Daily Bread 2011 - Revelation 7
The Great Multitude in White Robes
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 in front of 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. Amen!”
What Does This Mean?
At the beginning of Revelation 7, there is a pregnant pause signaling that something momentous is about to happen. Since six of the seven seals have been opened, we know the stage is set for the Seventh Seal. As the angels begin the work of the Seventh Seal, the first thing is to seal the foreheads of 144,000 who would not be harmed in the tribulation.
A lot of people take this number literally over the years and some have even said that only 144,000 will be saved. Of course verse 9 gives further clarification when it describes the scene in heaven where great multitudes that no one can count were standing before the throne (of God) and in front of the Lamb (Jesus). They are joined by multitudes of angels who are also standing around the throne and the elders and four creatures worshipping God as well. Quite a scene! Of course what are they all doing…worshipping God and giving him the praise and honor He deserves.
What Does This Mean For Us?
Just as we are not to try and predict the day or hour of Jesus’ return, we also should not try to predict how many will be saved in that day. We know from 1 Timothy 2:4, that God desires all people to be saved and come to a knowledge of the truth. Therefore, it makes it pretty unlikely that only 144,000 would be saved. Since it relates to the twelve tribes of Israel and because “12” is the number of completeness, it could be an analogy that the perfect amount of Jews will be saved. We know God’s promise started with the Israelites, and He promises that His call will stand with them to be saved in the end. How that happens is not ours to judge.
The bottom line is that in heaven there will be people from every tribe, nation, people and language. That about covers it all! There are still many people groups to reach in our world that don’t even have the gospel translated into their own native tongue, so we know there is a lot of work to do. So the challenge I have for you today is how are you helping the Gospel to be spread globally? How are you helping every nation and tribe to be able to hear the Good News? One way is to support your church’s mission teams, and/or there are also many organizations that work to translate the bible into every tongue (Like Wycliffe, or the Joshua Project). Pray about ways you can support the global mission of spreading the Good News either through your local church or a mission or bible translating organization.
Heavenly Father, we know that one day every knee will bow and every tongue will confess that you are Lord. Help us to work to give every man, woman and child a chance to encounter a relationship with You through Your Son, Jesus. In His Name we pray, Amen.
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 in front of 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. Amen!”
What Does This Mean?
At the beginning of Revelation 7, there is a pregnant pause signaling that something momentous is about to happen. Since six of the seven seals have been opened, we know the stage is set for the Seventh Seal. As the angels begin the work of the Seventh Seal, the first thing is to seal the foreheads of 144,000 who would not be harmed in the tribulation.
A lot of people take this number literally over the years and some have even said that only 144,000 will be saved. Of course verse 9 gives further clarification when it describes the scene in heaven where great multitudes that no one can count were standing before the throne (of God) and in front of the Lamb (Jesus). They are joined by multitudes of angels who are also standing around the throne and the elders and four creatures worshipping God as well. Quite a scene! Of course what are they all doing…worshipping God and giving him the praise and honor He deserves.
What Does This Mean For Us?
Just as we are not to try and predict the day or hour of Jesus’ return, we also should not try to predict how many will be saved in that day. We know from 1 Timothy 2:4, that God desires all people to be saved and come to a knowledge of the truth. Therefore, it makes it pretty unlikely that only 144,000 would be saved. Since it relates to the twelve tribes of Israel and because “12” is the number of completeness, it could be an analogy that the perfect amount of Jews will be saved. We know God’s promise started with the Israelites, and He promises that His call will stand with them to be saved in the end. How that happens is not ours to judge.
The bottom line is that in heaven there will be people from every tribe, nation, people and language. That about covers it all! There are still many people groups to reach in our world that don’t even have the gospel translated into their own native tongue, so we know there is a lot of work to do. So the challenge I have for you today is how are you helping the Gospel to be spread globally? How are you helping every nation and tribe to be able to hear the Good News? One way is to support your church’s mission teams, and/or there are also many organizations that work to translate the bible into every tongue (Like Wycliffe, or the Joshua Project). Pray about ways you can support the global mission of spreading the Good News either through your local church or a mission or bible translating organization.
Heavenly Father, we know that one day every knee will bow and every tongue will confess that you are Lord. Help us to work to give every man, woman and child a chance to encounter a relationship with You through Your Son, Jesus. In His Name we pray, Amen.
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