Revelation 7:14

And I said unto him, Sir, thou knowest. And he said to me, These are they which came out of great tribulation, and have washed their robes, and made them white in the blood of the Lamb.

And {G2532} I said {G2046} unto him {G846}, Sir {G2962}, thou {G4771} knowest {G1492}. And {G2532} he said {G2036} to me {G3427}, These {G3778} are they {G1526} which came {G2064} out of {G1537} great {G3173} tribulation {G2347}, and {G2532} have washed {G4150} their {G846} robes {G4749}, and {G2532} made {G3021} them {G4749}{G846} white {G3021} in {G1722} the blood {G129} of the Lamb {G721}.

“Sir,” I answered, “you know.” Then he told me, “These are the people who have come out of the Great Persecution. They have washed their robes and made them white with the blood of the Lamb.

“Sir,” I answered, “you know.” So he replied, “These are the ones who have come out of the great tribulation; they have washed their robes and made them white in the blood of the Lamb.

And I say unto him, My lord, thou knowest. And he said to me, These are they that come out of the great tribulation, and they washed their robes, and made them white in the blood of the Lamb.

Commentary on Revelation 7:14 (KJV)

The Apostle John’s vision in Revelation 7 shifts focus from the sealing of the 144,000 from the tribes of Israel to an innumerable multitude standing before God’s throne. Revelation 7:14 provides the crucial identification of this vast assembly, answering the elder’s question from the previous verse about who these robed figures are and where they came from. It offers profound insights into perseverance, atonement, and the ultimate reward of the faithful.

Context

Prior to this verse, John sees a multitude "which no man could number, of all nations, and kindreds, and people, and tongues" (Revelation 7:9), standing before the throne and the Lamb, clothed with white robes and holding palm branches. An elder asks John who they are, and John humbly replies, "Sir, thou knowest." This sets the stage for the elder's revealing explanation in verse 14, identifying these triumphant saints. This scene serves as a comforting interlude, assuring believers of God's preservation and ultimate salvation amidst the intense judgments described elsewhere in the book of Revelation.

Key Themes

  • The Great Tribulation: The verse explicitly states that this multitude "came out of great tribulation." This refers to a period of intense suffering, persecution, and distress for believers, often understood as the climactic end-time period before Christ's return. It emphasizes that salvation is not always easy, and faithfulness may involve enduring significant hardship, as foretold by Jesus in Matthew 24:21.
  • Atonement and Purification: The central image of "washed their robes, and made them white in the blood of the Lamb" is a powerful paradox. Blood, typically staining, here cleanses and purifies. This signifies that the multitude's purity and righteousness are not self-achieved but are entirely a result of the atoning sacrifice of Jesus Christ. His shed blood is the only means by which sins are cleansed and believers are made righteous before God, as highlighted in Ephesians 1:7.
  • Victory and Perseverance: The presence of this great multitude before God's throne, arrayed in white, symbolizes their victory over the world, sin, and persecution. They persevered through immense challenges and remained faithful unto the end, receiving the divine affirmation of their salvation.
  • Heavenly Reward: Their position before the throne signifies their eternal reward and privileged access to God's presence, serving Him day and night in His temple (Revelation 7:15).

Linguistic Insights

  • "Great tribulation" (Greek: thlipsis megale): The word thlipsis denotes pressure, oppression, or affliction. When combined with megale (great), it points to an unparalleled period of distress.
  • "Washed their robes, and made them white in the blood of the Lamb": This vivid imagery is profoundly symbolic. "Robes" (Greek: stolas) often represent one's character or standing. To "wash and make white" (Greek: eplunan kai eleukanan) signifies purification and sanctification. The "blood of the Lamb" (Greek: haima tou arniou) is a direct, undeniable reference to the sacrificial death of Jesus Christ, the spotless Lamb of God, whose sacrifice alone cleanses from all sin.

Practical Application

Revelation 7:14 offers immense comfort and encouragement to believers today. It reminds us that:

  1. Suffering is not the end: Even in times of intense tribulation or personal hardship, God preserves His people. The suffering of this life is temporary compared to the eternal glory awaiting those who endure.
  2. Salvation is through Christ alone: Our standing before God is not based on our own merit or works, but entirely on the cleansing power of Jesus' blood. This is a foundational truth for Christian faith.
  3. Perseverance is rewarded: The multitude's presence in heaven is a testament to their faithfulness through tribulation. This encourages us to remain steadfast in our faith, knowing that our perseverance will be eternally recognized and rewarded by God.
  4. Hope for the future: The vision paints a glorious picture of redeemed humanity from every corner of the earth, united in worship before God's throne. This provides a powerful hope for the ultimate triumph of God's plan and the blessed destiny of His saints.
Note: Commentary was generated by an advanced AI, utilizing a prompt that emphasized Biblical fidelity over bias. We've found these insights to be consistently reliable, yet we always encourage prayerful discernment through the Holy Spirit. The Scripture text and cross-references are from verified, non-AI sources.

  • 1 John 1:7

    But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin.

  • Revelation 22:14

    Blessed [are] they that do his commandments, that they may have right to the tree of life, and may enter in through the gates into the city.

  • Hebrews 13:12

    Wherefore Jesus also, that he might sanctify the people with his own blood, suffered without the gate.

  • Revelation 1:5

    And from Jesus Christ, [who is] the faithful witness, [and] the first begotten of the dead, and the prince of the kings of the earth. Unto him that loved us, and washed us from our sins in his own blood,

  • Revelation 12:11

    And they overcame him by the blood of the Lamb, and by the word of their testimony; and they loved not their lives unto the death.

  • Hebrews 9:14

    How much more shall the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself without spot to God, purge your conscience from dead works to serve the living God?

  • Isaiah 1:18

    Come now, and let us reason together, saith the LORD: though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they be red like crimson, they shall be as wool.
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