Charles Spurgeon Commentary Revelation 7:13-17

"And one of the elders answered, saying unto me, These that are arrayed in white robes, who are they, and whence came they? And I say unto him, My lord, thou knowest. And he said to me, These are they that come of the great tribulation, and they washed their robes, and made them white in the blood of the Lamb. Therefore are they before the throne of God; and they serve him day and night in his temple: and he that sitteth on the throne shall spread his tabernacle over them. They shall hunger no more, neither thirst any more; neither shall the sun strike upon them, nor any heat: for the Lamb that is in the midst of the throne shall be their shepherd, and shall guide them unto fountains of waters of life: and God shall wipe away every tear from their eyes." — Revelation 7:13-17 (ASV)

And one of the elders answered, saying to me, What are these which are arrayed in white robes? And from where did they come?

And I said to him, Sir, you know. And he said to me, These are they which came out of great tribulation, and have washed their robes, and made them white in the blood of the Lamb. Therefore are they before the throne of God, and serve him day and night in his temple: and he that sits on the throne shall dwell among them.

They shall hunger no more, neither thirst any more; neither shall the sun light on them, nor any heat. For the Lamb which is in the midst of the throne shall feed them, and shall lead them to living fountain of waters: and God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes.

This is a vision of the heavenly life above.

I want you to keep the last two verses in your minds, for we will soon encounter very similar expressions in a place where, perhaps, you would hardly have expected to find them. There you will see that those expressions are used concerning the heavenly life below, just as they are used here concerning the heavenly life above.

Turn to the Book of the Prophet Isaiah, chapter 49. There you will read a passage that brings us back to earth. It takes us from the Lamb in the midst of the throne in heaven to the Lamb among the despising and rejecting sons of men. It is our Lord Jesus Christ who is speaking in this passage from Isaiah.

What are these which are arrayed in white robes? and whence came they? 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 in the blood of the Lamb. 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. They shall hunger no more, neither thirst any more; neither shall the sun light on them, nor any heat. For the Lamb which is in the midst of the throne shall feed them, and shall lead them unto living fountains of waters: and God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes.

This is to be the future state of all those who are redeemed by the precious blood of Jesus, and to whom the saving grace of God has come. Therefore, concerning all who have thus fallen asleep, we do not sorrow as those without hope, for we know that all is well with them forever. Now let us read a little of what the apostle Paul was inspired to write with regard to the resurrection of the body (See 1 Corinthians 15:1–28, 50-58).

Who are arrayed in white robes? And from where did they come? And I said to him, Sir, you know. And he said to me, These are they who came out of great tribulation, and have washed their robes, and made them white in the blood of the Lamb.

Therefore they are before the throne of God, and serve him day and night in his temple: and he who sits on the throne shall dwell among them. They shall hunger no more, neither thirst any more; neither shall the sun light on them, nor any heat. For the Lamb which is in the midst of the throne shall feed them, and shall lead them to living fountains of waters: and God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes.