Revelation 7:11-17

11 And all the angels stood all about the throne, and of the elder men, and the four beasts [And all angels stood in compass of the throne, and of the seniors, or elders, and four beasts]. And they fell down in the sight of the throne, on their faces, and worshipped God,

12 and said [saying], Amen! blessing, and clearness, and wisdom, and doing of thankings, and honour, and virtue, and strength to our God, into worlds of worlds. Amen.

13 And one of the elder men answered [And one of the seniors answered], and said to me, Who be these, that be clothed with white stoles? and from whence came they [and of whence came they]?

14 And I said to him, My lord, thou knowest. And he said to me, These be they, that came from great tribulation, and washed their stoles, and made them white in the blood of the lamb.

15 Therefore they be before the throne of God, and serve to him day and night [and serve him day and night], in his temple. And he that sitteth in the throne, dwelleth on [upon] them.

16 They shall no more hunger, neither thirst, neither [the] sun shall fall on them, nor any heat.

17 For the lamb, that is in the middle of the throne, shall govern them, and shall lead forth them [and shall lead them forth] to the wells of [the] waters of life; and God shall wipe away each tear from the eyes of them.

Revelation 7:11-17 Meaning and Commentary

INTRODUCTION TO REVELATION 7

This chapter contains a vision seen at the end of the sixth, and at the opening of the seventh seal, which expresses the security of the saints in all ages following, the praises of angels and men on that account, and the happiness of all the people of God in the millennium state. First, a vision of four angels is seen restraining the winds from blowing on the earth, sea, and trees, Re 7:1; then of another angel, described by the place from whence he came, the east; by what he had, the seal of the living God, and by his cry to the four angels not to hurt the earth, sea, and trees, until the servants of God were sealed, Re 7:2,3, and then follows the number of the sealed ones in general, Re 7:4, and the particular number of them out of each tribe of Israel, Re 7:5-8. After which is another vision of all the elect of God together, described by the numberless multitude of them; by their descent from all nations; by their position and situation before the throne, and the Lamb; by their habit and attire, and by their loud cry, ascribing salvation to God, and to the Lamb, Re 7:9,10, who are joined by all the angels around them, worshipping God, and ascribing glory to him, Re 7:11,12. And next is described the happiness of this numerous company, in the thousand years' reign, introduced by some discourse which passed between John, and one of the elders, Re 7:13,14, who are said to be before the throne, to serve God continually, and to have his presence, Re 7:15, to be free from everything troublesome and distressing, Re 7:16, and to be fed by the Lamb, and to be led by him to fountains of living water, and to have all their tears wiped away from them, Re 7:17.