Note: The symbolic vision of the great multitude clothed in white (A) is explained as representing the disciples of Christ in the Kingdom of God (A’). between the description and the explanation is a description of angels surrounding the whole assembly. Their praise stands in parallel with the praise of the saints – with a significant difference. The praise of the saints praises God and the Lamb.
A. 9 After this I beheld, and, lo, a great multitude, which no man could number, of all nations, and kindreds, and people, and tongues,
a.stood before the throne,
b. and before the Lamb,
c. clothed with white robes, and palms in their hands;
B. 10 And cried with a loud voice, saying, Salvation to our God which sitteth upon the throne,
C. and unto the Lamb.
B’. 11 And all the angels stood round about the throne, and about the elders and the four beasts, and fell before the throne on their faces, and worshipped God, 12 Saying, Amen: Blessing, and glory, and wisdom, and thanksgiving, and honour, and power, and might, be unto our God for ever and ever. Amen.
A’. 13 And one of the elders answered, saying unto me, What are these
c’. which are arrayed in white robes? and whence came they? 14 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
b’. in the blood of the Lamb.
a’. 15 Therefore are they before the throne of God, and serve him day and night in his temple: and he that sitteth on the throne shall dwell among them.
Ch 7:1-3
A 1 After this I saw four angels standing at the four corners of the earth, *holding back* the four winds of the earth,
B so that no wind would blow on *the earth or on the sea* or on any tree.
C 2 And I saw another angel ascending from the rising of the sun, having the seal of the living God;
B’ and he cried out with a loud voice to the four angels to whom it was granted to harm *the earth and the sea*,
A’ 3 saying, “*Do not harm* the earth or the sea or the trees until we have sealed the bond-servants of our God on their foreheads.”