The Great Crowd Worships God

⁹ After ·the vision of these things [^Lthese things] I looked, and ·there was a great number of people [^Lbehold a great crowd/multitude], so many that no one could count them. They were from every nation, tribe, people, and language of the earth. They were all standing before the throne and before the Lamb, wearing white robes [^Csignifying high status and purity] and holding palm branches [^Cused to celebrate a festive occasion, specifically a victory] in their hands. ¹⁰ They were ·shouting [crying out] in a loud voice, “Salvation belongs to our God, who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb.” ¹¹ [^LAnd] All the angels were standing around the throne and the elders [4:4] and the four living creatures. They all ·bowed [fell] down on their faces before the throne and worshiped God, ¹² saying, “Amen [^CHebrew for “so be it”]! ·Praise [Blessing], glory, wisdom, thanks, honor, power, and ·strength [might] belong to our God forever and ever. Amen!”

¹³ Then one of the elders asked me, “Who are these people dressed in white robes? Where did they come from?”

¹⁴ I answered, “You know, ·sir [or my lord].”

And the elder said to me, “These are the people who have come out of the great ·distress [persecution; tribulation]. They have washed their robes and made them white in the blood of the Lamb [^Chaving believed in Jesus, their sins are forgiven through Christ’s death and resurrection]. ¹⁵ Because of this, they are before the throne of God. They worship him day and night in his temple. And the One who sits on the throne will ·be present with [dwell with; or shelter; spread his tent over] them. ¹⁶ Those people will never be hungry again, and they will never be thirsty again. The sun will not ·hurt [strike; beat on; Is. 49:10] them, and no [scorching] heat will burn them, ¹⁷ because the Lamb at the center of the throne will be their shepherd [Ps. 23; John 10]. He will ·lead [guide] them to springs of ·water that give life [living water; the water of life; John 4:14]. And God will wipe away every tear from their eyes [21:4; Is. 25:8].”