“These are they who have come out of the great tribulation; they have washed their robes and made them white in the blood of the Lamb.” (Revelation 7:14, NIV).
"The words have come are more correctly translated “are coming” (present tense in Greek). This crowd has been arriving in heaven from earth and has continued to increase throughout the period of tribulation. There is no indication that these are martyrs, though some surely must be." [1]
"Some assume that the people are a select group who have been martyred for their faith because they have died during the tribulation. But it is not clear that martyrdom is in mind. Nevertheless, even if these people are martyrs, it would be best to view them as representative of all believers who must suffer." [2]
“Therefore, “they are before the throne of God and serve him day and night in his temple; and he who sits on the throne will shelter them with his presence. ‘Never again will they hunger; never again will they thirst. The sun will not beat down on them,’ nor any scorching heat. For the Lamb at the center of the throne will be their shepherd; ‘he will lead them to springs of living water.’ ‘And God will wipe away every tear from their eyes.’”” (Revelation 7:15–17, NIV)
The similarity with the end of Revelation is profound. There we read in Revelation 21:2–4 (NIV)
2 I saw the Holy City, the new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride beautifully dressed for her husband. 3 And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, “Look! God’s dwelling place is now among the people, and he will dwell with them. They will be his people, and God himself will be with them and be their God. 4 ‘He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death’ or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away.”
These are those who "have washed their robes and made them white [3] in the blood of the Lamb." "Christ’s blood cleanses us from sin, hence the paradox of red (blood) making white (pure and/or victorious)." [4]
John saw the saints of God who have endured, in great number around the throne. They have displaced, in a sense, the Living Creatures (Revelation 5:6) and are worshipping, serving and enjoying God's blessings. This is the end-game. This is the hope of the Church.
Father, what a glorious sight to see. Your redeemed Church forever free from sin and forever in Your Presence. “Praise and glory and wisdom and thanks and honor and power and strength be to You our God for ever and ever." All the promises that You made have come true for this multitude. They are in perfect health. Thank you Lord! Today as I step into a world that is afflicted by pain and suffering, sin and despair may this picture be imprinted on my mind.
When we've been there ten thousand years,
Bright shining as the sun,
We've no less days to sing God's praise,
Than when we first begun.
Bright shining as the sun,
We've no less days to sing God's praise,
Than when we first begun.
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1. Easley, K. H. (1998). Vol. 12: Revelation. Holman New Testament Commentary (130). Nashville, TN: Broadman & Holman Publishers.
2. Beale, G. K. (1999). The book of Revelation: A commentary on the Greek text. New International Greek Testament Commentary (432–433). Grand Rapids, MI; Carlisle, Cumbria: W.B. Eerdmans; Paternoster Press
3. The white garments of all the redeemed (cf. 6:11; 7:9, 13; 19:8, 14), speak of holiness and purity. Such white robes are reserved for Christ (Matt. 17:2; Mark 9:3), holy angels (Matt. 28:3; Mark 16:5), and the glorified church (19:8, 14). [The MacArthur Study Bible. 1997 (J. MacArthur, Jr., Ed.) (electronic ed.) (1996). Nashville, TN: Word Pub.]
4. Barry, J. D., Grigoni, M. R., Heiser, M. S., Custis, M., Mangum, D., & Whitehead, M. M. (2012). Faithlife Study Bible (Re 7:14). Bellingham, WA: Logos Bible Software
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