Revelation 7:9-17
New American Bible (Revised Edition)
Triumph of the Elect. 9 After this I had a vision of a great multitude, which no one could count, from every nation, race, people, and tongue. They stood before the throne and before the Lamb, wearing white robes and holding palm branches[a] in their hands. 10 They cried out in a loud voice:
“Salvation comes from[b] our God, who is seated on the throne,
and from the Lamb.”
11 All the angels stood around the throne and around the elders and the four living creatures. They prostrated themselves before the throne, worshiped God, 12 and exclaimed:
“Amen. Blessing and glory, wisdom and thanksgiving,
honor, power, and might
be to our God forever and ever. Amen.”
13 Then one of the elders spoke up and said to me, “Who are these wearing white robes, and where did they come from?” 14 I said to him, “My lord, you are the one who knows.” He said to me, “These are the ones who have survived the time of great distress;[c] they have washed their robes and made them white in the blood of the Lamb.(A)
15 “For this reason they stand before God’s throne
and worship him day and night in his temple.
The one who sits on the throne will shelter them.
16 They will not hunger or thirst anymore,
nor will the sun or any heat strike them.(B)
17 For the Lamb who is in the center of the throne will shepherd them
and lead them to springs of life-giving water,[d]
and God will wipe away every tear from their eyes.”(C)
Footnotes
- 7:9 White robes…palm branches: symbols of joy and victory; see note on Rev 3:5.
- 7:10 Salvation comes from: literally, “(let) salvation (be ascribed) to.” A similar hymn of praise is found at the fall of the dragon (Rev 12:10) and of Babylon (Rev 19:1).
- 7:14 Time of great distress: fierce persecution by the Romans; cf. Introduction.
- 7:17 Life-giving water: literally, “the water of life,” God’s grace, which flows from Christ; cf. Rev 21:6; 22:1, 17; Jn 4:10, 14.
Revelation 7:9-17
New International Version
The Great Multitude in White Robes
9 After this I looked, and there before me was a great multitude that no one could count, from every nation, tribe, people and language,(A) standing before the throne(B) and before the Lamb. They were wearing white robes(C) and were holding palm branches in their hands. 10 And they cried out in a loud voice:
11 All the angels were standing around the throne and around the elders(F) and the four living creatures.(G) They fell down on their faces(H) before the throne and worshiped God, 12 saying:
“Amen!
Praise and glory
and wisdom and thanks and honor
and power and strength
be to our God for ever and ever.
Amen!”(I)
13 Then one of the elders asked me, “These in white robes(J)—who are they, and where did they come from?”
14 I answered, “Sir, you know.”
And he said, “These are they who have come out of the great tribulation; they have washed their robes(K) and made them white in the blood of the Lamb.(L) 15 Therefore,
“they are before the throne of God(M)
and serve him(N) day and night in his temple;(O)
and he who sits on the throne(P)
will shelter them with his presence.(Q)
16 ‘Never again will they hunger;
never again will they thirst.(R)
The sun will not beat down on them,’[a]
nor any scorching heat.(S)
17 For the Lamb at the center of the throne
will be their shepherd;(T)
‘he will lead them to springs of living water.’[b](U)
‘And God will wipe away every tear from their eyes.’[c]”(V)
Footnotes
- Revelation 7:16 Isaiah 49:10
- Revelation 7:17 Isaiah 49:10
- Revelation 7:17 Isaiah 25:8
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