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NASB (UPDATED) TEXT: Rev_7:9-12
9After these things I looked, and behold, a great multitude which no one could count, from every nation and all tribes and peoples and tongues, standing before the throne and before the Lamb, clothed in white robes, and palm branches were in their hands; 10and they cry out with a loud voice, saying, "Salvation to our God who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb." 11And all the angels were standing around the throne and around the elders and the four living creatures; and they fell on their faces before the throne and worshiped God, 12saying, "Amen, blessing and glory and wisdom and thanksgiving and honor and power and might, be to our God forever and ever. Amen."
Rev_7:9 The great multitude mentioned in this verse is obviously different from the one hundred forty-four thousand which are mentioned in Rev_7:4. As the first group came from different tribes of Israel, this group comes from every tribe of the earth. It seems that these two groups represent the same group of people in two different senses. If Rev_7:1-8 refer to believing Jews, then Rev_7:9 refers to the people of God of all people groups (cf. Rev_5:9; Rev_11:9; Rev_13:7; Rev_14:6; Rev_17:15).
However, the fact that they are said to (1) have come out of the great tribulation (cf. Rev_7:14); (2) were standing before the throne (cf. Rev_7:9); and (3) they have white robes (cf. Rev_6:11) may identify them as the complete number of martyrs (cf. Rev_6:11; Rev_17:6; Rev_18:24; Rev_19:2; Rev_20:4).
▣ "which no one could count" This may be an allusion to the promises to Abraham of abundant descendants.
1. dust of the earth – Gen_13:16; Gen_28:14; Num_23:10
2. stars of heaven – Gen_15:5; Gen_22:17; Gen_26:4; Deu_1:10
3. sand on the seashore – Gen_22:17; Gen_32:12
4. a general statement – Gen_16:10
▣ "palm branches were in their hands" Some try to identify this with Lev_23:40 or Neh_8:15 as a sign of joy and triumph. Others relate it to the rituals of the Feast of Passover as in Joh_12:13 and still others, because this passage is linked to the Wilderness Wandering Period (cf. Rev_7:15-16), with the Feast of Tabernacles. The palm branches may simply be a symbol of victory.
Rev_7:10 "Salvation to our God" This is the normal Greek term for "salvation" (sôteria from sôzô), but it may be used in the sense of "victory" (NEB) or "have completely overcome." Therefore, it could refer to (1) deliverance from the problems of life on earth or (2) spiritual, eternal salvation. The OT term (yasha) meant physical deliverance (cf. Jas_5:15). This same term is used in a series of blessings to God three times in Revelation (cf. Rev_7:10; Rev_12:10; Rev_19:1).
▣ "and to the Lamb" Notice that the Messiah is blessed in the same way as YHWH. This stresses the divine essence of the Son.
Rev_7:11 Notice that several groups are differentiated.
1. the angels
2. the elders
3. the four living creatures
These groups are all connected to the throne room of God in heaven. They are separate from the 144,000 and the great multitude.
For "the elders" see hyperlink at Rev_4:4.
Rev_7:12 "saying" Notice the sevenfold blessing to God (and Messiah, cf. Rev_7:10), which is similar to the sevenfold blessing of the slain lamb of Rev_5:12.
▣ "Amen" Notice how it starts and concludes the blessing. See Special Topic at Rev_1:6.