Eternal Glory - 2. A Great Multitude from Every Nation - Revelation 7:9-14
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Psalm 45:1–3 (ESV)
1 My heart overflows with a pleasing theme; I address my verses to the king; my tongue is like the pen of a ready scribe. 2 You are the most handsome of the sons of men; grace is poured upon your lips; therefore God has blessed you forever. 3 Gird your sword on your thigh, O mighty one, in your splendour and majesty!
Revelation 7:1–17 (ESV)
1 After this I saw four angels standing at the four corners of the earth, holding back the four winds of the earth, that no wind might blow on earth or sea or against any tree. 2 Then I saw another angel ascending from the rising of the sun, with the seal of the living God, and he called with a loud voice to the four angels who had been given power to harm earth and sea, 3 saying, “Do not harm the earth or the sea or the trees, until we have sealed the servants of our God on their foreheads.” 4 And I heard the number of the sealed, 144,000, sealed from every tribe of the sons of Israel:
5 12,000 from the tribe of Judah were sealed,
12,000 from the tribe of Reuben,
12,000 from the tribe of Gad,
6 12,000 from the tribe of Asher,
12,000 from the tribe of Naphtali,
12,000 from the tribe of Manasseh,
7 12,000 from the tribe of Simeon,
12,000 from the tribe of Levi,
12,000 from the tribe of Issachar,
8 12,000 from the tribe of Zebulun,
12,000 from the tribe of Joseph,
12,000 from the tribe of Benjamin were sealed.
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 worshipped God, 12 saying, “Amen! Blessing and glory and wisdom and thanksgiving and honour 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.”
Introduction
In this chapter we are given an insight of what it is like and will be like in heaven. It is truly an amazing prospect for every true believer. It begins with the 144,000 which is a symbolic representation of all the redeemed. Young people compare what you see in Genesis 29:31-30:24 and Genesis 35:16-18. What does this teach?
From verse 9-17 it opens up with a clearer picture of the glory of Heaven. Today we look at v9-14
The Multitude v9-10
Eternal Worship v11-12
Clothed in White Robes v13-14
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1. The Multitude v9-10
1. The Multitude v9-10
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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!”
a. Numberless v9a
a. Numberless v9a
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,
The sequence of words nation, tribe, people, and language occurs seven times in various orders in Revelation (5:9; 7:9; 10:11; 11:9; 13:7; 14:6; 17:15; Kistemaker, S. J., & Hendriksen, W. (1953–2001). Exposition of the Book of Revelation (Vol. 20, p. 254). Baker Book House.
Revelation 5:9 (ESV)
9 And they sang a new song, saying, “Worthy are you to take the scroll and to open its seals, for you were slain, and by your blood you ransomed people for God from every tribe and language and people and nation,
In this picture, all the saints stand before the throne of God and the Lamb, namely, before their Creator and Redeemer. Kistemaker, S. J., & Hendriksen, W. (1953–2001). Exposition of the Book of Revelation (Vol. 20, p. 254). Baker Book House.
Race - Act17 26 “26 And he made from one man every nation of mankind to live on all the face of the earth, having determined allotted periods and the boundaries of their dwelling place,”
b. Before the Throne v9b
b. Before the Throne v9b
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,
They are in the throne room of heaven with God in the midst and the lamb that was slain.
c. Dressed in White v9c
c. Dressed in White v9c
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,
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!”
Sardis professed to be alive but are dead
4 Yet you have still a few names in Sardis, people who have not soiled their garments, and they will walk with me in white, for they are worthy. 5 The one who conquers will be clothed thus in white garments, and I will never blot his name out of the book of life. I will confess his name before my Father and before his angels.
The saints are holding palm branches in their hands as a sign of victory. Of the four evangelists only John notes that at Jesus’ triumphal entry on Palm Sunday the people took palm branches to welcome him. The phrase palm branches occurs twice in the New Testament, here and in John 12:13 (see also Lev. 23:40; 1 Macc. 13:51; 2 Macc. 10:7). The victory belongs to Jesus Christ, who conquered Satan, death, and the grave; joy belongs to the saints who celebrate this victory.26 They are eternally thankful for the redemption Christ obtained for them.
d. Praising v10
d. Praising v10
10 and crying out with a loud voice, “Salvation belongs to our God who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb!”
The redeemed are standing before the throne and before the Lamb. God who is seated on the throne planned the work of saving his people and commissioned his Son to initiate, execute, and complete it. With their song they express praise and thanks to God and the Lamb, who died, rose from the grave, and ascended to heaven to take his place at the right hand of God. They sing a song of victory which resembles the “Hosanna” (Lord, grant help) the people sang when Jesus came to Jerusalem (Matt. 21:9). Whereas the people surrounding Jesus at his triumphal entry were asking for salvation, the saints in heaven praise him for answering this request. Kistemaker, S. J., & Hendriksen, W. (1953–2001). Exposition of the Book of Revelation (Vol. 20, pp. 254–255). Baker Book House.
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2. Eternal Worship v11-12
2. Eternal Worship v11-12
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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.”
a. Angels, Elders and Living Creatures v11a
a. Angels, Elders and Living Creatures v11a
Revelation 7:11 (ESV)
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 worshipped God,
i. Angels
i. Angels
Hebrews 1:13–14 (ESV)
13 And to which of the angels has he ever said, “Sit at my right hand until I make your enemies a footstool for your feet”? 14 Are they not all ministering spirits sent out to serve for the sake of those who are to inherit salvation?
ii. Elders
ii. Elders
4 Around the throne were twenty-four thrones, and seated on the thrones were twenty-four elders, clothed in white garments, with golden crowns on their heads.
Around the central throne John sees twenty-four thrones, and upon these thrones twenty-four elders, probably representing the entire Church of the old and the new dispensation. Think of the twelve patriarchs and the twelve apostles. (Cf. Rev. 21:12–14.) Hendriksen, W. (1967). More than Conquerors: An Interpretation of the Book of Revelation (p. 85). Baker Books.
The New Jerusalem
12 It had a great, high wall, with twelve gates, and at the gates twelve angels, and on the gates the names of the twelve tribes of the sons of Israel were inscribed— 13 on the east three gates, on the north three gates, on the south three gates, and on the west three gates. 14 And the wall of the city had twelve foundations, and on them were the twelve names of the twelve apostles of the Lamb.
iii. The Four Living Creatures
iii. The Four Living Creatures
Revelation 4:6–8 (ESV)
6 and before the throne there was as it were a sea of glass, like crystal. And around the throne, on each side of the throne, are four living creatures, full of eyes in front and behind: 7 the first living creature like a lion, the second living creature like an ox, the third living creature with the face of a man, and the fourth living creature like an eagle in flight. 8 And the four living creatures, each of them with six wings, are full of eyes all around and within, and day and night they never cease to say, “Holy, holy, holy, is the Lord God Almighty, who was and is and is to come!”
But Ezekiel 10:20 tells us in so many words that the ‘living ones’ are the cherubim. We, therefore, fully believe that here in Revelation also these ‘living ones’ are the cherubim. They are a very high order of angels, one of the highest orders. This conclusion is altogether reasonable. The cherubim guard the holy things of God (Gn. 3:24; Ex. 25:20), so it is altogether normal and natural that we find them here in this vision in close proximity to the throne. Besides, we find them here in the heavenly Holy of holies, exactly where one expects to find them (Ex. 25:20). Observe also that the song of these ‘living ones’ is the song of angels. In Isaiah the seraphim sing it (Is. 6:1–4). Then why should not the cherubim sing it? Hendriksen, W. (1967). More than Conquerors: An Interpretation of the Book of Revelation (p. 87). Baker Books.
20 These were the living creatures that I saw underneath the God of Israel by the Chebar canal; and I knew that they were cherubim.
24 He drove out the man, and at the east of the garden of Eden he placed the cherubim and a flaming sword that turned every way to guard the way to the tree of life.
20 The cherubim shall spread out their wings above, overshadowing the mercy seat with their wings, their faces one to another; toward the mercy seat shall the faces of the cherubim be.
b. Worshipping God v11-12
b. Worshipping God v11-12
i. Fell on Their Faces v11b
i. Fell on Their Faces v11b
Revelation 7:11 (ESV)
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 worshipped God,
5 And I said: “Woe is me! For I am lost; for I am a man of unclean lips, and I dwell in the midst of a people of unclean lips; for my eyes have seen the King, the Lord of hosts!”
10 the twenty-four elders fall down before him who is seated on the throne and worship him who lives forever and ever. They cast their crowns before the throne, saying,
16 And the twenty-four elders who sit on their thrones before God fell on their faces and worshiped God,
17 When I saw him, I fell at his feet as though dead. But he laid his right hand on me, saying, “Fear not, I am the first and the last,
c. Praise v12
c. Praise v12
12 saying, “Amen! Blessing and glory and wisdom and thanksgiving and honor and power and might be to our God forever and ever! Amen.”
The angels punctuate their song at the beginning and the end with the word amen (so be it). The duplication of this term intimates that their hymn was sung antiphonally in relation to the song of the saints. All of the angels wholeheartedly voice their agreement with the song of the countless multitude, because they rejoice over one sinner who repents (Luke 15:10) and they have stooped to look intently into the mystery of salvation (1 Pet. 1:12) Kistemaker, S. J., & Hendriksen, W. (1953–2001). Exposition of the Book of Revelation (Vol. 20, p. 255). Baker Book House.
The attributes of praise, glory, wisdom, thanks, honour, power, and strength occur repeatedly in the New Testament, some of them frequently, for example, the terms glory and power. Kistemaker, S. J., & Hendriksen, W. (1953–2001). Exposition of the Book of Revelation (Vol. 20, p. 255). Baker Book House.
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3. Clothed in White Robes v13-14
3. Clothed in White Robes v13-14
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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.
a. Who Are These? v13
a. Who Are These? v13
13 Then one of the elders addressed me, saying, “Who are these, clothed in white robes, and from where have they come?”
John had wept as there was no-one to open the scroll
4 and I began to weep loudly because no one was found worthy to open the scroll or to look into it. 5 And one of the elders said to me, “Weep no more; behold, the Lion of the tribe of Judah, the Root of David, has conquered, so that he can open the scroll and its seven seals.”
That is, the scroll reveals God’s complete plan and purpose for the entire world throughout the ages from beginning to end. For us, the scroll with its seals is evidence of what God planned for the salvation of his people. This plan is a foreordained mystery, according to Paul, and is revealed in the fullness of time. Kistemaker, S. J., & Hendriksen, W. (1953–2001). Exposition of the Book of Revelation (Vol. 20, p. 202). Baker Book House.
5 And one of the elders said to me, “Weep no more; behold, the Lion of the tribe of Judah, the Root of David, has conquered, so that he can open the scroll and its seven seals.”
Now for a second time one of them approaches John. The elder asks where the saints, dressed in white robes, come from. This inquiry is for the sake not of gathering knowledge but of teaching a fact. The link between the two appearances of elders instructing John is clear: in the first instance, John feared that the redemption of God’s people would not be fulfilled (see 5:4). Now by questioning John, the elder points to the countless multitude dressed in white robes. He wants John to acknowledge that the lion of Judah has indeed fulfilled the Old Testament promises of salvation. Kistemaker, S. J., & Hendriksen, W. (1953–2001). Exposition of the Book of Revelation (Vol. 20, p. 256). Baker Book House.
The saints in white robes are indeed the people whom the Lamb with his blood purchased for God (5:9). The colour white denotes holiness and purity, for the blood of the Lamb cleansed the saints. Their robes are whiter than snow (Dan. 7:9). Kistemaker, S. J., & Hendriksen, W. (1953–2001). Exposition of the Book of Revelation (Vol. 20, p. 256). Baker Book House.
b. Sir You Know v14
b. Sir You Know v14
Revelation 7:14 (ESV)
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.
The answer John gives is short, to the point, and sufficient. “And I said to him, ‘Sir, you know’ ” (compare Ezek. 37:3). With his brief reply, John implies that the elder is the one who should furnish a response, for as the representative of the church he knows exactly when and from where the saints have come. John may be perplexed when he observes the innumerable celestial throng. He places the burden of proof on his inquirer and forces him to answer. He defers to the elder, who has the response to his own query. Kistemaker, S. J., & Hendriksen, W. (1953–2001). Exposition of the Book of Revelation (Vol. 20, pp. 256–257). Baker Book House.
c. Out of Tribulation v14
c. Out of Tribulation v14
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.
The expression the great tribulation includes all Christians who have experienced oppression and persecution everywhere throughout history. It is a universal and collective expression that encompasses all the saints throughout the ages. Kistemaker, S. J., & Hendriksen, W. (1953–2001). Exposition of the Book of Revelation (Vol. 20, p. 257). Baker Book House.
d. The Blood of the Lamb v14
d. The Blood of the Lamb v14
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.
When sinners confess their sins, God forgives his people by making them pure. They purify their clothes, not through the blood of their own martyrdom but through the blood of the Lamb. Making one’s garments white, that is, pure and holy, can be done without exception only through Christ’s blood shed on Calvary’s cross. It is his blood that removes the impurity of sin. “Without the shedding of blood there is no forgiveness [of sin]” (Heb. 9:22) Kistemaker, S. J., & Hendriksen, W. (1953–2001). Exposition of the Book of Revelation (Vol. 20, p. 258). Baker Book House.
22 Indeed, under the law almost everything is purified with blood, and without the shedding of blood there is no forgiveness of sins.
25 Husbands, love your wives, as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her, 26 that he might sanctify her, having cleansed her by the washing of water with the word, 27 so that he might present the church to himself in splendor, without spot or wrinkle or any such thing, that she might be holy and without blemish.
7 But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus his Son cleanses us from all sin.
Hebrews 9:13–14 (ESV)
13 For if the blood of goats and bulls, and the sprinkling of defiled persons with the ashes of a heifer, sanctify for the purification of the flesh, 14 how much more will the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself without blemish to God, purify our conscience from dead works to serve the living God.
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Conclusion
17 And if you call on him as Father who judges impartially according to each one’s deeds, conduct yourselves with fear throughout the time of your exile, 18 knowing that you were ransomed from the futile ways inherited from your forefathers, not with perishable things such as silver or gold, 19 but with the precious blood of Christ, like that of a lamb without blemish or spot.