Opus 2026-393: Uncharted Revelation: What Part of “All” Don’t You Understand?

When we get to 7:9 we have dealt with the 144,000 but now we have another group that seems to fit into the same category.

(Rev 7:9 KJV)  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;

I would assume this is a bigger group than the 144,000 and notice that they come from “all nations”.  This gets really mixed up for those who are into eschatology.  Here you have white robes just like the ones under the altar in the last chapter.  You have palm branches.  Later you have a throne, elders, beasts and falling on their faces.  The people I talk to would somehow want to make this Israel but it is clear it is not.  

As you keep reading you come across another favorite phrase, “the Great Tribulation” except for two problems.  It isn’t in the KJV and it involves people martyred during that tribulation.  What is the problem with that you say?

(Rev 7:14 KJV)  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.

(Rev 7:14 NAS77) And I said to him, "My lord, you know." And he said to me, "These are the ones who come out of the great tribulation, and they have washed their robes and made them white in the blood of the Lamb.

First the NASB is correct.  The word “the” is in the Greek.  Why the KJV, loved by end times enthusiasts, does not have it is a mystery.  As far as I can tell this is the only place you find the “the”.  

Second, the eschatology lovers I have met tend to be pre-trib and like to say the Great Tribulation will not involve the church because the church will have been raptured.  It will involve Israel.  These people are Gentiles from all the earth.  They are martyred during the Great Tribulation.  That seems clear from the simple words of scripture.  I guess this is another lesson in which are you going to believe, me or your lying eyes?

Verse 14 gives another example of the figurative nature of the narrative.  Logically you do not wash robes in blood and have them come out white.  Theologically it is a great picture but it is certainly not literal.

Read and enjoy.  Let your emotions take a deep dive.  Don’t try to make a chart for anyone who is paying attention.

homo unius libri