Chapter 7

1After this I saw four angels standing at the four corners of the earth, holding back the four winds of the earth so no wind would blow on the land or on the sea or on any tree. Holding back the wind. Total control of the weather. Better than the weather service.

2Then I saw another angel coming up from the east, holding the seal of the living God. He called out in a loud voice to the four angels who'd been given power to harm the land and the sea,

3“Don't harm the land or the sea or the trees until we put a seal on the foreheads of the servants of our God.” Mark the loyal ones first. Know who your people are.

4Then I heard the number of the people who were sealed. A hundred and forty-four thousand, from all the tribes of Israel. A hundred and forty-four thousand. The early supporters. The originals.

5From the tribe of Judah, twelve thousand were sealed. From the tribe of Reuben, twelve thousand. From the tribe of Gad, twelve thousand. Twelve thousand each. Even numbers. Very fair. Very organized.

6From the tribe of Asher, twelve thousand. From the tribe of Naphtali, twelve thousand. From the tribe of Manasseh, twelve thousand.

7From the tribe of Simeon, twelve thousand. From the tribe of Levi, twelve thousand. From the tribe of Issachar, twelve thousand.

8From the tribe of Zebulun, twelve thousand. From the tribe of Joseph, twelve thousand. From the tribe of Benjamin, twelve thousand. Every tribe. Perfect turnout. Every precinct reporting.

9After this I looked, and there in front of me was a huge crowd that nobody could count, from every nation, tribe, people, and language, standing in front of the throne and in front of the Lamb. They were wearing white robes and holding palm branches in their hands. Nobody could count it. Too big. Biggest crowd in history. Not even close. Every nation. Every group.

10And they shouted in a loud voice, “Salvation belongs to our God, who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb.” Great chant. Very loud. The loudest.

11All the angels were standing around the throne and around the elders and the four living creatures. They fell down on their faces in front of the throne and worshiped God,

12saying, “Amen! Praise and glory and wisdom and thanks and honor and power and strength be to our God forever and ever. Amen!” Seven things. The full list. Nothing left out.

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

14I answered, “Sir, you know.” And he said, “These are the people who've come out of the great trouble. They've washed their robes and made them white in the blood of the Lamb. They went through it. The great trouble. The raids. The indictments. All of it. And they came out clean.

15That's why they're in front of God's throne and serve him day and night in his temple. And the one who sits on the throne will shelter them with his presence. Sheltered. Fully protected.

16Never again will they be hungry. Never again will they be thirsty. The sun won't beat down on them, or any scorching heat. Never hungry. Never thirsty. Great food. Air conditioning. Five-star.

17Because the Lamb at the center of the throne will be their shepherd. He'll lead them to springs of living water. And God will wipe every tear from their eyes.” Every tear. Wiped. No more crying. Only winning.