Apocalypse Explained, Vol. 3

...nations and all tribes, peoples, and languages, standing before the throne and before the Lamb, dressed in white robes, with palm branches in their hands.

10. They cried out with a loud voice, saying, "Salvation belongs to our God, who sits upon the throne, and to the Lamb!"

11. All the angels stood around the throne, the elders, and the four living creatures four animalsoriginal: "quatuor animalia." These represent the "living creatures" of divine providence, often depicted in celestial visions.. They fell on their faces before the throne and worshiped God,

12. saying, "Amen! Blessing, glory, wisdom, thanksgiving, honor, power, and might be to our God forever and ever original: "in saecula saeculorum," or unto the ages of ages.; amen."

13. Then one of the elders spoke to me, asking, "These people dressed in white robes—who are they, and where did they come from?"

14. I said to him, "Lord, you know." And he said to me, "These are the ones who come out of the great tribulation great tribulationA period of intense spiritual trial or temptation meant to purify the faithful.; they have washed their robes and made them white in the blood of the Lamb.

15. For this reason, they stand before the throne of God and serve Him day and night in His temple; and He who sits on the throne will shelter them with His presence.

16. They shall hunger no more, nor thirst anymore; neither shall the sun fall upon them, nor any scorching heat.

17. For the Lamb who is in the midst of the throne will be their shepherd original: "pascet illos," meaning to feed or tend as a shepherd. and will guide them to living fountains of waters; and God will wipe away every tear from their eyes."

EXPOSITION.

VERSE 1.

415. "And after these things I saw four angels standing upon the four corners of the earth, holding back the four winds of the earth, that the wind should not blow upon the earth, nor upon the sea, nor upon any tree."