Recently there was a discussion that some wanted to make scripture more inclusive by advocating a broader view of Revelation 5:9 and 7:9. Many Christian churches unfortunately teach this broader view.
Revelation 5:9 “And they sung a new song, saying, Thou art worthy to take the book, and to open the seals thereof: for thou wast slain, and hast redeemed us to God by thy blood out of every kindred, and tongue, and people, and nation”.
Revelation 7:9 “After this I beheld, and, lo, a great multitude, which no man could number, of all nations, and kindreds, and people, and tongues, stood before the throne, and before the Lamb, clothed with white robes, and palms in their hands”.
Part of the answer is in the Greek preposition “ek” meaning out of. It turns out that both verses answer the prophecy of God in Amos 9:9 to sift the children of Israel “among” all nations.
Amos 9:9 “For, lo, I will command, and I will sift the house of Israel among all nations, like as corn is sifted in a sieve, yet shall not the least grain fall upon the earth.”
So God spread the children of Israel through deportations among the nations and then brought them “out of” all nations to the new promised lands, 2 Samuel 7:10.
The word plainly says “out of” in Revelation 5:9 along with the use of the word redeemed. Remember redemption is based on the exclusive Law of the Kinsman Redeemer. Redemption is exclusive to true Israel. One must be kin to act as the Kinsman Redeemer. This is why Christ’s lineage is listed in Matthew 1 and Luke 3.
In Revelation 7:9 the translators used “of” in the KJV when it should read “out of” all nations. The verse also starts with “after this”, but the Greek meaning is “Amid or Among this”. Among this is included a listing of the twelve tribes or nations of Israel who were sealed.
It is important to remember that the people of Israel now make up many nations, a multitude of nations and a company of nations as promised to Abraham, Jacob and Ephraim. (The modern day Jews are not Israelites.)
It is a precarious action to make solid doctrine, giving away the inheritance, out of text that is highly symbolic.