Thursday 11 September 2025
I said to him, “Sir, you are the one that knows.” Then he said to me, “These are they who have come out of the great ordeal; they have washed their robes and made them white in the blood of the Lamb." (v. 14)
Background
Following the earlier scenes of worship in Revelation 4 and 5, Revelation 7 returns to a vision of worship at the throne room, drawing on elements from the earlier scenes.
As in the previous vision, Revelation 7 depicts the whole of creation at worship. It also emphasises that worship draws people from every cultural background; those at the throne are from ‘all tribes and peoples and languages’ (verse 9). God calls people from near and far to follow the 'slaughtered lamb' (ie Jesus). Such a vision has animated the Church’s mission as well as the call to embody the way of Christ in different cultures and contexts.
The vision also depicts the great multitude praising God and the lamb for ‘salvation’ (verse 10). Salvation is a key theme within the Bible (Exodus 15:2; Psalm 18:2; Luke 1:69) as well as in Revelation (12:10; 19:1). It is God who saves; humans receive this salvation as they trust in both God and Jesus.
The second part of the section sees one of the elders explaining that those ‘robed in white’ have come out of the ‘great ordeal’ (vs 13-15). While some have seen the great ordeal as a reference to a final time of suffering before Jesus comes again, others argue it refers to human existence before Jesus. In a paradoxical image, the blood of the lamb washes the clothes white (verse 14)! Those purified by the lamb offer him worship (verse 15).
The penultimate verse of today's reading shows that God’s coming salvation will do away with hunger and thirst. In another ironical twist, the ‘lamb’ is also the ‘shepherd’, the one who guides and protects the flock. They will be led to the ‘springs of the water of life’ and receive comfort from God, the God who wipes away all tears (cf Isaiah 25:8).
To Ponder:
- To what extent do you praise God for his salvation in your prayer and worship?
- How might this vision of believers from all ‘tribes and people and language’ shape our approach to mission and hospitality towards those of other cultures?
Bible notes author: The Revd Dr Ed Mackenzie
Ed Mackenzie works at Cliff College as the Programme Lead for the BA in Theology and Mission, and lectures in New Testament Studies and Biblical Theology.
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