Revelation 7:9. Clothed with white robes, and palms in their hands.
Palm-branches were used on occasions of festivity. See Leviticus 23:40; Nehemiah 8:15. They were regarded as tokens of joy and of triumph. Kings and conquerors were welcomed by having palm-branches strewn before them, and waved in the air, with shouts and acclamations of joy. Thus they were waved before the Messiah on the occasion of his entry into Jerusalem. See John 12:13. Conquerors in the Grecian games returned to their homes triumphantly waving palm-branches in their hands. Thus in the New Jerusalem John sees the triumphant followers of the Messiah with “palms in their hands.”