The first six seals of the Scroll have been removed. Only one remains. Before the last seal is removed twelve thousand each from the twelve tribes of Israel are "sealed" in protection. Now the author turns to a greater multitude...
Revelation 7: 9-12 ,The great multitude
After this I looked, and there before me was a great multitude that no one could count, from every nation, tribe, people and language, standing before the throne and before the Lamb. They were wearing white robes and were holding palm branches in their hands.
10 And they cried out in a loud voice:
“Salvation belongs to our God,
who sits on the throne,
and to the Lamb.”
11 All the angels were standing around the throne and around the elders and the four living creatures. They fell down on their faces before the throne and worshiped God,
12 saying:
“Amen!
Praise and glory
and wisdom and thanks and honor
and power and strength
be to our God for ever and ever.
Amen!”
10 And they cried out in a loud voice:
“Salvation belongs to our God,
who sits on the throne,
and to the Lamb.”
11 All the angels were standing around the throne and around the elders and the four living creatures. They fell down on their faces before the throne and worshiped God,
12 saying:
“Amen!
Praise and glory
and wisdom and thanks and honor
and power and strength
be to our God for ever and ever.
Amen!”
Whatever the role of the 144, 000 in the previous paragraph, they are part of a larger "great multitude", larger beyond counting. Unlike the 144,000 from Israel, this great multitude has people of every tribe, eveny nation, every tongue. All these people are praising God and the Lamb. Their praise is then echoed by the creatures, angels and elders. God is praised for offering salvation and also for wisdom, power, strength.... The "Amen" is the short phrase that means "so be it" or "it is done".
Revelation 7: 13-17, Who are they?
Then one of the elders asked me, “These in white robes—who are they, and where did they come from?”
14 I answered, “Sir, you know.”
And he said, “These are they who have come 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 ‘Never again will they hunger;
never again will they thirst.
The sun will not beat down on them,’
nor any scorching heat.
17 For the Lamb at the center of the throne
will be their shepherd;
‘he will lead them to springs of living water.’
‘And God will wipe away every tear from their eyes.’”
14 I answered, “Sir, you know.”
And he said, “These are they who have come 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 ‘Never again will they hunger;
never again will they thirst.
The sun will not beat down on them,’
nor any scorching heat.
17 For the Lamb at the center of the throne
will be their shepherd;
‘he will lead them to springs of living water.’
‘And God will wipe away every tear from their eyes.’”
An elder asks John a question and he defers. The elder then goes on to explain that this large multitude have come out of a great tribulation and now will receive every protection and honor God can bestow on them. They will be in God's presence all the time ("day and night"), free of any pain or stress, with access to living water, without ever again needing to weep or cry.
I too look forward to that time when "God will wipe away ever tear from their eyes"!
Many view the "great tribulation" as a particular short time in future history, with a specific start date and end date (such as World War II, for example.) But that need not be the interpretation of this phrase. It is possible that the entire church age, or various episodes of it, can be described as the "great tribulation", as Christians await the eventual redemption of the universe.
The Old Testament quotes in verses 16 & 17 are from Isaiah 49:10. The final quote ("wipe away every tear from their eyes") is from Isaiah 25:8.
I too look forward to that time when "God will wipe away ever tear from their eyes"!
Many view the "great tribulation" as a particular short time in future history, with a specific start date and end date (such as World War II, for example.) But that need not be the interpretation of this phrase. It is possible that the entire church age, or various episodes of it, can be described as the "great tribulation", as Christians await the eventual redemption of the universe.
The Old Testament quotes in verses 16 & 17 are from Isaiah 49:10. The final quote ("wipe away every tear from their eyes") is from Isaiah 25:8.
In the next chapter the scroll is opened.
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