Asher 12,000,

from the tribe of Naphtali 12,000,

from the tribe of Manasseh 12,000,

from the tribe of Simeon 12,000,

from the tribe of Levi 12,000,

from the tribe of Issachar 12,000,

from the tribe of Zebulun 12,000,

from the tribe of Joseph 12,000,

from the tribe of Benjamin 12,000.

The Great Multitude in White Robes

After this I looked, and there before me was a great multitude that no one could count, from every nation, tribe, people and language,(K) standing before the throne(L) and before the Lamb. They were wearing white robes(M) and were holding palm branches in their hands. 10 And they cried out in a loud voice:

“Salvation belongs to our God,(N)
who sits on the throne,(O)
and to the Lamb.”

11 All the angels were standing around the throne and around the elders(P) and the four living creatures.(Q) They fell down on their faces(R) before the throne and worshiped God, 12 saying:

“Amen!
Praise and glory
and wisdom and thanks and honor
and power and strength
be to our God for ever and ever.
Amen!”(S)

13 Then one of the elders asked me, “These in white robes(T)—who are they, and where did they come from?”

14 I answered, “Sir, you know.”

And he said, “These are they who have come out of the great tribulation; they have washed their robes(U) and made them white in the blood of the Lamb.(V) 15 Therefore,

“they are before the throne of God(W)
    and serve him(X) day and night in his temple;(Y)
and he who sits on the throne(Z)
    will shelter them with his presence.(AA)
16 ‘Never again will they hunger;
    never again will they thirst.(AB)
The sun will not beat down on them,’[a]
    nor any scorching heat.(AC)
17 For the Lamb at the center of the throne
    will be their shepherd;(AD)
‘he will lead them to springs of living water.’[b](AE)
    ‘And God will wipe away every tear from their eyes.’[c](AF)

Footnotes

  1. Revelation 7:16 Isaiah 49:10
  2. Revelation 7:17 Isaiah 49:10
  3. Revelation 7:17 Isaiah 25:8