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.
Therefore - because they are washed white: for without it they could never enter God's holy heaven: Revelation 22:14, 'Blessed are those who wash their robes (the true reading), that they may have right to the tree of life' (Ephesians 5:26-27; Revelation 21:27).
Before - `in the presence of.' Matthew 5:8; 1 Corinthians 13:12, "face to face."
Throne ... temple - connected, because we can approach the heavenly King only through priestly mediation; therefore Christ is at once King and Priest on His throne (Zechariah 6:13).
Day and night - i:e., perpetually: as those approved as priests by the Sanhedrim, clothed in white, kept by turns a perpetual watch in the temple at Jerusalem (cf. the singers, 1 Chronicles 9:33; Psalms 134:1). Strictly 'there is no night' there (Revelation 22:5).
In his temple - the heavenly analogue to His temple on earth; strictly there is "no temple therein" (Revelation 21:22) 'God and the Lamb are the temple' filling the whole, so that there is no distinction of sacred and secular places: the city is the temple, and the temple the city. Compare Revelation 4:8, etc.
Shall dwell among them - rather х skeenoosei (G4637) ep' (G1909) autous (G846)], 'shall be the tabernacle over them' (cf. Leviticus 26:11; Revelation 21:3; especially Isaiah 4:5-6; Isaiah 8:14; Isaiah 25:4; Ezekiel 37:27). His dwelling among them is a secondary truth, besides His being their covert. When once He tabernacled among us as the Word made flesh (John 1:14), He was in lowliness; then He shall be in great glory.