In the face of the arrogance of humanity in the construction of the Tower of Babel (Genesis 11:1–9), God scattered the human race so as to form many tribes, peoples, and languages and thus nations. In this vision John sees the work of God gathering the scattered. A foreshadowing of this work occurred on Pentecost (Acts 2:5–13).
9 After this I looked, and behold, a great multitude that no one could number, from every nation, from all tribes and peoples and languages, standing before the throne and before the Lamb, clothed in white robes, with palm branches in their hands,