Revelation 7:9Meaning & Commentary from the Church Fathers

These are those of whom David says: I will count them, and they shall be multiplied more than the sand (Ps 138:18). They suffered martyrdom for Christ from every tribe and people, and in the last times they are to receive sufferings courageously. Some of them have already whitened their garments, and others will whiten them by their blood shed for Christ. Now they have in their hands, as a sign of victory, the branches of useful, upright, and pure palms of the heart. They triumph and rejoice around the throne of divine rest. As grateful servants, they ascribe their victory over the demons to the one Giver.

He did not say, “After this I saw another people,” but, “I saw a people.” That is, the same people whom he had seen in the mystery of the one hundred forty-four thousand he now sees as innumerable, from all tribes, tongues, and nations. For all nations through faith have been grafted onto the root.

In the Gospel, the Lord shows the whole Church, both from the Jews and from the Gentiles, in the twelve tribes of Israel, saying: “You also will sit on twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel” (Mt 19:28).

By the white garments he indicates the gift of the Holy Spirit.

And behold, countless thousands of people from the nations who accepted the faith of Christ were counted worthy of the blessed portion. They received a place in the glorious choir and stood before the throne of Christ and of His Father, as was said above. Their being clothed in white garments is a sign of the purity of their way of life. The palm branches are a symbol of victory, making clear that joy will be theirs from Christ’s victory over visible and invisible enemies.

This multitude of the elect, I say, whom He foreknew and predestined to be conformed to the image of His Son (cf. Rom 8:29), He foretold by the sign of a sacred number. For those who came from the Gentiles also became Israel and are rightly called sons of Abraham (cf. Gal 3:7), not according to the flesh, but according to faith. That is, they are sons in that Seed which is Christ, the cornerstone, of whom the apostle says: “For He is our peace, who has made both one and has broken down the dividing wall, abolishing enmity in His flesh. And the law of commandments in ordinances, that from the two He might create in Himself one new man, making peace, and might reconcile both to God in one body through the Cross, having slain the enmity upon it” (Eph 2:14-16).

This may also be understood in this way. Having listed the tribes of Israel, to whom the Gospel was first preached, John also wants to recall the salvation of the Gentiles.

Dear brothers, since today we render eternal glory to the first martyrs, and this feast of the martyrs is celebrated in Heaven, let us reflect properly on how we too, as far as possible, may follow in their footsteps. Let us strive to become participants in the heavenly festival, as the apostle testifies that if we share in sufferings, we shall also share in consolation (cf. 2 Cor 1:7).

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 these sinful fetters and 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, “and 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, the garments of justification, and with palms in their hands as a sign of victory. They sang to God the wondrous song Alleluia. No one could imitate the beauty of their singing.

In the vision of the one hundred forty-four thousand sealed, the ideal for every Christian was indicated. In the vision of the multitude of the saved, consolation is given to all who endure life's sorrows without murmuring and with thanksgiving to God for all things.

The standing of the Lord's elect signifies their firmness, constancy, and unshakenness. The white garments signify the grace of sanctification received in the Mystery of Baptism or through repentance. They also signify the purity and innocence preserved by them through true faith and holiness of life, in which they continually abided, following the example of the Lamb whom they always behold before their eyes.

The palm branches in their hands are the sign of victory, won by them through the power of Christ over their enemies, the spirits of evil, and over their own passions.