The Multitude No Man Could Number
Notes
Transcript
Introduction
Introduction
As we continue studying the book of the Revelation, we are in the middle of a parenthetical passage. Chapter seven is inserted into the narrative to allow us to catch a glimpse of the grace of God at work during the most horrible time earth has ever known.
Last Sunday, we saw the Lord redeem the 144,000 Jews. God will use these 144,000 in a mighty way during the tribulation. In this passage, we will see the fruit of the 144,000 as a vast multitude is brought to faith in Jesus Christ and is delivered out of the Great Tribulation.
It comforts my heart to know that the Rapture of the church does not spell the end of people being saved. I praise the Lord that He intends to redeem a multitude that no man could number during the dark years of the Tribulation Period. This passage reveals the heart of our great God.
It is in His heart and plan to save sinners, and He is going to do just that during the Tribulation.
The Bible is clear that Jesus Christ came into this world for the sole purpose of saving sinners from their sins, “This is a faithful saying, and worthy of all acceptation, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners; of whom I am chief.” 1 Timothy 1:15.
It is also clear that God intends to save every person who will turn to Jesus by faith, “All that the Father giveth me shall come to me; and him that cometh to me I will in no wise cast out,” John 6:37.
Here is God’s promise, “The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance,” 2 Peter 3:9.
That is the heartbeat of God and it can be heard in the verses before us today.
Let’s dive into this passage and look at: “The Multitude No Man Could Number”:
The Great Number of the Redeemed
The Great Number of the Redeemed
Revelation 7:9 (KJV 1900)
After this I beheld, and, lo, a great multitude, which no man could number...
“After this...” refers to the vision of the 144,000 Jews that are sealed. This is what we preached last Sunday...
John saw the four angels holding back the four winds and a fifth angel coming and sealing the 144,000 Jews - 12,000 each out of the 12 tribes.
“After this...” John sees people before the Lamb! He tells us that these people were innumerable - He says “…no man could number” them.
A great multitude will be saved during the tribulation and they will be in heaven worshiping the King. How do we know these people are saved during the Tribulation?
Revelation 7:14 (KJV 1900)
...These are they which came out of great tribulation, and have washed their robes, and made them white in the blood of the Lamb.
The Antichrist will control most of the world—1/4 of the population will have perished at the fourth seal judgment. Out of the % of the population remaining—there will be a multitude saved.
20 The sun shall be turned into darkness, and the moon into blood, before that great and notable day of the Lord come:
21 And it shall come to pass, that whosoever shall call on the name of the Lord shall be saved.
It’s during this time that many people will hear the message of salvation from the 144,000 and they will turn to the Lord Jesus and trust in the Lord Jesus and call upon the name of the Lord Jesus and be saved!
John Phillips wrote, “The persecuted saints during the Tribulation, fleeing from country to country, will carry with them a veritable epidemic of revival. The more the Beast fans the flames of repression, the more the Holy Ghost fans the flames of revival! The church may not reach to every kindred and every tongue, but the Tribulation saints will.”
In verse 9, we find the place of the great multitude
In verse 9, we find the place of the great multitude
Revelation 7:9 (KJV 1900)
9 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;
What a scene that John is describing for us!
John sees a great multitude before the Lamb that “no man could number.” These people were innumerable!
These people came from different places, spoke different languages, had different backgrounds, but they now where all together before the throne and before the Lamb. God purchased them, saved them, cleansed them, and brought them out of every nation, tribe, people, and tongue.
→ John tells us who he sees—a great multitude
→ and then he tells us where they are from—
→ every nation, tribe, peoples, and tongue—
→ then he tells us what they wear:
He says they are clothed with white robes...
The white robes symbolize the righteousness of Jesus Christ. They have been cleansed by the blood of Jesus Christ, not by their works, a church, a priest or Pope, by baptism, money, communion, confirmation, or the Virgin Mary. They are cleansed by Christ. The drops of blood that leaped from the slaughtered body of our Savior were the jewels that paid the price of sin’s wage and purchased our salvation.
18 Come now, and let us reason together, saith the Lord: Though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; Though they be red like crimson, they shall be as wool.
Hallelujah! The Bible tells us they were clothed in white—then John tells us:
They carried “…palms in their hands:”
Palm branches express the joy of complete deliverance. They are emblems of victory and celebration. Roman conquerors wore garlands of palm leaves after a great victory. Greek athletes found a palm branch awaiting the winner at the end of a race. These martyrs are celebrating the triumph of having been brought through the awful period of the Tribulation and have now entered the glory of Heaven.
In verse 10, we find the praise of the great multitude
In verse 10, we find the praise of the great multitude
Look at their proclamation here:
10 And cried with a loud voice, saying, Salvation to our God which sitteth upon the throne, and unto the Lamb.
They attribute salvation to the Lord. They recognized the source of their salvation.
Now, you might be wondering, how were these people saved?
These people were saved the same way people have always been, and will always be, saved: by grace through faith.
8 For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God:
9 Not of works, lest any man should boast.
We are told that they “washed their robes, and made them white in the blood of the Lamb.” This simple statement reveals a profound truth: God only recognizes one method of salvation.
Whether it was Adam and Eve in the Garden; Abel with his sacrifice; Abraham and his ram; Israel and the sacrifices of the Tabernacle and the Temple; salvation in the Old Testament was through the blood of the Lamb. When they shed the blood of an innocent animal to atone for their sins, they were looking ahead to the day when God would send the perfect sacrifice that would take away sin forever.
Those Old Testament saints were saved by looking forward to Calvary. When Jesus cam and went to the cross, He accomplished what millions of animal sacrifices could only picture. When Jesus dies, He obtained eternal salvation for all who will believe on Him.
Those of us on this side of the cross are saved by looking back to what Jesus did at the cross and realizing that His death and resurrection are all that is needed to our salvation. When we trust Him by faith, we are eternally saved.
9 That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved.
10 For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.
even in the midst of Great Tribulation, souls will be saved by the simple preaching of the simple Gospel.
We then see that upon the innumerable saved worshiping God,
11 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,
12 Saying, Amen: Blessing, and glory, and wisdom, and thanksgiving, and honour, and power, and might, be unto our God for ever and ever. Amen.
As the innumerable multitude worships God, the others in heaven are compelled to join their voices in praise. All created beings around the throne join in.
Lehman Strauss wrote, “When sovereign grace does its mighty work in salvation in any man’s life, there is cause for praise to God and the Lamb. The praise of the redeemed one causes the angelic hosts of heaven to fall on their faces and worship God.”
In verse 15, we find the privilege of the great multitude:
In verse 15, we find the privilege of the great multitude:
15 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.
Serving the Lord is a great privilege. In the Old Testament, the Levites served the Lord day and night in the temple. No Gentiles were allowed. In the Millennial temple, the redeemed of all tongues will serve.
Then in verse 16 and 17, we find their provisions:
Then in verse 16 and 17, we find their provisions:
16 They shall hunger no more, neither thirst any more; neither shall the sun light on them, nor any heat.
17 For the Lamb which is in the midst of the throne shall feed them, and shall lead them unto living fountains of waters: and God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes.
These tribulation saints had greatly suffered pain and extreme heartache while upon the earth. They knew what it was to hunger and to thirst. They knew what it was to be in extreme poverty for they were unable to buy or sell unless they had the mark of the beast.
Now, they are in the presence with great gladness knowing that they will never hunger and thirst nor weep, because the Lord will wipe away the tears from their eyes and lead them unto living fountains of waters making sure that they will never again suffer.
What tender love! We think of a mother’s loving hand, brushing away the tears from her child’s face. God loves us with that kind of nurturing care.
On this earth, we have our share of pain and tears to endure and bring to God. He shows His love now with sweet consolation and strength for our tears; but one day – in heaven, not now – He will wipe them away forever.
Can you only imagine what it is going to be like around the throne?
Conclusion
Conclusion
The message of the 144,000 is the same message, the same Gospel as today. There is only one Gospel … salvation in Jesus Christ.
12 Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved.
• If you are lost and would like to be saved, come to Jesus today and let us show you how you can come to know Jesus.
• If you are saved, but there are issues between you and the Lord that need to be addressed, you come and make it right.
• If you want to thank Him for His grace and blessings in your life, you come.
• If you would like to pray from some lost people on your heart, you come.
• If there are other needs, this altar is open.