Revelation 7:9-17
A Multitude from Every Nation
Read the passage
9After this I looked and saw a multitude too large to count, from every nation and tribe and people and tongue, standing before the throne and before the Lamb. They were wearing white robes and holding palm branches in their hands.
10And they cried out in a loud voice: “Salvation to our God, who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb!”
11And all the angels stood around the throne and around the elders and the four living creatures. And they fell facedown before the throne and worshiped God,
12saying, “Amen! Blessing and glory and wisdom and thanks and honor and power and strength be to our God forever and ever! Amen.”
13Then one of the elders addressed me: “These in white robes,” he asked, “who are they, and where have they come from?”
14“Sir,” I answered, “you know.” So he replied, “These are the ones who have come out of the great tribulation; they have washed their robes and made them white in the blood of the Lamb.
15For this reason, they are before the throne of God and serve Him day and night in His temple; and the One seated on the throne will spread His tabernacle over them.
16‘Never again will they hunger, and never will they thirst; nor will the sun beat down upon them, nor any scorching heat.’
17For the Lamb in 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.’”
Berean Standard Bible
Read aloud
After the numbered servants, John sees a great multitude that no one can number. They come from every nation, tribe, people, and language, standing before the throne and before the Lamb, clothed in white robes and holding palm branches.
They cry out that salvation belongs to God on the throne and to the Lamb. The angels stand around the throne, elders, and living creatures, then fall facedown in worship. They give God blessing, glory, wisdom, thanks, honor, power, and strength forever.
One of the elders asks John who the people in white robes are. John asks the elder to tell him. The elder says they are coming out of the great tribulation, have washed their robes and made them white in the blood of the Lamb, and now serve God day and night.
The One on the throne will spread His tabernacle over them. They will never again hunger or thirst, and the sun's scorching heat will no longer strike them. The Lamb at the center of the throne will shepherd them and lead them to springs of living water. God will wipe every tear from their eyes.
These people have come through great tribulation, and their robes are white because of the Lamb's blood. Their suffering did not cleanse them or earn their place before God. Salvation belongs to Him and the Lamb, as their own praise declares. The Savior who gave His blood for them will also care for them, until hunger, exposure, and sorrow are gone.
Questions
1 Who makes up the multitude?
AnswerThey come from every nation, tribe, people, and language. The multitude is beyond counting and visibly wider than one culture or nation.
2 What do they hold and wear?
AnswerThey hold palm branches and wear white robes. The signs communicate celebration, purity received through the Lamb, and victory after tribulation.
3 Where does salvation belong?
AnswerSalvation belongs to God on the throne and to the Lamb. The multitude does not praise its own endurance as the source of rescue.
4 What does the Lamb do for them?
AnswerThe Lamb shepherds them and leads them to springs of living water. God shelters them and wipes away every tear from their eyes.
What This Means for Us
These promises give comfort to believers who are grieving or worn down. Read them slowly with someone who needs hope, and allow room for tears now. Christ's blood is the reason His people can look forward to this care. Ask Him to sustain the person beside you, and offer the help they need while you wait together for suffering to end.
Prayer
Lamb of God, thank You for cleansing Your people by Your blood. Shepherd those who are weary and grieving. Sustain our hope in the day when God will wipe away every tear. Amen.