Revelation 7 · Verse 15

Revelation 7:15

Therefore are they before the throne of God, and serve him day and night in his temple: and he that sitteth on the throne shall dwell among them.

Revelation 7:15, King James Version

Revelation 7:15 in other translations

BSB	For this reason, they are before the throne of God and serve Him day and night in His temple; and the One seated on the throne will spread His tabernacle over them.
WEB	Therefore they are before the throne of God, and they serve him day and night in his temple. He who sits on the throne will spread his tabernacle over them.
ASV	Therefore are they before the throne of God; and they serve him day and night in his temple: and he that sitteth on the throne shall spread his tabernacle over them.
YLT	because of this are they before the throne of God, and they do service to Him day and night in His sanctuary, and He who is sitting upon the throne shall tabernacle over them;
DARBY	Therefore are they before the throne of God, and serve him day and night in his temple, and he that sits upon the throne shall spread his tabernacle over them.
BBE	This is why they are before the high seat of God; and they are his servants day and night in his house: and he who is seated on the high seat will be a tent over them.
Webster	Therefore they are before the throne of God, and serve him day and night in his temple: and he that sitteth on the throne will dwell among them.

What does Revelation 7:15 mean?

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown

15. Therefore--because they are so washed white; for without it they could never have entered God's holy heaven; Re 22:14, "Blessed are those who wash their robes (the oldest manuscripts reading), that they may have right to the tree of life, and may enter in through the gates into the city"; Re 21:27; Ep 5:26, 27. before--Greek, "in the presence of." Mt 5:8; 1Co 13:12, "face to face." throne ... temple--These are connected because we can approach the heavenly King only through priestly mediation; therefore, Christ is at once King and Priest on His throne. day and night--that is, perpetually; as those approved of as priests by the Sanhedrim were clothed in white, and kept by turns a perpetual watch in the temple at Jerusalem; compare as to the singers, 1Ch 9:33, "day and night"; Psa 134:1. Strictly "there is no night" in the heavenly sanctuary (Re 22:5). in his temple--in what is the heavenly analogue to His temple on earth, for strictly there is "no temple therein" (Re 21:22), "God and the Lamb are the temple" filling the whole, so that there is no distinction of sacred and secular places; the city is the temple, and the temple the city. Compare Re 4:8, "the four living creatures rest not day and night, saying, Holy," &c. shall dwell among them--rather (Greek, "scenosei ep' autous"), "shall be the tabernacle over them" (compare Re 21:3; Le 26:11, especially Is 4:5, 6; 8:14; 25:4; Eze 37:27). His dwelling among them is to be understood as a secondary truth, besides what is expressed, namely, His being their covert. When once He tabernacled among us as the Word made flesh, He was in great lowliness; then He shall be in great glory.

Robert Jamieson, A. R. Fausset & David Brown, 1871 · public domain

Barnes' Notes

Verse 15. Therefore are they before the throne of God. The reason why they are there is to be traced to the fact that the Lamb shed his blood to make expiation for sin. No other reason can be given why any one of the human race is in heaven; and that is reason enough why any of that race are there.

And serve him day and night in his temple. That is, continually or constantly. Day and night constitute the whole of time, and this expression, therefore, denotes constant and uninterrupted service. On earth, toil is suspended by the return of night, and the service of God is intermitted by the necessity of rest; in heaven, as there will be no weariness, there will be no need of intermission, and the service of God, varied doubtless to meet the state of the mind, will be continued for ever. The phrase "to serve him in his temple" refers undoubtedly to heaven, regarded as the temple or holy dwelling-place of God. Rev 1:6.

And he that sitteth on the throne. God. Rev 4:2.

Shall dwell among them--σκηνωσει. This word properly means, to tent, to pitch a tent; and, in the New Testament, to dwell as in tents. The meaning here is, that God would dwell among them as in a tent, or would have his abode with them. Perhaps the allusion is to the tabernacle in the wilderness. That was regarded as the peculiar dwelling-place of God, and that always occupied a central place among the tribes of Israel. So in heaven--there will be the consciousness always that God dwells there among his people, and that the redeemed are gathered around him in his own house. Professor Stuart renders this, it seems to me with less beauty and propriety, "will spread his tent over them," as meaning that he would receive them into intimate connexion and union with him, and offer them his protection: Compare Rev 21:3.

(e) "dwell" Rev 1:5, 1Jn 1:7

Albert Barnes, 1834 · public domain

Adam Clarke's Commentary

Verse 15 Therefore - Because they are washed in the blood of the Lamb, are they before the throne - admitted to the immediate presence, of God. And serve him day and night - Without ceasing; being filled with the spirit of prayer, faith, love, and obedience. Shall dwell among them - He lives in his own Church, and in the heart of every true believer.

Adam Clarke, 1831 · public domain

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on Revelation 7:13-17

Faithful Christians deserve our notice and respect; we should mark the upright. Those who would gain knowledge, must not be ashamed to seek instruction from any who can give it. The way to heaven is through many tribulations; but tribulation, how great soever, shall not separate us from the love of God. Tribulation makes heaven more welcome and more glorious. It is not the blood of the martyrs, but the blood of the…

Read the full comment on Revelation 7:13-17 →

Revelation 7:15 in the original Greek

Word-by-word with transliteration, English gloss and Strong's number. Tap a number for the full definition and every place the word is used.

διὰdiaBecause ofG1223

τοῦτόtoutothisG3778

εἰσινeisinThey areG1510

ἐνώπιονenōpionbeforeG1799

τοῦtoutheG3588

θρόνουthronouthroneG2362

τοῦtou<the>G3588

θεοῦtheouof GodG2316

καὶkaiandG2532

λατρεύουσινlatreuousinserveG3000

αὐτῷautōHimG846

ἡμέραςhēmerasby dayG2250

καὶkaiandG2532

νυκτὸςnuktosnightG3571

ἐνeninG1722

τῷtōtheG3588

ναῷnaōtempleG3485

αὐτοῦ,autouof Him,G846

καὶkaiandG2532

ὁhothe [One]G3588

καθήμενοςkathēmenossittingG2521

ἐπὶepionG1909

τοῦtoutheG3588

θρόνουthronouthroneG2362

σκηνώσειskēnōseiwill tabernacleG4637

ἐπ᾽ep᾽overG1909

αὐτούς.autousthem.G846

Source: STEPBible TAHOT/TAGNT (Tyndale House, CC BY 4.0).

Cross references for Revelation 7:15

Revelation 21:3-4
And I heard a great voice out of heaven saying, Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, and he will dwell with them, and they shall be his people, and God himself shall be with them, and be their God. And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain: for the former things are passed away.
Revelation 22:3
And there shall be no more curse: but the throne of God and of the Lamb shall be in it; and his servants shall serve him:
Isaiah 4:5-6
And the Lord will create upon every dwelling place of mount Zion, and upon her assemblies, a cloud and smoke by day, and the shining of a flaming fire by night: for upon all the glory shall be a defence. And there shall be a tabernacle for a shadow in the daytime from the heat, and for a place of refuge, and for a covert from storm and from rain.
2 Corinthians 6:16
And what agreement hath the temple of God with idols? for ye are the temple of the living God; as God hath said, I will dwell in them, and walk in them; and I will be their God, and they shall be my people.
Hebrews 12:2
Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God.
John 1:14
And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth.
1 Chronicles 23:25
For David said, The Lord God of Israel hath given rest unto his people, that they may dwell in Jerusalem for ever:
Revelation 14:3-5
And they sung as it were a new song before the throne, and before the four beasts, and the elders: and no man could learn that song but the hundred and forty and four thousand, which were redeemed from the earth. These are they which were not defiled with women; for they are virgins. These are they which follow the Lamb whithersoever he goeth. These were redeemed from among men, being the firstfruits unto God and to the Lamb. And in their mouth was found no guile: for they are without fault before the throne of God.
Revelation 22:5
And there shall be no night there; and they need no candle, neither light of the sun; for the Lord God giveth them light: and they shall reign for ever and ever.
Revelation 4:4
And round about the throne were four and twenty seats: and upon the seats I saw four and twenty elders sitting, clothed in white raiment; and they had on their heads crowns of gold.
Psalms 134:1-2
A Song of degrees. Behold, bless ye the Lord, all ye servants of the Lord, which by night stand in the house of the Lord. Lift up your hands in the sanctuary, and bless the Lord.
Psalms 68:16-18
Why leap ye, ye high hills? this is the hill which God desireth to dwell in; yea, the Lord will dwell in it for ever. The chariots of God are twenty thousand, even thousands of angels: the Lord is among them, as in Sinai, in the holy place. Thou hast ascended on high, thou hast led captivity captive: thou hast received gifts for men; yea, for the rebellious also, that the Lord God might dwell among them.

Ranked by reader votes · OpenBible.info cross references (CC BY).

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge

are.
4:4; 14:3-5; Heb 8:1; 12:2
serve.
20:10; 22:5; Ps 134:1,2
dwell.
21:3,4; 22:3; Ex 29:45; 1Ki 6:13; 1Ch 23:25; Ps 68:16-18; Isa 4:5,6
Joh 1:14; 1Co 3:16; 2Co 6:16

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge (Samuel Bagster, c. 1836) · public domain

Context

Revelation 7:14
And I said unto him, Sir, thou knowest. 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.
Revelation 7:15
Therefore are they before the throne of God, and serve him day and night in his temple: and he that sitteth on the throne shall dwell among them.
Revelation 7:16
They shall hunger no more, neither thirst any more; neither shall the sun light on them, nor any heat.

Read all of Revelation 7

Revelation 7:15 in other languages

Spanish Reina-Valera 1909	Por esto están delante del trono de Dios, y le sirven día y noche en su templo: y el que está sentado en el trono tenderá su pabellón sobre ellos.
French Bible J.N. Darby 1885	C’est pourquoi ils sont devant le trône de Dieu et le servent jour et nuit dans son temple; et celui qui est assis sur le trône dressera sa tente sur eux.
German Elberfelder 1871	Darum sind sie vor dem Throne Gottes und dienen ihm Tag und Nacht in seinem Tempel; und der auf dem Throne sitzt, wird sein Zelt über ihnen errichten.
Latin Clementine Vulgate	Ideo sunt ante thronum Dei, et serviunt ei die ac nocte in templo ejus: et qui sedet in throno, habitabit super illos: