Revelation 7:9

After this I beheld, and, lo, a great multitude, which no man could number, of all nations, and kindreds, and people, and tongues, stood before the throne, and before the Lamb, clothed with white robes, and palms in their hands; NO MAN - `no one.' OF ALL NATIONS - `OUT OF every nation.' The human race is one nation by origin, but afterward separated itself into tribes, peoples, and tongues; hence, the one singular stands first, followed by the three plurals. KINDREDS - `tribes.' PEOPLE - `peoples.' The 'first-fruits unto the Lamb,' the 144,000 (Revelation 14:1) of Israel, are followed by a copious harvest of all nations, an election out of the Gentiles, as the 144,000 are an election out of Israel (note,...

9-12 The first fruits of Christ having led the way, the Gentiles converted later follow, and ascribe their salvation to God and the Redeemer, with triumph. In acts of religious worship we come nigh to God, and must come by Christ; the throne of God could not be approached by sinners, were it not for a Mediator. They were clothed with the robes of justification, holiness, and victory; and they had palms in their hands, as conquerors used to appear in their triumphs. Such a glorious appearance will the faithful servants of God make at last, when they have fought the good fight of faith, and finished their course. With a loud voice they gave to God and the Lamb the praise of the great salvation. Those who enjoy eternal happiness must and will bless both the Father and the Son; they will do it publicly, and with fervour. We see what is the work of heaven, and we ought to begin it now, to ha...

Verse Revelation 7:9. _A GREAT MULTITUDE_] This appears to mean the Church of Christ among the _Gentiles_, for it was different from that collected from the _twelve tribes_; and it is here said to be of all _nations, kindreds, people_, and _tongues_. _CLOTHED WITH WHITE ROBES_] As emblems of _innocence_ and _purity_. With _palms in their hands_, in token of victory gained over the world, the devil, and the flesh....

AFTER THIS - Greek,” After these things” - Μετὰ ταῦτα Meta tauta: that is, after I saw these things thus represented I had another vision. This would undoubtedly imply, not only that he saw these things after he had seen the sealing of the hundred and forty-four thousand, but that they would occur subsequently to that. But he does not state whether they would immediately occur, or whether other things might not intervene. As a matter of fact, the vision seems to be transferred from earth to heaven - for the multitudes which he saw appeared “before the throne” Revelation 7:9; that is, before the throne of God in heaven. The design seems to be to carry the mind forward quite beyond the storms and tempests of earth - the scenes of woe and sorrow - the clays of error, darkness, declension, and persecution -

EXPOSITION REVELATION 7:1 AND AFTER THESE THINGS. Μετὰ τοῦτο, or, as some cursives read, μετὰ ταῦτα_, _is generally regarded as denoting the close of the sixth seal and the commencement of a new subject, interjected by way of episode between the sixth and seventh seals. But, even if not looked upon as an integral part of the revelations made under the sixth seal, the connection is so close that the two must be regarded practically as one. The incidents of the seventh chapter are evidently the complement of those narrated in the closing verses of the sixth. They take up the question with which that chapter closes, "Who is able to stand?" and afford comfort and help to those suffering Christians who were so sorely in need of a renewed assurance of the certainty of their final reward. It seems better, therefore, on the whole,

AFTER THIS I BEHELD,.... What follows is a distinct vision from the preceding one, and is not a continuation of that, as if the sealing of the Jewish believers was designed by the former, and the sealing of the Gentiles in this latter; whereas in this vision there is no mention made of sealing, nor was there, or will there be any need of it in the time it refers unto; and which is not the time of the Reformation; nor when the vials began to be poured out upon the seat of the beast; for though there were great numbers converted in many nations, kindreds, people, and tongues, yet not in all; nor do the characters of this great multitude, and the happiness they shall enjoy, seem to suit with persons in a state of mortality and imperfection, Revelation 7:14; wherefore many interpreters understand this vision of the saints in heaven: but it rather respects the millennium state, or thousand y

Revelation 7:1. _And after these things I saw four angels standing on the four corners of the earth, holding the four winds of the earth, that the wind should not blow on the earth, nor on the sea, nor on any tree._ A perfect calm there must be till God's people are saved. Not a leaf shall stir to do them damage. Not a dash of foam upon the waters no movement of wind, or sea, or tree. Revelation 7:2. _And I saw another angel ascending from the east, having the seal of the living God: and he cried with aloud voice to the four angels, to whom it was given to hurt the earth and the sea. Saying, Hurt not the earth, neither the sea, nor the trees, till we have sealed the servants of our God in their foreheads._ Everything exists for the servant of God. Creation is

CHAPTER 7 Revelation 7:1 . This is the first parenthesis. It must not be taken chronologically. The six seal judgments extend over the entire period of the ending age. The rider upon the white horse will be on the scene to the end, wars will continue to the end, and culminate in the battle of Armageddon, and so do the famines and pestilences. And the sixth seal brings the end in view. We shall see the correspondence with the seventh trumpet and seventh vial later. The trumpet and vial judgments are more intense and more terrible than the seal judgments. In a certain sense they are parallel; the effect of each is continuously felt. The parenthetical vision of the seventh chapter also covers the entire period of the last seven years and brings before us even the vision of what will be after the great tribulation. How much confusion would have been avoided if expositors an

THE VISION OF THE REDEEMED IN HEAVEN. A great multitude is contrasted with the 144, 000, which is a difficulty for the theory that the two visions refer to the same body of Christians. ARRAYED IN WHITE ROBES: _ cf. Revelation 3:5_, Revelation 6:11. Charles thinks that these white robes represent the spiritual bodies which the martyrs receive before the final judgment. Revelation 7:11. throne, elders, living creatures: Revelation 4:4; Revelation 4:6 *. The picture of heaven remains the same in all these Chapter s.

LESSON XI.--D ECEMBER 12. THE SAINTS IN HEAVEN.-- Revelation 7:9-17. GOLDEN TEXT. --_ Therefore are they before the throne of God, and serve him day and night in his temple._ -- Revelation 7:15. TIME AND PLACE. --Patmos, on the Lord's day as in preceding lessons. HELPFUL READINGS. -- Revelation 7:1-8; Revelation 14:1-5; Revelation 3:5; Revelation 3:18-19;...