The White Robes

The “great multitude” (Revelation 7:9) will have gone through many trials. Strong’s Concordance defines “tribulation” as “anguish,” “persecution.” Whether the elder was referring to the “great tribulation” (Matthew 24:21) in the last days, or to the many martyrs of the Protestant Reformation represented in Revelation’s fifth seal, who were also each given “a white robe” (Revelation 6:11), or whether he meant all believers who have ever suffered in the name of Jesus Christ, one fact is certain: Everyone standing there will have their sins cleansed by “the blood of the Lamb.” This is the gospel: Jesus paid for our sins with His blood so that we could have eternal life with Him.

If, in fact, the elder was indicating this “time of trouble” of the last days, the worst period of persecution “such as never was since there was a nation” (Daniel 12:1) and “since the beginning of the world until this time” (Matthew 24:21), it would fit neatly into the order of the seven seals. This hiatus in chapter 7 between the opening of the sixth and seventh seals would appropriately represent the time directly before Christ’s return, not to mention the connection with God’s end-time people, the 144,000.

Also note the part that the multitude has: They will have “washed their robes.” Now, in no way does this wording imply that we save ourselves. No—but we must actively choose to allow Christ’s blood to deliver us from sin. He does the saving, but we must enter the door (John 10:9).

Does God not tell us, “Come now, and let us reason together” (Isaiah 1:18)? Strong’s defines “reason” as “to decide,” “convince,” “judge.” By these apocalyptic prophecies, God is laying bare the choice between Him and the devil; He is disclosing what will happen in each scenario, giving every reason for life over death. This is a promise with no chance of failure; it will come to pass if you choose Christ: “Though your sins are like scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they are red like crimson, they shall be as wool.”

Lamb of God, when I am in tribulation, may I claim Your promise of a clean robe of righteousness through Your blood.

For Further Study: Zechariah 3:3–5; Acts 14:22; Hebrews 9:14

Key Bible Texts

And I said unto him, Sir, thou knowest. And he said to me, These are they which came out of great tribulation, and have washed their robes, and made them white in the blood of the Lamb. (Revelation 7:14 KJV)