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REVELATION 7:9-17
(Readings: Revelation 7:1-17)
Together With All The Number
Congregation of our Lord Jesus Christ…
I’m sure you have all seen before and after photos. This is when someone will have his or her photo taken before a make-over or surgical procedure or weight loss. Then that photo is compared with a photo taken after the change has been made.
You can see some quite stunning differences. It can almost seem like they are completely opposite people!
They are still the same as before, though. While on the outside things have changed, inside they are no different.
In a similar way those pictured in our text can appear to be quite unlike those in the verses 1 till 8. Here we have two different scenes altogether! And that’s because while the verses before our text showed the ‘before’ picture, now in our text we see the ‘after’ picture.
You see, what they are like on the inside is the sealing we see in the verses 1 till 8. Christians in that time – the ‘before’ period - are also caught up in the strife and conflict which the four horsemen and the four winds bring upon the world. They also have to go through the great tribulation. And that’s exactly the time we’re going through now!
But the seal that God has placed in them and us is what makes the difference between believers and all the rest of this world in this time. This is the sealing Jesus spoke of in his high-priestly prayer in John 17. For there he prays, in the verses 15 till 17, that his own would not be taken out of this world, but rather be sanctified in the truth and kept from evil. God protects his people right throughout the tribulation.
It is to his people going through this tribulation that God now gives a glimpse of what is coming. Here through his apostle John he shows us the ‘after’ picture of what we will be like after all this.
Because, let’s face it, we’re not looking particularly good now. We are battered and beaten. We are humiliated and despised and persecuted and martyred all over the world right now. And that’s how it will be between the first coming of Jesus Christ and his second coming.
But that’s now. And that’s only for a little while. And that’s what the Lord through John in our text wants us to be clear about.
Congregation, the verses 9 till 12 of Revelation’s seventh chapter are so lucid about this. And it is so we note in our first aspect ... THE GREATEST REUNION EVER.
You see, the biggest and best of all reunions of those in this world is what happens in the next world! “After this I looked,” says John, “and behold, a great multitude that no one could number, from every nation, from all tribes and people and languages, standing before the throne and before the Lamb...”
This place can be none other than heaven! And these people can be none other than the saints – the redeemed. They have all come marching in, in the words of the Negro spiritual. None other than the Lord himself has by his Word and Spirit brought them home!
Verse 14 further on makes it clear that these are those who have come out of the great tribulation. And what a contrast with the verses just before as instead of 144,000 there is now a multitude that no one can number! This is absolutely huge!
And let’s notice, next, how you find them in heaven. They crowd the throne room of heaven wearing the robes of victors and carrying those symbols of festive joy. Verse 9 is so vivid – they are “clothed in white robes, with palm branches in their hands...”
But, could this be some kind of scene that we’re already having now before we go into glory? Could it be that Christians already now should see themselves this way – standing before God’s throne and robed in the righteousness of Christ?
Well, we should see ourselves this way. But this is a different encouragement than what was given in the verses before. Here the apostle sees in vision not anymore the Church Militant but the Church Triumphant!
To say that this multitude – God’s elect out of all the peoples upon the earth – stand before the throne and the Lamb who is seated upon the throne, means to have fellowship with, to give service to, and to share in the honour of the Lamb. This is a celebration beyond any other. And it’s so clear who is the centre of their attention!
Congregation, the book of Revelation is all about the Lord Jesus Christ. Forget getting distraction by the gruesome imagery and the range of fantastical creatures. This is the book of the Lamb! It is God’s Son that these saints dressed in the robes of festivity and blessedness, which whiteness symbolizes righteousness and holiness, are waving the palms representing salvation towards.
Christ’s entry into the earthly Jerusalem was a pitiful reception in comparison to this but how much didn’t it lay the groundwork for what we’re seeing here! And how much more loudly don’t those in this crowd cry out to the Lord: “Salvation belongs to our God who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb!”
This is no physical rescue they’re praising God for. This is nothing less than “the” salvation – the being saved from sin and all its consequences! So how much don’t the redeemed joyfully acknowledge their deliverance because of the sovereign will of God and the saving action of the Lamb!
The angels surround the greatest power. They pay homage to God. Together with the elders and the four living creatures they fall on their faces before the throne. They show with their bodies what’s in their hearts! With a double “Amen” they cry out the angelic doxology.
And see what’s in this doxology. There are seven ascriptions made to God. Again that number! And each attribute is proceeded by the definite article heightening its meaning.
So this not any old blessing the angelic hosts have in mind – this is the “blessing”, the one above all others! And “glory” is the radiance of the divine Person. “Wisdom” is the divine knowledge God shows in his plan of salvation. And “thanksgiving” couldn’t be anything other the most appropriate response for our salvation. “Honour” is expressing this publicly. And “might” is God proving he does act in history, exactly for his own.
For those about to enter this world’s darkest hour this is a glimpse of glory. For the barest of moments the apostle John is privileged to look beyond this time to the hour of ultimate triumph.
This scene is a parallel to the Transfiguration, in Mark 8 & 9, where Jesus revealed his coming glory to his disciple who had just learned of the suffering which lay ahead for him. But doesn’t it really come out for us here!
You see, you need this. In a world where secular humanism rages against the natural family, where what is bad is called good and good is called bad, where blasphemy is rife, and those professing Christ are increasingly reviled, we need such encouragement. It can be very grim out there.
But you know what? Jesus Christ is Lord! He is the Lord of lords! He has won the victory. And while there are many battles to be fought in-between his first and second comings there’s no doubting the outcome! You can see it right here!
THE GREATEST REUNION EVER is happening very soon.
And now let’s note, from the verses 13 till 17, this must have ... THE GREATEST REASON EVER!
In verse 13 one of those elders in verse 11 anticipates the question the apostle is about to ask. So he wonders rhetorically, “Who are these, clothed in white robes, and where have they come from?”
John is on to this, though. So he says straight back to that elder, “Sir, you know.”
Then he receives the answer to what was his question first of all. For then the elder replies, “These are the ones coming out of the great tribulation. They have washed their robes and made them white in the blood of the Lamb.”
This question and answer pattern is often used in prophetic literature for introducing the explanation of a vision. After Zechariah has the vision of the golden lampstand and the two olives trees, an angel asks the question in Zechariah 4:5, “Do you know what these are?” And when the prophet admits his lack of understanding, the angel goes on to explain the visions.
And so it is here. John is honest about his lack of understanding but also he’s honest about his confidence in the elder knowing what this is all about.
Sure enough, the elder tells him. This huge white-robed multitude are those who have come out of the great tribulation. The complete number of the elect have been brought together before God. And they are able to receive the blessings of the eternal state.
But here you may well have one or two questions of your own. What is this “great tribulation” the elder is speaking of?
You see, there are a variety of different views about the ‘end times’, and many Christians believe that this will be a specific period just before the final return of Christ. Then they say things will be really bad for Christians.
But, tell me, when have things not been bad for the followers of Christ? Jesus told his disciples about having to bear their own crosses, and hasn’t that been the case for the last two thousand years? It has been a rare time when true believers have lived in peace in this world.
I mean, look at the church in the world today! All over the world the saints are being persecuted and martyred.
So what is this “great tribulation”? Congregation, this is the time between Christ’s first coming and his second coming. Right now you are in the “great tribulation”! John sees all the believers, who’ve come out of the great tribulation, with washed robes made white in the blood of the Lamb.
And here you could well have another question. You know that when you get blood on your clothes it doesn’t easily wash off. In fact, if you don’t do your washing exactly the right way, you could set that blood in your clothing for life.
But, here, the blood doesn’t stain – it cleanses. It’s a paradox but how so true, because it is the doing and dying of Jesus Christ that is meant here. His blood washes you whiter than white! You see, his blood makes you right before God himself!
Then the verses 15 till 17 sing out this incredible song of praise to the Lamb. A song in a worship service that is perfectly praising God!
How much isn’t that so far and beyond where we are now? But it is there – right up ahead – in heaven!
And look at what we’re going to be doing there. Verse 15 describes serving day and night in God’s temple. So our full attention will be taken up with being busy for God. Don’t think of the next world as some kind of ‘Cloud 9’ experience where you float around playing a harp. We will rest from all the labours and trials and struggles with indwelling sin which have so much burdened us in this life. But we’ll have plenty to do!
Dear believer, this will be the work you will so much enjoy. And how much better isn’t it when we do work that we enjoy? Then the time flies by.
But have a job that is difficult or boring and how slow doesn’t time go! There is no joy in that. And yet there is nothing but joy in what we will do in the perpetual presence of the Lord. We can’t even imagine a tiny little bit of how good it will be up there!
And there is God’s promise of sheltering us. Sheltering us with his presence. The allusion to the tabernacle of old is clear. There God was with them. And how much more won’t that be in heaven itself?
The eternal blessing we have there is further drawn out in verse 16. Again these are pictures we know so well from the Old Testament. In this case Isaiah’s description of the exiles returning from Babylon comes out here. As Isaiah 49:10 says of the restoration of Israel that “they shall not hunger or thirst, neither scorching wind nor sun shall strike them, for he who has pity on them will lead them, and by springs of water will guide them.”
But didn’t our Lord especially highlight the depth of this in the Beatitudes? The promise of not hungering or thirsting goes deep down into the soul, as Matthew 5:6 declares. And no adverse weather will affect us either there. All God’s own are under his most loving protection.
But now we come back to what is at the heart of this all. Yes, there is the Lamb! And as our text ends he not only returns in the description we find throughout the book of Revelation, he has an added persona. I mean, look, he is our shepherd! And how rich isn’t this imagery in Scripture?
The metaphor builds on the Old Testament image of God as the shepherd of Israel. Such passages as Psalm 23:1 and Isaiah 40:11 describe the gracious care and faithful feeding of the ancient shepherd. And Ezekiel 34:23 is explicit of the coming shepherd, who would be Christ.
It’s this Shepherd who guides us to springs of living water. This is the living water that symbolizes eternal life and salvation. And in heaven how much won’t we be at the very source and focus of spiritual life and blessing?
And look what tops this all off! It is no less an ending description here than that which ends this book in Revelation 21. For don’t think that these tears will just be wiped off our eyes – they will be wiped right out of our eyes!
All that now remains is the perfect joy, bliss, glory, sweetest fellowship, and most abundant life. And it’s all just up ahead. The God who is so fully there is right now bringing you there!
Amen.
PRAYER:
Let’s pray...
O Most Wonderful God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ... How much don’t we bow now in your presence! And yet how much don’t we long for that time when we will be completely and utterly in your presence.
Then there is no more of this earth’s limitations and brokenness. Only peace and joy.
Please lift up our eyes. And keep us looking up.
In the name of Jesus, we pray, Amen.
* As a matter of courtesy please advise Rev. Sjirk Bajema, if you plan to use this sermon in a worship service. Thank-you.
The source for this sermon was: www.rcnz.org.nz
(c) Copyright 2023, Rev. Sjirk Bajema
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