Tag: white robes
Sheltered by the Lamb
Scripture reading for December 9: Revelation 7
“Then one of the elders addressed me, saying, “Who are these, clothed in white robes, and from where have they come?” 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. “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. They shall hunger no more, neither thirst anymore; the sun shall not strike them, nor any scorching heat. 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.” Revelation 7:13-17
John had just been shown a vision of four angels standing at the four corners of the earth and holding back the wind. He saw another angel ascending from the rising sun holding the seal of the living God and to him was assigned the sealing of the servants of God on their foreheads. He sealed 12,000 from each tribe of Israel. Right after this vision, John looked and saw a great multitude from every tribe and nation on earth assembled before God’s throne and dressed in white robes with palm branches. They were worshiping the Father and the Lamb. (Revelation 7:1-12)
The elder revealed to John that these were martyrs who were killed during the great tribulation. The were alive in God’s presence and crying out in worship and thanksgiving. Their white robes were provided by their faith in Jesus Christ and His shed blood. Jesus Christ was also their Shepherd. His protection was now over them eternally. What an amazing vision of heaven’s reality for us all to share with those still in darkness!
As you read this account of worship in heaven around God’s throne, what are your thoughts about those now suffering martyrdom for their faith around the world? What promises of Jesus Christ as your Shepherd help you most in forming a world view of God’s coming kingdom?
Prayer: Father God, thank You for showing us the end reward of those trusting in Jesus, even through persecution and possible martyrdom. Use me to proclaim these truths to my family and friends. Reveal Jesus Christ as the Great Shepherd Who can save and protect His people forever. Amen.
Multitudes clothed in white!
Scripture reading for December 9th: Nehemiah 7-9, Psalm 140, Revelation 7
Revelation 7: 13-17 “Then one of the elders addressed me, saying, “Who are these, clothed in white robes, and from where have they come?” 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. 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. They shall hunger no more, neither thirst anymore; the sun shall not strike them, nor any scorching heat. 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.””
In the heavenly vision given to John, he beheld a great multitude of people from every tribe of the earth standing before God’s throne. One of the elders around the throne asked John who they were. John wisely answered, “Sir, you know.” It was revealed that these were those who came out of the great tribulation of the last days. They had white robes because they had repented of sins and come to Jesus Christ for cleansing and His righteousness. They had been martyred and now stood in God’s presence cleansed and satisfied by the Good Shepherd who wiped away every tear and gave them living water! Praise His Name forever and ever!
Psalm 140:12-13 “I know that the Lord will maintain the cause of the afflicted, and will execute justice for the needy. Surely the righteous shall give thanks to Your Name; the upright shall dwell in Your presence.”
Prayer: Father God, I thank You for Your mercy and for Your justice. Thank You for showing mercy in the great tribulation to those from all nations who will repent. I have given my body to you to use for Your purposes of reaching the nations and all lost with the Good News of salvation and righteousness in the kingdom of Heaven through Jesus Christ and His blood. May I worship You through obedience today.
Nehemiah 9:3 “And they stood up in their place and read from the Book of the Law of the Lord their God for a quarter of the day; for another quarter of it they made confession and worshiped the Lord their God.”
The multitude in White!
Scripture reading for December 9th: Nehemiah 7-9, Psalm 140, Revelation 7
Key Scriptures: Revelation 7:9-12 “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, and crying out with a loud voice, “Salvation belongs to our God Who sits on the throne and to the Lamb!” 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, saying, “Amen! Blessing and glory and wisdom and thanksgiving and honor and power and might be to our God forever and ever! Amen.””
John’s attention was taken up next by a great multitude of white-clothed people from every nation and people group of earth. Their garments had been made white by the blood of the Lamb through faith. These were standing around the throne surrounding the multitudes of angels, the elders and the four living creatures. They were declaring the infinite worth of the One seated on the throne and the Lamb from Whom came salvation. The angels, elders, and living creatures prostrated themselves in agreement and worshiped the eternal God of Heaven, declaring His worth in eternal praise!
Psalm 140:12-13 “I know that the Lord will maintain the cause of the afflicted, and will execute justice for the needy. Surely the righteous shall give thanks to Your Name; the upright shall dwell in Your presence.”
Faith confession and prayer: Lord Jesus, I declare You alone are the source of salvation and are eternally worthy of praise and honor. I look forward to dwelling in Your presence and worshiping You for all eternity with the white-robed throngs of heaven brought in from every nation!
Nehemiah 8:6 “And Ezra blessed the Lord, the great God, and all the people answered, “Amen, Amen,” lifting up their hands. And they bowed their heads ad worshiped the Lord with their faces to the ground.”
The multitude from the Great Tribulation!
Scripture reading for December 16th: Revelation 7:1-17
John’s vision now turned to an angel with a seal of the living God in his hand. This angel spoke to the four angels standing at the four corners of the earth, commanding them, “Do not harm the land or the sea or the trees until we put a seal on the foreheads of the servants of our God.” (Revelation 7:3) This angel was sent to number 144,000 from the tribes of Israel! Each tribe to be sealed was listed. Judah was listed first, followed by Reuben ending with Joseph and Benjamin.
“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. And they cried in a loud voice: “Salvation belongs to our God, who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb.” (Revelation 7:9-10) This great cry brought worship from all the angels around the throne, from the four living creatures, and from the twenty-four elders. They all fell down and worshiped God in unison.
“Then one of the elders asked me, “These in white robes–who are they, and were did they come from?” 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.”” (Revelation 7:13-14) John was asked about this great multitude from every tribe and language of the earth and he did not know. The angel told him who they were and that they had come out of the great tribulation. These had trusted in the blood of Jesus Christ and were now clothed in white as a result of their faith.
As a result, this multitude was now serving God in His temple! God was their covering and shield. Their suffering was over and would never occur again! “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.” (Revelation 7:17) God would fulfill His promises and the New Covenant would result in eternal blessing! The great multitude was now in their eternal home and would worship the Lamb for ever!