« | Revelation 7 | » |
1 And after this I saw four angels standing at the four corners of the earth, holding the four winds of the earth, so that a wind should not blow on the earth, nor on the sea, nor on any tree.
2 Then I saw another angel coming up from the east, having the seal of the living God. And he cried with a loud voice to the four angels to whom it had been granted to harm the earth and the sea,
3 saying, "Do not harm the earth, nor the sea, nor the trees, until we shall seal the servants of our God on their foreheads."
4 And I heard the number of those having been sealed, one hundred and forty-four thousand having been sealed out of every tribe of the sons of Israel:
5 of the tribe of Judah twelve thousand having been sealed; of the tribe of Reuben twelve thousand; of the tribe of Gad twelve thousand;
6 of the tribe of Asher twelve thousand; of the tribe of Naphtali twelve thousand; of the tribe of Manasseh twelve thousand;
7 of the tribe of Simeon twelve thousand; of the tribe of Levi twelve thousand; of the tribe of Issachar twelve thousand;
8 of the tribe of Zebulun twelve thousand; of the tribe of Joseph twelve thousand; of the tribe of Benjamin twelve thousand, having been sealed.
9 After these things I looked, and behold, a great multitude which no man could number, out of every nation, and [from] tribes and peoples and languages, standing before the throne and before the Lamb, having been clothed in long white robes, with palm branches in their hands.
10 And they cried out with a loud voice, saying, "Salvation [belongs] to our God, to Him who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb!"
11 And all the angels stood around the throne, and the elders and the four living beings, and they fell down on their faces before His throne and they worshipped God,
12 saying: "Amen! Blessing and glory and wisdom, and thanksgiving and honor and power and might, [be] to our God forever and ever. Amen."
13 Then one of the elders answered, saying to me, "Who are these arrayed in long white robes, and where did they come from?"
14 And I said to him, "My lord, you know." So he said to me, "These are those who come out of the Great Tribulation, and have washed their robes and they made them white in the blood of the Lamb.
15 Therefore they are before the throne of God, and they serve Him day and night in His temple. And He that sits on the throne shall dwell among them.
16 They shall neither hunger anymore nor thirst anymore; nor shall the sun by any means strike them, nor any scorching heat;
17 because the Lamb who is in the midst of the throne shepherds them, and He leads them to [the] springs of [the] waters of life. And God will wipe away every tear from their eyes."
The Apostles’ Bible Complete (ABC)
The Apostles’ Bible Complete (ABC) is a modern translation of the Bible that strives to offer a clear and faithful rendering of the scriptures in contemporary language. This translation is designed to be accessible to a wide audience, providing an easy-to-read yet accurate version of the biblical text. The ABC translation aims to bridge the gap between the ancient languages in which the Bible was originally written and the modern vernacular, making it an ideal choice for both personal study and public reading.
One of the notable features of the Apostles’ Bible Complete is its dedication to maintaining the integrity of the original manuscripts. The translators of the ABC worked meticulously with the Hebrew, Aramaic, and Greek texts to ensure that their translation accurately reflects the original meaning and intent of the scriptures. By employing a balance of formal equivalence (word-for-word) and dynamic equivalence (thought-for-thought) translation techniques, the ABC aims to preserve the nuances and richness of the original languages while ensuring readability and clarity for modern readers.
The ABC also incorporates extensive cross-references and study aids to enhance the reader’s understanding of the biblical text. These tools include footnotes that provide historical and cultural context, as well as explanations of difficult or ambiguous passages. This approach helps readers to grasp the deeper meanings of the scriptures and to see how different parts of the Bible interconnect. The inclusion of these study aids makes the ABC particularly useful for those who are new to the Bible, as well as for more experienced readers who are looking to deepen their understanding of the text.
Despite its strengths, the Apostles’ Bible Complete has faced some criticisms. Some readers feel that the translation could benefit from further refinement in certain passages, as the balance between formal and dynamic equivalence can sometimes lead to inconsistencies in style and tone. Others have noted that while the study aids are helpful, they can occasionally overwhelm the main text, making it difficult to focus on the scripture itself. Nonetheless, the ABC remains a valuable and respected translation, appreciated for its commitment to accuracy, clarity, and accessibility, and for its ability to bring the ancient words of the Bible to life for contemporary readers.