And one of the elders, &c. What is here related, to Revelation 7:17, might have immediately followed the tenth verse; but that the praise of the angels, which was given at the same time with that of the great multitude, came in between: answered That is, he answered St. John's desire to know, not to any words the apostle spoke. Or, in order to give him a more exact information concerning the persons who were clothed in the white robes of purity, honour, and dignity, one of the elders led him on by a question to ask of him a fuller account of them. What are these which are arrayed in white robes? And make such a splendid appearance; and whence came, or come, they? And, believing the question to be asked in order to quicken my attention to what he had to tell me concerning them, I said, Sir, thou knowest Though I do not. And he said, &c. These persons, whom you behold appearing in their state of honour and happiness, are they which came Or come, as οι ερχομενοι rather signifies; out of great tribulation They were very lately in a state of great affliction and suffering, for the sake of their faith and constancy; but, having kept the faith, they have received the blessings which Christ obtained by his blood for his church and faithful people. Yet these could not be all martyrs, for the martyrs could not be such a multitude as no man could number. But as all the angels appear here, so probably did all the souls of the righteous, who had lived from the beginning of the world. All these may be said, more or less, to come out of great tribulation,, of various kinds, wisely and graciously allotted by God to all his children; and have washed their robes From all guilt; and made them white In all purity and holiness; in, or by, the blood of the Lamb Through which alone we obtain remission of sins, and the influences of the sanctifying Spirit, so that they are advanced to the state of glory and happiness in which you see them. Therefore Because they came out of great affliction, and have washed their robes in Christ's blood; are they before the throne of God It seems even nearer than the angels; and serve him, day and night Speaking after the manner of men; that is, continually; in his temple In heaven; and he that sitteth on the throve shall dwell among them Σκηνωσει επ αυτους, shall have his tent over them: shall spread his glory over them as a covering. They shall hunger no more They shall be no more subject to any of their former infirmities, wants, or afflictions; neither shall the sun light on them, &c. None of the natural or common evils of the world below shall reach them any more. For the Lamb who is in the midst of the throne shall feed them With eternal peace and joy, so that they shall hunger no more; and shall lead them unto living fountains of waters The comforts of the Holy Spirit, so that they shall thirst no more; neither shall they grieve any more, for God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes Every sorrow, with every cause of sorrow, shall be fully taken away for ever.
Related Commentaries of Revelation 7:13
Revelation 7:13-17
13 And one of the elders answered, saying unto me, What are these which are arrayed in white robes? and whence came they?
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.
15 Therefore are they before the throne of God, and serve him day and night in his temple: and he that sitteth on the throne shall dwell among them.
16 They shall hunger no more, neither thirst any more; neither shall the sun light on them, nor any heat.
17 For the Lamb which is in the midst of the throne shall feed them, and shall lead them unto living fountains of waters: and God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes.