A Multitude in Heaven

[Announce text] If you brought a bible, please turn with me to the seventh chapter in the book of Revelation. Our textual passages will be in Revelation 7:9-17 for today’s message.

[Scripture introduction] John, an exiled disciple on the island of Patmos, writes concerning what he heard and saw while in the Spirit. Through the Spirit, John is placed in a vision from the standpoint of heaven, and everything is centralized around the throne of God.

The last time we were together, John saw all of heaven searching for one worthy to open the scroll with seven seals. None were worthy to open it except the standing Lamb, who appeared slain. He was able to break the seals, open the scroll, and bring about a new reality for the world. When the scroll was in the hands of the Lamb, all four living creatures, twenty-four elders, and an innumerable number of angels worshipped him.

John’s vision continues, and he witnesses the Lamb breaking apart the seals. As soon as the Lamb breaks each seal, the world begins to experience God's judgments and other extraordinary events only seen from God’s vantage point.

[Reannounce and read text] When we begin to read our passage, we are amid the Lamb tearing apart the sixth seal. I welcome you to read Revelation 7:9-17 on a multitude in heaven with me.

[Prayer for illumination] Almighty God, we pray for this vision of heaven to awaken us to the realities of heaven and for your people to join the praise chorus of declaring your salvation that has come to us through the death and resurrection of your triumphant Son, Jesus Christ. We pray this in the victorious name of the Lamb of God. Amen.

[Introduction] What I have come to appreciate about Sunday mornings is the life-giving nature of when we gather together as the church and sing praises to God.

Wouldn’t you say that’s one of the easiest moments throughout your week when you can express your appreciation and love for God? Everyone in the congregation is focused on one thing. There are no distractions, unless you’re sitting next to my father-in-law. We love you, Mark.

But seriously, worship isn’t just singing praises to God. It’s a lifestyle of constantly giving yourself to God's will. As Jesus abided in the Father’s plan, you and I are to abide in God's love and follow Christ's path.

If we worship God, it will lead us to the same destination as it led Jesus—right to the cross! There, our sins are crucified, and we live a resurrected life for the glory of God.

Easy enough, you may think. You understand the path set before you. You know the gospel is calling you to a life of heavenly worship, as read in Revelation. But why is it so difficult to praise God outside this dedicated space?

[FCF] Simply stated, our adversaries are two beasts. The first terror that walls up worship comes from within us. Sin. Sin in and of itself, expresses its independence away from the glory of God, hence it runs away from the vision of all creation worshipping God the Father, and Christ, the Lamb that appeared slain.

Sin fully lived is a life of rebellion. It will not fall down and worship. It flees and seeks its own desires.

The second and most terrifying creature that prevents heavenly worship is any form of tribulation. These are events and people whose mission is to harm and injure Christians for the sake of reducing and crushing our love and praise for God.

It's times of distress, pain, and anxiety when we can become paralyzed from setting our sights on the throne of God because the weight of sin and tribulation takes captive our eyes.

[Scripture bond] So, how do we combat these beasts and get back on the path to heavenly worship for the glory of God? We come back to Revelation and witness how God works in the lives of a great multitude of people, and by his mighty works restores their worship forever.

But how does the Lord help them and us when sin and tribulations come, and bring us back to authentic worship?

God begins restoring our worship by breaking the sixth seal in Revelation seven.

[Main point 1] You can worship because God seals his people to secure them through the tribulation.

[Explanation] At the beginning of chapter seven, the Lamb broke the sixth seal, and the mission carried out from heaven was to seal all the 144,000.

The sealing process is to demonstrate ownership of these servants. The name of the Father is placed upon their heads. These men now belong. It's their core identity.

Similarly, we are sealed as God’s people when we believe the gospel and express our faith through the waters of baptism. We identify with God and state that we are his. His Spirit comes to live in us.

You see this clearly in Revelation 7:9: These are the sealed people of God—innumerable to count, diverse in background and time. This is the church!

But again, what’s the point of sealing? It’s protection and delivery to the final destination.

[Illustration] In place of graduation Sunday, I write special cards, take wax, and drip it onto the envelope. While I do it. I applied the seal to the letter. It is addressed to whom it belongs.

In the same way, you and I are recipients of the Spirit, and he will take us to where we belong—our identities, so to speak. We belong to heaven.

[Application] When you face hard days. Remember who you are. What can separate us from the love of God? Don’t look at your troubles, look at God’s throne.

That begins your journey to daily worship, but what will sustain it? It can continue because of what Christ has given you—his precious blood.

[Main Point 2] You can worship because God saves his people through the tribulation by the blood of the Lamb.

[Explanation] These people worshipped and praised the Lord. Look at verses 10 and 12. Salvation belongs to God and the Lamb! They were giving God complete worship. Seven features of worship were expressed!

But who gave them a song to sing? The Lamb and they washed it in his blood. These people suffer because they have come out of the tribulation.

See in Revelation 6:10-11, all of these are wearing the same white robe. They died for their faith, and yet the covers them and gives them rest.

The good new is heavenly worship leads to trouble, however it will always come out into paradise.

Not only does God seal us. He saves. Now and forever.

[Illustration] But the cost of this salvation is the blood of Christ, he who shed his innocent blood and was naked and shamed because of our sin. Now comes to us saves us to give a place to be for all eternity and give dresses us with his white rob.

The white robes are God’s righteousness. It is as bright as Christ’s transfiguration.

[Application] So even troubles come, and they will. You can worship because God has saved us by His Son’s blood.

We worship because God has set his seal on us and saves us through all our tribulations, and we continue to praise because of where we are heading.

[Main Point 3] You can worship because Christ shepherds his people and will lead them to living waters.

[Explanation] Christ is the shepherd in the Kingdom of God. We are his lambs who are led to springs of life. God will wipe every tear from your eyes. We will hunger and thirst no more.

When your sins and tribulations distract you, recall your great shepherd. He is never far. John wrote in his gospel about Jesus being our caretaker and watcher by day and night.

John 10:25–30 ESV

25 Jesus answered them, “I told you, and you do not believe. The works that I do in my Father’s name bear witness about me, 26 but you do not believe because you are not among my sheep. 27 My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me. 28 I give them eternal life, and they will never perish, and no one will snatch them out of my hand. 29 My Father, who has given them to me, is greater than all, and no one is able to snatch them out of the Father’s hand. 30 I and the Father are one.”

[Illustration] I would love to see a pasture of sheep crying out one day. Wouldn’t that be a great noise? It is a reflection of who we are. We are sheep who are sealed and saved from this present world.

[Application] You just need to trust him; he can give you everlasting life.

[Proposition] You can worship because your sight is not on this world’s tribulations, but on the throne of God and the Lamb.

[Conclusion] Do not let the beast of sin and tribulation steal, kill, and destroy your praise and worship. Let your eyes be fixed on heaven. Even when trials come, you will pass through because of the blood of the Lamb who was shed for your salvation, and eventually. One day, you will be with your shepherd for all eternity.

Live your life as people who sing praise to the Lord.

I say this before we close.

“Salvation belongs to our God who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb!

Amen!

Blessing and glory and wisdom and thanksgiving and honor and power and might be to our God forever and ever! Amen.