The Multitude of Gentiles

After the vision concerning the sealing and salvation of the 144,000 Jews, John looked and saw an innumerable multitude. In the fulfillment of God’s purposes for Israel, these 144,000 become the instruments God uses to lead multitudes to a saving knowledge of Christ as declared in these verses. The marvel is that in such a time as this, a time of God’s wrath, God’s mercy is equally manifest and He will save many people. Not only will men be saved, but also their number will be beyond human ability to count the people saved during the time of God’s wrath. Of course, God numbers them and knows everyone that is His.

The 144,000 were all Israelites, but this group is composed of all nationalities and groups. Undoubtedly, this will include redeemed Jews beyond the 144,000 for this is the period of Jacob’s trouble when all Israel will be saved (Romans 11:26). In addition, these are from every nation that must include Israel and from all tribes that would include the 12 tribes of Israel.

The multitude is seen “standing before the Lamb” and “the throne of God” (Revelation 7:15). This is the same throne mentioned in Revelation 4-5 and shows they are in heaven in the presence of the Lamb of God as saved people. This is a place of privilege and honor. These martyred Tribulation saints are now in the presence of God and the Lamb. They are here in their intermediate state without their resurrection bodies since the resurrection of Tribulation believers does not occur until after the Tribulation (Revelation 20:4; Daniel 12:1-2). Death for the Tribulation saints, as with the New Testament saints, means being in the presence of the Lord in heavenly bliss and away from the trials of this life (Revelation 7:15-17), but also in a conscious state where believers are still concerned about the glory of God.

“Clothed in white robes” again speaks symbolically of the imputed righteousness of Christ given to them at the point of salvation through faith in Jesus Christ. This means they are in Him and share in His righteousness as justified saints. As verses 14 and 15 will show, this is the reason they have immediate access into God’s presence.

“And palm branches in their hands” suggests the element of joy and worship. The use of palm branches according to ancient traditions symbolized festive joy and worship as well as victory or triumph. “And this is the victory that has overcome the world, even our faith, and who is he that overcomes the world, but he who believes that Jesus is the Son of God” (1 John 5:4-5). “Thanks be to God who always leads us in His triumph in Christ” (2 Corinthians 2:14).

They “Have washed their robes and made them white” (Revelation 7:14). What a paradox: white robes made white by blood. Of course, this is obviously a reference to the imputation of Christ’s righteousness. The point is they acted in faith, trusting in the person and work of Christ and God then justified them, imputing or crediting the righteousness of Christ to their account (Romans 4-5).

Their position before the throne is mentioned twice in these verses (verses 9 and 15) stress the privilege and honor of having access to the very throne of God through faith in Christ in contrast to the awful conditions on the earth. The focus here is on the reason. Such access is the result of having the white robes, the righteousness of Christ.

Three things are prominent in verses 15-17 that we need to note about these saints in heaven: Their service, their satisfaction, and their sufficiency.

First their service, they have served the Lord day and night in the His temple.” We must remember that this whole scene is prophetic of the future time of the Tribulation. The question is does the scene describe the service of the multitude going on during their time before the throne, or does this looks forward in anticipation of the millennium and their service of God in the millennial temple. This could be describing what will certainly take place in the future; however, it is a descriptive and describes the scene in progress as they wait on the Lord in service before the throne. Undoubtedly, it refers to heaven and stresses that heaven is not only a rest from life’s pressures and toil, but it is especially a place of worship and privileged service even before the kingdom on earth ever begins.

“Night and day” reinforces the concept of constant service. They have no need for rest or sleep or restoration from fatigue.

The temple probably speaks of God’s presence, being in the place where God dwells.

In John’s Gospel Jesus is pictured as the new temple (John. 2:19-22), in the Prologue he is the tabernacle (John 1:14), the focus of God’s presence among men on earth. Where Christ is, there is God’s dwelling.

Therefore, once they are before the throne, they will be under God’s tabernacle and in His presence, and delivered from everything evil or harmful that men are subjected to on earth, such as hunger, thirst, heat and even sorrow. These believers will know God’s personal and direct comfort, indeed, the personal comfort of the Great Shepherd Himself. In addition, they will experience all that is needed for relief, joy and satisfaction. Namely, the Lamb Himself who will shepherd, guide and wipe away the tears, every single one with the understanding and comfort which He alone can give.

Some have argued that this passage suggests that there will be tears in heaven because of failure and wasted opportunities. However, the emphasis of this verse is that the tears of the past, because of the trials of life as in the Great Tribulation, are removed when men arrive in heaven in the presence of the Lamb, for there they “will be occupied with the beauty and wonder of heaven and the worship of the Savior.

In a troubled land the good news is, from death onward, with our arrival into the presence of our Great Shepherd, we will drink of life on the highest level, both life eternal and life abundantly.