“After these things I looked, and behold, a great multitude which no one could number, of all nations, tribes, peoples, and tongues, standing before the throne and before the Lamb, clothed with white robes, with palm branches in their hands, and crying out with a loud voice, saying, ‘Salvation belongs to our God who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb!’
All the angels stood around the throne and the elders and the four living creatures, and fell on their faces before the throne and worshiped God, saying: ‘Amen! Blessing and glory and wisdom, Thanksgiving and honor and power and might, Be to our God forever and ever. Amen'” (Revelation 7:9-12).
The book of Revelation presents us with a fast-paced narrative, full of constantly shifting events. For instance, compare the following excerpt from Revelation chapter seven with a passage from earlier in Revelation chapter six…
“I saw under the altar the souls of those who had been slain for the word of God and for the testimony which they held…. Then a white robe was given to each of them; and it was said to them that they should rest a little while longer, until both the number of their fellow servants and their brethren, who would be killed as they were, was completed” (Revelation 6:9,11).
“After this I looked, and there was a vast multitude from every nation, tribe, people, and language, which no one could number, standing before the throne and before the Lamb. They were clothed in white robes with palm branches in their hands” (Revelation 7:9 CSB).
The white robes worn by the groups mentioned in Revelation chapters six and seven suggest that a relationship exists between them. However, the interval between these chapters has also brought significant changes. For instance, these individuals were under God’s altar in Revelation chapter six. 
But now, they stood before His throne. This group raised a poignant question in the previous chapter: “How long, O Lord, holy and true, until You judge and avenge our blood on those who dwell on the earth?” (Revelation 6:10). But now, they held palm branches, a symbol of victory and triumph.
Furthermore, we should note that these individuals hailed from every nation, tribe, and people. The members of this culturally diverse group also represented native speakers of every human language. This is deeply significant, for it tells us that salvation in Christ is not limited to a specific ethno-cultural group. Instead, He invites disciples from every nation, tribe, people and language.
Finally, John, our author, has served as an observer to the events that have taken place up to this point. But as we’ll see, he is about to transition from an observer to an active participant in these events.
Image Attribution : borges, CC0, via Wikimedia Commons
