The Bible CourseSample

Tribes, the throne and the Lamb – a vision of God’s people

Reflect:

Have you ever experienced culture shock? After the initial disorientation, experiencing a different culture can be life-changing.

We share this planet with 7.8 billion people, and each has their own unique story. In different countries, territories, and among people groups, there are countless cultural views and practices, food and lifestyle preferences, and languages. And while diversity isn’t always celebrated in our world, where racism, the oppression of ethnic minorities, and the eradication of minority languages are flagrant reminders of our brokenness, Revelation 7 paints a radical picture of all God’s people gathered together in worship.

What is the vision of God’s people expressed here?

Firstly, John describes hearing angels discuss putting a ‘seal on the foreheads of the servants of our God’, and the number of these servants is given as 144,000 people ‘from all the tribes of Israel’ (verses 3–4).

The number 144,000 is probably symbolic and seems to relate to God’s covenant with his people in the Old Testament. It certainly doesn’t seem to be a literal cap on the number of spaces in heaven because just a few verses later John describes seeing ‘a great multitude that no-one could count, from every nation tribe, people and language, standing before the throne and before the Lamb’ wearing white robes and worshipping God (verses 9–12). This great and diverse multitude seems to symbolise the fulfilment of the New Testament covenant of salvation in Christ Jesus.

When we read the apocalyptic writings in the Bible, it’s important to remember that some bits are not to be taken literally. It should also encourage us to understand that there’s no cap on God's love, but that his heart extends to all. God invites everyone to receive his grace and longs for all the nations to make their home in him.

In Paul’s letter to the Romans, he's clear that the gospel is for everyone. ‘It is the power of God that brings salvation to everyone who believes: first to the Jew and then to the Gentile’ (Romans 1.16).

The believers in Rome couldn’t reconcile their cultural, historical, and religious differences. That’s why Paul wrote his richest explanation of the gospel for them. He knew the only thing that could unite such a divided people was the good news about Jesus and his saving work on the cross. The gospel is a great leveller because it teaches us that we’ve all sinned and fallen short of the glory of God, but despite this, we’re loved and accepted more than we could ever dream or deserve to be.

What makes us part of this vision of God’s people?

Only the blood of the Lamb.

Usually, blood stains. However, the blood of the sacrificial Lamb, Jesus, cleanses us. No stain is too tough and no person too broken for the blood of Jesus to wash clean and make new.

Respond

Spend time considering how you can support God’s work around the world. Take action today. The gospel is for everyone!