Chapter Twenty-Eight – The Great Multitude
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The subject of the Israelite remnant introduces another large number of people that suddenly appear on the world scene at the same time. This is the little-understood “Great Multitude,” often referred to as the “Innumerable Multitude.” This group is described in Revelation 7:9-17 (just after the mysterious 144,000 is introduced). You will learn that this enormous mass of people are linked in a fascinating way to the survivors among Israel.
A variety of questions arise about this unidentified “Great Multitude” of Revelation: Who are they? Where could so many people come from? How does such a large number arise so suddenly? Could they be the same as the Israelite remnant? If not, how are they different? Or, since the Great Multitude is seen to come out of “tribulation” right as the Great Tribulation ends, is this large group in any way related to the returning remnant of Israel? Recall that the remnant appears at the exact same juncture in God’s carefully prophesied timeline, which is just before the Day of the Lord begins. Is this an accident? And would two such similar big groups be different?
The answers to these questions must be understood! You will find that the identity of this huge throng of people is vastly more important than most could realize. None of the supposed prophecy experts can discern this group’s identity. (Of course, many attempt this.) But you can understand! Prepare to learn the truth of this vital—and truly inspiring—prophecy.
A Look at the Prophecy
The Great Multitude is actually referenced in several Bible passages. But this has been unrealized. It becomes one of the surprising things you will learn in this chapter. You will see that most have simply not known how to find these verses. We will later examine several.
The prophecy is best introduced by just reading Revelation 7:9-17. While we will also later examine the specifics of this longer passage in more detail, first take the time again to read all that John recorded:
“After this I beheld, and, lo, a great multitude, which no man could number, of all nations, and kindreds, and people, and tongues, stood before the throne, and before the Lamb, clothed with white robes, and palms in their hands; and cried with a loud voice, saying, Salvation to our God which sits upon the throne, and unto the Lamb.
“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, saying, Amen: Blessing, and glory, and wisdom, and thanksgiving, and honor, and power, and might, be unto our God forever and ever. Amen. And one of the elders answered, saying unto me, What are these which are arrayed in white robes? And whence came they? And I said unto 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 unto living fountains of waters: and God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes.”
Understand that there are many points to examine within what is an extensive prophecy. There is much more here than meets the eye. But, this discussion can be simplified if we first look at an overview.
Examining the Description
Recognize that the prophecy is infinitely more important than is first evident. Also, many have misunderstood it, reducing it to a relatively small number of people linked to the 144,000 because they do not understand the Greek words translated “Great Multitude” or who the 144,000 are.
The term Great Multitude derives from the Greek polus ochlos, and translators have given the most accurate rendering for these words. But this same phrase is found in a number of other New Testament passages, in which the size of the group being referenced can be anywhere from a small gathering or mob to great numbers. Therefore, it is important to look at the key verses within the prophecy, beginning with God’s own description of the group’s size.
Let’s start with Jn 9:9, which begins the prophecy and records what John next observed after seeing the 144,000 sealed: “After this I beheld, and, lo, a great multitude, which no man could number, of all nations, and kindreds, and people, and tongues, stood before the throne, and before the Lamb, clothed with white robes, and palms in their hands.”
This describes what will be seen later to be a vast and diverse wave of human beings literally from every corner of the world. Careful reading reveals that five key words can be examined to help demonstrate this.
Let’s examine the italicized words in the verse. The word “all” is translated from the Greek word pas, and this word means what it says: “all…every…thoroughly.” Obviously, people from every nation of the world are involved in this event. This means that the Great Multitude is anything but a small number, as some have suggested.
Next is the word “nations.” The Greek word here is ethnos, pronounced eth’-nos, and the modern word ethnic derives from it. It means “a race…that is, a tribe, specifically a foreign (non-Jewish) one (usually by implication pagan).” It is interesting that ethnos also means “Gentile, heathen or nation.” This is then obviously talking about the non-Israelite nations of the world—the other over 6 billion people of the earth’s population. So this is referencing a people quite different from the Israelite remnant.
Then comes the word “kindreds,” and this comes from the Greek word phule, which carries this meaning: “offshoot…race or clan…tribe.” This is a key word in the prophecy. When understood, it is the term that God uses to be sure the reader does not miss the fact that every kind of ethnic group within the nations of the world is included in—has representation within—the Great Multitude.
The word “people” in the Greek is laos, and is pronounced lah-os’. First, realize the meaning here must be at least somewhat different from nations and kindreds. In fact, it carries a more narrow definition and usually means “a people…all those who are of the same stock and language.”
Finally is the word “tongues.” This comes from the Greek glossa, pronounced gloce’-sah. The English word glossary derives from it, and it simply means “the tongue; by implication a language.” This is almost certainly another way of saying that virtually every possible kind of racial, ethnic and cultural background that a human being could possess, defined to some degree by the world’s many different languages and dialects, will be included among those who repent at the end of the Tribulation.