Revelation 7:9, commentary and pictures

After the sealing of the 144,000 John beholds an innumerable multitude from all nations and kindreds and peoples and tongues standing before the throne of God and before the Lamb. They are clothed in white robes with palms in their hands, crying that salvation belongs to God and to the Lamb while angels and elders and living creatures fall down in worship. They are those who came out of great tribulation and washed their robes white in the blood of the Lamb, overcoming by His blood and the word of their testimony through persecution and suffering for refusing the beast. The white robes are the spotless righteousness of Christ and cleansed character, and the palms are the sign of final victory and triumph when warfare is ended. Therefore they live eternal life before God serving Him day and night in His temple, hungering and thirsting no more with all tears wiped away, and to stand with them requires genuine sanctification now by washing character in the Lamb's blood, keeping God's commandments, and overcoming as Christ overcame.

Vision Setting and Context

After the sealing of the 144,000 comes a great multitude that no one can number, from all nations and peoples, standing before the throne and before the Lamb clothed in white robes with palms in their hands and crying salvation to God and to the Lamb. This begins the closing section of Revelation 7 that continues to the end of the chapter. It was part of what was shown to John as an exile on Patmos concerning events to transpire in the last days stretching over the ages to the coming of Christ, when he was permitted to look upon the throne of God and see the attractive glories of the heavenly home. There he heard the lofty song of angels and the victorious songs of triumph from those who had overcome by the blood of the Lamb and the word of their testimony.

Revelation 7 is given for consideration and for comfort and encouragement. While the four angels hold back the winds from hurting the earth and from blowing, God has a chosen few who are sealed and preserved. The seal of the living God is placed on His servants before the winds are released, and those sealed are those who keep all of the commandments of God and have the faith of Jesus, who love Him and keep His commandments. The judgments of God going forth to punish the inhabitants of the earth for their iniquity are terrible, when the earth shall disclose her blood and no more cover her slain and hail about the weight of a talent falls upon the wicked who would not care for and obey God but insulted Him and despised His mercies, yet mercy is mingled with judgment.

The chapter is to be carefully read and studied because wonderful things are about to transpire and the future it describes is full of intense interest to every soul who shall live upon the earth. It is of great importance to those who act a part in the work of God for these last days, showing what is coming on the earth when God pronounces judgment upon men for transgressing the law and breaking the everlasting covenant and receiving according to their works. Together with Revelation 6:12-17 it brings to view two parties, one of which permitted itself to be deceived and took sides with those with whom the Lord has a controversy, misinterpreted the messages sent them, clothed themselves in robes of self-righteousness, did not see sin as sinful, taught falsehood as truth, and led many souls astray. The description running to the end of the chapter shows the judgment and the people prepared to meet it, exposing the condition of the people and their unprepared state, picturing those made ready by genuine sanctification standing accepted before God in contrast to common spurious sanctification, and pressing the need for true holiness in order to stand ready for the judgment.

Multitude Before Throne

After this John beheld a great multitude which no one could number, from all nations and kindreds and peoples and tongues, standing before the throne of God and before the Lamb. It is the redeemed as a countless host drawn from every nation and people and family and language and country and clime to stand in worship. The following verses identify them as those who came out of great tribulation and washed their robes and made them white in the blood of the Lamb. There they serve God day and night in His temple with Him dwelling among them and sheltering them, and the Lamb in the midst of the throne feeds them and leads them to living fountains of waters by the tree of life, where hunger and thirst and sun and heat are ended and God wipes away all tears with no more pain and sorrow.

The multitude stands clothed with white robes with palms and palm branches in their hands as signs of victory and everlasting triumph. With a loud voice they cry that salvation belongs to God who sits on the throne and to the Lamb, praising God and the Lamb for salvation and for life that measures with the life of God. Then the angels and the elders and the four living creatures fall down before the throne and join in worship, uniting with the redeemed in praise to Him who died, with blessing and glory and wisdom and thanksgiving and honor and power and might forever, filling all heaven with songs of victory and joyful triumph.

The verse means life, eternal life in the kingdom of glory, and its words will be verily fulfilled. Securing that place is the main business of life for every soul with a heart open to understand who wars the good warfare for eternal life and for the crown of glory that fadeth not away. It carries a message to be heeded concerning most important things that will transpire before long. It calls not to draw apart but to be drawn together by Jesus with arms extended, to be of one heart and of one mind with one object before them, the salvation of souls, because there is a heaven to win.

Robes Palms Crowns

The palms and palm branches held in their hands signify victory and triumph, the everlasting triumph of overcomers whose warfare is ended and won. The unnumbered host from every nation, people and language stands finished with struggle, and the palm is the sign that the conflict is over and the victory secured. Their praise for salvation to God and the Lamb belongs to that same triumph, for they are gathered as those who came through great tribulation with robes made white in the Lamb's blood.

The white robes are the spotless righteousness of Christ bestowed upon them. They are robes of character washed white in the blood of the Lamb, cleansed from every stain of impurity, covered with charity, and made fit for the society of heavenly angels and the mansions prepared for those who love Him. That whiteness is gained through faith and by Christ's cleansing, not credited to their own goodness or power, and it is the privilege of those who have kept God's commandments and persevered as pilgrims toward the heavenly Canaan.

The victors also wear jeweled crowns richer than any earthly crown, crowns of glory and of life, with golden harps, a fair mitre and diadems. They stand in white mantles reflecting the beams of the Sun of righteousness, in robes woven in heaven with no thread of humanity, girt with purity in garments of eternal righteousness. Martyrs and little children are seen with red borders upon pure white robes, and the white-robed saints on the sea of glass with crowns and palms picture those who washed their robes in Christ's blood and stood firmly for His truth.

Together the palm, the robe and the crown are the celestial reward and triumph that blesses the brave at the end of the Christian warfare. It is an honor far above earthly honor, bestowed by God on those who are faithful and come off victorious. Before entering the city of God the overcomers receive from Christ's own right hand the victor's palm as the emblem of victory, together with the crown of glory and the shining harp, while angels bid them look by faith toward that reward.

Who They Are

They are those who came out of great tribulation and washed their robes and made them white in the blood of the Lamb, overcoming through the Lamb's blood and the word of their testimony. The verses that follow identify them as serving God day and night in His temple with Him dwelling among them and sheltering them, fed and led by the Lamb in the midst of the throne to living fountains of waters, hungering no more nor thirsting any more nor struck by sun or heat, with God wiping away all tears. Their cleansing is identified as the reason they stand before the throne.

They include faithful people lately despised, mocked, hated and persecuted for refusing to worship the beast and his image or accept an idol sabbath. They were cut off from buying and selling, threatened, driven to mountains, rocks, dens, caves, dungeons, prisons, torture chambers, hovels, garrets and want, made the sport and ridicule of wicked men and clothed with reproach and filthy garments of reproach, hunger and filth. They trod a fiery furnace of affliction heated intensely hot, of destitution, torture, deep self-denial, bitter disappointment, sorrow and hatred of all men for Christ's sake. Fixing attention on Jesus' character and purity transformed them into His image and brought them into harmony with Him to refuse the mark of the beast and overcome, and the Waldenses suffering in mountain refuges were encouraged to look by faith toward this heavenly reward and home with God from which they would never be driven.

The scene presents the triumph of righteousness in people the world treated as weak, poor, small, despised, defenseless and unworthy, from every hardship and oppression and from all ages, now vindicated, safe in the everlasting day, honored as conquerors and more than conquerors, healed of grief and forever with the Lord, free from oppression. Their warfare is over and their victory won, their days of suffering and weeping past, their shame removed with a change of raiment, and their experience of sin, forgiveness and Christ's suffering deepens their gratitude and praise. This stands in contrast to lovers of pleasure more than lovers of God, the self-indulgent and disobedient, who lose both worlds.

The white-robed saints on the sea of glass with crowns and palms picture the 144,000 who washed their robes in Christ's blood and stood firmly for His truth. They stand in glorious white mantles and receive crowns and palms of victory after the resurrection and their ascent to heaven, then enter the city because cleansed and faithful, where they feel they have a rightful place and Jesus welcomes them. Enoch's palm marked Victory belongs to the same victory.

They include the just raised at Christ's second coming when He calls them from their graves and the living righteous joining them in a shout of victory, restored to immortal glory and to the vigor and beauty lost through sin. The captives Christ raised at His own resurrection at the price of His life and presented to the Father at His ascension, placing immortal crowns upon them, are representatives and samples of them and of those to be raised when He returns. Their greatest joy will be in Christ's presence, seeing the marks of Calvary in His glorified body and speaking to Him in love as their Beloved, as the Lamb who conquered death.

They show the future restoration of Israel in the earth made new and the fulfilment of what God spoke through the prophets about having a chosen people gathered from all nations, all tongues, in all parts of the habitable world. That gathering comes through Christ lifted up upon the cross to die for the sins of the world, opening the way of life to both Jews and Gentiles, to all nations, tongues and people, drawing to Him those washed by His blood by that crowning act of giving His life. The message of mercy is offered first to Israel and then to every nation, language and people, and all who believe are gathered into one church.

Their admission before the throne shows that salvation rests on Christ's cleansing and merits, not on a mixture of His merits with one's own righteousness, and believers need His grace to endure tribulation faithfully. Their salvation is not credited to their own goodness or power, but to God and to the Lamb.

Life After Tribulation

Their warfare and conflict and tribulation and strife are ended and their victory is won, and they have received pardon and everlasting life through Christ's humiliation and wounding and bruising and chastisement and stripes and death, praising God who sits on the throne and the Lamb for salvation and filling all heaven with songs of victory and joyful triumph. The palms in their hands are the sign of that triumph, and their white robes are the spotless righteousness of Christ bestowed upon them.

Therefore they stand before God's throne serving Him day and night in His temple, with Him dwelling among them and sheltering them. The Lamb in the midst of the throne feeds them and leads them to living fountains of waters by the tree of life where the Saviour is, giving them life that measures with the life of God through ceaseless ages of eternity. They hunger no more nor thirst any more nor are struck by sun or heat, and God wipes away all tears from their eyes. There is no more pain nor sorrow nor sickness nor death nor crying nor former things, but all is peace and harmony and love.

There the redeemed greet those who directed them to the uplifted Saviour and welcome those they helped lead to Him, and they unite with the angels in praise to Him who died that they might live, casting their crowns at the Redeemer's feet. They join the heavenly choir whose keynote of thanksgiving can be learned on earth, crying with a loud voice salvation to God and to the Lamb and worthy is the Lamb that was slain. They enter through the gates into the city of God and the New Jerusalem, marching with palms of victory and wearing crowns of glory and singing the song of Moses and the Lamb. There they receive robes and golden harps and crowns of life, and are drawn up in glittering ranks in a hollow square about Christ with every eye fixed upon Him, Jesus giving each overcomer with His own right hand the victor's palm as emblem of victory together with the crown of glory and the shining harp. Their glorified fellowship with Jesus continues through the thousand years, when they join Him in judging the wicked dead.

Then Christ explains to them the deliverance accomplished through His great sacrifice, bearing iniquity to justify many. He presents them faultless with exceeding great joy as the result and recompense of His work, and seeing the outcome of His suffering He is satisfied. Their greatest joy is in Christ's presence, seeing the marks of Calvary in His glorified body and looking upon God's undimmed glory with sins blotted out and immortality put on, like Jesus. They dwell in the bright holy land by the pure river of life around the tree of life, joining the pure and blessed in the presence of the King whose beauty and face are their joy and light, and there they are at rest. There they will understand how infinite love ordered even the trying and confusing and painful experiences for their good, and will see how the battle was won. They will rejoice with joy beyond words, and heaven will be more precious to those who have been faithful in the work of saving others.

Gathering From Nations

The countless throng stands gathered from every nation and kindred and tongue and people, from every country and clime, of all grades high and low, rich and poor, learned and unlearned, drawn together among the sealed to stand before the throne of God and before the Lamb in worship. Christ's sacrifice brings them in from every part of the world, and God is now at work to gather them with workers laboring in many countries, until the message of renewing grace has been carried everywhere and truth belts the world. Their worship declares salvation to God and to the Lamb.

That gathering is the result toward which worldwide missionary work carries the message of God's renewing grace and truth. Christ and heavenly angels watch that work every moment as it moves toward completion near the coming of Christ. Before it can be accomplished abroad, the work of the Holy Spirit must be experienced at home upon hearts in one's own country. Faithful ministry by the church brings a multitude beyond counting from every part of the earth to become God's children prepared for everlasting glory, whose praise will fill God's dominion. Sending truth literature to enlighten homes in all parts of the world sows beside all waters toward that day, though its results are not seen in this world, and when the saved stand before the throne each worker will see and know just how much his own instrumentality did in their salvation.

They are living stones quarried out from the world by the truth for God's spiritual temple, gathered out of every nation and tongue and people. The great Master Builder, the Lord of the temple, is now hewing and polishing and testing and fitting each for its respective place, as the hewn stones for the Jewish temple were hewed and polished and tested in the mountains before being brought to Jerusalem and joined without the sound of axe or hammer. When completed the temple will be perfect in all its parts, the admiration of angels and men, for its builder and maker is God.

God takes people of all classes, all nations, all languages and all nationalities out of the world and brings them into His workshop to be prepared for His temple and for the same heaven. All have the same heavenly Father and the same Redeemer, who loved them and gave Himself for them all without any distinction. Near the close of this earth's history there is to be no caste, no pride of nationality, and no difference made because of color of skin, for color of skin is no measure of the value of a soul. Colored people who have labored to overcome difficulties and proved faithful to the end will stand with the great multitude before the throne and before the Lamb, for heaven is broad with no separate apartment and they come right in, and this calls for diligent labor now to bring them to recognize and accept present truth and to fit them to work for others of their own race.

No person or nation is exempt from the shaping stroke and none is perfect in every habit and thought, so the different nationalities must mingle together and learn from one another to be one in judgment and one in purpose. Their unity in Christ exemplifies the union that is in Christ. That oneness foreshadows heaven as pure fellowship among holy beings, where the redeemed from every nation and people, with robes washed white in the Lamb's blood, live in harmony with angels and one another. This heavenly communion is the pattern for life now, for people are made for mutual dependence, and cultivating sympathy and fellowship brings happiness as they bless others.

The witness to all nations and kindreds and tongues is given by a distinct and peculiar people working in harmony with heaven to prepare the way of the Lord. They testify that they love and fear God, that they keep holy the seventh-day Sabbath, and that they have full faith that the Lord is soon to come in the clouds of heaven.

Preparation for Standing

Standing among the accepted requires genuine sanctification and true holiness to meet the judgment, and the closing scene to the end of the chapter exposes the unprepared state of those who lack it and hold only the common spurious sanctification. The white-robed multitude are those made ready and found ready at Christ's coming with spotless character, as God's waiting, watching ones who keep living connection with God, show faith by works, do each day's work as for eternity, separate sin and iniquity from them, keep Jesus ever before them, and long for His glorious appearing. Their whiteness comes from purifying themselves in that hope while the work of judgment is going on, for every case will pass in review and all who neglect their given work or put off the day of God will be weighed in the balances of the sanctuary and found wanting and will not stand among them.

The white robes are robes of character washed white in the blood of the Lamb, the white robe of Christ's righteousness that gives fitness for the society of heavenly angels and for the mansions prepared for those who love Him, and that character without spot must be gained now in probation in order to be prepared to meet the Son of man when He comes in the clouds of heaven. Washing the robe now as a family by being earnest, self-possessed, firm, decided and persevering makes overcomers and prepares for a place in that multitude and for an apportioned part in the heavenly Canaan, the inheritance among the sanctified, which pilgrims and strangers here will enjoy all the more when the rest that remains for the people of God is prized and Jesus is seen. To be among that company requires forming character after the divine likeness and beginning at once the work of soul purification by putting away nonsense and trifling words, because every word spoken is a seed that germinates and produces good or bad fruit according to its character and encourages the feeling that prompts it, and it is high time to devote the few precious remaining hours of probation to that work. It requires vindicating God's holy law and standing decidedly on God's side when laws of the land interfere with obedience to God and the final test comes as to whose side each person is on.

That spotless character which Christian perfection alone wins and which entitles a person to stand among the blood-washed throng is gained by patient continuance in well-doing, by persevering integrity of soul day by day, by calling upon God for strength, and by a living faith made perfect by works. Reaching that place requires being anxious and earnest to grow in grace, seeking a distinct and intelligent understanding of the will of God, and striving earnestly for the mark of the prize as pilgrims, with the palms in their hands as branches of everlasting victory and eternal triumph. Being among that number requires overcoming and prospering in right doing through the Lord's blessing and strengthening grace, with physical, moral, and spiritual health.

Mingling with the blood-washed, glorified company comes by the blood of the Lamb and the word of their testimony, through overcoming as Christ overcame by becoming acquainted with the life of the Redeemer, studying His life, denying self as Christ denied self, and meeting temptations and overcoming obstacles through toil and suffering in the name of Jesus. When that multitude stands there it will be seen how the battle was won, how Satan linked himself with those who were determined to be first, and that God's children could not have resisted his power and subtlety unless divine power united with human effort. The glory pictured belongs only to those who on this earth work out the righteousness of Christ as God works in them to will and to do, with no place won by worldly distinction or by merely professing religion, but by a character shaped by Christ's purity and beauty and made like Christ.

That victory must be gained over self, temper, inclinations, and spirit by bringing temper, inclinations, and spirit into submission to God and bringing the will into conformity with the will of God, with Christ's righteousness and strength available to all who claim His merits. It requires being refined, softened, and humble in spirit, letting self die and warring against self in and through Jesus, conforming character to Christ the Pattern, with personal righteousness worked out between God and the soul now, with no time to lose, no petting of self, and no complaint or murmuring. Everyone who enters heaven enters as a conqueror waving the palm branch of victory in triumphant overcoming, which requires being reformed from defects of character, enduring God's hewing and polishing, and becoming fit to stand before God, for no deficiency needs to remain because grace abounds where sin abounded to make all who seek Him with the whole heart into overcomers. Standing there means everything, and it requires opening heart and mind to the impressions of the Holy Spirit and determining to stand for truth and righteousness, made possible by Christ, the perfect Pattern, who was equal with God yet gave His precious life so that people might live.

This is the happy privilege of those who have kept God's commandments on earth, cleansed from every stain of impurity, whom the Lamb will lead to fountains of living water and from whose eyes every tear will be wiped away, with life that measures with the life of God through ceaseless ages of eternity in peace and harmony and love without pain, sorrow, sickness or death. Entire surrender to God, zealous repentance of every sin, obedience by which Christ kept His Father's commandments, and keeping names in the Lamb's book of life fit for that company and for the society of angels, for Christ requires obedience and wants people to be happy now so they will be happy there, having died so they can keep God's commandments. God's people on earth are to represent that pure and holy company through Christlike lives, accounted pure and loyal as those who love and obey God and worthy to dwell with Him in heaven. Entry depends on submitting the will to Christ and following a course of action that cultivates the abilities God has given, for neglect can mean losing eternal life, while remaining in the workshop of God beautifies and polishes for the heavenly mansions; the soul temple must be entirely changed and cleansed of moral defilement through Jesus Christ for the indwelling of the Holy Spirit, with thoughts become altogether different in character beginning with the heart cleansed of moral defilement, and this must be done in haste before it is too late.

That purity means leaving everything that would stain or corrupt, like the white lily whose stem strikes down into pure white sand, and seeking only what is pure and lovely in this crooked and perverse generation. Parents must educate their children from babyhood to become acquainted with Jesus to become this company standing pure and white as subjects of Christ, by refusing what would stain and spot them and by giving them Christ's perfect example, with more of Jesus and much less of self, because no one will have entrance into the kingdom of God and the city into which nothing that defiles enters without following the Pattern, Christ Jesus. Neither parents nor their children will be among those overcomers unless they make a decided reform in economy, self-denial, appetite, and family habits, for without decided changes in all these things they will enter temptations they do not now dream of and will be a savor of death unto death instead of life unto life.

To stand as one of the white-robed ones around the throne means receiving heavenly treasure and immortal life and seeing Jesus, gained by following the example of Christ in doing good humbly, faithfully and earnestly without weariness, and by perfecting Christian character so as to be counted worthy, which is more satisfying than money, possessions, or show, and is to be looked to, talked of, believed, and labored for away from trials and abuses. Faithful missionary work that sends truth literature to enlighten homes in all parts of the world sows beside all waters toward that gathering, though its results are not seen in this world, and work built with enduring materials — gold, silver, and precious stones — not perishable materials consumed in the fires of the last days brings souls to salvation through faith, hope, and love, sharing in the divine nature and overcoming the world's corruption. When Christ comes He will gather the redeemed from every nation, kindred, tongue, and people and lead them Himself to fountains of living waters, and the service standing highest with God and most dear to infinite love is the salvation of perishing souls by using talents now to help others and lead them to the Lamb, cooperating with Christ with all God-given strength to save those nigh and afar off after forming characters God can endorse in full self-denial and self-sacrifice ready for the final test. When the multitude of saved souls stands before the throne each worker will see and know just how much his own instrumentality did in the great work of their salvation and will share in the joy of the Redeemer, and those helped will come saying they would not be there without that help and will embrace them, which is reason not to be discouraged in the worldwide work that must not be left undone.

The hope of standing in white before God's throne restrained the faithful from sin and encouraged them to prepare for heaven, and by fixing their attention on Jesus' character and purity they were being transformed into His image and brought into harmony with Him, determined to remain faithful, refuse the mark of the beast, and overcome. They are those who remain loyal to God rather than yielding to the corrupting spirit of their time, who endure severe conflict and tribulation, wash their characters white in the Lamb's blood, and sing triumphantly in the kingdom of glory.

Comfort and Mission

The closing vision through the end of the chapter is given to encourage cherishing faith, hope and love, facing the light and talking faith rather than talking darkness, because beholding changes into the same image, and these graces planted and cultivated make a bright shining light and growth in grace and in the knowledge of Jesus Christ.
It comforts sorrow over loved ones fallen in death with hope in the soon-coming morning of resurrection and reunion, when the broken links of the family chain are united again to meet together Jesus the center and foundation of all hope, bringing joy in the morning such as was never before known.
Even if loved ones never meet again here, they will meet again about the great white throne singing the song of triumph and victory and find full satisfaction.
That future meeting round the throne of God will be a great grand review where the record of work done in speaking to people is examined, so present labor should leave nothing unsaid and speak the words of life now.
The hope is of meeting fellow believers again before God's throne and joining the triumphant song in the heavenly courts, a farewell hope of reunion there.

The saved innumerable multitude from every nation, people and language, clothed in white and holding palms and praising God and the Lamb for salvation, are the result and fruit of Christ's mission of bearing iniquity and justifying many, satisfying the great loving heart of God.
They are reason to rejoice and to work as never before, putting self aside, laying hold of Jesus Christ by faith, revealing Him as altogether lovely and chiefest among ten thousand, taking up praise below in union with the heavenly company above and thus representing truth as a power to all who believe.
God's people may join that heavenly praise even now.
The vision gives longing to join that countless sacred throng at His feet, worshipping Jesus and joining the everlasting song, and longing to join the redeemed standing in God's presence at sight of the throne and joyful songs of heaven.
It holds out hope of being continually in the presence of Jesus in the kingdom He prepares, calling for speaking words of life now and opening lips in praise and thanksgiving for daily obligations and for making a happy life possible even in this world of sin.

It belongs to youth and all who use education to acquire knowledge of the Most High and make Him known as the only true God, to learn to present Christ as sin-pardoning Saviour, to gather precious rays of light to diffuse again, and to show lovingkindness, speak of glory, and sound praises of Him who called out of darkness into marvelous light, standing at last in the heavenly courts before the throne and before the Lamb with white robes and palms of victory.
The young whom Christ saves will join the redeemed gathered around throne and Lamb clothed in white, wearing spotless robes of His righteousness and crowns of life, with happy voices praising God and the Lamb in heaven's song of victory.
Faithful parents' Bible teaching and example bear far-reaching harvest helping bring multitudes to fear and honor God and join the glorious white-robed company around the throne, and parents rejoice as redeemed children share salvation and their work is acknowledged in heaven.
Faithful ministry by the church will bring a multitude beyond counting from every part of earth to become God's children prepared for everlasting glory, whose praise fills God's dominion.

People rescued from degradation through human ministry and divine power can become God's elect precious to Him standing beside His throne, reflecting Christ who came to relieve suffering and teach righteousness.
The heavenly home is a world of beauty with white-robed singers before God, recalled through beauties of earthly nature which should lead to contemplate God's goodness and love.
The palm branch, robe and crown are the celestial reward and triumph blessing the brave at the end of Christian warfare, won through expected difficulties, severe trials and many encounters because trials develop Christian graces.
As Christ was made perfect in human nature through suffering, those asking for palm, robe and crown are first shown a cross and a grave, for the path is not ease or earthly renown but marked by suffering.

Heaven's lasting happiness, peace and glory with no sorrow or separation through eternity gathers the great company in white robes around throne and Lamb celebrating victory and praise, whose robes are Christ's righteousness.
Yet heaven is bliss only to characters made pure, innocent and Christlike through inward grace, with palms as victory.
The white-robed ransomed and glorified ones gathered within the fold of the great Shepherd live in presence of Him who died to elevate, ennoble and give the overcomer a royal diadem, revealing the value of immortality.
Set against the pains of the second death, their honor and glory show how great is conversion of a soul from error to truth, and the worth of a soul is seen in that the ransomed gratefully remember those instrumental through self-denying labors, persevering efforts, patience, perseverance and earnest yearning, whom the Lamb in the midst of the throne greets with the worker, leads to tree of life and fountain of living waters, and makes sharers of the Redeemer's throne, making heaven more precious to the faithful in saving others.

John as exile on Patmos was permitted to look upon God's throne and attractive glories of the heavenly home over ages to Christ's coming, seeing the great multitude in white before throne and Lamb who came out of great tribulation washing robes white in the Lamb's blood, and hearing lofty angel song and victorious triumph songs of those overcoming by the Lamb's blood and word of testimony.
The happy company gathered before the Lamb in the temple on elevated seats just before Him see the Lamb mangled and bleeding, torn and bruised for them, and all must face Him and confess sins; those in white have done this and received pardon, with heaven's light shining on faces as they praise God and sing glad thanksgiving like angel music, waiting in glad expectation for the trumpet and shouts of triumph when taken away in brightness.
Even after persecution and slaughter the witness does not end, for others gather around and hold high the banner of purity and holiness, shown in the great faithful company standing before God.
The white-robed people are God's loyal crowned subjects whose vindication shows those without passport who treated God's law as void cannot rightly join in honoring it or enter the city, having chosen falsehood over truth, holiness and righteousness and unable to change formed life convictions.
In contrast to the white-robed company who came through great tribulation made white in the Lamb's blood, serve before the throne with Him dwelling among them, providing and wiping tears, stand those deceived by sin trusting self-righteousness, taking sides against the Lord, misinterpreting messages, not seeing sin as sinful, teaching falsehood as truth and leading many astray, when God pronounces judgment for transgressing law and breaking everlasting covenant and receiving according to works.