¹³ Then one of the elders responded, saying to me, “These who are dressed in the long white robes—who are they, and from where did they come?” ¹⁴ I said to him, “My lord, you know [the answer].” And he said to me, “These are the people who come out of the great tribulation (persecution), and they have washed their robes and made them white in the blood of the Lamb [because of His atoning sacrifice].^{(A) 15} For this reason, they are [standing] before the throne of God; and they serve Him [in worship] day and night in His temple; and He who sits on the throne will ^[a]spread His tabernacle over them and shelter and protect them [with His presence].^(B)