9. no man--Greek, "no one."
of all nations--Greek, "OUT OF
every nation." The human race is "one nation" by origin,
but afterwards separated itself into tribes, peoples, and
tongues; hence, the one singular stands first, followed by the
three plurals.
kindreds--Greek, "tribes."
people--Greek, "peoples." The "first-fruits unto the
Lamb," the 144,000
(Re 14:1-4)
of Israel, are followed by a copious harvest of all nations, an
election out of the Gentiles, as the 144,000 are an election out
of Israel (see on
Re 7:3).
white robes--(See on
Re 6:11;
also
Re 3:5, 18; 4:4).
palms in . . . hands--the antitype to Christ's entry
into Jerusalem amidst the palm-bearing multitude. This shall be just
when He is about to come visibly and take possession of His kingdom.
The palm branch is the symbol of joy and triumph. It was used at
the feast of tabernacles, on the fifteenth day of the seventh month,
when they kept feast to God in thanksgiving for the ingathered fruits.
The antitype shall be the completed gathering in of the harvest of the
elect redeemed here described. Compare
Zec 14:16,
whence it appears that the earthly feast of tabernacles will be
renewed, in commemoration of Israel's preservation in her long
wilderness-like sojourn among the nations from which she shall now be
delivered, just as the original typical feast was to commemorate her
dwelling for forty years in booths or tabernacles in the literal
wilderness.
JFB.
Picture Study Bible