Goole. ―Who are the palm-bearing multitude in Revelation 7:9? Will they have part in the First Resurrection?
During the short interval between the coming of the Lord for His saints into the air, and His coming with them to the earth in judgment, there will be a great gathering out from amongst the heathen nations. In Revelation 7. we see a parenthesis of mercy amidst a scene of judgment. A definite though doubtless symbolic, number from all the tribes of Israel (except Dan) are sealed, and an innumerable multitude of all nations, &c., are saved. These latter are Gentiles; but it appears to me that both these companies must be distinguished from those who have part in the First Resurrection (Rev. 20:4). They are saved not for heavenly but for earthly blessing, and enter the millennium alive without passing through death at all. The palm-bearing multitude, we are distinctly told, came out of the great tribulation. It is not great tribulation in any vague sense of that word, but the great tribulation. How could they have come out of it if they had died during it?
The expression, “Therefore are they before the throne of God,” does not prove that they are in heaven. This must be understood, not in a local, but in a moral sense. The same expression is found in Revelation 14:3, where clearly the people referred to are standing on Mount Zion.
Further, they serve God day and night in His temple, but that temple is on earth, for of the heavenly city John says, “I saw no temple therein” (Rev. 21:22). But though on earth throughout the thousand years, they hold an altogether special place― “He that sitteth on the throne shall tabernacle over them.” This is a different expression from that found in Revelation 21:3. Here it is tabernacle “over” them, there it is tabernacle “with” them. To tabernacle “over” reminds us of the cloud upon the tabernacle of old (Exod. 40:34-38). That cloud rested not upon the court, but upon the tabernacle itself. So these saints from amongst the heathen or Gentile nations, specially tried and tested as they will have been, specially faithful, too, in spite of all, will be specially blessed during the thousand years. They will occupy a special place of nearness, as priests to God, having access to, and serving Him day and night in His temple.
Other Gentile millennial saints will be more like the worshippers in the court outside (Rev. 11:2), to use the figure of the tabernacle of old, whereas these will have access as priests more directly to God.
They will have the consolation, too, of knowing that they are the special object of the Lamb’s care, and that none of those earthly trials to which they had been exposed could touch them under His protecting hand. ED.