THE BOOK OF REVELATION
Part 21
The Great Multitude in White Robes
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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. And they cried out in a
loud voice:
"Salvation belongs to our God,
Who sits on the throne,
and to the Lamb."
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, saying:
"Amen!
Praise and Glory
and Wisdom and Thanks and Honor
and Power and Strength
be to our God for ever and ever.
Amen!"
Then one of the elders
asked me, "These in white robes — who are they, and where did they come
from?"
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. 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 spread His tent over them.
Never again will they hunger;
never again will they thirst.
The sun will not beat upon them,
nor any scorching heat.
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."
Rev 7:9-17 NIV
"The Great Multitude in White Robes" are
‘slain Gentiles’— they are "the tribulation saints"—‘multitudes no
one could count.’ They are from every nation, tribe (kindred), people and
language (tongues).
The Lamb that was slain purchased men for God by His
Blood, from every tribe and language and people and nation (5:9).
In Revelation 6 Apostle John saw the souls of a part
of this vast host of chapter 7, under the altar, in the Fifth Seal. In this
prophecy, they were slain on the Earth for the Word of God and for the
Testimony of Jesus which they maintained (6:9). This will be fulfilled in the
Great Tribulation.
The great multitude out of the Great Tribulation
will have their robes washed in the Blood of the Lamb Who through the Eternal
Spirit offered Himself unblemished to God.
He is “The Servant of the Lord” Who paid the price
for Salvation for humanity—He brought Salvation to the Nations. The Light of Israel
is also Light to the Gentiles. He is Light for the Nations.
The Great Multitude who come out of the Great
Tribulation; having their robes washed and made white in the Blood of the Lamb
shall be received in the Throne Room of God and they shall worship Him; and He
Who sits on the Throne will spread His Protection and Glory over them in His
Presence. He shall be for them a Refuge and a Defense. The One
Who sits on the Throne will put His Sh’khinah upon them.
Verse 17 of chapter 6 says:
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"(NIV).
At this point, death which is reproach and separation
is swallowed up in victory forever. The Sovereign Lord will wipe away the tears
from the faces of His people (see Isa 25:8).
Praise and exaltation will be given to God by this
‘great crowd’ who has obtained Salvation being slain for the Word of God and
for their Testimony for Jesus.
And they cried out in a loud voice:
"Salvation belongs to our God,
Who sits on the Throne,
and to the Lamb" (Rev 7:10 NIV).
And all the angels of Heaven will stand around the
Throne, the elders and the cherubim, falling down before the Throne and worship
God, saying,
"Amen: Blessing, and Glory, and Wisdom, and
Thanksgiving, and Honour, and Power, and Might, be unto our God for ever and ever. Amen.
Rev 7:12 KJV
Previously in Revelation 4, the Bride of Christ that
is whisked from the Earth at “the Rapture”— clothed in white, joins with the
host of angels in Heaven worshipping God, saying,
"You are worthy, our Lord and God,
to receive Glory and Honor and Power,
for You created all things,
and by Your Will they were created
and have their being."
Rev 4:11 NIV
The Great Multitude out of the Great Tribulation
will praise God ascribing to Him “seven benedictions”; for they have been
perfected:
Blessing
Glory
Wisdom
Thanksgiving
Honour
Power
Might
The Bride [the Church] will chant to God these
‘three words’ for they have attained the Resurrection:
Glory
Honor
Power