Revelation 7:9-17
White robed multitude before the throne
And in front of the lamb
We have watched as the Lamb of God has opened 6 of the seals on the scroll given to Him by God, the Father. There is one more seal to be opened. What will it reveal? Something very important has to be done before this last seal can be opened. The clue to this next mystery is in the multitude gathered here in verse 9. Who are they, and what roll do they play in this drama written on the scroll? Let’s begin by reading our scripture found in Revelation 7:9-12.
9 After this I looked, and there before me was a great multitude that no one could count, from every nation, tribe, people and language, standing before the throne and before the Lamb. They were wearing white robes and were holding palm branches in their hands. 10 And they cried out in a loud voice: “Salvation belongs to our God, who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb.”
11 All the angels were standing around the throne and around the elders and the four living creatures. They fell down on their faces before the throne and worshiped God, 12 saying:
“Amen! Praise and glory and wisdom and thanks and honor
and power and strength be to our God for ever and ever.
We are watching a great worship service in Heaven. Friends, I will tell you one thing for certain, and that is if you don’t enjoy worshipping God on earth, you certainly won’t enjoy heaven. Because it seems that all of the residents of this glorious place take every opportunity they get to fall on their knees and worship their King.
Let’s look further. Rev. 7:13-14
13 Then one of the elders asked me, “These in white robes—who are they, and where did they come from?”
14 I answered, “Sir, you know.”
And he said, “These are they who have come out of the great tribulation; they have washed their robes and made them white in the blood of the Lamb.
One of the church representatives wants to bring John up to date on what is taking place. He asks John “Who are all these people?” John probably says something like “search me!”
Then he says to John “These are they which came out of the great tribulation.” If these people were the church, John would have known it. If they were Old Testament saints, John would have recognized them. But this is an altogether different company of people. There is something different and unique about this group of people. They are those who came to know Jesus, the Lord and Savior DURING this most troublesome time, the last three and one-half years of the Great and terrible Tribulation. And they came to know Him as a direct result of the preaching of the 144,000 Jewish Evangelists. And they were killed for it. White robes indicate the righteousness of Christ.
They have been faithful to the end.
Revelation 7:15-17
15 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 shelter them with his presence.
16 ‘Never again will they hunger; never again will they thirst.
The sun will not beat down on them,’ nor any scorching heat.
17 For the Lamb at the center of the throne will be their shepherd; He will lead them to springs of living water.’
And God will wipe away every tear from their eyes.’ ”
This last passage is a direct fulfillment of Isaiah 49:10 and Isaiah 25:8
Remember this, the gospel is not God asking you to do something; it is God telling you that he has done something for you. The gospel is not you giving something to God, it is God giving something to you. These white-robed believers in verses 15-17 suffered. The things mentioned here are things they have endured. Hunger, thirst, out in the burning heat of the sun, but also thirst for spiritual things. They have wept but now God will wipe away every tear. What an encouragement. Even during the tribulation, God understands the needs of the human heart. How much more does He understand our needs today and is ready to meet them.
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Next week: Chapter 8: THE LULL BEFORE THE STORM
See you then, precious ones,
Maggie