The Innumberable Multitude
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Introduction
Introduction
Junior church dismissed
Great week…number saved…fun morning
Thank you to everyone that prayed, contributed to, and volunteered at VBS. Great events like that can’t take place without a team of people. I want to take a minute and thank those individuals.
If you gave, prayed for, or volunteered at VBS would you please stand up. Give them and yourselves a round of applause. Glory to God and thanks to them for giving of their time and talents to serve the Lord.
This morning I thought it would be good for our church family to learn a little about what the kids learned this week.
The theme for VBS was that we are created by One God, as One Family, with One Savior.
The theme verse, which I want to preach about this morning is Revelations 7:9. Where we will see in a minute about an innumerable multitude.
Here on earth, even in the past couple weeks we have heard of hate crimes and divisions between those who look or act different than us. But in Heaven, that will not be the case.
When God created Adam and Eve in the beginning He knew the multitudes of different people groups that would develop from them. When Jesus died on the Cross for the sins of humanity, it wasn’t for those that looked like him. That’s good for us because He was Jewish and looked completely different than you and I.
I want to preach through this text by asking some questions this morning and you will see those on the screen to help us better understand what’s going on in this passage and how it affects us.
There are 2 questions I’m going to ask you though and I want it to rest on your heart as you hear the Word of God preached: What am I doing to add to the multitude? What should I be doing?
Follow along with me as I read through our text this morning
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 cried with a loud voice, saying, Salvation to our God which sitteth upon the throne, and unto the Lamb. 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 honour, and power, and might, be unto our God for ever and ever. Amen. 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 sitteth on the throne shall dwell among them.
Rev. 7:9-
PRAY
PRAY
As I said we will be focusing on that great multitude this morning. Can you imagine how many there would had have to been for John to say “no man could number”
On the day of Pentacost they numbered 3,000 that were saved and baptized. Later in there were 5,000. When Jonah preached in Ninevah there was 1 million that repented. 3 million left with Moses out of Egypt.
That tells me this great multitude must have numbered in the multiplied millions.
So where dd they come from?
I. Where did they come from?
I. Where did they come from?
That’s a reasonable question I believe. John went on to answer that. He wrote “of all nations, and kindreds, and people, and tongues, stood before the throne.”
They came from all over the world.
A. All over the World
A. All over the World
From ever nation. Every People group, Every shade of skin color, Every Tongue, which means language. They came from everywhere. Heaven is not a place for just Americans. God will fill it with people from all over the world. That’s made apparent in
But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth.
But why is this multitude special and recognized in the way they are? I believe it’s because they came out of great tribulation
B. Great Tribulation
B. Great Tribulation
Here we often insert the word “the” but you’ll notice that word is not there in scripture. This doesn’t mean there won’t be a “great tribulation” nor does it mean that people won’t be saved during the great tribulation.
This innumberable multitude faced great tribulation during their lives. It’s a promise of God that each of us will face tribulation and trials.
These things I have spoken unto you, that in me ye might have peace. In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world.
Chances are that you are a person going through a difficult time today. Bad news at the doctor, financial difficulty, broken relationships, you’ve been let down by someone close, or maybe it’s family problems.
These things come and we have to work through them but thankfully we know that through Christ we can do all things.
I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me.
This verse is often misused in life. This week the theme for VBS was “the incredible race.” A play on words to that alluded to an actual race and also the incredible human race that descended from Adam and Eve.
Racers and really athletes of any sort with a Christian worldview might take this verse and use it as motivation to complete a race or to keep going. While I’m not going to tell you not to I would caution us all not to believe that the power of God through Christ in us is meant to make us more athletic.
The book of Philippians has a theme of joy throughout its pages and must be understood in its proper context.
Paul is writing to believers from a Roman prison cell. He didn’t have yard time. He wasn’t enjoying the fellowship of other inmates. To my understanding he was chained to a Roman guard on house arrest.
I highly doubt the Holy Spirit used him to pen that verse with the intent for us to quote it as a means to finish a marathon or put more weight on a bar.
We can do all things like, suffer in prison, be hungry, face persecution, rejoice when trials come, love the unloveable, witness to everyone, be a light in the darkness, overcome sin, through Christ and for Christ.
This innumerable multitude came from All over the World and had faced tribulation. Now they find themselves saved to the uttermost at the throne of God. But, What are they doing there?
II. What are they doing there?
II. What are they doing there?
A. They are worshipping God
A. They are worshipping God
Verses 9 and 10
King James Version Chapter 7
clothed with white robes, and palms in their hands; 10 And cried with a loud voice, saying, Salvation to our God which sitteth upon the throne, and unto the Lamb.
Too many times we get this idea of Heaven being a place of floating around on clouds playing harps. Now, unless gaining a glorified body means I will also gain musical ability, no one is going to want to be around my cloud.
We speak of Heaven and how great it will be. Streets of gold, walls of various precious stones, family members, and such. The one thing I’m afraid we forget to rejoice over is the main reason we should all want to be in Heaven. God.
If God were on mars, I would rather be on mars than Heaven. Does that make sense?
We do not worship Heaven, we worship God. Heaven is a created place with created things in it just as this earth is a created place with created things in it. You don’t see Christians gathering to worship the earth or the things in it? Why? We do not worship the created, we worship the creator.
Heaven will not be a silent place. This isn’t the only time in the Bible we find vocal worship going on in Heaven.
King James Version Chapter 6
In the year that king Uzziah died I saw also the Lord sitting upon a throne, high and lifted up, and his train filled the temple. 2 Above it stood the seraphims: each one had six wings; with twain he covered his face, and with twain he covered his feet, and with twain he did fly. 3 And one cried unto another, and said,
Holy, holy, holy, is the LORD of hosts:
hThe whole earth is full of his glory.
God desires and deserves our worship. He is the creator, He is the one who loves us and sent us Son for us. Without Him, where would we be?
The multitude is worshipping God and they are doing something else as well.
B. They were working
B. They were working
I know…I know…The old song says “We’ll work till Jesus comes...” Well folks, I’m afraid to say that there’s more work to come. But it will be in service to the King of Kings and Lord of Lords.
Verse 15
King James Version Chapter 7
Therefore are they before the throne of God, and serve him day and night in his temple: and he that sitteth on the throne shall dwell among them.
They serve Him, day and night. Now I don’t know if we will need sleep there, I don’t know if we will be taking shifts. All I know is I’m going to be with God and serving God. What a great place to find yourself.
It’s really a position you can find yourself in today. From experience I say the following: It is much better to be in the will of God rather than be outside the will of God. That’s how we can find ourselves “With God” if you will.
It’s not by getting ourselves into a trance and repeating a bunch of repetitive prayers. It’s by discovering His purpose for us and jumping into that with both feet.
Serving Him by serving others. A life lived for a greater purpose than self fulfilment and enjoyment.
I say this with respect and sincerity, Heaven won’t be about the family reunion between you and your loved ones. It will be about the family reunion between your heavenly father and you.
The adoptive children of God will see and be with their Heavenly father for the first time in all of His glory. Rejoicing, praising God, and saying “Holy, Holy, Holy, is the Lord God almighty who was and is and is to come.”
This innumerable multitude spent time on earth in what appears to be great desperation. The description from the elder to John that is given here seems to indicate they faced hunger, thirst, and intense heat.
I believe this verse is to be taken in a literal sense meaning that they faced physical hunger and thirst. If they came through the great tribulation and made it to Heaven this means they did not take the mark of the Beast. Which means they would have difficulty surviving and doing business. They would most likely be severely persecuted for their Christian beliefs as well.
I’d like for us to think of this allegorically for a moment though. I want you to know I’m not seeking to take this verse out of context but to highlight a truth to you.
While this verse speaks of the physical hunger I want you to think of what else could cause a Christian heartache, pain, difficulties? A spiritual hunger. Some Christians are starving spiritually. We believe that one message a week will sustain us when we would never think of literal food that way.
Jesus is the bread of Life and the living water. uses a description of Jesus as the Word. I believe that was on purpose. While Jesus is not on earth with us now, we have the Word of God with us. Preserved for all generations. We can’t have a spiritually successful life without having spiritual nourishment.
And whether we have faced hunger pains or thirst physically and spiritually on earth, when in heaven we will find ourselves full in both areas.
The innumerable multitude is worshipping and serving their creator God. They have arrived in heaven and are rejoicing at being there but let me ask this question: How did they get there?
III. How did they get there?
III. How did they get there?
A. Through the Blood
A. Through the Blood
Notice verse 14
Therefore are they before the throne of God, and serve him day and night in his temple: and he that sitteth on the throne shall dwell among them.
King James Version Chapter 7
Therefore are they before the throne of God, and serve him day and night in his temple: and he that sitteth on the throne shall dwell among them.
There is only one way to Heaven and that’s through the blood of Jesus. Through his death burial and resurrection. It’s been shown since Genesis that only a blood sacrifice can cover sins.
The Holy Bible: King James Version. (2009). (Electronic Edition of the 1900 Authorized Version., Re 7:15). Bellingham, WA: Logos Research Systems, Inc.
When Adam and Eve first sinned, God made them garments out of an animal showing that blood had to be shed to cover them and their sin.
The sacrificial system of the Old Testament was all pointing to the ultimate blood sacrifice paid in Christ.
In
when Abraham and His son Issac make their way up the mountain and Abraham builds the altar his son Isaac asks “Where is the lamb?” Abraham answered God will provide.
Then we find God providing that lamb by John’s proclamation in
The next day John seeth Jesus coming unto him, and saith, Behold the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world.
Jesus is the lamb of God that can take away your sin and mine.
Jesus said “
Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.
Some people might have a problem with this but nonetheless if you are a Christian this is what we believe. That Salvation comes only through the grace of God by faith in Jesus’ death, burial, and resurrection.
The inummerable multitude got there in the same way we have to. By admitting they were sinners and believing in Jesus as their savior.
But how did they find that out? Who told them?
III. Who told them?
III. Who told them?
It was at a little church in Mt. Carmel TN that preacher Andy stood and preached on a Sunday morning declaring the gospel at the end of his message to a church he had pastored at that point around 15 years or so that I was told and chose to believe.
I’m thankful preacher Andy surrendered his life to the ministry and preached that day.
Someone told me about the gospel…someone told me about Jesus…if your saved today…someone told you.
Paul wrote in Romans
King James Version Chapter 10
For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved. 14 How then shall they call on him in whom they have not believed? and how shall they believe in him of whom they have not heard? and how shall they hear without a preacher? 15 And how shall they preach, except they be sent? as it is written, How beautiful are the feet of them that preach the gospel of peace, and bring glad tidings of good things! 16 But they have not all obeyed the gospel. For Esaias saith, Lord, who hath believed our zreport? 17 So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God
A preacher. If I were to ask you today if you were a preacher, I’m afraid you might say no because you don’t stand on a platform each week and declare truths from the word of God.
We’ve used that term to define those called into the pastorate and forgot that we are all to be preachers of the gospel. We are all called into a ministry of reconciliation to Christ according to 1 Corinthians.
We are all preachers. And how beautiful are the feet of them that preach the gospel of peace…
We have
Someone told you…Who are you telling?
Conclusion
Conclusion
Have you never heard the gospel? Maybe you’ve never responded to the gospel. If you haven’t placed your faith in Jesus as your only hope for Heaven you won’t be in the inummerable multitude in Heaven. You will join the innumerable multitude in Hell.
But why do that when it’s so easy to be with jesus. When it’s so easy to know for sure that if you died today, you would go to Heaven. When it’s so easy to know that you have a relationship with your Heavenly Father through Jesus Christ.
As we stand to our feet this morning with every head bowed, I want to ask you…Woudl you like to be saved? Would you like to know God through Jesus?
If that’s you this morning would you raise your hand? Would you let me pray for you?
Thank you
Christians…your saved…someone told you…who are you telling?
Remember those questions…I’m going to ask again: What are you doing to add to the multitude? What should you be doing?
What am I doing to add to the multitude? What should I be doing?
Should you be handing out the outreach cards with the gospel on them?
Should you be verbally sharing the gospel of Jesus and your own testimony of salvation with others?
Maybe your going through that hard time and need to rest on Jesus more to get through. You’ve been consumed with worry, doubt, or fear, and lost sight of the One who you can do all things through.
Christian if your here this morning and would make a commitment to do your part to add to the multitude, would you come pray at the altar and ask God to give you the boldness to share the gospel.
If you need to come pray about a matter that you need to turn over to the Lord, you come down. Cast all your care on Him because He cares for you.
Thank you to those coming down. What about you this morning? Would you like someone to pray with you. Come down and see me…I’ll pray with you. Ladies, I’ll have someone here to pray with you as well.
As the music plays let’s take this time to do business with God.
PRAY
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