0904 THE GREAT MULTITUDE

SEPTEMBER 4 = REVELATION 7

THE GREAT MULTITUDE

The action on earth is about to pick up, and things are about to get worse. But first, we need to rescue God’s chosen ones from what is about to happen.

There are many in recent generations who see in this chapter (and elsewhere) a “secret rapture” of the saved ones, which occurs before The Great Tribulation. Others say that this is a symbolic way of encouraging the saints that God can and will rescue his chosen ones from the troubles of earth. I will not be taking a position on the matter, but do want to point out when a particular passage is used to support an interpretation.

It starts with angels holding back natural disasters on earth until another angel marks 144,000 believers with the seal of God on their foreheads. This list of marked believers is specified as 12,000 from each of the twelve tribes of Israel. Certain numbers symbolize completion. Seven is the number for God’s Spirit, and for the full cadre of churches. We have also seen that 12 (and 24) is a number for completion. We will find soon that 1000 is a number that also means completion. So when you have 12 x 1000 you have a very complete number, and when you have 12 x 12 x 1000 it is even more so. 

So, now the complete number of those belonging to God have been marked and sealed. Perhaps now it is time to execute judgment on the earth. This is what John sees:

“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 before the Lamb. They were wearing white robes and were holding palm branches in their hands.”

An even MORE complete number of believers are gathered suddenly. And John records their praise, and the praise of the angels in agreement with theirs. It is a grand time of worship and thanksgiving! And notice how complete John’s list of the diversity is made: every nation (which is political groups), every tribe (which is local ethnic groups), every people (which is larger ethnic and genetic groupings) and every language (which happened way back at Babel, and helped lead to these diverse groupings in the first place). I notice they are standing. Guess there’s standing room only in heaven! John goes on:

“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.”

And here is where we find the first basis for what is known as a pre-millennial, pre-tribulation rapture. The thought is that before the great 7-year tribulation occurs (more on that later), every true believer in Jesus is snatched up to heaven, where they never again suffer on earth, and where God will wipe away every tear from their eyes.

Now, perhaps the great tribulation has already taken place. Maybe with the reign of Diocletian, or of Hitler or Stalin. And maybe the great tribulation is yet ahead. Perhaps we are living through it right now. It will be described in more detail later in the book.

Whether or not you believe in a literal length of tribulation, or you see the numbers and dates as symbolic, the application for us today is the same: Be ready! Wash your robe and make it white in the blood of the Lamb. Know that this world is not your home, and that there is a greater reality in another realm. I want to go there. How about you? Amen.