Book of Revelation Episode 16 - Chapter 7

Today we talked about the martyrs' destiny during tribulation time. The glorious reception they will have in Heaven will be untold glory!

COMMENTARY

Revelation 7:11-17 reveals a heavenly worship scene where angels, elders, and living creatures praise God, followed by an explanation of the "great multitude" of believers. These saints, having survived the "great tribulation" and washed their robes in the Lamb's blood, are promised eternal, comforting protection from hunger, thirst, and suffering, with the Lamb acting as their shepherd. 

Key Commentary Points:

• The Worship Scene (v. 11-12): The angels, elders, and four living creatures fall on their faces, expanding the praise of the multitude. Their seven-fold doxology (blessing, glory, wisdom, thanksgiving, honor, power, strength) symbolizes complete and perfect worship to God and the Lamb.

• The Identity of the Multitude (v. 13-14): An elder tells John this vast, international crowd consists of those who have come out of the "great tribulation". They are not spared from suffering, but are redeemed through it. Their white robes signify righteousness and victory, attained only through the blood of the Lamb (Jesus).

• Eternal Security and Comfort (v. 15-17):

  • Service and Shelter: They serve God day and night in his temple, and God Himself will "shelter them with his presence," protecting them from all future danger.

  • No More Physical or Spiritual Want: The hunger, thirst, and scorching heat of the world are gone, replaced by satisfaction and peace.

  • The Shepherd-Lamb: Jesus is portrayed as a shepherd leading them to "springs of living water".

  • God's Comfort: God himself will wipe away every tear, signaling the end of all sadness, sin, and death. 

This passage provides ultimate hope to persecuted believers, focusing on victory over suffering and the guarantee of a secure future in God's presence.

Revelation 7:9-17

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, clothed with white robes, and palms in their hands;

¹⁰ And cried with a loud voice, saying, Salvation to our God which sitteth upon the throne, and unto the Lamb.

¹¹ 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,

¹² Saying, Amen: Blessing, and glory, and wisdom, and thanksgiving, and honour, and power, and might, be unto our God for ever and ever. Amen.

¹³ And one of the elders answered, saying unto me, What are these which are arrayed in white robes? and whence came they?

¹⁴ 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.

¹⁵ 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.

¹⁶ They shall hunger no more, neither thirst any more; neither shall the sun light on them, nor any heat.

¹⁷ 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.