The Great Multitude of Revelation 7

After the sealing of the 144,000, John sees a great multitude which no man could number, out of every nation and all tribes and peoples and tongues, standing before the throne and before the Lamb, arrayed in white robes, and palms in their hands. The gospel was and is the power of God unto salvation to everyone who believes, to the Jew first and also to the Greek. (Romans 1:16). The gospel spread to the world and many Gentiles accepted the call to be servants of the Living God. This great multitude included the Gentile converts of the first century. Robes were given to them just as was given to the Old Testament faithful and the Jewish Christians (Rev. 6:11; 7:13-14). In celebration, these Gentiles carry palm branches in their hands like the Jews who praised Jesus’ arrival in Jerusalem.  These men and women cry with a great voice, “Salvation unto our God who sits on the throne, and unto the Lamb.

All the angels were standing about the throne, and about the elders and the four living creatures; and they fell before the throne on their faces, and worshiped God saying, “Amen: Blessing, and glory, and wisdom, and thanksgiving, and honor, and power, and might, be unto our God forever and ever. Amen“.  Worship is always simple but powerful words describing attributes of God and his worthiness.  In this case, seven choice words of prostrate beings give adoration, praise, and worship to the one who sits on the throne and unto the Lamb.

One of the four elders explains who this multitude is:

1. They are the ones who come out of the great tribulation.  Their robes are made white in the blood of the Lamb.  This verb is active, suggesting that they washed their own robes.  Indeed, the blood of Christ was a gift but the washing is a choice of each individual.  He provides the means, but He doesn’t wash their robes for them.  I have washing detergent but until I actually apply it to my clothes and agitate to release the dirt, the cleansing never takes place (Acts 2:37-38).
2. Therefore, they are before the throne, serving day and night in His temple.  This suggests the priesthood of believers who dwell in God’s heavenly tabernacle.
3. They shall hunger no more … After declaring Himself to be the bread of life, Jesus promises, “he that comes to me shall not hunger, and he that believes on me shall never thirst (John 6:31-40, 48-58).
4. Neither the sun strike upon them nor any heat – The heavenly city has no need of the sun nor moon to shine upon it, for the glory of God lightens it and the Lamb is its light (Rev. 21:23).
5. The Lamb in the midst of the throne shall be their shepherd and shall guide them to waters of life.   They shall not want or lack (Ps. 23:1-6).  All the green pastures we need and fountains of water that never run dry.
6. God shall wipe away every tear from their eye.  The Psalmist says, “They that sow in tears shall reap in joy.” The whole creation groans and travail waiting to be delivered from the bondage of corruption, while the Christian awaits their adoption, that is, the redemption of the body” (Romans 8:18-23).