The Greatest Celebration
Today we are looking at Revelation 7:9-17 and in verse 9 it starts with another great worship service, in fact it is the third service in 4 chapters.
“After this I looked, and there before me a great multitude that no would could count, from every nation, tribe, people and tongue, standing before the throne and before the Lamb. They were wearing white robes and were holding palm branches in their hands.”
I have been trying to imagine or comprehend what this could’ve looked like. Have you ever watched the Summer or Winter Olympics opening ceremonies and the parade of Nations?
Where there are athletes of over 175 nations parading under the banner of their nation's flag?
It’s quite an amazing thing to see yet this would pale into comparison to the multitude of every tribe, nation, people and tongue that will gather before the throne of God. Can you even imagine it?
This great multitude coming from all walks of life, no division or separation of wealth, colour or language all IN Christ, all glorifying Christ, no fear only triumph and praise.
What an image of strength and unity, of victory and assurance and hope expressed by the crying out of praises to Jesus, overcome by His presence experiencing and worshipping Him.
They were wearing white robes and in the ancient world white robes were commonly worn at festivals but as we can read in Revelation 3:1-6 we can see that white robes indicate coming before the Lord in worship, clothed in the proper attire of reverence, holiness and purity. They were also holding palm branches which again in ancient times were associated with celebrations. Praising Him acknowledging Him as Lord over all. This multitude that no one can count are engaging in a victory celebration that is unending and they are before the throne day and night. Their hunger and thirst will be satisfied forever, they will be sheltered from harm all because of the Lamb who is at the centre of the throne who will shepherd them, the One who leads. He is the one we look to to lead us. He is the focus of our attention, the focus of our worship, the focus of our hearts. In His presence there is fullness of joy and there we will remain forever more.
Let me encourage you to pray regularly for the nations and the people of the world and for those who take the good news of the gospel to them, that they will too be able to enter in to the greatest celebration history has ever known as we all worship around the throne.
- Hannah Heinke
“After this I looked, and there before me a great multitude that no would could count, from every nation, tribe, people and tongue, standing before the throne and before the Lamb. They were wearing white robes and were holding palm branches in their hands.”
I have been trying to imagine or comprehend what this could’ve looked like. Have you ever watched the Summer or Winter Olympics opening ceremonies and the parade of Nations?
Where there are athletes of over 175 nations parading under the banner of their nation's flag?
It’s quite an amazing thing to see yet this would pale into comparison to the multitude of every tribe, nation, people and tongue that will gather before the throne of God. Can you even imagine it?
This great multitude coming from all walks of life, no division or separation of wealth, colour or language all IN Christ, all glorifying Christ, no fear only triumph and praise.
What an image of strength and unity, of victory and assurance and hope expressed by the crying out of praises to Jesus, overcome by His presence experiencing and worshipping Him.
They were wearing white robes and in the ancient world white robes were commonly worn at festivals but as we can read in Revelation 3:1-6 we can see that white robes indicate coming before the Lord in worship, clothed in the proper attire of reverence, holiness and purity. They were also holding palm branches which again in ancient times were associated with celebrations. Praising Him acknowledging Him as Lord over all. This multitude that no one can count are engaging in a victory celebration that is unending and they are before the throne day and night. Their hunger and thirst will be satisfied forever, they will be sheltered from harm all because of the Lamb who is at the centre of the throne who will shepherd them, the One who leads. He is the one we look to to lead us. He is the focus of our attention, the focus of our worship, the focus of our hearts. In His presence there is fullness of joy and there we will remain forever more.
Let me encourage you to pray regularly for the nations and the people of the world and for those who take the good news of the gospel to them, that they will too be able to enter in to the greatest celebration history has ever known as we all worship around the throne.
- Hannah Heinke
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