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What kind of seal or mark and what would it look like? Revelation 9:4 talks about a seal on the forehead.
Revelation 9:4
“They were told not to harm the grass of the earth or any green plant or any tree, but only those people who do not have the seal of God on their foreheads”. ESV.
Troy Day
Definite vs. Indefinite Article: Older translations like the KJV and Douay-Rheims say “out of great tribulation” (no article), while newer ones like NIV and NASB say “out of the great tribulation.” That tiny word “the” shifts interpretation from a general experience of suffering to a specific, eschatological event.
Greek Text: The original Greek phrase is ἐκ τῆς θλίψεως τῆς μεγάλης (ek tēs thlipseōs tēs megalēs), which literally includes the definite article “the.” This is why modern translations tend to render it as “the great tribulation.”
⏳ Eschatological Impact
Premillennialism: For premillennial interpreters, “the great tribulation” refers to a distinct, future period of intense suffering before Christ’s return. The presence of “the” strengthens this view.
General Suffering View: Without “the,” the passage can be read as describing believers throughout history enduring trials, not just a single apocalyptic event.
🔍 Historical Context
Douay-Rheims (1609–1610): Based on the Latin Vulgate, which sometimes omits articles found in Greek, leading to differences in English phrasing.
KJV (1611): Similarly reflects translation choices influenced by the linguistic style of the time, often minimizing definite articles compared to modern English usage.
✨ Theological Implications
Identity of the White-Robed Saints: Regardless of translation, the passage emphasizes that these saints have “washed their robes in the blood of the Lamb,” symbolizing redemption and purity.
Interpretive Divide: This small translation difference has fueled centuries of debate between those who see Revelation as describing ongoing spiritual realities versus those who see it as a roadmap of future events.