Revelation 7:9-17

A Letter from Exile

To understand this section of Revelation, we have to remember that it was written by someone in exile to communities who were suffering for their faith. When we read Revelation 2-3, we see mention of patient endurance, affliction, poverty, prison, martyrdom, and great temptations from the surrounding cultures. This interlude, this pause between the sixth and seventh seals, is a word of comfort and abiding hope in the midst of such affliction. And while the afflictions in this text refer to a present reality for the seven churches and a future and final vision, it can also be applied to our own personal afflictions [RSB].

Remember to Actually Picture the Images

We see in v14, “These are they…