Washed in the Blood of the Lamb

Washed in the blood of the Lamb!

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. (Re 7:13–14).

Worthy is the Lamb who was slain,

to receive power and wealth and wisdom and might

and honor and glory and blessing! (Re 5:12). Wheaton, IL: Crossway Bibles. the saints who are now in heaven needed trial like others. “Whence come they?” for though that was the second question asked, it was the first answered; and, secondly, “Who are these?” Our third point shall be, What of all this?

WHO Are These?

John beheld them all in white robes; and the question to be answered was, “Who are these,—these in heaven?” The reply was, “They have washed their robes and made them white in the blood of the Lamb;” from which we gather, first, that all those in heaven were sinners, for they all needed to wash their robes. White robes now a sign of purity had to be washed. They were sinners then, those glorious ones were sinners like ourselves. Look up at them now! Observe their ravishing beauty! See how faultless they are! And then, remember what they were. Oh, ye trembling sinners, whose bruised hearts dare not indulge a hope of the divine favour, those fair ones were once like you, and you are to-day what they were once. They were all shapen in iniquity as you were: they were everyone of them of woman born, and, therefore, conceived in sin. They were all placed in circumstances which allured them to sin; they had their temptations, as we have shown, and they lived in

Spurgeon, C. H. (1872). What and Whence Are These? In The Metropolitan Tabernacle Pulpit Sermons (Vol. 18, p. 153). London: Passmore & Alabaster.

Where did they come?

These bearing the palms—whence came they? Reason itself suggests that they came from battle. It is not according to the wont of God to use emblems without a meaning. The palm, the ensign of triumph, indicates most certainly a conflict and conquest. As on earth the palm would not be given if not won, we may conclude that the Lord would not have distributed the prize unless there had been a preceding warfare and victory. A conflict for a temporal crown is severe; how much more for an unfading palm in heaven. The winners of these palms must have passed through a battle of battles, an agony of agonies, a great tribulation. Palms which may be waved even before the throne of the august majesty of heaven are not easily come by. From the very fact that the glorified carry palms, we may infer that they did not come from beds of sloth, or gardens of pleasure, or palaces of peace, but that they endured hardness, and were men trained for war. The inference is well warranted, for it is even so; and the answer to the question, “Whence came they?” is this: “These are they which came out of great tribulation.”

1. They were then like ourselves, for, in the first place, they were tried like others. They came out of great tribulation. As our theme of Strengthened suggest strengthening the souls of the disciples, encouraging them to continue in the faith, and saying that through many tribulations we must enter the kingdom of God. (Ac 14:22).

The word “tribulation,” is the word tribulatio and was used by the Romans to signify a threshing instrument. When they beat out the corn from the straw, they called it tribulatio; and so tribulation is sent to us to separate our chaff from our wheat.

Since the same tribulation happened to those who are now in heaven, we infer that they needed it as much as ourselves. Why do we need tribulation? It’s required to arouse them us and cause us to stay connected with The Lord! I have a news flash for you all of us will have some tribulation in life. Everyone us will have some sorrows, challenges and disappointments. It’s the constant reminder

My hope is built on nothing less than Jesus’ blood and righteousness. I dare not trust the sweetest frame but wholly lean on Jesus’ name.

Refrain: On Christ, the solid rock, I stand; all other ground is sinking sand, all other ground is sinking sand.

2 In ev’ry rough and stormy gale, my anchor holds within the vale. When all around my soul gives way, he then is all my hope and stay

What does this mean?

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.” (Re 7:16–17).

We will have peace, joy, for the LAMB of God will be in the midst of us.

We will have his constant presence!

No more yearning for worldly pleasures. No empty desires.

Let me share this quote:

The Metropolitan Tabernacle Pulpit Sermons, Vol. XVIII What and Whence Are These? (No. 1,040)

Believe me, many a ragged, loathsome beggar has been damned; he was as poor as Lazarus, but not as gracious as he, and therefore no angels carried him to Abraham’s bosom. There is no efficacy in the tongues of dogs to lick away sin, neither can a hungry belly atone for a guilty soul. Many a soul has begged for crumbs on earth, and has afterwards craved in vain for water in hell. You must take care not to suck poisonous error out of the flowers of truth.

I would, however, have you learn that no amount of trial which we have to suffer here, if we are believers in Jesus, should lead us to anything like despair, for however trouble may encompass us to-day, those in heaven came through as great a tribulation, and why may not we?

Step by step

Well, there's a bridge and there's a river

That I still must cross

As I'm going on my journey Oh, I might be lost

And there's a road I have to follow A place I have to go

But no one told me just how to get there But when I get there I'll know

'Cause I'm taking it... Step by step Bit by bit Stone by stone Brick by brick

Step by step Day by day Mile by mile

And this old road is rough and ruined So many dangers along the way

So many burdens might fall upon me So many troubles that I have to face

But I won't let my spirit fail me But I won't let my spirit go

Until I get to my destination I'm gonna take it slow Because I'm taking it..