Revelation 7:14

“And I said unto him, sir, thou knowest, etc.] John replies in a very humble, modest, and respectful manner, to the elder, calling him “sir”, according to the usage of the eastern people; and it is observable, that this word is much used in his Gospel, and more than in any other book; (see <430411> John 4:11,15,19,49 5:7 12:21 20:15). Some copies, and the Complutensian edition, read, “my Lord”; and so do the Vulgate Latin, Syriac, and Arabic versions. John confesses his ignorance, and ascribes knowledge to the elder, and desires information of him; for the sense is, that the elder knew who they were, and from whence they came, but he did not, and therefore desires that he would inform him;…”

“Sir--Greek, "Lord." B, C, Vulgate, Syriac, Coptic versions, and CYPRIAN read, "My Lord." A omits "My," as English Version. thou knowest--taken from Eze 37:3. Comparatively ignorant ourselves of divine things, it is well for us to look upward for divinely communicated knowledge. came--rather as Greek, "come"; implying that they are just come. great tribulation--Greek, "THE great tribulation"; "the tribulation, the great one," namely, the tribulation to which the martyrs were exposed under the fifth seal, the same which Christ foretells as about to precede His coming (Mat 24:21, great tribulation), and followed by the same signs as the sixth seal (Mat 24:29-30), compare Dan 12:1; including…”

“And I said unto him, Sir, thou knowest - The word “sir” in this place - κύριέ kurie, “lord” - is a form of respectful address, such as would be used when speaking to a superior, Genesis 43:20; Matthew 13:27; Matthew 21:30; Matthew 27:63; John 4:11, John 4:15, John 4:19, John 4:49; John 5:7; John 12:21; John 20:15. The simple meaning of the phrase “thou knowest” is, that he who had asked the question must be better informed than he to whom he had proposed it. It is, on the part of John, a modest confession that he did not know, or could not be presumed to know, and at the same time the respectful utterance of an opinion that he who addressed this question to him must be in possession of…”

“My lord - Or, my master; a common term of respect. So Zechariah, likewise, bespeaks the angel, Zac 1:9; Zac 4:4; Zac 6:4. Thou knowest - That is, I know not; but thou dost. These are they - Not martyrs; for these are not such a multitude as no man can number. But as all the angels appear here, so do all the souls of the righteous who had lived from the beginning of the world. Who come - He does not say, who did come; but, who come now also: to whom, likewise, pertain all who will come hereafter. Out of great affliction - Of various kinds, wisely and graciously allotted by God to all his children. And have washed their robes - From all guilt. And made them white - In all holiness. By the…”

“7:14 who died in (literally who came out of): See 6:9; 20:4. • the great tribulation: A time of horrible and distressing events (see 1:9; 2:9-10; Deut 4:30-31; Matt 24:21-22; Acts 14:22). • They have washed their robes in the blood of the Lamb: This description symbolizes Christ’s redeeming death for them. • made them white: This description expresses their victory over sin and death and their acceptance by God into eternal life.”

“thou: Exo 37:3 came: Rev 2:9, Rev 6:9-11, Rev 15:2, Rev 17:6; Joh 16:33; Act 14:22; Rom 5:3; Th2 1:4 and have: Rev 1:5; Isa 1:18; Zac 3:3-5, Zac 13:1; Joh 13:8-14; Co1 6:11; Eph 5:26, Eph 5:27; Heb 9:14; Jo1 1:7 the blood: Rev 5:9, Rev 12:11; Heb 13:12; Pe1 1:19 Revelation 7:15”