Sunday School - The Ultimate Victory Celebration

Overview

John gave us a glimpse of the festivities that await the God’s people who have perserved through the trials of this earth. The description culminates in the Lamb being acclaimed as Shepherd, claiming these faithful ones as his own.

Introduction

Heaven is a place of joy and celebration! In believing this we should be excited and anticipate to join that celebration one day. The harder we work for the Lord here and now, the better the celebration will be when that day comes.

Church worship style controversies pale into insignificance when we consider the pure worship happening every moment around God’s throne. Pure worship.

Part 1 - Revelation 7:9-12

9 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. 10 And they cried out in a loud voice: “Salvation belongs to our God, who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb.” 11 All the angels were standing around the throne and around the elders and the four living creatures. They fell down on their faces before the throne and worshiped God, 12 saying: “Amen! Praise and glory and wisdom and thanks and honor and power and strength be to our God for ever and ever. Amen!”

9 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. 10 And they cried out in a loud voice: “Salvation belongs to our God, who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb.” - Reveation 7:9-10

Do you think on one could really count the crowd? No ONE man could count the crowd.

Revelation 5:9 CSB

And they sang a new song: You are worthy to take the scroll and to open its seals, because you were slaughtered, and you purchased people for God by your blood from every tribe and language and people and nation.

Now in 7:9, all of these groups are before the Lamb.

How does the worship around the throne compare and contrast with our worship here on earth?

worship preferences vs. worship focus

Part 2 - Revelation 7:13-14

13 Then one of the elders asked me, “These in white robes—who are they, and where did they come from?” 14 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. -Revelation 7:13-14

How do we prepare to be one of those who will worship God and the Lamb around the throne someday?

Part 3 - Revelation 7:15-17

15 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. 16 ‘Never again will they hunger; never again will they thirst. The sun will not beat down on them,’ nor any scorching heat. 17 For the Lamb at the center of the throne will be their shepherd; ‘he will lead them to springs of living water.’ ‘And God will wipe away every tear from their eyes.’” -Revelation 7:15-17

What do you think it means for the Lamb to become the shepherd?

What aspect of the shepherd’s care speaks most to you?