“After this I beheld, and, lo, a great multitude, which no man could number, of all nations, and kindreds, and people, and tongues, stood before the throne, and before the Lamb, clothed with white robes, and palms in their hands;”
After this I looked, and there was a great multitude that no one could count, from every nation, tribe, people, and language, standing before the throne and before the Lamb, robed in white, with palm branches in their hands — the second vision pivots from the sealed 144,000 (interpreted as Israelite believers) to the great multitude (ho ochlos ho polys) uncountable in number, representing the gentile believers and the global church. White robes signify righteousness and victory; palm branches (compare John 12:13, the triumphal entry) suggest celebration of eschatological victory (Leviticus 23:40, Feast of Tabernacles).
Church Fathers on Revelation 7:9
“After this I beheld, and, lo, a great multitude, which no man was able to number, of every nation, tribe, and people, and tongue, clothed with white robes.” What the great multitude out of every tribe implies, is to show the number of the elect out of all believers, who, being cleansed by baptism in the blood of the Lamb, have made their robes white, keeping the grace which they have received.
Nicene & Post-Nicene / Ante-Nicene Fathers translations · public domain
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