Friday, July 1, 2022

Three Lessons From the Great Multitude; Revelation 7:9-17

 


After these things I looked, and behold, a great multitude which no one could number, of all nations, tribes, peoples, and tongues, standing before the throne and before the Lamb, clothed with white robes, with palm branches in their hands, and crying out with a loud voice, saying, “Salvation belongs to our God who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb!” Revelation 7:9-10.

a great multitude which no one could number

A couple chapters earlier, in 5:11, we saw, many angels, the number of them was ten thousand times ten thousand, and thousands of thousands (that’s 100 million, plus, thousands of thousands). That multitude was numbered. However, here, we have a great multitude which no one could number. That means this multitude is… A LOT.

of all nations, tribes, peoples, and tongues…

If you’re prejudice, you won’t like heaven—but you won’t have to worry about it, because you won’t be there anyway.

This massive, innumerable, white robed, palm branch waving group, is the manifestation, the birth, the real deal, for what was conceived, way back in the day, on that day, that glorious, triumphant day, when Jesus rode, on a never before ridden colt, into Jerusalem, and the masses couldn’t keep silent. Or, the rocks would’ve cried out, “Hosanna to the Son of David! ‘Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord!’ Hosanna in the highest!” Matthew 21:6.

Only this time, here in heaven, it’s like Palm Sunday on steroids, and they shout with a loud voice:

Salvation belongs to our God who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb!”

Worship is contagious, and like the flash mob we witnessed back in chapters four and five, we see it here again, with our old friends, joining in, the elders, the four creatures and the angels.

All the angels stood around the throne and the elders and the four living creatures, and fell on their faces before the throne and worshiped God, saying:

“Amen! Blessing and glory and wisdom,

Thanksgiving and honor and power and might,

Be to our God forever and ever.

Amen.” Revelation 7:11-12.

Live a life of worship, and watch the world around you get brighter. God inhabits the praises of His people. Psalm 22:3.

Then one of the elders answered, saying to me, “Who are these arrayed in white robes, and where did they come from?” Revelation 7:13.

One of the elders asked a question, for the purpose of providing an answer.

And I said to him, “Sir, you know.” Revelation 7:14a.

That’s a polite way of saying, “What are you asking me for? I don’t have a clue. You do.”

So, he said to me, “These are the ones who come out of the great tribulation, and washed their robes and made them white in the blood of the Lamb. Revelation 7:14b.

Wow. That simple answer/question tells us a LOT. We’ll just touch on a few.

1)      Salvation from tribulation.

A great multitude no one can number will come from the great tribulation washed, cleansed and saved.

To be clear; there will be a multitude of souls saved, during the tribulation. Make no mistake, you do not want to be here to see it. Life will be awful. Now we’re called to live for Christ. Then, they will be required to die for Him.

Perhaps God had this great multitude in mind when He told Abraham, I’ll multiply your descendants as the stars in heaven and the sands of the sea and through your seed all nations of the earth will be blessed. Genesis 22:17-18.

The preaching of the descendants of Abraham, the 144,000, sealed servants of God, will play a major role in the salvation of souls.

During the tribulation God will still have His remnant; bullet proof evangelists, including: The 144,000 sealed servants, (Rev. 7:4-8); The Two Witnesses, (Rev. 11:3-13); and an angel, (Rev. 14:6). They will preach to every tribe, tongue and nation.

2. Maturing (growth, development) continues in heaven.

Did you notice something familiar about this great multitude who washed their robes? Have we seen them before?

In the last chapter, there was another group, smaller in number, but they too had come out of the great tribulation. Remember? They were under the altar not, before the throne and before the Lamb.

Fifth Seal: The Cry of the Martyrs

When He opened the fifth seal, I saw under the altar the souls of those who had been slain for the word of God and for the testimony which they held. 10 And they cried with a loud voice, saying, “How long, O Lord, holy and true, until You judge and avenge our blood on those who dwell on the earth?” Revelation 6:9-10

They cried with a loud voice, too; but to a totally different tune.

This great multitude is praising God for His Salvation. Those under the altar were whining like impatient kids in the back seat on a long trip.

How long, O Lord…? “Are we there yet? I’m hungry? I’m thirsty? I gotta go…

How long, O Lord until You avenge our blood… “She touched me! Tell him to stop making dumb noises! He stole my fries!”

How long, O Lord until You avenge our blood on those who dwell on the earth… because it’s all about my life, my blood, they killed me and it’s not fair, (they cry with a loud voice as they stomp their feet).

Why is it taking so long? I want them punished, now, for what they did to me, me, ME!

They were simply told to chill out, it’s not all about you, you, you. (Best way to get over self-pity, depression, is to take eyes off self).

Then a white robe was given to each of them; and it was said to them that they should rest a little while longer, until both the number of their fellow servants and their brethren, who would be killed as they were, was completed. Revelation 6:11

But now, here they are, one chapter later, all grown up, not acting like spoiled, rotten, selfish, baby, brats. They’re mature; not thinking of themselves, but praising God, and actually leading into worship, the elders, creatures and angels.

How’d they go from whining under the altar to standing, worshipping, before the throne?

Under the altar: Isn’t that an odd place? On the altar is where sacrifices are made. Beside the altar is where they’re given. But under? What goes under?

Nothing…but blood.

Yeah, but this is heaven, remember? They aren’t sacrificing bulls and goats and lambs, because The Lamb of God that takes away the sins of the world, has already been slain, once and for all.

Wait. 

What? 

That’s it.

What can wash away my sins?
Nothing but the blood of Jesus.
What can make me whole again?
Nothing but the blood of Jesus.
Oh precious is the flow,
that makes me white as snow…

They were placed under the altar and we just read that they are those who washed their robes and made them white in the blood of the Lamb.

At first, under the altar, they cried out for their own blood. But after getting their eyes of their I’s; they changed. Under the altar, saturated in the cleansing, healing, blood of Jesus, they're made new.

Maybe under the altar, is heaven’s nursery. 

Does Jesus show them His hands and feet and side? The only manmade thing in heaven—His scars.

Perhaps they’re taught all about the blood Jesus shed, just for their salvation. Is that why they cry out SALVATION! We don’t know. It doesn’t say. What we do know, is that go from crying about their own blood, to praising The Lamb, for His.

The blood of Jesus cleanses us from all unrighteousness. 1 John 1:7

Without the shedding of blood, there is no remission of sin. Hebrews 9:22

And they overcame him by the blood of the Lamb, and by the word of their testimony; and they loved not their lives to the death. Revelation 12:11

 

3. There are different positions in heaven.

Therefore they are before the throne of God, and serve Him day and night in His temple. And He who sits on the throne will dwell among them. 16 They shall neither hunger anymore nor thirst anymore; the sun shall not strike them, nor any heat; 17 for the Lamb who is in the midst of the throne will shepherd them and lead them to living fountains of waters. And God will wipe away every tear from their eyes.” Revelation 7:15-17.

Notice their position will be in the temple, serving God, day and night. It reminds me of the position of the Levites; the priests, who served in the temple.

This isn’t the same position as the Bride of Christ, seated on thrones.

The tribulation saints are not the same as the raptured Bride. They have a different role, place and position.

This may melt some modern minds, but here it is:

In heaven, all is not equal; however, all is equitable.  

The Bride of Christ, is joint heirs with Him (Romans 8:17), and will rule and reign with Him (2 Timothy 2:12). However, the tribulation saints, will dwell with Him, serving in His presence.

Notice the two groups in this chapter, are both called to serve. The 144,000 are called, servants of our God and the great multitude, are before the throne of God, and serve Him day and night in His temple.

Tribulation saints, will be saved, from hell, but they'll have a different position, they won't be the Bride.


And God will wipe away every tear from their eyes.” Revelation 7:15-17.

She opened weary eyes. He was still there, as always, just as he’d been for over fifty years.

Their eyes met, by now she could no longer speak, he didn’t need to, their eyes spoke just fine.

She looked out the window and back toward him.

He nodded, knowing.

Her eyes got shiny and spilled one lonely tear.

His quivering lips kissed her cheek, absorbing the tear, and whispered, “Thank God, that’s the last one.”

She smiled, looked out the window, and was Home.

Then I, John, saw the holy city, New Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband. And I heard a loud voice from heaven saying, “Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, and He will dwell with them, and they shall be His people. God Himself will be with them and be their God. 4 And God will wipe away every tear from their eyes; there shall be no more death, nor sorrow, nor crying. There shall be no more pain, for the former things have passed away.”

Then He who sat on the throne said, “Behold, I make all things new.” Revelation 21:2-5

 

Coming up next, in chapter 8, we’ll see what God thinks of the Green New Deal, and hear echoes of the Chornobyl Ukraine disaster.

How can I pray for you?

1 comment:

Unknown said...

I can only imagine 👑