Revelation 7 Who WoreThe White Robes

[hotcoffee]

Revelation 7:9 After this I looked, and there before me was a great multitude that no one could count, from every nation, tribe, people and language, standing before the throne and before the Lamb. They were wearing white robes and were holding palm branches in their hands. 10 And they cried out in a loud voice:

“Salvation belongs to our God,
who sits on the throne,
and to the Lamb.”​

11 All the angels were standing around the throne and around the elders and the four living creatures. They fell down on their faces 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!”​

13 Then one of the elders asked me, “These in white robes—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 and made them white in the blood of the Lamb. 15 Therefore,

“they are before the throne of God
and serve him day and night in his temple;
and he who sits on the throne
will shelter them with his presence.
16 ‘Never again will they hunger;
never again will they thirst.
The sun will not beat down on them,’[a]
nor any scorching heat.
17 For the Lamb at the center of the throne
will be their shepherd;
‘he will lead them to springs of living water.’
‘And God will wipe away every tear from their eyes.’[c]”​

Revelation 7:16 Isaiah 49:10
Revelation 7:17 Isaiah 49:10
Revelation 7:17 Isaiah 25:8

Before we go any further.... let's take a look at what Jesus said while He was walking, teaching, and healing here on earth.

Mathew 24:4-28 describes them.

Matthew 24:9 “Then you will be handed over to be persecuted and put to death, and you will be hated by all nations because of me. 10 At that time many will turn away from the faith and will betray and hate each other, 11 and many false prophets will appear and deceive many people. 12 Because of the increase of wickedness, the love of most will grow cold, 13 but the one who stands firm to the end will be saved. 14 And this gospel of the kingdom will be preached in the whole world as a testimony to all nations, and then the end will come.

15 “So when you see standing in the holy place ‘the abomination that causes desolation,’[a] spoken of through the prophet Daniel—let the reader understand— 16 then let those who are in Judea flee to the mountains. 17 Let no one on the housetop go down to take anything out of the house. 18 Let no one in the field go back to get their cloak. 19 How dreadful it will be in those days for pregnant women and nursing mothers! 20 Pray that your flight will not take place in winter or on the Sabbath. 21 For then there will be great distress, unequaled from the beginning of the world until now—and never to be equaled again.

22 “If those days had not been cut short, no one would survive, but for the sake of the elect those days will be shortened. 23 At that time if anyone says to you, ‘Look, here is the Messiah!’ or, ‘There he is!’ do not believe it. 24 For false messiahs and false prophets will appear and perform great signs and wonders to deceive, if possible, even the elect. 25 See, I have told you ahead of time.

26 “So if anyone tells you, ‘There he is, out in the wilderness,’ do not go out; or, ‘Here he is, in the inner rooms,’ do not believe it. 27 For as lightning that comes from the east is visible even in the west, so will be the coming of the Son of Man. 28 Wherever there is a carcass, there the vultures will gather.
​

Matthew 24:15 Daniel 9:27; 11:31; 12:11

I think these passages need more discussion than one early morning post.

The elder says "These are they who have come out of the great tribulation".

So before the 7th Seal is opened, there is going to be a great tribulation.

Jesus said "For then there will be great distress, unequaled from the beginning of the world until now—and never to be equaled again."

Jesus will wipe the tears from the eyes of those of us who make it through.

 

[hotcoffee]

Going back.... I only see one church that had white robes. Sardis.... the dead church... had some members who hadn't spoiled their clothes.

There were white robes for those under the alter. Those were people who John might have been familiar with. They had to wait tho until Jesus brought the rest of the number of those who were destined for a white robe.

So it's not all the church members who will get white robes.

We all have tribulations in our lives. These verses are talking about a great tribulation. Were these those who survived the first 6 seals?

The great tribulation had to be cut short so that "the elect" could survive. Who were the "elect" then?

I guess I'll have to read the rest of the book to find out!

 

[Zguy28]

The white robes are all Christians as are the elect.

 

[hotcoffee]

The white robes are all Christians as are the elect.

But.... here's where I am confused.... I know they are all Christians.... but

Are they all New Testament Christians [people from John's era] or were they all of the Christians on the face of the earth when the 6th seal is opened? And how did they get there?

That's what I think I have to keep looking for as we go into the chapters ahead.

 

[Zguy28]

But.... here's where I am confused.... I know they are all Christians.... but

Are they all New Testament Christians [people from John's era] or were they all of the Christians on the face of the earth when the 6th seal is opened? And how did they get there?

That's what I think I have to keep looking for as we go into the chapters ahead.

It is difficult to interpret, as it says they are those who came through the Great Tribulation. However, given the context of the vision, it appears that John is looking forward to the consummated kingdom, after the judgment and the descent of the heavenly Jerusalem. This is indicated by vv.16-17.

 

[baydoll]

Are they all New Testament Christians [people from John's era] or were they all of the Christians on the face of the earth when the 6th seal is opened? And how did they get there?

No these are new arrivals of martyrs who have come out of the Tribulation and they are now in heaven. These martyrs are joining the martyrs who are already there from the earlier days of the tribulation - (Revelation 6:9-11) :

When He opened the fifth seal, 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. 10 And they cried with a loud voice, saying, “How long, O Lord, holy and true, until You judge and avenge our blood on those who dwell on the earth?” 11 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.