The Future According to GodНамуна

REVELATION 7: Will You Be There?

Revelation 7 describes a multitude in heaven worshipping around the throne of God. Will you be there? Do you know for sure? Please read or listen to Revelation 7.

COMMENTS

In 1995, after reading Revelation 7, I wrote, “Do not harm the earth or the sea until we have sealed the bond-servants of our God on their foreheads” (Rev 7:3 NASB). I continued, "144,000 Jews are sealed. The great multitude around the throne is those saved in tribulation, referring to verse 14. God is on the throne. Jesus is the Lamb of God.”

Thirteen years later, in 2008, I wrote, "Angels are real. They carry out the plans of God. God seals the believers, and throngs will be saved. Salvation comes from God and the Lamb, Jesus. Angels worship God, too. There's a special place for those saved in the great tribulation. The blood of the Lamb washes their robes white. They may be Jews. Physical and emotional will fall away. Only the spiritual remains.”

Five years later, in 2013, I wrote, “Wyoming might enjoy a time when no wind might blow on the earth, referring to verse 1. Who are the 144,000? Probably Jews. In addition to them, there’s ‘a great multitude that no one could number from every nation and peoples and languages standing before the throne’ (Rev 7:9 ESV). So, there are not just 144,000 in heaven or just Jews. Multitudes cry, ‘Salvation belongs to our God and to the Lamb!’” (Rev 7:10 ESV). I finished with, “Heaven is about God and His throne, the Lamb, Jesus, the blood of the Lamb, and salvation, worship, impending judgments of earth and its inhabitants.”

DIGGING DEEPER

Working on Revelation 7 was kind of funny because before I read it, I went for a walk, and it was very windy. Then I start with verse 1, “that no wind might blow on earth” (Rev 7:1 ESV). As far as I can tell, that has not happened yet!

I referred in one of my journals to the fact that angels are the ones who carry out the instructions of God. Remember, in previous chapters, Jesus is the one opening the seals. Here in Revelation 7, angels are carrying out the instructions.

Are the 144,000 Jews? I referred to that several times in my journals, but my English Standard Version Study Bible footnote says there are various interpretations of what this really means, so I am not going to focus on who the 144,000 are as we discuss the rest of Revelation 7. More important is verse 9, “After this I looked, and behold, a great multitude that no one could number, from every nation, from all tribes and peoples and languages, standing before the throne and before the Lamb” (Rev 7:9 ESV). I hope and pray I am numbered among the great multitude that day. I hope you are too.

We will be crying out, “Salvation belongs to our God who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb!” (Rev 7:10 ESV). Remember, the Lamb was introduced in Revelation 5:6, when John said, “And between the throne and the four living creatures and among the elders I saw a Lamb standing, as though it has been slain” (Rev 5:6 ESV). That Lamb, that Jesus, was the one worthy to take the scroll from the heavenly Father and open the seals. That Lamb is the entry into heaven. That Lamb is Jesus. That Lamb is referred to in verse 14, “They have washed their robes and made them white in the blood of the Lamb” (Rev 7:14 ESV).

As we gaze into the throne room of God, we see: "And all the angels were standing around the throne and around the elders and the four living creatures, and they fell on their faces before the throne and worshiped God, saying, ‘Amen! Blessing and glory and wisdom and thanksgiving and honor and power and might be to our God forever and ever! Amen’” (Rev 7:11-12 ESV).

The day will come when we stand around the throne and worship God. But verses 13-14 say, “Then one of the elders addressed me, saying, ‘Who are these, clothed in white robes, and from where have they come?’ I said to him, ‘Sir, you know.’ And he said to me, ‘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’” (Rev 7:13-14 ESV).

My English Standard Version Study Bible footnote argues whether the great tribulation is the end times tribulation or just the tribulation of the church age; we do not know. It really does not matter. What matters is whether you will be wearing a white robe dipped in the blood of the Lamb.

The chapter finishes with a glimpse of what heaven will be like:

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 shelter them with his presence. They shall hunger no more, neither thirst anymore; the sun shall not strike them, nor any scorching heat. For the Lamb in the midst of the throne will be their shepherd, and he will guide them to springs of living water, and God will wipe away every tear from their eyes (Rev 7:15-17 ESV).

You want to be there. You want to be among the throngs standing around the throne of God in heaven someday. How are you going to get there? Is it going to be on your good works? No. It is going to be if you are washed in the blood of the Lamb and you are wearing one of those white robes.

Everyone is not going to be in that throng. Everyone is not going to be in heaven. What about you? Do you know beyond a shadow of a doubt that you are going to be among the throng worshiping God around a throne? If not, pray today, pray right now, confess your sins to the Lord Jesus, and allow Him to give you the greatest gift in the world, forgiveness. Give your heart over to Him and let Him clothe you with one of those white robes of righteousness that only He can do. Pray that prayer, even right now. If you prayed that prayer, you are now wearing a white robe of righteousness, dipped in His blood!

PRAYER

Father, we do thank You for all of us who have an assurance of being among the throng around Your heavenly throne someday. Thank You that You have given us a white robe of righteousness dipped in Your blood. But for those who do not know right now, we pray they would say a prayer, give their hearts over to You, accept the forgiveness of Jesus, and be clothed with one of those white robes in Jesus' grace, love, and mercy. We pray in thanks, Revelation 7 reminds us of how to get to heaven, and we want to be there with You. Amen.