Revelation 7:14Meaning & Commentary from the Church Fathers

Verses 14b-15. Blessed are those who inherit eternal rest for temporary labors, and who, for sufferings with Christ, will reign together with Him and serve Him. The words day and night indicate the continuity of this service. There will be no night there, but eternal day, illumined not by a sensible sun, but by the spiritual Sun, the Sun of righteousness, Christ. Yet by night one may understand hidden and profound mysteries. Then by day one should understand what is clear and easily comprehended. The temple of God is every creature renewed by the Spirit. But most certainly it is those who have kept the pledge of the Spirit whole and unquenched. God promised to dwell and walk in them (2 Cor 6:16).

For these are not only the martyrs, as some think, but the whole people in the Church. John said that they washed their garments not in their own blood, but in the Blood of the Lamb. That is, they washed them in the grace of God through Jesus Christ our Lord, as it is written: and the blood of His Son cleansed us (1 Jn 1:7).

They washed their robes and made their robes white in the Blood of the Lamb. It might seem more consistent that garments dipped in blood should become red rather than white. Why, then, did they become white? Because baptism is fulfilled in the death of the Lord, as it also appears to the most wise Paul (cf. Rom 6:3). It cleanses from every sinful defilement and raises those baptized in it white and pure. The communion of the life-giving Blood of Christ also gives the same grace. For the Lord said of His blood that it is shed for many for the remission of sins (Mt 26:28).

When it is said that the multitude of believers came out of great torments, what else is shown here but what is written elsewhere? "Through many tribulations we must enter the Kingdom of God" (Acts 14:22). Therefore the apostle also says: "Brethren, let us not grow weary, for in due season we shall receive our reward" (Gal 6:9). Through the trials of persecutions, the community of believers is purified. It is like oil that comes forth with great labor from beneath the press in the oil-press. It is also like the harvest that is gathered into the granary after threshing on the threshing floor. By saying that their garments were washed in the Blood of the Lamb, he shows the reward for their steadfast endurance of the labors of the foretold battle.

The martyrs washed their garments in the Blood of the Lamb, while their members, which in the eyes of the foolish seemed overcome by the filth of pain (Wis 3:2), were cleansed by blood shed for Christ from every worldly contagion. Moreover, their members became worthy of the most beautiful light of immortality. This is what is meant when it is said that they made their washed garments white in the Blood of the Lamb.

That is, these are the people who, despite the sinful bonds that have bound them and prevent them from coming to Him, our Savior, with perfect repentance, despise all the strength of those sinful fetters. They force themselves to break their bonds. Such people appear before the face of God made whiter than snow by His grace. "Come," says the Lord, "though your sins be like scarlet, I will make them white as snow" (Isa 1:18). Thus the holy seer of mysteries, John the Theologian, once saw such people in white garments, that is, garments of justification. They had palms in their hands as a sign of victory, and they sang to God the wondrous song, Alleluia. No one could imitate the beauty of their singing.

The Blood of Christ, who through the Holy Spirit offered Himself without blemish to God, will cleanse our conscience from dead works, so that we may serve the living and true God (Heb 9:14). These servants of the Lord bore labors on earth for Christ. They endured afflictions for the truth: exile, prisons, hunger, cold, tortures, and various torments. They walked the path of salvation and receive this salvation. They were reviled, persecuted, and slandered in every way for the name of Jesus. But now they rejoice and are glad, and great is their reward in the heavens. They washed their garments from every falsehood and clothed themselves in their holy works. Cleansed by repentance, they entered, by the mercy of God, into the flock of Christ. Now they stand before the eyes of God, innocent and pleasing to their Creator, through the power of the most precious Blood of the Lamb of God.

All His elect followed the Lord along the path of temporal sufferings into blessed eternity. It is impossible for us to remain in fleshly pleasures and at the same time remain in a spiritual state. Therefore the Lord continually gives His beloved His Cup. Through it He preserves in them deadness to the world and the capacity to live the life of the Spirit. St. Isaac the Syrian said: "A man for whom God has special care is known by the sorrows continually sent to him" (Homily 35). What fruit do temporal sorrows bear for eternity? When Heaven was shown to the holy Apostle John, one of the heavenly inhabitants questioned him.

They came out of the great tribulation. The martyrs are meant. John sees them glorified in white robes and with palm branches in their hands. The same vision, with the same features, is described in 3 Ezra 2:42-47.

Thus, from now on, God promises every conqueror the tree of life and mercy from the second death. From now on He promises the hidden manna with a dazzling white stone and an unknown name. From now on He promises authority with a rod of iron and the brightness of the morning star. From now on He promises clothing in white. You will not be blotted out of the book of life, and you will become a pillar in the temple of God. Upon that pillar will be the name of God, of the Lord, and of the heavenly Jerusalem. From now on you will remain with the Lord at His throne, which was once denied to the sons of Zebedee. Who are these so blessed conquerors, if not martyrs in the proper sense? Victories belong to those who have fought, and those who fought are those who shed blood.