Hi, continuing our study of Revelation 7 and the great multitude beyond count.
Revelation 7:9 ‘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.’
There are four beautiful truths to explore here.
1 God’s encompassing love embraces everyone, regardless of their origins or colour of skin. The one vital truth that holds us together is our faith in the Lord Jesus Christ. Not one person need count themselves unworthy because of where they come from. If we believe in Christ Jesus then we are very much part of the family.
Heaven on earth will be such a rich and diverse community without so much as a glimpse of racism or segregation. Love will prevail!
2 And we will be standing in the very awesome presence of God without fear. Compare this with the peoples of the earth who will be cowering in their caves as described in Revelation 6:16.
3 Revelation 7:9a ‘They were wearing white robes…’
We will be wearing the beautiful white robes of Christ Jesus’ righteousness. We could never make it by ourselves, our vain attempts at self-righteousness were never going to work. Only when we came to the end of ourselves and surrendered to the Lordship of Jesus could we be wrapped in his robes, wrapped in his perfect holiness.
Ephesians 1:7 ‘In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins in accordance with the riches of God’s grace that he lavished on us with all wisdom and understanding.’
Revelation 7:9a ‘They were wearing white robes and were holding palm branches in their hands.’
4 The palm branches take us back to the triumphal entry of Christ Jesus into Jerusalem.
Matthew 21:6 ‘The disciples went and did as Jesus instructed them. They brought the donkey and the colt, placed their cloaks on them and Jesus sat on them. A very large crowd spread their cloaks on the road, whilst others cut branches from the trees and spread them on the road.’
The palm branches also take us further back to the Maccabean Wars of 167BC where Jerusalem and the Temple were taken back from Antiochus Epiphanes and purified from its desecration.
And the palm branches also take us forward to the Second Exodus where Lord Jesus will lead a glorious procession into Jerusalem, through the Mercy Gates,
Psalm 118:27 ‘The Lord is God and he has made his light shine upon us. With boughs in hand, join in the festal procession up to the horns of the altar.
We will be standing without fear or segregation, in the very presence of God, holding palm branches of victory and consecration, wrapped in the perfect white robes of Christ’s righteousness.
Hasten the day…
Maranatha!
My previous posts:
- Revelation 22:20 Our cherished hope
There will be a unity of heart when everyone calls out for his glorious return. There will be a spirit of grace upon God’s people that will bring us all together in unity and brotherhood. - Revelation 22:16 God’s Word
No-one has a monopoly on the truths of this magnificent book, and we will all have our struggles and misunderstandings on our journey, but God is demanding that we treat Revelation with the utmost respect that it deserves. The truths that were sealed in Daniel’s time will be opened up according to God’s direction. This will need purified and refined souls to understand and teach, in the midst of immense confusion and mistruths. Please pray for those who are called to understand and teach. - Revelation 22:11 In or Out…
Even at this late stage, a reference to the polarity of mankind, between the righteous and the unrighteous. One thinks of Noah’s Ark, and the obedient who were safe inside and those who chose to ignore Noah’s call for righteousness and stayed outside. - Revelation 22:7 The time is near indeed
Having taken us to the very highest of heights, surveying the Holy City that is beautiful beyond words, John brings us back to our ordinary lives, waiting with a cherished expectation for our Lord to return and keeping the words of this prophecy, with all its encouragements, admonishments and warnings. - Revelation 22:3 No longer any curse
Peter praised his contemporaries for their faith in Christ Jesus although they had never met him in real life and had only heard of him through Peter. Imagine though, what it will feel like, approaching the throne and gazing into the eyes of the Divine, to reach out and touch the very hem of his garment. It will be beyond belief…
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Revelation 34 