The innumerable multitude--7:9-10. In this coordination of the apocalypse, the angel’ s proclamation concerning the hundred and forty-four thousand was immediately followed by the heavenly scene in verses nine to seventeen. The vision here expands the hundred forty-four thousand of all the tribes of Israel, as the nucleus of the New Israel, the holy seed, the remnant according to grace--into the innumerable multitude. The revelation does not end with “ the number of them that were sealed” in verse 4. Verse 9 continues the vision with the words “ after this I beheld and, lo, a great multitude which no man could number of all nations and kindreds and people and tongues.” It is the same company as “ the number of them that were sealed,” the hundred forty-four thousand which were “ of all the tribes of Israel.” But the multitude in verse 9 were of all nations and kindreds and peoples and tongues,” which signified that the new Israel was not the fleshly seed of the twelve tribes of Israel; but the spiritual seed--the holy seed--of all nations “ which no man could number.” This was the symbol of innumerable multitude. It was identical with that “ innumerable company” mentioned in Hebrews 12:22-23, designated “ the general assembly and church of the firstborn.” It identified the hundred forty-four thousand of Rev 7:4, and Revelation 14:1, with this great multitude and innumerable company of Rev 7:9 and Hebrews 12:22-23. So parallel are these passages that strong evidence is adduced from it that the Hebrew passage is an allusion to this Revelation scene of chapter 7, virtually equivalent to a direct quotation. This is assuredly possible in the premises of the prior date of Revelation, in which chronology it antedates the Hebrew epistle. The same evidential relation of other epistles to the apocalypse is indicated in other references and examples, all of which are internal evidences that Revelation is by no means the last book of the New Testament canon, but quite to the contrary-it bears an earlier date than several others, including Hebrews, Galatians, Second Peter (if not first), and even of the other epistles of John. The multitude of verses 9-10 were clothed in the white robes of victory, displaying palms of praise. There were the emblems of a triumphant march. (John 12:13) With a loud voice the vocal unison of the great company ascribed salvation to our God, from whom the salvation proceeded and unto the Lamb, by whom it was procured. This salvation was not in the gospel sense of salvation from sin or in pardon or remission of sins, but was the state of deliverance and blessing. The Greek texts give the article which the English translations dropped, and in them it reads: “ the salvation of our God,” a specific reference to coming out of the trials of persecution into the scenes of the throne.