Revelation 7:9-17
In the Word of God, glorious revelations often appear near episodes that are gross and repulsive. Sometimes the vision of God reveals what is vile – as it did for the humbled prophet in Isaiah 6:1-8. When Isaiah saw the vision of God’s holiness, he realized just how horrible mankind (including himself) looks in the sight of God.
But at other times, dark depravity is presented along with God’s majesty in order to emphasize the contrast. The Lord’s surpassing immensity in Isaiah 66:1-5 appears along with a description of man’s horrible iniquities. Paul described his hideous, heart-rending trials in 2 Corinthians 11 and 12 along with “visions and revelations of the Lord” as he was “caught up to the third heaven!” (2 Corinthians 12:1-2). Its passages such as this that help you to make sense out of suffering.[i] In the valley of trouble, God gives us a door of hope[ii]. And all these contrasts remind us of the troubled apostle exiled alone on the island of Patmos.
Persecuted for his faith and preaching, John was placed on that rough crag of an island, off the coast of modern day Turkey. Did he have reasons to be discouraged? Yes, when he wrote to the seven churches (Revelation 2 and 3), his letters were full of warnings about their significant problems. The Lord instructed John to tell some of those churches that the problems were so severe that the Lord might bring those churches to an end! Surely John, even though he was “the beloved apostle,” must have wondered about the impact of his life’s work. Would it be worth it all? But the Lord gave John the most stellar revelations of His majesty in the painful adversity brought on by sinful depravity.
The Crook in the Lot
Ecclesiastes describes this painful contrast: “Consider the work of God: for who can make that straight, which He has made crooked? In the day of prosperity be joyful, but in the day of adversity consider: God also has set the one over against the other, to the end that man should find nothing after him.” (Ecclesiastes 7:13-14). Today might be a day of abundant prosperity; tomorrow might be a night of painful adversity. God places one against the other so that we can understand that knowing Him by faith is far more important than knowing the future. We don’t know what the future holds, but we know who holds the future! Plagued by painful kidney stones and caring for a wife wracked by depression (likely caused by the early death of many of their children) Pastor Thomas Boston understood this contrast. He wrote a book entitled “The Crook in the Lot” (referring to the crooked places in one’s lot in life). In the midst of Boston’s agony and misery, his people were able to praise God for Boston’s powerful ministry of the Word. When he could not rise from his bed, his people gathered under his window to hear him preach from his sickbed. Like the apostle Paul, Thomas Boston’s abject weakness was a window through which the glory of God could be seen more clearly. Think about the implications of that.
Today might be a day of abundant prosperity; tomorrow might be a night of painful adversity.
As you grow older, you may begin to grow weary and wonder about the future. Martin Luther wrote to his friend, James Propst, “I am sluggish, tired, cold—that is, I am an old and useless man… It looks to me as if the world, too, has come to the hour of its passing and has become an old worn out coat which soon has to be changed.”[iii] Luther wrote this letter in 1544 – 478 years ago!
The Lord of the Letdowns
On top of all that, the devil would love for you to think of yourself as damaged goods in order to get you to give up. But it’s important to remember that our faithful High Priest, Jesus Christ, was tested in all points just as we are, yet without sin (Hebrews 4:15). You can see that He was “the Lord of the letdowns”[iv] in passages such as Mark 11:1-11. After the joy and excitement of the Triumphal Entry, Jesus looked around and went back to where He was staying in Bethany. And when He went to the cross, all of His disciples had run away. That must have felt like a letdown.
So how would you confront this temptation to think of your time as wasted? What could help you to recover a sense of God’s glory, even in the midst of hideous and heart-rending trials? What could give you hope for the future? This is not the first time that we have seen the remarkable glory of the Lord in the Book of the Revelation, nor will it be the last. But in Revelation 7:9-17, we learn to worship the Lord for the grace of the Gospel as we see the throng around the throne of God.
During His earthly ministry, Jesus Christ could see events, such as the one described in Revelation 7:9-17. This is why Hebrews 12:2 invites us to be “Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God.” Today’s text acts as a window for our joy even when we are weary with our circumstances.
In the last message, we noted that this second vision in Revelation chapter 7 begins with the words, “After this.” The 144,000 were identified in the first 8 verses, and a much larger group is identified in verse 9. Revelation 14:4 describes the 144,000 as “they which follow the Lamb.” As one commentator noted, “’They follow the Lamb wherever he goes.’ This expression more than any other provides information about the character of these disciples. In the end to be a Christian is to be “a little Christ.” Certainly this means one who is redeemed and regenerated, but the church often forgets that a decision to follow the Lord is a part of that commitment. The 144,000 are characterized by their faithfulness in following Christ.”[v] Just try to imagine the ministry of these disciple-makers. When Jesus described the coming tribulation, He said, “And this gospel of the kingdom shall be preached in all the world for a witness unto all nations; and then shall the end come” (Matthew 24:14). It is quite likely that these 144,000 witnesses carry the Gospel to every nation during the tribulation and that the impact of their ministry is evident in Revelation 7:9 and 14.
The Great Throng around the Throne of God
After this I beheld, and, lo, a great multitude, which no man could number, of all nations, and kindreds, and people, and tongues, stood before the throne, and before the Lamb, clothed with white robes, and palms in their hands … And he said to me, These are they which came out of great tribulation, and have washed their robes, and made them white in the blood of the Lamb. (Revelation 7:9, 14)
Even during the great tribulation to come, people will come to know Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior. But there is great danger for those who go into this coming tribulation knowing the Gospel, yet rejecting Christ. If you take pleasure in sin and unrighteousness, bear in mind the prophecy that God will send a strong delusion on those who refuse to believe the truth (2 Thessalonians 2:10-11). If you are rejecting Christ now, then it is quite likely that you will embrace the Antichrist when he comes, and be doomed. Don’t gamble with your soul; ask the Lord to save you today. Trust that Jesus Christ came to pay for your sins and that He can redeem you. Then, enjoying eternal life along with those who will be saved in the great tribulation (Revelation 7:14), you will be among those who are gathered around the throne of God, exalting Him!
The Theme of This Throng around the Throne of God
And cried with a loud voice, saying, Salvation to our God which sits upon the throne, and unto the Lamb (Revelation 7:10).
These are the servants of the Living God. The main theme voiced by this glorious throng is “Salvation to our God!” If the saints of God in Heaven could send us a message today, it would be this: “Salvation to our God!” To the glory of God, these redeemed saints want to remind us that God saves repentant sinners. Let this be our story, even today. Every time we share the Good News of Jesus Christ, it is a warm-up for the glorious exaltation of God around His throne in Heaven. I was reminded of this during the passing of our brother, Gene Martin recently. Years ago, when we started the “This Is My Story” project, Gene and Lucy set to work on writing their story. When I visited with Gene in hospice, I made sure that he had copies of their tract.[vi] And in his last hours in this life, he was clutching his “This Is My Story” tract to his chest while on his deathbed. And he was sharing these tracts with those who came into his hospice room.. You can read his story online at our website www.glimpsesofcalvary.com .
Mary Haley and Bill Logan wrote their stories, and they are now in Heaven as well. But their Gospel stories are still being shared. You can read their stories and listen to their interviews on our website, or share their tracts which are available in the foyer as you leave today. And why not consider writing your own story? We would be very glad to help you write and produce your own tract to share. Have you considered the possibility that your story could help lead others to the Lord – even during the great tribulation to come? Write your story of salvation, and let the Lord use it to show others His amazing grace. Who knows whether your story will be used to redeem someone who will join us as we worship around the throne of God?
Even the rich man in hell in Luke 16 wanted someone to go back to tell his brothers about the terrors of hell – even though he rejected the Word of God! (Luke 16:27-31)[vii]. So whether it is the throng around the throne, or the rich man in Luke 16, the main thought is about God’s deliverance.
Even the rich man in hell in Luke 16 wanted someone to go back to tell his brothers…
The Response of Those around the Throne
And all the angels stood round about the throne, and about the elders and the four beasts, and fell before the throne on their faces, and worshipped God, saying, Amen: Blessing, and glory, and wisdom, and thanksgiving, and honor, and power, and might, be unto our God for ever and ever. Amen. (Revelation 7:11-12)
In the last message, “The Seal of the Living God,”[viii] we studied their glorious doxology. They praised seven exquisite qualities of the Living God. In the original language, every one of these qualities is preceded by the definite article. The Living God is The Blessing, The Glory, The Wisdom, The Thanksgiving, The Honor, The Power and The Might. And their worship of God includes “Amen’s” as bookends of glorious praise. And so we learn to worship the Lord for the grace of the Gospel as we see the throng around the throne of God.
The Identity of the Throng around the Throne of God
And one of the elders answered, saying unto me, What are these which are arrayed in white robes? and whence came they? And I said unto him, Sir, thou knowest. And he said to me, These are they which came out of great tribulation, and have washed their robes, and made them white in the blood of the Lamb. Therefore are they before the throne of God, and serve him day and night in his temple: and He that sits on the throne shall dwell among them. They shall hunger no more, neither thirst anymore; neither shall the sun light on them, nor any heat. For the Lamb which is in the midst of the throne shall feed them, and shall lead them unto living fountains of waters: and God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes. (Revelation 7:13-17)
It would have been easy for John to be discouraged as he sat on the isle of Patmos. Yes, the Lord had used him to write the Gospel of John and letters to the churches. But now he was experiencing a deep trial. Yet in the midst of telling him about the gross and repulsive tribulation (described in Revelation 6), the Lord gave him the glorious revelation of chapter 7. And John began to see the power of the Gospel once again. All those who are saved – even during the great tribulation – are saved by the blood of the Lamb. In a remarkable picture, they wash their robes and make them white in the blood of the Lamb. His finished work cleanses men from sin. Don’t miss the word, “therefore” at the beginning of verse 15. Why will those repentant sinners be in Heaven around the throne of God? It is because they have washed their filthy robes, soiled by sin. How did they wash them? They washed them in the blood of the Lamb, and their robes were made white. THEREFORE are they before the throne of God! Notice what the text does not say. It does not say, “they did good deeds to get to heaven,” or “they were baptized,” or “they gave money to secure their place in heaven.” No, because they washed their hearts and minds in the blood of the Lamb, they were clean and ready to serve God before His throne.
Why will those repentant sinners be in Heaven around the throne of God?
But this passage tells us that these repentant sinners who have been justified – declared righteous – in God’s sight are also glorified (see Romans 8:30). Glorified, they serve around the throne of God – serving Him continually. Those who had learned the meaning of “the Lord is my Shepherd” and “He restores my soul” know that they will never experience hunger or thirst again. The Lamb shall feed them and lead them to the fountains of living water. Though they had experienced many fears while on earth, God shall wipe away their tears. Through them, we learn to worship the Lord for the grace of the Gospel as we see the throng around the throne of God.
Discussion Questions for Family Fellowship Groups
With the increasing gas prices and the rate of inflation, what steps should we take to better serve our congregation and community? What concerns would you like for our congregational leaders to consider?
Please read Revelation 7:9, 10 and 14, and answer this question: How do these verses give us hope and encouragement about the power of the Gospel in dark days?
Read through the exquisite qualities of our God listed in Revelation 7:11, then pick one to share how you have seen this illustrated by the Lord’s help in some episode of your life.
How do the verses in Revelation 7:15-17 give you hope for the future and infuse this present life on earth with new meaning?
In Revelation 7:10, the throngs around the throne of God will cry out, “Salvation to our God who sits on the throne!” Who would like to share a testimony of how you came to know the Lord?
Pastor Gordon Dickson, Calvary Baptist Church, Findlay, Ohio www.cbcfindlay.org 05/29/22
[i] See “Making Sense Out of Suffering” Frontline magazine, July/August 2019, accessed at https://fbfi.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/08/JulyAugust-low-res.pdf
[ii] See “A Door of Hope” accessed at https://www.cbcfindlay.org/a-door-of-hope/
[iii] Michael Parsons, The Apocalyptic Luther: His Noahic Self-Understanding, Journal of the Evangelical Theological Society, JETS 44:4 (Dec 2001), p.633 citing letter to to James Propst, Wittenberg, Dec 5, 1544
[iv] “Lord of the Letdowns” accessed at https://www.cbcfindlay.org/the-lord-of-the-letdowns/ For an audio message on this theme, see “The Blessing of the Kingdom” on Mark 11:1-11 accessed at https://www.sermonaudio.com/sermoninfo.asp?SID=424131953233
[v] Paige Patterson, Revelation, ed. E. Ray Clendenen, vol. 39, The New American Commentary (Nashville, TN: B&H, 2012), 289.
[vi] See “This Is My Story: Gene and Lucy Martin” http://www.glimpsesofcalvary.com/this-is-my-story-gene-lucy-martin
[vii] See “A Message from Beyond the Grave” https://www.sermonaudio.com/sermoninfo.asp?SID=32901193959
[viii] The Seal of the Living God, accessed at https://www.cbcfindlay.org/the-seal-of-the-living-god/