Presently, I am discussing what John had seen in his heavenly vision just after the opening of the sixth seal. After the sealing of the 144000, John saw a great multitude stand before the Throne (Revelation 7:9). These came out of all nations, and tribes, and people, and tongues. The multitude included Jews, but, obviously, were not entirely Jews in the physical sense (cf. Galatians 3:28). They were clothed in white robes, which indicates they were righteous (cf. Revelation 19:8), having washed their robes in the blood of Christ (Revelation 7:14; 19:14).
In their hands they held a palm branch, which was used when one came to rejoice before the Lord (Leviticus 23:40). Palms were symbolic of the flourishing of the righteous (Psalm 92:12), bearing fruit even when it was considered old. It was also a symbol of victory over one’s enemy (1Maccabees 13:51), and, in this regard, it was used to receive such a one in whom one wished to honor as his savior (cf. John 12:13). Therefore, in the context of Revelation 7:9, the great multitude stood before the throne, rejoicing in the victory their Savior had given them over their enemies, who, during the Great Tribulation, had persecuted them, killing many of them. Their victory over death was their vindication, in that their enemies’ will for them (viz. persecution and death) was nullified by their Savior.
The multitude stood before the Throne and cried out with a loud voice: “Salvation be to our God, who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb!” (Revelation 17:10). In previous studies, I have shown that the One sitting upon the throne is Jesus. That is, he was to look upon as “a jasper and a sardine stone” (Revelation 4:3). In other words, these stones were the first and last stones of the judgment breastplate or ephod of the High Priest (cf. Exodus 28:15-20; 39:10, 13).[1] Therefore, “he was to look upon” as the High priest! There is no contradiction here, if one understands the praise in Revelation 7:10 to be directed at Jesus. That is, “Salvation be to our God, who sits on the throne, and (i.e. even – G2532, kai) to the Lamb!” This same Greek word is translated into the English word: even in the King James Bible no less than 108 times. In other words, God “who sits on the Throne, **is** Jesus (the Lamb).
The problem with anyone seeing the Father on the Throne is, the Scriptures deny that anyone but Jesus had ever seen the Father (John 1:18; 5:37; 6:46), and neither is man able to see him (cf. 1Timothy 6:16). It is only through Jesus that men can even be aware of the Father (John 1:18; 14:7, 9). Therefore, the Greek word kai (G2532), which is translated into and, should be translated into the word: even, actually points to Jesus or the Lamb as the One on the Throne. Thus, the Scriptures tell us that Jesus, or the Lamb, **is** God. We need to keep in mind, when understanding such Scriptures, that the Father gave this apokalupsis (G602) to Jesus, and it is supposed to reveal or unveil him (Revelation 1:1), not the Father. The Father is revealed or disclosed to men by Jesus but not apart from him. So, what we find in the Apocalypse is a revelation of Jesus.
The angels and the four living beings and the twenty-four elders immediately fell before the Throne and worshiped God, saying: “Amen: Blessing, and glory, and wisdom, and thanksgiving, and honor, and power, and might, be unto our God forever and ever. Amen” (Revelation 7:11-12). With the exception of the word “thanksgiving” this praise is duplicated in Revelation 5:12 when it is directed to “the Lamb” alone. There, instead of the word thanksgiving the word wealth or riches is used, which indicates abundance for which men should be thankful to God. So, in essence it is the same praise. The great multitude stands before the Throne, praising God, even (who is) Jesus.
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[1] See my study: Jesus, Our Judge and High Priest.
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