February 3, 2017
Revelation 7:9-12
(All scripture is from the New King James Version unless otherwise indicated.)
There are so many things in the book of Revelation about which we could praise our Lord Jesus Christ! But if we covered them all, this series would be far too long.
There is praise upon praise built over four chapters in this book in the following passages: Revelation 4:8 and 11; and Revelation 5:9, 10, 12 and 13. But it culminates in Revelation 7:9-12 (which will be our Scripture):
…behold, a great multitude, which no one could number, of all nations,
tribes, peoples, and tongues, standing before the throne and…the Lamb,
clothed with white robes, with palm branches in their hands, and crying
with a loud voice…“Salvation belongs to our God who sits on the throne,
and to the Lamb!” And all the angels…and the elders and the four living
creatures…fell on their faces before the throne and worshiped God, saying,
“Amen! Blessing and glory and wisdom, thanksgiving and honor and
power and might, be to our God forever and ever. Amen.”
The last verse of our featured Scripture culminates in a seven-fold (the perfect number) praise to the Triune God! But there is much here recorded about which to praise Him before we get to verse 12.
• Revelation 7:9 – “…behold, a great multitude, which no one could number, of all nations, tribes, peoples, and tongues….” While this great multitude is identified in Revelation 7:14 as “…the ones who come out of the great tribulation…,” it surely reflects the millions of Christians through the ages who have given their hearts and lives to Jesus. The gospel is for all people! It is life-changing, and every human being needs that change…
✞ …from sinner to saint! (See Romans 3:23; I Corinthians 1:2; Colossians 1:2).
✞ …from sinful to righteous! (See I Corinthians 1:30; II Corinthians 5:21).
✞ …from children of Satan to children of God! (See John 8:44;
Galatians 3:26).
✞ …from enemies of God to His friends! (See John 15:14, 15; Colossians 1:21).
✞ …from a wasted life to one that is abundant! (See Matthew 6:19;
John 10:10).
✞ …from death to life! (See John 5:24; I John 3:14).
✞ …from hell to heaven! (See Philippians 3:20; I Peter 1:4; Revelation 20:12-14;
21:8).
Praise God that in His Son, our Lord Jesus, all this and more is accomplished!
We need to remember that we are called to play a vital role in bringing this great multitude to heaven!
✞ We are told to pray for the lost! Jesus tells us in Matthew 5:44, “Love your enemies, bless those that curse you, do good to those that hate you, and pray for those who spitefully use you, and persecute you….” And Paul writes in I Timothy 2:1, 3, and 4:
…I exhort…that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of
thanks be made for all men….For this is good and acceptable in the
sight of God our Savior, who desires all men to be saved, and come
to the knowledge of the truth.
✞ We are also told to tell the lost about God’s plan of salvation! In Mark 16:15 (Contemporary English Version) we are commanded by Christ, “Go and preach the good news to everyone in the world.”
✞ And once they are saved, we are to help them grow into mature Christians! The Lord gave us the Great Commission in Matthew 28:19 and 20: “Go…and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father… Son…and the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all…that I have commanded you.”
Give praise to the Lord that He involves us in the spreading of His plan of salvation! What a privilege!
• Revelation 7:16 – This multitude was “…crying out with a loud voice…‘Salvation belongs to our God who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb!’ ” Yes, and only to the Lamb does this salvation belong! For He, in John 14:6, plainly declares: “I am the way, the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me.” (see Acts 4:12).
There will be great praise continually going on in heaven! We will be there worshiping before the throne with all the angels, the elders, and the four living creatures. What amazing company we will keep throughout eternity!
So learn to praise Him now, preparing to join the praise of that great multitude one day!
More on Revelation Praise! in our next blog.