The multitude before the throne of God

The Lord knows what our hearts are longing for, and multiple times in Scripture, we’re shown that He intends to satisfy our deepest longings. Revelation 7:9-17 is one of those moments. It shows us a scene that feels almost too beautiful to take in, yet the Lord wants us to see it clearly. He wants us to let this picture shape the way we live right now.

The apostle John has been walking us through terrifying judgments in earlier portions of Revelation 6. The seals are being opened, the world is trembling, and humanity is facing the consequences of long-rejected mercy. But before we continue with more judgment in Revelation 8, God gives us a pause. It is a pause full of grace. It is as if the Lord says, "Before you see what comes next, I want you to know how my story ends for my people. I want you to see the future I have prepared."

That is where Revelation 7:9-17 comes in. It shows us a redeemed family, a victorious King, and a hope that never fades.

A Multitude No One Can Number

“After this I looked, and behold, a great multitude that no one could number, from every nation, from all tribes and peoples and languages, standing before the throne and before the Lamb, clothed in white robes, with palm branches in their hands,” (Revelation 7:9)
 

It is important to notice the timing. John says, "After this," which points us to the future. This is a scene that takes place during the tribulation. In Revelation 7:1-8, we see 144,000 sealed Israelites who will serve as protected witnesses during the final seven-year period. Their ministry will be powerful, and God will use them to bring about a massive global harvest of souls.

The people John is now seeing in heaven are the fruit of that harvest. They are primarily Gentiles, saved during the tribulation, many of whom will be martyred because of their faith. Their number is so large that human beings cannot count them. Only God knows the exact count, but John wants us to feel the scale of this moment. Grace will triumph in a world full of rebellion.

This encourages me when I look at the brokenness in our world today. Sometimes you look around and wonder, "Lord, will people ever turn to you? Will the gospel still advance?" Revelation 7 is God’s way of saying, "Yes. I will redeem far more than you can imagine. My grace will do what human effort never could."

The multitude is described as being "from every nation, from all tribes and peoples and languages". These words carry deep Old Testament roots. In Genesis 12, God promised Abraham that all the families of the earth would be blessed through him. In Psalm 67, the psalmist prays, "Let the nations be glad." In Isaiah 49, God declares that His Servant (Jesus) will be "a light for the nations" and that salvation will reach the ends of the earth.

Revelation 7 shows the fulfillment of those promises. The gospel is not a Western message or a tribal message, or a temporary message. It’s God’s global rescue mission, and Jesus is the center of it.

And look at what this multitude is doing. They are "standing before the throne and before the Lamb, clothed in white robes, with palm branches in their hands.” That detail matters. White robes represent righteousness and purity. Palm branches represent victory and joy. These people have endured the worst period of suffering the world has ever seen, yet here they are. Clean. Celebrating. Safe in the presence of the Lamb.

It reminds us of God’s promise in Isaiah 1:18. "Though your sins are like scarlet, they shall be as white as snow." Only Jesus can take broken, stained, rebellious hearts and clothe them in righteousness. Only Jesus can turn suffering into celebration.

Salvation Belongs to God

and crying out with a loud voice, “Salvation belongs to our God who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb!” 11 And all the angels were standing around the throne and around the elders and the four living creatures, and they fell on their faces before the throne and worshiped God, 12 saying, “Amen! Blessing and glory and wisdom and thanksgiving and honor and power and might be to our God forever and ever! Amen.”  (Revelation 7:10-12)

The multitude cries out with a loud voice, "Salvation belongs to our God who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb.” There is no self-praise in heaven. No one is saying, "I found the truth because I was smarter than others." No one is pointing to themselves. They are pointing to the Lamb.

We will do the same one day. Whatever faith we show now, whatever perseverance we offer, whatever fruit our lives produce, it will all be because God saved us, kept us, and carried us.

The angels, the elders, and the four living creatures respond with worship too. They fall on their faces and say, "Amen! Blessing and glory and wisdom and thanksgiving and honor and power and might be to our God forever and ever.” It is a full circle moment. The entire created order is joining together to worship the One who always deserved it.

This is the life we were made for. Our hearts were created to worship our Creator. We often try to fill that longing with other things, but nothing fits. Only God satisfies the deepest places of our souls.

Rock musician, Alice Cooper, who has come to a place of faith in Jesus in recent years, said this not long ago; “I think if you don’t have the Lord in your life, you’re always going to be trying to fill that hole with something.  It’s either going to be drugs, or it’s going to be Ferraris, or this, or that. And you’re never going to achieve it."

Who Are These People?

Then one of the elders addressed me, saying, “Who are these, clothed in white robes, and from where have they come?” 14 I said to him, “Sir, you know.” And he said to me, “These are the ones coming out of the great tribulation. They have washed their robes and made them white in the blood of the Lamb.”  (Revelation 7:13-14)

One of the elders approaches John and asks, "Who are these, clothed in white robes, and from where have they come?" John, feeling the weight of that question, responds, "Sir, you know."

The elder explains, "These are the ones coming out of the great tribulation.” These are not Old Testament saints or church age believers. Those groups are represented elsewhere. This multitude is unique. They are men and women who came to faith after the rapture, during the rise of the antichrist, during a period of unprecedented judgment.

Many of them will be killed because they refuse to worship the antichrist. Their deaths place them directly in the presence of Jesus, and Revelation 7 shows their reward.

The elder also says that they "washed their robes and made them white in the blood of the Lamb.” This is the gospel in one sentence. They didn’t clean themselves. They were cleansed by Jesus. His blood brought forgiveness, purity, and life. It reminds us of Leviticus 17:11, which teaches that life is in the blood and that blood is required for atonement. It also recalls Isaiah 53, where the Servant (Jesus) is pierced for our transgressions.

Jesus is the Lamb who gave His life so that sinners could stand before God unafraid.

The Presence of God Changes Everything

Now we come to some of the most comforting words in Scripture. John tells us what this multitude will experience forever.

"Therefore they are before the throne of God, and serve him day and night in his temple" (Revelation 7:15). The people who once lived in a world filled with darkness are now standing in the presence of perfect light. They are serving God with joy, not exhaustion. There is no sin pulling them away and no enemy threatening them.

The verse continues, "He who sits on the throne will shelter them with his presence." That word "shelter" reminds us of Psalm 91:1. "He who dwells in the shelter of the Most High will abide in the shadow of the Almighty." It also reflects God’s promise in Isaiah 4:6 about providing a refuge for His people. In the tribulation they were hunted, but now they are held.

Verse 16 says, "They shall hunger no more, neither thirst anymore. The sun shall not strike them, nor any scorching heat." These believers suffered greatly on earth. Food shortages, natural disasters, persecution, and environmental collapse made daily survival almost impossible. But in heaven, every hardship they endured is reversed. The curse that began in Genesis 3 is replaced by blessing. Pain is replaced by peace.

Then we arrive at verse 17, which is one of the most beautiful verses in the entire Bible. "For the Lamb in the midst of the throne will be their shepherd." The Lamb is a shepherd. The One who died is the One who leads. It connects directly to Psalm 23:1 where David says, "The Lord is my shepherd, I shall not want." It also recalls Ezekiel 34 where God promises to shepherd His people Himself.

Jesus is the shepherd we always needed. He protects us, guides us, restores us, and walks with us through every valley. And one day He will wipe away every tear from our eyes. The tears of persecution, betrayal, loss, fear, and pain will be gone forever.

This isn’t symbolic. It’s real. There will be a moment when Jesus personally touches your face and removes the last tear you will ever shed. That alone is enough to make our hearts long for His return.

Why This Vision Matters Now

Revelation 7 isn’t just a future scene. It’s God’s encouragement for us today. It speaks to weary Christians. It reminds us that while this world is full of trouble, this world is not our home. It strengthens our hearts when we feel worn out, discouraged, or afraid.

So let me offer a few personal and practical takeaways.

1. Remember that God’s grace is greater than the darkness around you.  

It may feel like the world is getting harder and colder. It may feel like people are drifting farther from truth. But God is not done saving. A multitude no one can count will come to Him. His mission cannot be stopped.

2. Let this passage deepen your love for the gospel.
These tribulation saints washed their robes in the blood of the Lamb. You have been washed too. Let that truth sink in. Your past is forgiven, your present is secure, and your future is glorious.

3. Let worship shape your daily life.
Heaven is filled with worship. Joyful, passionate, unashamed worship. If this is what we will do forever, then it’s worth practicing now. Worship isn’t just singing songs. It is a life that points to Jesus. It’s gratitude, surrender, obedience, and love.

4. Keep your eyes on the Shepherd.
Jesus is both the Lamb who sacrificed Himself and the Shepherd who leads His people. He knows your needs. He knows your fears. He knows your doubts, and He isn’t distant. He is present, patient, and determined. He will guide you through every valley until the day you see Him face to face.

5. Let hope strengthen your endurance.
The tribulation saints are shown to have suffered deeply, but their story didn’t end in suffering. The day is coming when they will rest in glory. If you are united to Christ by faith, your story won’t end in suffering either. Whatever you’re facing, it’s temporary. Your future is full of joy.

A Final Thought

Revelation 7:9-17 is a promise that shows us where history is heading. Despite the chaos to come in the tribulation, despite the rebellion of nations, and despite the judgments that must unfold, God will gather a family so large that only He can number it. Jesus will be at the center of that family. His redemption will be complete. His love will be visible. His presence will be enough for every heart.

Let this vision lift your spirit today. You belong to a King who saves completely, leads faithfully, and loves eternally. And one day you will stand in that great multitude, dressed in white, holding palm branches, worshiping the Lamb who made all things new.

© John Stange, 2025