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Matthew Henry

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Revelation 7:13-17

Here we have a description of the honour and happiness of those who have faithfully served the Lord Jesus Christ, and suffered for him. Observe, I. A question asked by one of the elders, not for his own information, but for John's instruction: ministers may learn from the people, especially from aged and experienced Christians; the lowest saint in heaven knows more than the greatest apostle in the world. Now the question has two parts:?1. What are these that are arrayed in white robes? 2.... read more

William Barclay

William Barclay's Daily Study Bible - Revelation 7:13-14

7:13,14 And one of the elders said to me: "Do you know who these are who are clothed in white robes and where they came from?" I said to him: "Sir, you know." He said to me: "These are they who are coming out of the great tribulation, and who have washed their robes, and have made them white through the power of the blood of the Lamb." One thing is to be noted before we go on to deal with this passage in detail. The King James Version generalizes the meaning by translating: "These are they... read more

William Barclay

William Barclay's Daily Study Bible - Revelation 7:13-14

This passage speaks of the blood of the Lamb. The New Testament has much to say about the blood of Jesus Christ. We must be careful to give this phrase its full meaning. To us blood indicates death, and certainly the blood of Jesus Christ speaks of his death. But to the Hebrews the blood stood for the life. That was why the orthodox Jew never would--and still will not--eat anything which had blood in it ( Genesis 9:4 ). The blood is the life and the life belongs to God; and the blood must... read more

William Barclay

William Barclay's Daily Study Bible - Revelation 7:13-14

Let us now unite the two ideas of which we have been thinking. The blessed ones have washed their robes and made them white in the blood of the Lamb. Let us try to express as simply as possible what that means. The white robes always stand for two things. They stand for purity, for the life cleansed from the taint of past sin, the infection of present sin and the attack of future sin. They stand for victory, for the life which has found the secret of victorious living. Put at its very... read more

William Barclay

William Barclay's Daily Study Bible - Revelation 7:13-14

One thing in this passage remains to be noted, and it is of the first importance. It is said of the blessed ones that "they washed their robes and made them white in the blood of the Lamb." Here is symbolically laid down man's part in his own salvation; the blessed ones washed their own robes. That is to say, the act of man's redemption is Christ's, but the effect is not passive and man has to appropriate it. There might be available to a man all the apparatus to cleanse his garments, but it... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Revelation 7:13

And one of the elders answered, saying unto me ,.... This elder was not the Apostle Peter, as some Popish interpreters have thought; and still less Pope Silvester, who lived in the times of Constantine; be is much more likely, according to others, to be Constantine himself, the first of the elders, or the chief magistrate when the church sprung out of its troubles, and enjoyed rest and peace; though some have thought of the prophet Isaiah, since many things said by this elder are to be found... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Revelation 7:13

One of the elders answered - A Hebraism for spoke. The question is here asked, that the proposer may have the opportunity of answering it. read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Revelation 7:9-13

The Church triumphant. The comfort of the former vision is heightened by a subsequent one. The host of God is sealed. Safety amidst judgment, is pledged. But greater things are reserved. The holy seer is permitted to witness the Church in its final triumph. I. THE FINAL TRIUMPHANT HOST IS INNUMERABLE . The former vision was limited, definite. It prepared the way for a larger view. The "little flock" has grown into an innumerable company. This is the true answer to the... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Revelation 7:9-17

The Church above, caught up out of the great tribulation. We have before called attention to the fact that in this chapter we have, first, a part of the Church on earth, sealed in the tribulation; second, a part of the Church in heaven caught up out of it. £ The first and most natural inquiry concerning the second part of this chapter is, "At what point of time are we to fix the occurring of the glorious realities set forth in this vision?" And from the structure of the chapter the reply... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Revelation 7:13

And one of the elders answered. The elder speaks because he is typical of the Church, concerning which the exposition which he delivers is to be made (see on Revelation 4:4 ). Where an explanation is made of visions which refer to the Church, the active part is taken by the elders, while angels introduce visions of which the signification is unexplained (cf. Revelation 5:2 ; Revelation 7:1 , Revelation 7:2 ; Revelation 8:1-13 .; Revelation 10:1 , Revelation 10:3 , etc.; and ... read more

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