Category: Revelation’s Seven Seals

Purpose

This article discusses Revelation 7:9-17 verse-by-verse. Revelation 6 ends with the breaking of the sixth seal, interpreted as Christ’s return. The first part of Revelation 7 (7:1-8) describes the sealing of God’s people, which must be completed before He returns – in other words, before the sixth seal. This is followed by the description in 7:9-17 of God’s people as a great multitude from all nations, which no one could count, standing before God’s throne. Two of the main questions in this passage are:

• • Who are they? How do they relate to the 144,000?
  • When are they described, before or after Christ’s return?

Overview

Great Tribulation – They come out of the great tribulation, referring to the persecution of God’s people during the entire Church Age, as described by the first five seals in Revelation 6.

White Robes – They are dressed in white robes, meaning their names will not be erased from the Book of Life. They themselves have washed their robes and made them white in the blood of the Lamb, because God judges people by their deeds but saves some by grace. 

144,000 – The Innumerable Multitude seems very different from the 144,000, who are only from Israel and precisely counted. But these are two perspectives of God’s people. While the 144,000 are God’s end-time people, the Innumerable Multitude includes all God’s people.

On the Great Day – This description of the Innumerable Multitude is part of the Sixth Seal, which earlier mentioned another great multitude, trying to hide from God and from the wrath of the Lamb, asking, “The great day of their wrath has come, and who is able to stand?” Since the Innumerable Multitude stands before God and the Lamb, they are the answer to that question. This implies that they stand before God’s throne at the same time as when the multitude on earth hides in the mountains, namely, on “the great day of their wrath” (Christ’s return).

The elder explains the Innumerable Multitude to John in the present tense as still coming out of the great tribulation (7:13-17). However, that is an explanation to John and given from John’s time perspective. Since John saw them in the context of the “great day” (6:17), he saw them during Christ’s return.

Fifth Seal – They are the same as the people who receive white robes in the Fifth Seal, but they no longer cry for revenge because they have already received their revenge, as described by the people hiding in the mountains from the wrath of the Lamb.

7:9

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;

After these things – That is, after the description of the sealing of the 144,000 in the previous verses.

I looked, and behold – John never saw the 144,000. He only heard about them (Rev 7:4-8). But he sees this Innumerable Multitude.

a great multitude which no one could count, – This does not literally mean that they cannot be counted. While the 144,000 is limited in number and only from the tribe of Israel, this group is not limited in numbers or tribes. In other words, the 144,000 are a specific subset of God’s people, but the multitude before the throne is not limited in the same way. Show More

from every nation and all tribes and peoples and tongues – Since the number 4 symbolizes ‘worldwide extension’ (cf. Rev 7:1 – see here), this four-fold grouping (nation … tribes … peoples … tongues) signifies that the redeemed will come from all nations (cf. Rev 10:11; 14:6).

Standing before the throne and before the Lamb – Since the throne represents God (e.g., Rev 7:10), they are standing before God and the Lamb. Show More

In the sixth seal, another multitude attempts to hide from the Throne and the Lamb and asks: “The great day of their wrath has come, and who is able to stand?” (Rev 6:16-17) Since the innumerable multitude stands before the throne and before the Lamb, they are the answer to that question. This implies that they stand before God’s throne at the same time as when the multitude on earth hides in the mountains, namely, on “the great day of their wrath” (Rev 6:16-17).

Dressed in white robes – The names of people “clothed in white garments” will not be erased “from the book of life” (Rev 3:5). Show More

Since the multitude before the throne is clothed in white robes, they are the same as the people in the Fifth Seal who have been “slain because of the testimony which they had maintained” (Rev 6:9) and received white robes (Rev 6:11). Show More

Having palm branches in their hands – Palm branches are associated with “the Feast of Booths” (Lev 23:33, 40; Neh 8:14-15), which foreshadowed the bliss of eternity. Consequently, the palm branches in their hands imply that that great destiny has been reached: the wonderful new world. Show More

7:10

and they cry out with a loud voice, saying, “Salvation to our God who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb.”

and they cry out with a loud voice – In the fifth seal, God’s martyrs also cried “with a loud voice,” but for revenge (Rev 6:10). Since they now no longer cry for revenge, they already had their revenge, as described when the people hide in the mountains from the wrath of the Lamb.

Saying, “Salvation to our God who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb.” – While the multitude hiding in the mountains acknowledges their doom (Rev 6:16-17), the multitude before the throne acknowledges that they are not the authors of their own salvation but that they have been saved by God and the Lamb. Show More

The multitude praises God and the Lamb for their salvation. Although “the seven spirits before the throne” are included in the heavenly trio (e.g., Rev 1:4-5), nowhere in Revelation (or in the Bible?) is the Spirit praised or worshiped.

7:11

and all the angels were standing around the throne and around the elders and the four living creatures; and they fell on their faces before the throne and worshiped God.

The current passage, therefore, depicts two vast groups – an innumerable multitude of people and millions of angels.

In the previous verse, the multitude before the throne praised both God and the Lamb. However, now, these heavenly beings worship God alone. Revelation maintains a strict distinction between God and Jesus (see here), and, in this book, only God is worshiped (see here) Show More

7:12

saying, “Amen, blessing and glory and wisdom and thanksgiving and honor and power and might, be to our God forever and ever. Amen.”

The angels praise God for saving this multitude of people. Angels are intensely involved in the struggle on Earth. In Revelation, the number 7 signifies completeness in time. The fact that the praise is seven-fold indicates that this praise is for all time. Show More

7:13

Then one of the elders answered, saying to me, “These who are clothed in the white robes, who are they, and where have they come from?”

This is one of the twenty-four elders introduced in Revelation 4, who are people in God’s throne room (See here).

The word “answered” implies that John asked a question or wanted to know more.

“These who are clothed in the white robes” refers to the great multitude of verse nine. Show More

7:14

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 have washed their robes and made them white in the blood of the Lamb.

In verse 13, the elder asked two questions. In the current verse, he answers both:

• • • Who are they? – They are the ones who have washed their robes in the blood of the Lamb.
    • Where do they come from? – They come out of the great tribulation. 

I said to him, “My lord – “My Lord” (Greek: kurie mou) is a typical term of respect in the ancient world. It is usually directed to a superior by one who is inferior in rank or age. John addresses the elder respectfully as “my lord” because he saw the elders around the throne of God and he knows that that suggests a very high status. Show More

These are the ones who come out of the great tribulation – The present tense of the phrase “come out of” implies that this great multitude is still coming out of the tribulation, which would mean that they are “standing before the throne and before the Lamb” (Rev 7:9) in the sense that their dwelling in heaven is an eternal reality but not yet visibly and experientially realized. Show More

The word “tribulation,” in general, means oppression (e.g., Matt 24:9) or simply difficult circumstances (e.g., 2 Cor 8:13). In other words, it is not limited to religious persecution. However, in the current verse, it is “the great tribulation,” referring to one particular tribulation that readers already know about. Given the context, it refers to the martyrdom of God’s people during the entire church age as described by the first five seals. See – The four horsemen of the Apocalypse. Show More

and they have washed their robes and made them white in the blood of the Lamb. – It is not literally possible to make clothes white in blood. This is a metaphor: Christ’s blood symbolizes His death. His death refers not only to His last moment but to His final hours when He had to overcome the most severe torment and temptations possible. But His death, defined as His final hours, reflects how He overcame throughout His life. If Jesus had submitted to Satan’s temptations anywhere during His life, His death would have been to no avail (see – Why Jesus had to die.) Show More

They washed their own robes.

White robes symbolize being right with God (cf. Rev 3:4-5). The people have to wash their own robes (Rev 7:14; cf. Rev 3:4-5; 19:7-8; 16:15) because, contrary to what Protestant churches teach, “God … will render to each person according to his deeds” (Rom 2:6; cf. Rom 2:5-8; 2:9-13; 8:13; Rev 20:12; Matt 25:35-36). Show More

But, if we are judged by our deeds, why did Paul write, “by the works of the Law no flesh will be justified” (Rom 3:20), and “by grace you have been saved through faith” (Eph 2:8)? This is explained as follows:

1) “The works of the law” refer to the external ceremonies and rituals of the law of Moses, which are very different from the “deeds” by which people will be judged. Show More

2) People are judged by their deeds but saved by grace (e.g., Rom 6:23). God’s people DO NOT EARN salvation through their deeds. Judgment by deeds determines WHO will be saved. By grace is HOW those people are saved. Show More

3) To be saved through faith is equivalent to being judged by deeds. Deeds are but the external manifestation of an internal faith. Show More

People dislike the idea of being judged by their deeds because they know that their deeds are evil. But faith and trust in God must replace that fear. We must know that He loves us, and we must trust His promises (e.g., John 3:16).

7:15

For this reason, they are before the throne of God; and they serve Him day and night in His temple; and He who sits on the throne will spread His tabernacle over them.

For this reason – Because they have washed their robes.

they are before the throne of God – The governing center of the universe.

and they serve Him day and night – The phrase “day and night” occurs five times in the Book of Revelation (Rev 4:8; 7:15; 12:10; 14:11; 20:10) and means “constantly” or “continually.” In eternity, there will be no weariness or need for rest.

in His temple – There will be no literal temple in eternity (cf. Rev 21:22). “In His temple” is a symbolic way of saying in God’s presence. This is the temple (Greek: naô) in heaven, which the Book of Revelation mentions frequently (Rev 8:3-5; 11:19; 15:5-8, etc.). However, there is no literal temple in heaven. Show More

and He who sits on the throne will spread His tabernacle over them. – “His tabernacle” is His dwelling place (Rev 21:3). God is omnipresent and, therefore, cannot be limited to one physical location. Perhaps “spread his tabernacle over them” must be understood as that His kingdom has come and His will is done “on earth as it is in heaven” (Matt 6:10).

7:16

They will hunger no longer, nor thirst anymore; nor will the sun beat down on them, nor any heat.

In this life, being a believer does not guarantee physical comfort. But, in eternity, things will be different. Show More

7:17

for the Lamb in the center of the throne will be their shepherd, and will guide them to springs of the water of life; and God will wipe every tear from their eyes.

If this was the end of the Book of Revelation, we would not have noticed anything missing. This passage describes the glorious eternal life of the redeemed, as described in more detail in Revelation 21-22. Show More

for the Lamb in the center of the throne – He is not “around the throne” like the elders and the angels (Rev 4:4; 5:11) or “before the throne” like the great multitude (Rev 7:9, 15): He is “in the center of the throne.”  Show More

will be their shepherd. – That “the Lamb” will be “their shepherd” is a bit ironic but shows the symbolic nature of this book.

Who is this Multitude?

The Innumerable Multitude in 7:9-17 seems very different from the 144,000 in 7:1-8.

While the 144,000 are exactly numbered, only from the tribes of Israel, and on Earth, the Innumerable Multitude cannot be counted, is from all nations, and before God’s throne.

Perhaps they are the same as the 144,000.

However, some argue that the Innumerable Multitude is the same as the 144,000 because this is one of the hear/see-combinations in Revelation where John first hears about something and then sees something that seems completely different, but the two things are the same. For example, John first hears about a lion and then sees a lamb, but both symbolize Christ (Rev 5:5-6). In the same way, John never sees the 144,000. He only hears their number, but when he looks, he sees a great multitude that no one can number (Rev 7:4, 9). Show More

The Innumerable Multitude and the 144,000 are two perspectives of God’s people.

However, what John first hears and then sees in these hear/see combinations are not precisely the same but different perspectives of the same thing. For example, the Lion and the Lamb symbolize two distinct roles that Christ has. On earth, He died like a lamb. But when He returns, He will be a lion and tread “the wine press of the fierce wrath of God, the Almighty” (Rev 19:15). Show More

In the same way, for the following reason, the 144,000 and the Innumerable Multitude are not the same but are different perspectives of God’s people:

1) While the 144,000 are before the Four Winds, the Multitude are after.

The 144,000 symbolize God’s end-time people who are sealed after the Seal had come to Earth but BEFORE the four winds (the end-time catastrophes) are released (Rev 7:2, 3).

In contrast, the Innumerable Multitude is the answer to the question of the multitude hiding in the mountains, implying that they are described on “the great day of their wrath” (Christ’s return) AFTER the four winds have already run their course. Consequently, they describe God’s people at a later time than the 144,000. Show More

2) The 144,000 are God’s end-time people, but the Innmerable Multitude includes all God’s people.

The Innumerable Multitude is “clothed in white robes” (Rev 7:9). This reminds us of the Fifth Seal which describes God’s slain people crying for revenge but are given white robes and told to wait for “their fellow servants … who were to be killed even as they had been” (Rev 6:9-11). This implies a specific point in history that divides God’s people between:

Those who have already been “slain because of … the testimony which they had maintained” (Rev 6:9) and

Those who must still be “killed even as they had been” (Rev 6:11).

In the Fifth Seal, the first group receives white robes (Rev 6:11). By implication, the second group will also receive white robes. Since they are dressed in white robes, the Innumerable Multitude includes BOTH groups. Show More

But the 144,000 include ONLY the second group because the Seal of God, with which the 144,000 are sealed, comes out of heaven (Rev 7:2) at the specific time in history to which the fifth seal points (See here).

At what time are they described?

The present tense in the description of the Innumerable Multitude implies that they are timeless.

7:9-12, describing what John saw and heard, is in the past tense. Prophets normally describe visions in the past tense because the vision was a past experience for the prophet. So, the prophet will also describe events in the prophet’s future in the past tense.

However, when the elder explains the Innumerable Multitude to John, he uses present and future tenses (7:14-17). For example, in the present tense, they “come out of the great tribulation” and “are before the throne of God” (7:14-15). In the future tense, “God will wipe every tear” (7:17).

These verbs are in the present and future tenses because it is an explanation to John and, therefore, relative to John’s time. In other words, they are coming out of the tribulation in John’s time and, in John’s future, God will wipe every tear. That implies that the Inumerable Multitude does not describe a specific point in history.

On the other hand, the context implies that they are described on “the great day.”

For example, they stand before God’s throne in heaven (Rev 11:19 & 16:17), have palm branches in their hands, foreshadowing the bliss of eternity, and no longer cry for revenge. Furthermore, since the multitude standing before the throne answers the question, “Who is able to stand” on “the great day of their wrath?” (6:17), they are described on “the great day of their wrath,” interpreted as Christ’s return.

However, Revelation often depicts God’s people on earth as already in heaven.

For example, Rev 13:6-7; 14:1-5; 15:2. This may also apply to Revelation 7:9-17. Show More

They do always exist but John saw them at Christ’s return.

This article reconciles the above as follows:

In Revelation 7, John HEARS the elder describing the Innumerable Multitude in the present tense (7:13-17). This explanation is given from John’s time perspective.

However, when John SAW them standing before the throne (7:9-12), they are the answer to the question of the hiding multitude (6:17), implying that he saw them on “the great day of their wrath” (6:17).

Therefore, these two great multitudes describe Christ’s return, when He will separate the sheep from the goats. Show More

Other Articles

The Seven Seals

• • • • Next:  The seventh seal – Revelation 8:1
      • All articles on the Sealed Book (Rev 4:1-8:1)
      • People’s deeds will refute Satan’s criticism.
        

Other

• • • • All articles on this website
      • The Book of Daniel
      • The Book of Revelation
      • Is Jesus the Most High God?
      • Origin of the Trinity Doctrine 
      • Trinity Doctrine – General
      • The Origin of Evil
      • Death, Eternal Life, and Eternal Torment

I recommend Jon Paulien’s commentary on Revelation for further reading. For general theological discussions, I recommend Graham Maxwell, who you will find on the Pineknoll website.