Concerning this “great multitude,”what is their origin? Are they only from the twelve tribes of Israel? Are they only from the nation of Israel? No. You see, they are identified, their origin being “of all nations, tribes, peoples, and tongues,” not leaving anyone out. No, not that everyone is going to be there; that’s not what we intend at all. But, there will be those of every tribe, of every tongue, of every nation, who will be in that number—those who are saved, yes, from before the time of the cross, and those who are saved after the time of the cross.

SECONDLY, we see their appearance—what of their appearance? Well, they are “standing.” How is it that they are standing? Chapter 6 closed out with that question, “…who is able to stand?” At first, we might say, “Well, NO ONE could stand in the presence of God.” And, indeed, no one can stand in the presence of God on their own merit, on their own goodness. But those of the church triumphant, those of the great innumerable host, stand; NO, not on their own merit, but they stand on the basis of what Christ has done, what Christ has done on the cross, what Christ has done through His blood. This is how and why they are able to stand before the throne and the Lamb.

They are wearing “white robes,” a sign of victory, a sign of purity. They have in their hands “palm branches,” a sign of victory, a sign of peace, John 12, verse 13 [John 12:12-13: “The next day a great multitude that had come to the feast, when they heard that Jesus was coming to Jerusalem, 13 took branches of palm trees and went out to meet Him, and cried out: ‘Hosanna! “Blessed is He Who comes in the Name of the LORD!” The King of Israel!”’”].

So, here we see assembled there in the throne room of heaven, standing before God Almighty and His Son, this great multitude, representing those saved of every age. They are arrayed in white, and they are victorious while on the earth, while being part of that tribulation on the earth. They were seemingly downtrodden, they were persecuted, they were put down, and they were even killed. But here, in this scene, they are victorious.

THIRD, we see the worship of “great multitude.” With one accord, John says that they cry “out with a loud voice.” They are not quiet. They life up their collective voice in praise and in adoration. They are, as the Psalmist said in the long ago, worshiping God “in the beauty of holiness,” Psalm 29, verse 2 [“Give unto the LORD the glory due to His Name; Worship the LORD in the beauty of holiness.”]. They are worshiping God “in spirit and Truth,” as John wrote in his Gospel, John 4, verse 24 [John 4:23-24: “But the hour is coming, and now is, when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and Truth; for the Father is seeking such to worship Him. 24 God is Spirit, and those who worship Him must worship in spirit and Truth.”]. That’s what these ones are doing.

We are going to see, as we continue on through the book of Revelation, that this is going to be a consistent picture, a consistent depiction, of what those in heaven do—not for an hour on Sunday morning and an hour on Sunday night, and then again on Wednesday night. NO. This is what the saved in heaven do always. They praise, worship and serve the Lord. They say, “Salvation belongs to our God Who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb!” [verse 10].

FOURTH, in verse 11, we see that there is a response from the angelic host. You know, we may wonder and say, “Well, are the angels in heaven in any way affected by the things that man does?” Well, we know that they are, even now. We know from what the Lord said, Luke 15, that the angels rejoice when even one sinner repents. [Luke 15:7: “I say to you that likewise there will be more joy in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine just persons who need no repentance.”] Indeed, what we do affects the heavenly host.

But notice here in this scene, what is their response? What did they do? Well, when they heard the praise of this “great multitude,” they “fell on their faces before the throne and worshiped God.” Can you picture that in your mind? Can you picture this scene in your mind of the throne-room of heaven, of the angelic host face down, the “great multitude” standing there, all in one accord, praising and worshiping God? What a magnificent scene that is! Here we see this very grand worship by the redeemed of all ages and the heavenly host, as it takes place, unto God and to the Lamb.

FIFTH, notice verse 12 [“Amen! Blessing and glory and wisdom, Thanksgiving and honor and power and might, Be to our God forever and ever. Amen.”]. This is referred to as a doxology. It is a seven-fold doxology. A doxology is a statement of praise, in this case. Notice the things that are ascribed in this doxology—things that are being ascribed or attributed to God. Remember that this worship is directed toward HIM and toward HIS SON.

They’re saying, “Amen!”—“So be it,” “Let it be.” “Blessing and glory and wisdom….” And then, “…Thanksgiving and honor and power and might, Be to our God forever and ever.” And then there is a grand conclusion: “AMEN”—“let it be so.”