June 28: A GREAT MULTITUDE
After these things I looked, and behold, a great multitude which no one could number, of all nations, tribes, peoples, and tongues, standing before the throne and before the Lamb, clothed with white robes, with palm branches in their hands, and crying out with a loud voice, saying, “Salvation belongs to our God who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb!” Revelation 7:9-10
There is a special literary technique in prophetic visions that has surfaced three times now in the book of Revelation. It presents a unique relationship between hearing and seeing in the same vision. In chapter 1, John hears a loud voice, as of a trumpet (v.10) but when he turns to see, there are seven golden lampstands (v.12) representing the churches with the Lord among them (v.13). In chapter 5, he hears an elder saying the Lion of the tribe of Judah…has prevailed (v.5). But when he looks, he sees a Lamb as though it had been slain. This same literary technique shows up twice more (chapters 17 and 21).
Now, we are seeking the answer to the question at the end of chapter 6: For the great day of His wrath has come, and who is able to stand? (v.17) While chapter seven is devoted to the answer, it must be understood that we are currently living in the “calm before the storm” (vv.1-3), that “storm” being the most intense period of tribulation that the world has ever seen (Matthew 24:21). John heard the number (Revelation 7:4) of those receiving the seal of God before this tribulation begins: 144,000, listing twelve tribes of Israel, twelve thousand each, suggesting military units prepared for battle. This number represents God’s divine leadership in the lives of His erring people. Every person alive today can relate to one, or several, of the tribe characteristics indicated by the name. And knowing something of the history of each tribe, including the two that were omitted, is beneficial. If you relate to any of them, even the omitted ones, there is still time to repent! But do not put it off. Procrastination poses the ever-increasing danger of a hardening heart.
After hearing the number, John looked, and he saw a great multitude which no one could number. What he heard and who he saw are actually the same, only in two different locations. God has patiently allowed the world to see the harm and chaos of life under Satan’s pretended rule. The Savior will soon bring it to an end, and in the meantime the horrors brought about upon the earth are bringing more exposure of our cruel enemy and his tactics.
The palm branches in today’s opening passage bring to mind the Feast of Tabernacles (Leviticus 23:34,40, Nehemiah 8:15). When Jesus made His triumphal entry into Jerusalem, people thought the Messiah would set up His kingdom right then. The people were celebrating a victory, but it was only a foreshadowing of the real event. John’s vision contains a flash forward to the actual fulfillment of this feast.
Between verses 8 and 9 of chapter 7 is a location shift. At the end of verse 8 the symbolic number is still embattled on the earth. At the beginning of verse 9 they are in a joyous throng—no longer in battle array—before the throne of God and the Lamb. The gift of salvation, freely given, truly “belongs to our God who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb!” It is only theirs to give. Only you can accept it for yourself.