(Revelation 7:9-12) After these things I looked, and behold, a great multitude which no one could count, from every nation and all tribes and peoples and tongues, standing before the throne and before the Lamb, clothed in white robes, and palm branches were in their hands; 10 and they cry out with a loud voice, saying,
“Salvation 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 worshiped God, 12 saying,
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.”
Some people have used this scripture to say that the rapture happens halfway through the Tribulation; but -
1) we've already established that the "elders" are all believers from before the Tribulation, and these have been mentioned as being in heaven, right at the beginning of the Tribulation
2) and below it says very clearly that this "great multitude" we're talking about - "These are the ones who come out of the great tribulation." John uses the term "great" tribulation to differentiate this seven year time period from the tribulations we experience now in the Church Age. And so, the great multitude does not include any other believer from any other age.
These Tribulation believers are the ones who are "underneath the altar" as described before...
(Revelation 6:9) When the Lamb broke the fifth seal, I saw underneath the altar the souls of those who had been slain because of the word of God, and because of the testimony which they had maintained
The description below in verse 7:15 uses "in His temple" as Jesus "will spread His tabernacle over them". And here they will stay for the entire Tribulation period, as we will see further on in our study of Revelation.
The important thing is - they will be kept safe and comforted, while serving and praising God...
(Revelation 7:13-17) Then one of the elders answered, saying to me, “These who are clothed in the white robes, who are they, and where have they come from?” 14 I said to him, “My lord, you know.” And he said to me, “These are the ones who come out of the great tribulation, and they have washed their robes and made them white in the blood of the Lamb. 15 For this reason, they are before the throne of God; and they serve Him day and night in His temple; and He who sits on the throne will spread His tabernacle over them. 16 They will hunger no longer, nor thirst anymore; nor will the sun beat down on them, nor any heat; 17 for the Lamb in the center of the throne will be their shepherd, and will guide them to springs of the water of life; and God will wipe every tear from their eyes.”
Today's takeaway: verse 7:9 has an impact on me - that there will be a GREAT multitude of people becoming believers during the Tribulation - from every nation and national (cultural) group...
I've had a few opportunities to share the gospel message with Muslims, and people from a few other Eastern religions, because the subject will usually just naturally present itself. The conversations have never become heated or tense, at all. There is usually some sincere interest or curiosity. And there are even a few points of understanding. But with their upbringing, they believe that what you are born into - THAT is your belief. Their religion is their culture and identity. Or rather - their culture and identity is their religion.
Even though I might say it several times in different ways, that - Christianity is an individual choice to make!!! and this choice is for all people - - - they still will say, "But you are Christian because you were born in this country (or group of people)..."
The sad thing is that a lot of people who are born into a "Christian" country (or group of people) THINK that they are Christians just because of that.
And so here I am trying to dissect and analyze and understand the world... but it is very simple, I have got to just keep on doing what I should be doing, being obedient and trusting God - and showing love to all people.
It is not my job to save people!!! That is the job for Jesus. It is not my job to convict people's hearts!!! That is the job for the Holy Spirit. It is not my job to be strong and convincing!!! That is the job for God...
(1 Corinthians 2:1-16) And when I came to you, brethren, I did not come with superiority of speech or of wisdom, proclaiming to you the testimony of God. 2 For I determined to know nothing among you except Jesus Christ, and Him crucified. 3 I was with you in weakness and in fear and in much trembling, 4 and my message and my preaching were not in persuasive words of wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power, 5 so that your faith would not rest on the wisdom of men, but on the power of God.
6 Yet we do speak wisdom among those who are mature; a wisdom, however, not of this age nor of the rulers of this age, who are passing away; 7 but we speak God’s wisdom in a mystery, the hidden wisdom which God predestined before the ages to our glory; 8 the wisdom which none of the rulers of this age has understood; for if they had understood it they would not have crucified the Lord of glory; 9 but just as it is written,
“Things which eye has not seen and ear has not heard, and which have not entered the heart of man, all that God has prepared for those who love Him.”
10 For to us God revealed them through the Spirit; for the Spirit searches all things, even the depths of God. 11 For who among men knows the thoughts of a man except the spirit of the man which is in him? Even so the thoughts of God no one knows except the Spirit of God. 12 Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the Spirit who is from God, so that we may know the things freely given to us by God, 13 which things we also speak, not in words taught by human wisdom, but in those taught by the Spirit, combining spiritual thoughts with spiritual words.
14 But a natural man does not accept the things of the Spirit of God, for they are foolishness to him; and he cannot understand them, because they are spiritually appraised. 15 But he who is spiritual appraises all things, yet he himself is appraised by no one. 16 For who has known the mind of the Lord, that he will instruct Him? But we have the mind of Christ.
No comments:
Post a Comment