Revelation 7:14

κύριέ μου. Text. Rec[277] omits μου with A 1.

[277] Rec. Textus Receptus as printed by Scrivener.

ἔπλυναν τὰς στολὰς αὐτῶν καὶ ἐλεύκαναν αὐτάς. Primas[278] omits ἔπλυναν (stolas suas Candidas fecerunt); B2 omits αὐτάς.

[278] Primasius, edited by Haussleiter.

14. εἴοηκα. The perfect here is only less difficult than εἴληφεν Revelation 5:7 (where see note) because it stands alone.

Κύριέ μου. Cf. Daniel 10:16-17; Zechariah 4:5; Zechariah 4:13. In the latter place we nave, as here, the heavenly interlocutor apparently assuming that the Seer ought to understand the vision without explanation.

σὺ οἶδας. Cf. Ezekiel 37:3.

οἱ ἐρχόμενοι, “which come,” i.e. which are to come, cf. τὸ θηρίον τὸ�, Revelation 11:7.

τῆς θλίψεως τῆς μεγάλης: the article is strongly emphasised. It probably means “the great tribulation foretold by the Lord,” St Matthew 24:21 : cf. Daniel 12:1. For a similar use of the art. cf. ch. Revelation 1:7, “the clouds.”

ἐλεύκαναν αὐτὰς ἐν τῷ αἵματι. A paradox something like that of Revelation 6:16 fin. For the image, cf. perhaps Revelation 1:5 (but see note): certainly Revelation 22:14 (true text), and probably St John 1; Ephesians 1:7; Hebrews 9:14, which is sometimes quoted, is less closely parallel: there the image seems to be taken from ritual rather than physical cleansing. Tert[281] Scorp. xii. has a curious view that the washing corresponds to baptism, and the making white to martyrdom.

[281] Tertullian as quoted by Haussleiter.