Revelation for Now & Future Part 16

Revelation 7:9–17 ESV

9 After this I looked, and behold, a great multitude that no one could number, from every nation, from all tribes and peoples and languages, standing before the throne and before the Lamb, clothed in white robes, with palm branches in their hands, 10 and crying out with a loud voice, “Salvation belongs to our God who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb!” 11 And all the angels were standing around the throne and around the elders and the four living creatures, and they fell on their faces before the throne and worshiped God, 12 saying, “Amen! Blessing and glory and wisdom and thanksgiving and honor and power and might be to our God forever and ever! Amen.” 13 Then one of the elders addressed me, saying, “Who are these, clothed in white robes, and from where have they come?” 14 I said to him, “Sir, you know.” And he said to me, “These are the ones coming out of the great tribulation. They have washed their robes and made them white in the blood of the Lamb. 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 They shall hunger no more, neither thirst anymore; the sun shall not strike them, nor any scorching heat. 17 For the Lamb in the midst of the throne will be their shepherd, and he will guide them to springs of living water, and God will wipe away every tear from their eyes.”

The next in the vision...

Revelation 7:9 ESV

9 After this I looked, and behold, a great multitude that no one could number, from every nation, from all tribes and peoples and languages, standing before the throne and before the Lamb, clothed in white robes, with palm branches in their hands,

Remember, as spoke last week, we are reminded that John is disclosing information as the Lord reveals it to him.

These verses may happen before Rev. 6:12-17.

The “great multitude” are those who have remained faithful in the midst of and have received their reward. They are before the throne of God.

These are the promised seed of Abraham: Gen. 17:5

Genesis 17:5 ESV

5 No longer shall your name be called Abram, but your name shall be Abraham, for I have made you the father of a multitude of nations.

Also notice what the multitude are holding: palm branches.

There are two things alluded to here: Lev. 23:40-43 & Matthew 21:6-9

Leviticus 23:40–43 ESV

40 And you shall take on the first day the fruit of splendid trees, branches of palm trees and boughs of leafy trees and willows of the brook, and you shall rejoice before the Lord your God seven days. 41 You shall celebrate it as a feast to the Lord for seven days in the year. It is a statute forever throughout your generations; you shall celebrate it in the seventh month. 42 You shall dwell in booths for seven days. All native Israelites shall dwell in booths, 43 that your generations may know that I made the people of Israel dwell in booths when I brought them out of the land of Egypt: I am the Lord your God.”

Feast of Tabernacles which represents the Lord’s protection of Israel.

Matthew 21:6–9 ESV

6 The disciples went and did as Jesus had directed them. 7 They brought the donkey and the colt and put on them their cloaks, and he sat on them. 8 Most of the crowd spread their cloaks on the road, and others cut branches from the trees and spread them on the road. 9 And the crowds that went before him and that followed him were shouting, “Hosanna to the Son of David! Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord! Hosanna in the highest!”

Triumphal Entry

You see here where the words portrayed in the Triumphal Entry are truly felt and the the nations celebrate an end times Feast of Tabernacles.

Revelation 7:10–12 ESV

10 and crying out with a loud voice, “Salvation belongs to our God who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb!” 11 And all the angels were standing around the throne and around the elders and the four living creatures, and they fell on their faces before the throne and worshiped God, 12 saying, “Amen! Blessing and glory and wisdom and thanksgiving and honor and power and might be to our God forever and ever! Amen.”

Victory

Notice in vs. 10 The words Salvation and belongs.

Salvation is from God, by God, and the glory is due Him.

There is a great celebration.

Blessing

Glory

Wisdom

Thanksgiving

Honor

Power

Might

Forever

And Ever

Coming Forth from Tribulation

There has always been persecution and tribulation.

The Scripture reminds us of tribulation now and future.

Revelation 7:13–14 ESV

13 Then one of the elders addressed me, saying, “Who are these, clothed in white robes, and from where have they come?” 14 I said to him, “Sir, you know.” And he said to me, “These are the ones coming out of the great tribulation. They have washed their robes and made them white in the blood of the Lamb.

5 Reasons for a continued tribulation:

John sees Daniel’s prophecies to be fulfilled from the birth forward.

Jesus sees Daniel’s prophecy of resurrection, 12:2, fulfilled spiritually and then physically.

In Rev. 1:9-2:10, tribulation was a current/present occurence.

Jesus speaks of the current tribulation in John 16:33

Many of the NT references to tribulation are current.

Purpose

Revelation 7:15 ESV

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.

because of their faithfulness in persecution.

Reward

Revelation 7:16–17 ESV

16 They shall hunger no more, neither thirst anymore; the sun shall not strike them, nor any scorching heat. 17 For the Lamb in the midst of the throne will be their shepherd, and he will guide them to springs of living water, and God will wipe away every tear from their eyes.”