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Commentary Index | Return to PrayerRequest.com | DownloadSpurgeon Verse Expositions - Revelation 7:9 - 7:17
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This Chapter Verse Commentaries:
Rev_7:9. After this I beheld, and, lo, a great multitude, which no man could number, of all nations, and kindreds, and people, and tongues, stood before the throne, and before the Lamb, —
Our numbering can go a very long way, what, therefore, must be the countless hosts of the redeemed who are to be “a great multitude, which no man could number?” And what an infinite variety there will be among them, seeing that they shall not only be “of all nations,” but out of those nations they shall be of all kindreds, and people, and tongues,” — that is, all sorts and conditions of men, of every race, and of every age from the first century down to the last. Christ’s immeasurable redemption price must bring, to him a great reward. Isaiah long ago foretold that “He shall see of the travail of his soul, and shall be satisfied;” and it is no little result that will satisfy him for such travail of soul as he endured. This great multitude “stood before the throne, and before the Lamb,” —
Rev_7:9. Clothed with white robes, —
To set forth their purity, their victory, and their entrance into the marriage state, for such was the color usually worn on such occasions. “Clothed with white robes,” to show that they had entered into their rest, so that their garments were no longer soiled through their toil. They have reached their everlasting Sabbath, their week-day service is over for ever.
Rev_7:9-11. And palms in their hands; and cried with a loud voice, saying, Salvation to our God which sitteth upon, the throne, and unto the Lamb.
And all the angels stood round about the throne, and about the elders and the four beasts, and fell before the throne on their faces, and worshipped God, The angels form the outer ring. The elders, who represent the Church of the redeemed, are nearer to the throne of God than even the holy angels are. Nearest to God in heaven are those who have been redeemed from among men. How high a dignity — how noble an estate — awaits us by-and-by! But, all alike, both saved men and unfallen angels, “fell before the throne on their faces, and worshipped God,” —
Rev_7:12-17. Saying Amen: Blessing, and glory, and wisdom, and thanksgiving, and honour, and power, and might, be unto our God for ever and ever. Amen. And one of the elders answered, saying unto me, What are these which are arrayed in white robes? and whence came they? And I said unto him, Sir, thou knowest. And he said to me, these are they which came out of great tribulation, and have washed their robes, and made them white in the blood of his Lamb. Therefore are they before the throne of God, and serve him day and night in his temple: and he that sitteth on the throne shall dwell among them. They shall hunger no more, neither thirst, any more; neither shall the sun light on them, nor any heat. For the Lamb which is in the midst of the throne shall feed them, and shall lead them unto living fountains of waters: and God shall wipe away all gears from their eyes
This exposition consisted of readings from Matthew 3, and Mat_11:20-30; and Rev_7:9-17.
Rev_7:9. After this.-
I thought I would read this familiar and very precious passage once more as so many of our number have gone home to heaven during the past few weeks. There has been a great flight of the Lord’s doves upward to the heavenly dovecotes lately. We will think of them as we read these well-known words:-“After this”-
Rev_7:9. I beheld, and, lo, a great multitude, which no man could number, of all nations, and kindred, and people, and tongues, stood before the throne, and before the Lamb, clothed with white robes, and palms in their hands;
Their purity is indicated by the white robes in which they were clothed, and possibly also their royal priesthood, while their victory over all their foes is typified by the palms which they held in their hands. Montgomery was right when he wrote,-
“
Crowns that never fade away,
Gird and deck the saints in light,
Priests, and kings, and conquerors they.”
They all sing one song, and it is the same song that we sing on earth, “Salvation to our God.” They know nothing up in heaven of any salvation by the works of the law or by human merits. Oh, no! they sing, “Salvation to our God which sitteth upon the throne, and unto the Lamb.”
Rev_7:11-12. And all the angels stood round about the throne, and about the elders and the four beasts, and fell before the throne on their faces, and worshipped God saying, Amen: Blessing, and glory, and wisdom, and thanksgiving, and honour, and power, and might, be unto our God for ever and ever. Amen.
You see that all the glory is given to God; man is lost sight of, humanitarianism has no place of honour in heaven, though many, nowadays, make so much of it here on earth. It is unto Father, Son, and Spirit, unto the one only Creator, Saviour, Inspirer that the angels ascribe “blessing, end glory, and wisdom, and thanksgiving, and honour, and power, and might, .... for ever and ever.”
Rev_7:13-17. And one of the elders answered saying unto me, What are these which are arrayed in white robes? and whence came they? And I said unto him, Sir thou knowest. And he said to me, These are they which came out of great tribulation, and have washed their robes, and made them white in the blood of the Lamb. Therefore are they before the throne of God, and serve him day and night in his temple: and he that sitteth on the throne shall dwell among them. They shall hunger no more, neither thirst any more, neither shall the sun light on them, nor any heat. For the Lamb which is in the midst of the throne shall feed them, and shall lead them unto living fountain of waters: and God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes.
This is a vision of the heavenly life above. I want you to keep the last two verses in your minds, for we shall presently meet with very similar expressions in a place where, perhaps, you would scarcely have expected to find them, and there you will see that those expressions are used concerning the heavenly life below as here they are used concerning the heavenly life above. Turn to the Book of the prophet Isaiah, the 49th chapter, and there you will read a passage which brings us back to earth, it takes us from the Lamb in the midst of the throne in heaven to the Lamb amidst the despising and rejecting sons of men, It is our Lord Jesus Christ who is here speaking:-Isaiah
This exposition consisted of readings from Rev_7:9-17; and Isaiah 49.
We will read two passages from the New Testament tonight. The first will show us where the glorified saints are, and the second will tell us what is to become of their bodies.
Rev_7:9-13. After this I beheld, and, lo, a great multitude, which no man could number, of all nations, and kindreds, and people, and tongues, stood before the throne, and before the Lamb, clothed with white robes, and palms in their hands; and cried with a loud voice, saying, Salvation to our God which sitteth upon the throne, and unto the Lamb. And all the angels stood round about the throne, and about the elders and the four beasts, and fell before the throne on their faces, and worshipped God, saying, Amen: Blessing, and glory, the wisdom, and thanksgiving, and honour, and power, and might, be unto our God for ever and ever. Amen. And one of the elders answered, saying unto me,—
In reply, as it were, to John’s question put by the very look of his countenance. Sometimes, the Lord Jesus Christ gave an answer to men who had never spoken to him; and the angelic elder here followed his example, and also in another respect imitated his Lord, by replying to the inquisitive glance of John by asking him a question.
Rev_7:13-17. What are these which are arrayed in white robes? and whence came they? And I said unto him, Sir, thou knowest. And he said to me, These are they which came out, of great tribulation, and have washed their robes, the made them white in the blood of the Lamb. Therefore are they before the throne of God, and serve him day the night in his temple: and he that sitteth on the throne shall dwell among them. They shall hunger no more, neither thirst any more; neither shall the sun light on them, nor any heat. For the Lamb which is in the midst of the throne shall feed them, and shall lead them unto living fountains of waters: and God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes.
This is to be the future state of all those who are redeemed by the precious blood of Jesus, and to whom the saving grace of God has come: so that, concerning all who have thus fallen asleep, we sorrow not as those without hope, for we know that all is well with them for ever. Now let us read a little of what the apostle Paul was inspired to write with regard to the resurrection of the body. (See 1Co_15:1-28; 1Co_15:50-58)
This exposition consisted of readings from Rev_7:9-17; 1Co_15:1-28; 1Co_15:50-58.