Bird's-eye view
In this glorious passage, John is given a glimpse of the triumphant end-game of the Great Commission. After seeing the Church Militant sealed for their earthly mission (the 144,000), he now sees the Church Triumphant in all her glory. This is not a different group, but the same group viewed from the perspective of their final victory. What we see here is a vast, international, uncountable congregation of saints, standing before the throne of God and of the Lamb, celebrating their deliverance. The central theme is the source and nature of their salvation. It is a salvation accomplished entirely by God and the Lamb, appropriated through the bloody atonement of the cross, and it results in perpetual, joyful worship and eternal satisfaction in the presence of God. This vision is a profound encouragement to the saints on earth, reminding us that the "great tribulation" of this age is the pathway to this unimaginable glory, and that the gospel is not failing but is destined for a triumphant success that will fill Heaven with worshipers from every corner of the globe.
The scene is a symphony of worship. The redeemed saints cry out with a loud voice, ascribing their salvation to God. The entire angelic host responds with a thunderous "Amen," adding their own sevenfold doxology. An elder then explains the identity of these white-robed saints: they are the ones who have come through the great tribulation and have been cleansed by the blood of Christ. Their eternal state is one of priestly service, divine protection, and perfect satisfaction, where the Lamb Himself shepherds them and God personally comforts them. This is the happy ending that awaits all who persevere in faith.
Outline
- 1. The Triumphant Multitude (Rev 7:9-17)
- a. A Vision of the Redeemed (Rev 7:9)
- b. The Song of the Redeemed (Rev 7:10)
- c. The Worship of the Angels (Rev 7:11-12)
- d. The Identity of the Redeemed (Rev 7:13-14)
- e. The Service and Security of the Redeemed (Rev 7:15)
- f. The Eternal Satisfaction of the Redeemed (Rev 7:16-17)
Context In Revelation
Chapter 7 serves as an interlude between the breaking of the sixth seal (Rev 6:12-17) and the seventh seal (Rev 8:1). The sixth seal ended with the terrified cry of ungodly men, "Who is able to stand?" Chapter 7 answers that question in two parts. First, John sees the 144,000, representing the sealed and protected people of God on earth, the Church Militant, numbered and prepared for holy war. Second, in our passage, he sees the glorious result of their witness: an innumerable multitude from all nations standing victorious in Heaven. These are not two different peoples of God, one Jewish and one Gentile. Rather, they are two perspectives on the one people of God. The 144,000 is the Church organized for conflict on earth; the great multitude is the same Church gathered in triumph in Heaven. This vision provides immense encouragement, showing the saints that despite the coming judgments and persecutions, God's people are secure and their mission will be wildly successful.
Key Issues
- The Identity of the Great Multitude
- The Relationship Between the 144,000 and the Multitude
- The Meaning of the "Great Tribulation"
- The Paradox of Washing Robes in Blood
- The Fulfillment of Old Testament Promises
- The Nature of Heavenly Worship
- The Centrality of the Lamb
The Roar of the Redeemed
One of the great temptations for the Church in any age is to develop a "remnant" mentality, to believe that we are a tiny, beleaguered minority, and that the cause of the gospel is largely failing in the world. This vision in Revelation 7 is the divine cure for that kind of small-minded pessimism. John does not see a handful of survivors huddled in a corner of Heaven. He sees a "great multitude which no one could count." The mission of God in Christ is not a salvage operation; it is a world-conquering campaign. The Great Commission is not a suggestion that we might hope to see a few people saved here and there. It is a royal command that will result in this glorious, global, uncountable harvest. This is what the Church looks like when the books are closed. This is the family photo of the redeemed. And their central activity, the thing that defines them, is their worship. They are loud, they are focused, and they are unanimous in their praise of God and the Lamb. This is the sound of victory.
Verse by Verse Commentary
9 After these things I looked, and behold, a great multitude which no one could count, from every nation and all tribes and peoples and tongues, standing before the throne and before the Lamb, clothed in white robes, and palm branches were in their hands;
John's attention is shifted from the numbered army on earth to the innumerable congregation in Heaven. The description is crucial. First, they are a great multitude which no one could count. This is a direct fulfillment of the Abrahamic promise that his descendants would be as countless as the stars or the sand on the seashore (Gen 15:5, 22:17). The gospel is successful on a massive scale. Second, they are international, from every conceivable human grouping. The gospel shatters all ethnic and national barriers. Third, their posture is one of vindication. They are standing before the throne, answering the question of who could possibly stand. They can. Fourth, they are clothed in white robes, symbolizing the imputed righteousness of Christ and their purification from sin. Finally, they hold palm branches, which immediately brings to mind two things: the Feast of Tabernacles, a celebration of God's provision and dwelling with His people, and Christ's Triumphal Entry into Jerusalem. This is a victory parade. They are celebrating the triumph of their King.
10 and they cry out with a loud voice, saying, “Salvation belongs to our God who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb.”
This is the anthem of Heaven. Notice, they do not whisper or murmur. They cry out with a loud voice. This is exuberant, robust, declarative praise. And what do they declare? The central truth of the gospel. Salvation is not from us. It is not a cooperative effort. It does not belong to our decision, our wisdom, or our piety. Salvation belongs to God. It is His work from beginning to end. It originates with the Father on the throne and is accomplished by the Lamb. This is the great confession of every redeemed sinner. All the glory for our salvation goes to God, and none of it to us. This is the bedrock of sane, biblical theology, and it is the theme song of the redeemed.
11-12 And all the angels were standing around the throne and the elders and the four living creatures, and they fell on their faces before the throne and worshiped God, saying, “Amen, the blessing and the glory and the wisdom and the thanksgiving and the honor and the power and the strength, be to our God forever and ever. Amen.”
The praise of the saints sets off a chain reaction in Heaven. The entire unfallen angelic host, along with the representatives of the redeemed (the elders) and all creation (the four living creatures), responds to the saints' cry. They begin with "Amen," which means "so be it" or "this is true." They affirm the declaration of the multitude. Then they unleash a magnificent sevenfold doxology, ascribing every possible perfection to God. They are the ultimate worship leaders, modeling for us how to respond to the grace of God. The salvation of men is not a minor affair on the cosmic stage; it is the central reason for the praise of all created beings. The angels, who do not need salvation, are nonetheless enthralled by the wisdom and power of God displayed in it.
13 Then one of the elders answered, saying to me, “These, clothed in the white robes, who are they, and from where have they come?”
One of the elders, a representative of the redeemed Church, engages John in a dialogue. This is a common literary device in apocalyptic literature, where a question is asked not because the asker is ignorant, but in order to provide the answer for the benefit of the reader. The elder asks two questions: Who are they? And where did they come from? The answer will define the identity and experience of the Church.
14 And I said to him, “My lord, you know.” And he said to me, “These are the ones who come out of the great tribulation, and they washed their robes and made them white in the blood of the Lamb.
John defers to the elder's wisdom. The elder's answer is profound. First, their origin: they are the ones who come out of the great tribulation. This is not a specific, future seven-year period as some teach. The "great tribulation" is the entire age between the first and second comings of Christ, the period of the Church's witness, suffering, and persecution in a hostile world. It is the birth pangs of the new creation. Second, their qualification: they have washed their robes and made them white in the blood of the Lamb. This is a beautiful and startling paradox. How can you wash something white in red blood? This points to the miraculous, substitutionary nature of the atonement. Our robes, stained with sin, are not just cleaned but are made radiantly white by the sacrificial death of Jesus. It is His blood, and nothing else, that qualifies us to stand before God.
15 For this reason, they are before the throne of God; and they serve Him day and night in His sanctuary; and He who sits on the throne will dwell over them.
Because they have been cleansed by the blood of the Lamb, three things are true of them. First, they have access to God's presence; they are before the throne. Second, they have a new vocation; they serve Him day and night as priests in His temple. The ultimate destiny of a Christian is not eternal retirement on a cloud, but active, joyful, unending worship and service. Third, they have divine protection. The one on the throne, God the Father, will dwell over them. The Greek word here is the verb form of "tabernacle" or "tent." God pitches His tent over them, sheltering them in His immediate presence. This is the ultimate fulfillment of the Feast of Tabernacles.
16 THEY WILL HUNGER NO LONGER, NOR THIRST ANYMORE; NOR WILL THE SUN BEAT DOWN ON THEM, NOR ANY HEAT;
The elder now quotes from Isaiah 49, applying Old Testament promises made to Israel directly to this multinational Church. Their former life in the great tribulation was marked by want, suffering, and affliction. But in the presence of God, all of that is reversed. Every form of hunger and thirst, both physical and spiritual, will be perfectly satisfied. Every form of affliction, represented by the scorching sun and heat, will be gone forever. This is the state of ultimate contentment and peace.
17 for the Lamb at the center of the throne will shepherd them and will guide them to springs of the water of life. And God WILL WIPE EVERY TEAR FROM THEIR EYES.”
The reason for their satisfaction is given here. The Lamb, the one who was sacrificed, is now their shepherd. This is a stunning combination of roles. The sacrificial victim is now the sovereign guide and protector. He leads them to ever-fresh springs of the water of life, which is to say, to an ever-deepening experience of the life of God Himself. The final promise, drawn from Isaiah 25, is perhaps the most tender. God the Father will personally and finally wipe every tear from their eyes. Every sorrow, every grief, every memory of pain from the great tribulation will be healed by the gentle hand of their loving Father. This is the final consummation of our salvation.
Application
This passage ought to shape our lives as Christians in at least three ways. First, it should fuel our evangelism. The vision of an uncountable multitude from every tribe and tongue is not just a future reality to wait for; it is a present task to pursue. God uses the faithful witness of His sealed people on earth to gather this great congregation. Seeing the glorious end result should motivate us to be part of the means.
Second, this vision should sustain us in our suffering. The Bible is honest about the Christian life. The path to those white robes and palm branches is "out of the great tribulation." We should not be surprised when we face trials, opposition, and sorrow. This world is not our home. But we can endure these things with joy, knowing that they are temporary and are leading to an eternal weight of glory where every tear will be wiped away.
Third, this passage must reform our worship. The worship of Heaven is not quiet, sentimental, or man-centered. It is a loud, corporate, God-centered roar of victory. The saints and angels are utterly captivated by the glory of God and the salvation accomplished by the Lamb. Our worship on Sunday should be a heartfelt, albeit imperfect, echo of that heavenly reality. We gather not to be entertained, but to join the eternal anthem: "Salvation belongs to our God who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb."