“The sky vanished like a scroll that’s being rolled up, and every mountain and island was removed from its place. Then the kings of the earth, and the great ones, and the generals, and the rich, and the powerful, and everyone, slave and free, hid themselves in the caves and among the rocks of the mountains, calling to the mountains and rocks, ‘Fall on us and hide us from the face of him who is seated on the throne, and from the wrath of the Lamb. For the great day of their wrath has come, and who can stand?'”
So here we have the announcement of the end. That’s it. Christ comes in glory and now this will be his day. This is the great day of the Lord when God doesn’t just allow things to go as people will do it, but he comes and he just takes up the whole stage himself and this is his day. Verses 15 to 16, as I mentioned, as we’ve read, speak of it in terms of the effects on the people dwelling on the earth. And it’s spoken of here in terms of their great fear. The day of judgment has come. And then the question, verse 17: “Who can stand? The great day of their wrath has come, and who can stand?” Clearly an end-of-the-age scene. Okay, he comes then in judgment. The whole created order is shaking. God comes. Everyone is afraid.
And then chapter 7, verse 1: “After this, I saw four angels standing at the four corners of the earth, holding back the four winds of the earth that no wind might blow on the earth or sea or against any tree. Then I saw another angel ascending from the rising of the sun with the seal of the living God. And he called with a loud voice to the four angels who had been given power to harm earth and sea, saying, ‘Do not harm the earth or the sea or the trees until we have sealed the servants of our God on their forehead.'”
So we have this temporary stay of judgment that’s being called for by this great angel. And then in verses four through eight, we have the sealing of the 144,000. There’s much discussion about this. Does this speak of a conversion of Israel, or is this to be understood in the following verses as symbolic of all of the nations of the earth? We don’t need to get into that tonight. It’s not pertinent to our study.
The Multitudes Of All The Redeemed
But at any rate, we come to verse 9 finally, and we have the multitudes of all the redeemed from verse 9. Notice the language: “from every nation, from all tribes and peoples and languages.” Do you remember that phrase? “From all tribes and peoples and languages.” That cropped up in Daniel, you remember, several different times where sometimes it’s Nebuchadnezzar calling for all peoples and tribes and languages to bow before him, and sometimes it’s Nebuchadnezzar telling all tribes and peoples and languages to worship God instead. And ultimately it is pointing to the fact that all will worship God, and here that comes to fruition.
In verses 9 through 12 then, we’ve got the multitudes of all the redeemed in praise to God. Verses 9 and 10: “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, clothed in white robes with palm branches in their hands and crying out with a loud voice, ‘Salvation belongs to our God who sits on the throne and to the lamb.'”
Then again, verse 9, notice how it describes the people. This is a great multitude from everywhere. This is all the redeemed from all the earth sharing in the single salvation accomplished in the work of Christ. Their position, verse 9, or their status—they’re before the throne of God, before the throne and before the Lamb. Notice how they’re dressed. They’re in white robes, symbolic, obviously, of clean and pure. That is, these are ones who have been cleansed and they’re forgiven. They’re safe. They’re not liable to judgment. These people are clean.
And then notice again, it mentions the palm branches in their hands. That is, this is a festive occasion. This is joyful. This is actually a harking back to Leviticus chapter 23 in the Feast of Booths, a festive celebratory occasion. So we have then the redeemed of all of the world from every tribe and nation and tongue brought before the throne of God and of the Lamb, garments that are made white, they’re clean and they’re pure, standing before the throne, unafraid, and in fact celebrating and cheering, if you will. This is the best word I can find to characterize what’s going on. It’s not just a song. It’s a cheer. It’s like when the home team scored the touchdown kind of thing. They’re cheering and rejoicing that here we are in the presence of God and of the Lamb.
And then verses 11 and 12, the worship that they are giving is accompanied by the angels. “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.'”
The Interpretation Of It All
Well, I think it’s pretty clear what’s going on here, but what we have in verses 13 to 17 then, 13 to the end of the chapter, is the interpretation of it all in case we’ve missed it. “Then one of the elders addressed me saying, ‘Who are these who clothed in white robes and from where have they come?’ I said to him, ‘Sir, you know.’ 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. Therefore, they are before the throne of God and serve him day and night in his temple. He who sits on the throne will shelter them with his presence. They shall hunger no more, neither thirst any more. 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.'”
Who are these people? Well, he tells us, verses 13 and 14. These are the people who have come out of the great tribulation. They’ve been faithful. They have served. They refused the mark of the beast and they’ve been persecuted, but they’ve been faithful to Christ. They’ve come out of the great tribulation. And it says they’ve been washed by the blood of the lamb. This is how their garments became white. They’re washed in the blood of Jesus. All of the symbolism to say that their sin has been erased, washed as it were, through the sacrificial giving of Christ on the cross.
Verses 15 and following then. Notice their privileged status. They’re in the presence of God. Verse 15. They’re before the throne. They’re in the presence of God. And not only in the presence of God, but they have the high privilege of serving God always. Day and night, serving God, day and night in his temple. And then verse 15 at the end, they’re sheltered by God, enjoying his protective care, using the shepherding language. God is a shepherd taking his sheep; he’s brought them into his fold, and he cares for them.
And notice verse 15, the first word: “therefore.” “Therefore they are before the throne.” What is that all about? Well, back up to the previous verse. “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.” They have this high privilege of standing in the presence of God and serving him in his approval and standing in his presence because—this is the therefore—because they’ve been washed by the blood of Christ. Recognition that the reason we are here with this high privileged status is because Christ has cleansed us with his blood.
And so as a consequence, verses 16 and 17, it says we will be satisfied with never a want for anything. “They shall hunger no more, neither thirst any more. The sun shall not strike them, nor any scorching heat.” That is, no want for anything—never hungry, never hurting, never crying, no more open heart surgeries, no more losses. All of that behind us. And he says, satisfied because now, verse 17, they’re in the presence of their shepherd. “For the lamb in the midst of the throne will be their shepherd and he will guide them to springs of living water.” Full satisfaction. “God will wipe away every tear from their eyes.” Safe, satisfied forever in the presence of God and of the Lamb.
And that, I think, in just a quick snapshot, is just one of the most wonderful pictures of what we anticipate in what we call the final state or the eternal state. We serve God faithfully here, assured of His forgiveness through Christ’s blood. It’s not always easy, it’s not always happy, and there’s all kinds of disappointments along the way and sicknesses and upsets of all kinds, and finally, all of that behind us. And we have the high privilege of being—maybe the best word is basking—in the presence of God and of the Lamb, serving Him and rejoicing in His presence forever. There’s more to say about what the eternal state will be like, but that in a nutshell is what we have to look forward to. Amen.
Let’s pray. Our Father, what a glorious prospect this is. Lord, how our hearts rejoice to see this grand event that one day we’ll participate in. Lord, we pray that you would hasten that day. We ask that Jesus would come soon. Until then, we pray that you will keep us, your people, faithful in all things, living with great anticipation for the coming of our great bridegroom in glory when he returns for us. We pray in his name. Amen.
House of Deacons who are waiting to come forward, please. I don’t think we could have had a more appropriate preparation for the table tonight than the message that you have just heard. All of the glories, the benefits, and the hopes recited at the end of Revelation chapter 7 and in other places are based upon this great foundation, namely, “they have washed their robes and made them white in the blood of the Lamb.” That’s the event that we’re going to be remembering now as deacons first pass the bread and then the cup.
If you have made a profession of faith in this Savior and Lord and have expressed that profession in public baptism, you’re welcome to participate in the table tonight. If you have not, we truly hope that you will be instructed as the elements pass you by. Sincerely hope that the eternal life that is offered in the gospel does not pass you by for much longer. The brethren will now be passing the bread. Jen will be playing from the piano, if you wish to follow. You’ll find the notes that she passed to me. Do you want to just give that number, Jen? 359. 359 in your Trinity hymnal.
Before we take the bread in remembrance, I ask our brother Dan Vascoda…
“I have this opportunity to come before you with a thankful heart, hearing once again of the wondrous blood that covers all sins, and thank you for His perfect love. It’s earned our salvation. He was totally sinless when we bore our sin on that cross, that we might have one. We thank you for the pampers of life that we’ve enjoyed through that cross. Thank you. In Jesus’ name, amen.”
The scriptures report that our Lord implemented this table of remembrance in the upper room in words similar to these: “And having taken some bread when he had given thanks, he broke it and gave it to them, saying, ‘This is my body which is given for you; this do in remembrance of me.'”
The deacons will now pass the cups, and Jim will be playing number 365 in the Trinity hymnal, if you wish.
…that he would lead us in prayer.
“Dear Lord, we thank you for giving us your sinless son to die for our sins. And we thank you for the Lord’s table to remember that place.”
Our Lord was not finished at the breaking of the bread. To the bread element, he added a drink element, namely the crimson fruit of the vine, symbolizing the sacred blood. And he did so in words similar to these: “And in the same manner, he took the cup after they had eaten, saying, ‘This cup is the new covenant in my blood. Drink of it, all of you.'”
The deacons will collect the cups and then return for our benevolent offering. You can participate by opening your RBC songbooks. Power of the Cross.
O come, O come, Thou King of Kings!
O come, Thou King of Kings!
♪ In the house of the Lamb ♪
♪ The Lamb is come for you and I ♪
♪ The cross is new born ♪
♪ Come, let us eat, come, let us eat ♪
♪ We praise thy sweet name ♪