A Multitude from the Great Tribulation

The New King James Version Chapter 7

A Multitude from the Great Tribulation

Revelation 7:9–17 NKJV

After these things I looked, and behold, a great multitude which no one could number, of all nations, tribes, peoples, and tongues, standing before the throne and before the Lamb, clothed with white robes, with palm branches in their hands, and crying out with a loud voice, saying, “Salvation belongs to our God who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb!” All the angels stood around the throne and the elders and the four living creatures, and fell on their faces before the throne and worshiped God, saying: “Amen! Blessing and glory and wisdom, Thanksgiving and honor and power and might, Be to our God forever and ever. Amen.” Then one of the elders answered, saying to me, “Who are these arrayed in white robes, and where did they come from?” And I said to him, “Sir, you know.” So he said to me, “These are the ones who come out of the great tribulation, and washed their robes and made them white in the blood of the Lamb. 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 dwell among them. They shall neither hunger anymore nor thirst anymore; the sun shall not strike them, nor any heat; for the Lamb who is in the midst of the throne will shepherd them and lead them to living fountains of waters. And God will wipe away every tear from their eyes.”

Outlines on Revelation 13. The Tribulation Christians (Revelation 7:1–17)

13

THE TRIBULATION CHRISTIANS

Revelation 7:1–17

Though the Holy Spirit will be removed with the saints at the time of the rapture, others will be saved during the tribulation. However, these must be willing to give their lives, since they will not accept the mark of the beast. These people will be those who hear the gospel before the rapture, yet reject it. Later they will see their folly and accept Christ.

I. THE PROTECTION—vv. 1–8

A. Peace—v. 1. “Then I saw four angels standing at the four corners of the earth, holding back the four winds from blowing, so that not a leaf rustled in the trees, and the ocean became as smooth as glass” (LB).

B. Protection—vv. 2–3. The angel holds back the punishment upon those who were saved during the tribulation and had God’s seal upon their foreheads.

C. People—vv. 4–8. From the tribes of Israel 144,000 were saved—12,000 from each of the twelve tribes. Note the use of the number twelve in Revelation (gates, tribes, foundations, apostles, thousand furlongs).

II. THE PEOPLE—vv. 9–12

A. People—v. 9. An innumerable amount of people from all nations surrounded the throne. They were clothed in white which represented the righteousness of Christ. The palms in their hands stood for victory. This group is different than the 144,000.

B. Praise—v. 10. They praised God for their salvation which was provided by the Lamb.

C. Pleasure—v. 11. They took pleasure in thanking and praising God. Showing appreciation for the price of our salvation should be the practice of all Christians.

D. Power—v. 12. “ ‘Amen!’ they said. ‘Blessing, and glory, and wisdom, and thanksgiving, and honor, and power, and might, be to our God forever and forever. Amen!’ ”  (LB).

III. THE PEACE—13–17

A. The people—vv. 13–14

1. Question—v. 13. Who are these in the white robes? Where did they come from?

2. Answer—v. 14. They came out of the tribulation. They could be called “the tribulation saints.” Their robes were washed in the blood of the Lamb. (See Romans 10:13; 1 John 1:7.)

B. The practice—v. 15. These people were before God daily, serving Him. See the importance of worshiping God in His house (Ps. 122:1; Heb. 10:25).

C. The protection—v. 16. God always protects His children.

D. The peace—v. 17. God will help them, comfort them, and will even wipe the tears from their eyes.

One should not say, “I’ll wait until the tribulation to accept Christ.” No one knows if he will live that long. On the other hand, if a person cannot accept Christ with the saints present and with the Holy Spirit convicting, how will he come to Christ during this difficult time? Christ’s coming may be near or it could be years from now. In the meantime, death may come, giving a person no second chance for salvation.