Revelation 7:2
What does Revelation 7:2 mean?
A plain-English look at Revelation 7:2 in WEB alongside six other public-domain English translations, with cross-references and chapter context.
What Revelation 7:2 means
Another angel rises “from the sunrising,” a detail that hints at hope and newness, and carries “the seal of the living God.” He commands the four angels who have authority to harm earth and sea to wait. The emphasis falls on God’s ownership and life-giving power. To seal is to mark as belonging, to authenticate, and to protect. Judgment is real and imminent, but it is not blind. The angel’s loud cry shows urgency and authority delegated from God. The living God acts first to distinguish his people before any blow falls, underscoring that salvation and preservation come from his initiative, not from human ability.
Parallel translations
WEB
World English Bible · 2000And I saw another angel ascend from the sunrising, having the seal of the living God: and he cried with a great voice to the four angels to whom it was given to hurt the earth and the sea,
KJV
King James Version · 1611And I saw another angel ascending from the east, having the seal of the living God: and he cried with a loud voice to the four angels, to whom it was given to hurt the earth and the sea,
ASV
American Standard Version · 1901And I saw another angel ascend from the sunrising, having the seal of the living God: and he cried with a great voice to the four angels to whom it was given to hurt the earth and the sea,
BBE
Bible in Basic English · 1949And I saw another angel coming up from the east, having the mark of the living God: and he said with a great voice to the four angels, to whom it was given to do damage to the earth and the sea,
YLT
Young's Literal Translation · 1862and I saw another messenger going up from the rising of the sun, having a seal of the living God, and he did cry with a great voice to the four messengers, to whom it was given to injure the land and the sea, saying,
DRA
Douay-Rheims (Challoner) · 1752And I saw another angel ascending from the rising of the sun, having the sign of the living God. And he cried with a loud voice to the four angels to whom it was given to hurt the earth and the sea,
DBY
Darby Bible · 1890And I saw another angel ascending from [the] sunrising, having [the] seal of [the] livingGod; and he cried with a loud voice to the four angels to whom it had been given to hurt the earth and the sea,
Context
We move from angels restraining the winds to an authoritative messenger who holds the seal. His appearance explains why the restraint exists. The focus turns from the threat of harm to the necessity of sealing. The next verse will state the command directly: do not harm until the sealing is complete. This builds suspense and clarifies that everything about the coming trials is governed by heaven’s timetable, with God’s people foremost in view.
v.1After this I saw four angels standing at the four corners of the earth, holding the four winds of the earth, that no wind should blow on the earth, or on the sea, or upon any tree.
v.2This passage
v.3saying, Hurt not the earth, neither the sea, nor the trees, till we shall have sealed the servants of our God on their foreheads.
Cross references
Related passages from across Scripture, drawn from the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge.
- 2 Corinthians 1:22
who also sealed us, and gave us the earnest of the Spirit in our hearts.
- Revelation 8:3
And another angel came and stood over the altar, having a golden censer; and there was given unto him much incense, that he should add it unto the prayers of all the saints upon the golden altar which was before the throne.
- Revelation 9:4
And it was said unto them that they should not hurt the grass of the earth, neither any green thing, neither any tree, but only such men as have not the seal of God on their foreheads.
- Revelation 10:4
And when the seven thunders uttered their voices, I was about to write: and I heard a voice from heaven saying, Seal up the things which the seven thunders uttered, and write them not.
- Revelation 1:3
Blessed is he that readeth, and they that hear the words of the prophecy, and keep the things that are written therein: for the time is at hand.
- John 6:27
Work not for the food which perisheth, but for the food which abideth unto eternal life, which the Son of man shall give unto you: for him the Father, even God, hath sealed.
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