What is the Great Multitude in White Robes?

After this I looked, and there before me was a great multitude that no one could count, from every nation, tribe, people and language, standing before the throne and before the Lamb. They were wearing white robes and were holding palm branches in their hands. ¹⁰ And they cried out in a loud voice: “Salvation belongs to our God, who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb.” (Revelation 7: 9-10)

Heaven will be filled with a Great Multitude of God’s holy people that no one could count. They will be from every nation, tribe, people, and language. They will stand before the throne of God and the Lamb of God (Jesus Christ). They will wear white robes that signify righteousness. They will praise Jehovah God and His Son Jesus Christ for their salvation.

Martyrs of the Great Tribulation

⁹ When he opened the fifth seal, I saw under the altar the souls of those who had been slain because of the word of God and the testimony they had maintained. ¹⁰ They called out in a loud voice, “How long, Sovereign Lord, holy and true, until you judge the inhabitants of the earth and avenge our blood?” ¹¹ Then each of them was given a white robe, and they were told to wait a little longer, until the full number of their fellow servants, their brothers and sisters, were killed just as they had been. (Revelation 6: 9-11)

¹³ Then one of the elders asked me, “These in white robes—who are they, and where did they come from?” ¹⁴ I answered, “Sir, you know.” And he said, “These are they who have come out of the great tribulation; they have washed their robes and made them white in the blood of the Lamb. (Revelation 7: 13-14)

…And I saw the souls of those who had been beheaded because of their testimony about Jesus and because of the word of God… They came to life and reigned with Christ… This is the first resurrection. Blessed and holy are those who share in the first resurrection. The second death has no power over them… (Revelation 20: 4-6)

These are the people were martyred during the Great Tribulation. After the full number of martyrs have been completed, God will avenge the blood of His people. (See: What is the Great Tribulation?)

Their robes have been washed white in the blood of the Lamb. They were faithful in their testimony of the Lamb of God, Jesus Christ. They did not love their lives so much as to deny their Savior.

They Have a Special Place in Heaven

¹⁵ Therefore,“they are before the throne of God and serve him day and night in his temple; and he who sits on the throne will shelter them with his presence. ¹⁶ ‘Never again will they hunger; never again will they thirst. The sun will not beat down on them,’ nor any scorching heat. ¹⁷ For the Lamb at the center of the throne will be their shepherd; ‘he will lead them to springs of living water.’ ‘And God will wipe away every tear from their eyes.’” (Revelation 7: 15-17)

God gives the martyrs a special place in heaven. They are before the throne of God. He shelters them with his presence. The Lamb, Jesus Christ, will be their shepherd and lead them to springs of living water. Never again will they suffer. God will wipe away every tear from their eyes.

God Avenges their Blood

After this I heard what sounded like the roar of a great multitude in heaven shouting: “Hallelujah! Salvation and glory and power belong to our God, for true and just are his judgments. He has condemned the great prostitute who corrupted the earth by her adulteries. He has avenged on her the blood of his servants.” (Revelation 19: 1-2)

God will judge the evil that takes place during the Great Tribulation. His judgments are true and just. He will avenge the blood of His people.

The Wedding of the Lamb

⁶ Then I heard what sounded like a great multitude, like the roar of rushing waters and like loud peals of thunder, shouting: “Hallelujah! For our Lord God Almighty reigns. ⁷ Let us rejoice and be glad and give him glory! For the wedding of the Lamb has come, and his bride has made herself ready. ⁸ Fine linen, bright and clean, was given her to wear.” (Fine linen stands for the righteous acts of God’s holy people.) (Revelation 19: 6-8)

The Great Multitude glorifies the Lord God Almighty. They rejoice that the time has come for the wedding of the Lamb (Jesus Christ). The bride of the Lamb is ready. She is God’s holy people and they are clothed in fine linen (the righteous acts of God’s holy people).

Blessed are those who are Invited to the Wedding Supper

⁹ Then the angel said to me, “Write this: Blessed are those who are invited to the wedding supper of the Lamb!” And he added, “These are the true words of God.” (Revelation 19: 9)