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Revelation 14:2

ESV And I heard a voice from heaven like the roar of many waters and like the sound of loud thunder. The voice I heard was like the sound of harpists playing on their harps,
NIV And I heard a sound from heaven like the roar of rushing waters and like a loud peal of thunder. The sound I heard was like that of harpists playing their harps.
NASB And I heard a voice from heaven, like the sound of many waters and like the sound of loud thunder, and the voice which I heard was like the sound of harpists playing on their harps.
CSB I heard a sound from heaven like the sound of cascading waters and like the rumbling of loud thunder. The sound I heard was like harpists playing on their harps.
NLT And I heard a sound from heaven like the roar of mighty ocean waves or the rolling of loud thunder. It was like the sound of many harpists playing together.
KJV And I heard a voice from heaven, as the voice of many waters, and as the voice of a great thunder: and I heard the voice of harpers harping with their harps:
NKJV And I heard a voice from heaven, like the voice of many waters, and like the voice of loud thunder. And I heard the sound of harpists playing their harps.

What does Revelation 14:2 mean?

Heaven is not a dull, boring, quiet place, as many unbelievers suppose. It is a place of joyful celebration. John reports that he heard a voice from heaven that sounded like a roaring river or waterfall or loud thunder. John describes the voice further as the sound of harpists playing on their harps. The choristers are not identified. They may be tribulation martyrs whose lives were snuffed out by the beast. If that is the case, they must be celebrating the imminent end of the beast and his empire.

Other possibilities are that these singers are church-age saints, or Old Testament saints, or both groups of saints, or angels. The Old Testament saints are in heaven in spirit form and are awaiting the resurrection of their bodies at Christ's return (Daniel 12:1–2). Whoever they are, it is clear they are joyfully welcoming the end of the tribulation and the commencement of Jesus' reign on earth.
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