The Multitude

DEVOTION

THE REVELATION

THE MULTITUDE

Rev 7:9-10

9 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 in front of 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."

NIV

Although some scholars are of the opinion what John is describing for us here is a vision as he says “I looked and there before me…” , but we have no reason to believe those opinions. John is still looking at what was revealed in the scroll after the sixth seal had been opened and the scroll had been rolled out some more. It makes perfect sense because he was told to come and see what is to happen now and what is to come later as he observed the information on the scroll. But either way, whether he is actually having a vision of real events, or seeing these events pictured on the scroll, the fact remains there are going to be millions upon millions,  billions upon billions, zillion upon zillions of people, a number that is uncountable standing before the throne of God all dressed in white robes. This is no doubt our life lesson, as we are going be to among that great multitude. The interesting point here is that if we are of the opinion that just a few of us are going to be saved, that is only those of us who are of the household of faith, or only us who belong to a certain denomination we would be sadly mistaken. Of course John is viewing this number of people from the perspective of one who is coming from a time when only a few in compared to the whole of the world believed in Christ. The gospel had not yet been preached throughout the whole of the world. In this viewing of the things to come, John notices that there were people from every nation, every tribe, people and language. This would tell us that the gospel will be preached in every nation, which by our time it appears it is being done, or will be very shortly. There is going to be far more people saved then we might imagine. It certainly is not going to be the few frozen chosen, so to speak. Those who are so dogmatic about their beliefs being the only truth, and if we do not believe the way they do, we are out and they are in. So many denominations have taken that position for so many years, even starting with the first organized church. Man seems to get in the way of what God actually will do. He will see to it that the full number of people hear the truth and believe in Jesus Christ and an uncountable number of people will be saved, wearing white robes and proclaiming salvation belongs to the our God who sits on the throne and to the lamb. This should also serve to tell us that salvation does belong to God. That is he will save who he will save. It is not up to us who gets saved and who does not. It is not up to us to judge who will be saved and who will not. We cannot determine that any person will be saved. It is not our function. We have been called to share the gospel message in all the world. We have been called to talk to people about Jesus Christ. We have been called to be a voice in the wilderness crying prepare the way for the Lord. Prepare your hearts to accept him. There is going to be many more people that God will bring salvation to then we can imagine. Now having said that, over the centuries since John saw this multitude, we would have to think a multitude have already experienced the salvation of God. But has it been from every nation, every tribe, every people or group, or race, or ethnic group, or every language? With our technology of today it is possible this could be done in no time at all and we could be near the time when we all will be standing in our white robes before the throne of God. What a day that will be when our Jesus we will see, what a day, glorious day that will be. We will not be alone, for we will be with a great multitude of people praising God and the lamb.