Confirming The Identity Of The Great Crowd

How can we state so positively that the great crowd is this modern -day group of dedicated Christians who hope to live forever on God's earth? Previously, John had seen in vision the heavenly group "bought. . .for God out of every tribe and tongue and people and nation." (Revelation 5;9, 10) The great crowd have a similar origin but a different destiny. Unlike the Israel of God, their number is not predetermined. No man can tell in advance how many there will be. Their robes are washed white in the blood of the Lamb, symbolizing that they have a righteous standing before Jehovah by virtue of their faith in Jesus' sacrifice. (Revelation 7:14) And they are waving palm branches, hailing Messiah as their King.

As he looks on in this vision, John's thoughts must be taking him back more than 60 years to Jesus' last week on earth. On Nisan 9, 33 C.E., when the crowds flocked to welcome Jesus into Jerusalem, they "took the branches of palm trees and went out to meet him. And they began to shout: 'Save, we pray you! Blessed is he that comes in Jehovah's name, even the king of Israel!' " (John 12:12, 13) In like fashion, the waving of palm branches and crying out on the part of the great crowd shows their unbridled joy in accepting Jesus as Jehovah's appointed King.

Doubtless, the palm branches and exulting cries also remind John of the ancient Israelite Festival of Booths. For this festival Jehovah commanded: "And you must take for yourselves on the first day the fruit of splendid trees, the fronds of palm trees and the boughs of branchy trees and poplars of the torrent valley, and you must rejoice before Jehovah your God seven days." The palm branches were used as a mark of rejoicing. the temporary booths were a reminder that Jehovah had saved his people out of Egypt, to live in tents in the wilderness. "The alien resident and the fatherless boy and the widow" share in this festival. All Israel were to "become nothing but joyful." -Leviticus 23:40; Deuteronomy 16:13-15.

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