Revelation 7:13-17 meaning

The nature and origin of the white-robed people gathered in the throne room is explained in Revelation 7:13-17. In the midst of the throne room, the people in white robes and the angels are singing praises to God (Revelation 7:10-12). Now, one of the elders responds to this action by asking John a question:

“These who are clothed in the white robes, who are they, and where have they come from?” I said to him, “My lord, you know” (vs. 13-14)

In answer to John, the elder replies that 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 (v. 14).

Jesus referred to a time of “great tribulation” in Matthew 24:21. This passage quoting Jesus refers to the prophecy of the seventieth week of Daniel in Daniel 9:20-27. Jesus quotes Daniel, saying that the “abomination of desolation” spoken of in Daniel 9:27 is a sign that must occur prior to the advent of the “great tribulation.” This time of “great tribulation” likely refers to the last half of the last “week” of years, or the last three-and-one-half years. There are several timespans that are equal to three-and-one-half years in Revelation.

Israel used a lunar calendar. So three and half years is properly cited as 1,260 days, which is equal to 3.5 times 360 (Revelation 11:3, 12:6). Interestingly, Daniel 12:11 speaks of 1,290 days, thirty days longer than the great tribulation. Daniel 12:12 says people will be blessed if they endure until 1,335 days, which is another 45 days beyond the 1,290. This shows that the “seventy weeks” of Daniel 9 are indeed weeks of years, and that Daniel correlates with the teachings of Jesus and the Revelation of Jesus.

It seems likely that the great tribulation spoken of here that the ones have made it through (come out of) is the same as that spoken of by Jesus in Matthew 24:21. The book of Revelation is, after all, a vision shown to John by Jesus (Revelation 1:1). It is notable here that the ones who come out of the great tribulation have taken action to cause their robes to be white: they have washed their robes.

Washed is a verb that applies to the ones. The ones are causing the robes to be white. This then does not refer to them becoming righteous in God’s sight, for Jesus does all that cleansing. That they washed their robes then means that this passage speaks of believers who have lived faithfully, producing righteous deeds. They made their robes white by washing them in the blood of the Lamb. But how can that be, since blood makes things red, not white?

This must be speaking then of the cleansing blood of Jesus that washes believers from ongoing sin (1 John 1:7, 9) that we might have fellowship with God and with one another (1 John 1:4). This allows us to live in such a way as to please God, and gain His reward (Revelation 1:3, 3:21). These white robes appear to be a symbol of honor, as in Revelation 3:5 where those who overcome are promised a reward of being clothed in “white garments.”

All believers are made righteous in God’s sight by the blood of Jesus by receiving a free gift through faith (John 3:14-16). But believers made righteous in God’s sight are also commanded to live righteously by faith, setting aside self (Romans 1:16-17). This is an action chosen by each believer. Choosing to walk by faith is the way to gain the greatest fulfillment in this life, along with gaining the greatest reward from God (Galatians 6:8). It is also inferred that in this case these who made their robes white in the blood of the Lamb did so by dying for their witness.

The book of Revelation is not necessarily sequential like a history text. Biblical prophetic writings often include massive jumps in time, even within a single sentence. An example is Daniel 9:26-27. Daniel 9:26 predicts a time 483 years after an order to rebuild the walls of Jerusalem. At that time, Messiah will come, but be “cut off.”

This being “cut off” predicts the advent of Jesus and His rejection and crucifixion. Some compute that 483 years was the day Jesus rode into Jerusalem on a donkey and was presented as king. Verse 27 then predicts a time yet in our future as of the time of this writing, thousands of years later. This is the time when there will be an “abomination of desolation which was spoken of through Daniel the prophet” as Jesus predicts in Matthew 24:15.

We know that verse 14 refers to a point in time when the martyrs who wear white robes have come out of the great tribulation. The great tribulation likely refers to what Jesus called “a great tribulation, such as has not occurred since the beginning of the world until now, nor ever will” in Matthew 24:21. This is the time that Jesus pointed to, the time that would mark the “end of the age” (Matthew 24:3). It is likely also the period of the last three-and-a-half years of the seventieth week of Daniel (Daniel 9:20-27).

Now the text says For this reason they are before the throne of God, and they serve Him day and night in His temple (v 15a). The reason refers back to verse 14, that these have come out of the great tribulation and washed their robes in the blood of the Lamb (likely meaning they were martyred for their faith). Because of this special witness, Jesus honors them by keeping them in His immediate presence. We might think of those in the West Wing of the White House having offices nearest the President having the place of greatest honor.

It goes on: and He who sits on the throne will spread His tabernacle over them (v 15b). One Greek word is translated will spread His tabernacle. This same word is translated in John 1:14 as “dwelt.” The idea seems to be that these faithful witnesses who did not fear death and were faithful even to death will dwell in the very presence of God as a reward for their faithful service. Further:

They will no longer hunger nor thirst, nor will the sun beat down on them, nor any scorching heat; for the Lamb in the center of the throne will be their shepherd, and will guide them to springs of the water of life; and God will wipe every tear from their eyes”   (vs. 16-17).

It seems that God will provide special comfort for these faithful witnesses who washed their robes white in the blood of the Lamb. The string of benefits given them would seem to be the opposite of what they encountered during their persecution during the time of great tribulation:

• That they will no longer hunger nor thirst would indicate that a part of their persecution was to endure both hunger and thirst. This could be because of the plagues upon the entire world. But it likely also includes special persecution, perhaps from the edict that those who do not take the mark of the beast will not be able to buy nor sell (Revelation 13:17). This would mean a lack of food for those resisting the mark of the beast. The mark of the beast probably includes taking an oath to the beast that would cause people to renounce their faith in Jesus.
• That the sun will no longer beat down upon them could refer to great toil they had to endure due to the persecution of not being able to buy or sell. Both the sun and the scorching heat could refer to plagues they had to endure while being destitute of provision. In fact, in Revelation 22, it is even said that “they will not have need of the light of a lamp nor the light of the sun, because the Lord God will illumine them” (Revelation 22:5).
• In place of hunger and heat, the Lamb will be their shepherd and guide them to the springs of the water of life. This reference to springs of living water is likely metaphorical and refers to the greatest bounty of fulfillment in life. Jesus said that springs of living water would flow from the heart of those who believe in Him (John 7:37-38). This looks to be an additional picture of the intimacy God will have with those who follow Him, refuse the mark of the beast, and die as a witness for His name. There will also be a “river of the water of life” in New Jerusalem (Revelation 22:1).
• That God will wipe every tear from their eyes would indicate that all the great benefits God bestows upon these martyrs will make them forget their misery. In the new earth, every tear is wiped away from all of God’s people who are there (Revelation 21:4). But it seems that God does not wait until the new earth to wipe away the tears from the eyes of the faithful witnesses who come out of the great tribulation.

Throughout the Bible, we see Jesus referred to as both the sacrificial lamb (John 1:29, Isaiah 53:7) as well as the good shepherd (John 10:11, Psalm 23:1), which we see now in verse 17 also. The Lamb has become the shepherd and will “lead me beside the still waters” (Psalm 23:2).

Here in Revelation 7 we are told that they will no longer hunger or thirst (v. 16). There is also reference to “The tree of life, bearing twelve kinds of fruit, yielding its fruit every month” (Revelation 22:2), as well as a reference to a tree of life in Revelation 2:7.

It would appear that there is always ample food that can be consumed for sustenance. It could also be that food and water are not necessary, but are a source of enjoyment for our new, spiritual bodies (1 Corinthians 15:44). However, the leaves of the tree of life are said to supply healing for the nations (Revelation 22:2). Therefore it would seem that we will still have need, but that need will be fully supplied.