“Peoples, Tribes, Tongues and Nations”

Revelation should not, but can be difficult for many to understand,

Unless we look at certain words or phrases first, then the meaning becomes clearer.

There is a phrase which appears seven times in different passages. In two of these passages, the
original structure changes depicting an event that is about to occur.

The main phrase is: “Peoples, Tribes, Tongues and Nations.”

1^st time, Rev 5:9

2^nd.........Rev 7:9

3^rd……..Rev 10:11

4^th……..Rev 11:9

5^th……..Rev 13:7

6^th……..Rev 14:6

7^th……..Rev 17:15

The 1st time the Passage reads:
And they sang a new song, saying: “You are worthy to take the scroll, And to open its seals; For You were slain, And have redeemed us to God by Your blood
Out of every
tribe and tongue and people and nation,   Rev 5:9-10 (NKJV)
And have made us kings and priests to our God;  And we shall reign on the earth.”

 

In differing translations and also within the same translation, the words may be
re-arranged but are all in tact within that phrase
except two (2) times which depict an event had taken place or is about to take place.

 

The 2nd time the Passage reads:
After these things I looked, and behold, a great multitude which no one could number, of all
nations, tribes, peoples, and tongues,   Rev 7:9 (NKJV)
standing before the throne and before the Lamb, clothed with white robes, with palm branches in their hands,


 

The 3rd time the Passage reads:
And he said to me, “You must prophesy again about many
peoples, nations, tongues, and kings.”    Rev 10:11
Here he is addressing those who are saved, the Saints as Kings!

One of the words “Nations” has changed to Kings because the Rapture of the Saints
 (the Kings) are about to take place. We are a Nation of Kings and Priests.
The Word says we are a “Holy Nation.”

And ye shall be unto me a kingdom of priests, and a holy nation.
These are the words which thou shall speak unto the children of Israel.  Exodus 19:6

But you are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation,
a peculiar people; that you should show forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvelous light;  1 Peter 2:9

And hath made us kings and priests unto God and his Father;  
Rev 1:6
AND
And hast made us unto our God kings and priests: and we shall reign on the earth.
Rev 5:10

The 4th time the Passage reads:  
”some from the nations, tribes, languages and people”  Rev 11:9
The words revert back to the original passage.
Because we are again addressing the Unsaved.

The 5th time the Passage reads:
It was granted to him to make war with the saints and to overcome them. And authority was given him over every tribe, tongue, and nation. Rev 13:7 (NKJV)

In the complete Jewish Bible
It (the beast) was allowed to make war on God’s holy people and to defeat them; and it was given authority over
every tribe, people, language and nation. Rev 13:7

The 6th time the Passage reads:
The words remain the same,
To every nation, tribe, language and people. Rev 14:6

The 7th time the Passage reads:
This time there is another major change.

Peoples, “crowds”, nations and languages. Rev 17:15

By now, there has been such desolation that the word “Tribes” is not used but rather the word “crowds” has been substituted.

Definition of Tribes, there are several definitions but the most interesting definition of Tribes is:”
A Common Character.” This would denote the same type of culture, mindset and religious beliefs.

Definition of Crowds, a multitude, a large number of persons collected in to a compact body without order.

So by the time we arrive in Rev 17:15, there is such chaos and devastation and loss of life that the word Tribes (people of the same families and common characters) is no longer a reality but now only the word “crowd” is used meaning many unorganized people without any real order.