I must say, I’m fascinated by the book of Revelation and I look forward to reading and pondering its words and I love to try to visualize the pictures the Holy Spirit paints for me. No, I don’t ever proclaim to have all the images, symbols and, messages of it 100% figured out, but I think I do better now than when I was a new student of the Bible.
But one thing I’m certain of: Revelation portrays a sure and true picture of God’s great promise for new and eternal life for each of us. It portrays without a doubt the unconditional and lasting love our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ blesses us with.
In fact, in my Bible, I’ve drawn a red ink heart around vs. 15-17. And in the margin (also in red) I’ve written: “Wow! This IS love!” Here’s where we find OT promises and prophecies, the blessings from Jesus’ Beatitudes in Matthew, and Jesus’ “I AM” sayings in John fulfilled. Here we find complete and true love for the multitude of God’s faithful believers brought to new and eternal life by the precious Lamb of God.
So, who do you suppose this great multitude is? The martyrs for Christ, past, present, and future? Or the 144.000 and 24 elders often lifted up in Revelation? Maybe it’s those faithful OT forefathers and foremothers who believed God’s promise but died before it could be fulfilled. Maybe it’s the faithful disciples since – some who believed and lived their whole life for Christ and some who said “yes” to Jesus in their final moments of life. Maybe it’s those not yet born, but planned for by God. Probably it’s a combination of these and still more. Only God knows, and that’s what matters.
One thing for sure, the multitude will contain a vast number; a hugs assortment of people “from every nation, tribe, people, and language.” Every family, age, gender, ethnicity, and everything else; all who remained faithful throughout generations are now victorious. They’ve found their place in heaven, their new eternal home. Remember Jesus’ promise in John 14:1-3... He’s the one and only way, truth, and life.
Once there and once completely and eternally established, all differences and divisions we experience here will be gone. No more state lines or national borders. No social, political, cultural, or even religious divides. No separate temple courts for Jews, Gentiles, women, men, or even the priests. No difference who’s circumcised or not or anything else. All gone! Hallelujah!
And here’s another cool thought – it won’t make any difference if you’re wearing your Sunday best, the current top fashion, a hand-me-down, or a bargain from the resale shop. It’ll be no big deal if your clothes are neat and pressed or dirty and ragged. Then we’ll join everyone in wearing new robes washed to the whitest white in the blood of the Lamb. Can you picture it?
And what about this Lamb? Jesus, a lamb; the Lamb of God – really? Isn’t it hard enough to picture him as Shepherd, even though we get a lot of comfort and hope in that image (Ps. 23 and John 10)? But here he is, our Lord and Savior, Good Shepherd, and now Lamb of God; so many wonderful things, by the grace of God, revealed by the Spirit, all for us in love!
When we think of Jesus, we often think of power, salvation, unconditional love, and grace; holy attributes higher than normal human traits. Jesus, the One who is and was and is to come; the Way, Truth, and Life; the resurrection and the life; God incarnate; the same yesterday, today, and forever. So, how can he be a lowly, helpless lamb? It just seems so unlikely!
We have to remember God’s ways are not human ways and God’s thoughts are not human thoughts; they’re way beyond ours, for sure! Holy Spirit, help us! God’s people remember the sacrificial lambs from OT days – spotless, without blemish, pure from any ravages of life that come with age. We might think of them like babies – innocent, vulnerable, having no judgment, but all snuggly, and lovable.
Jesus was born as God in the flesh (John 1:14), a child who grew up in a godly home, in the back country, away from the evils and lures of city life and culture. As God Incarnate, he remained faithful to his heavenly Father and fulfilled his Abba’s plan. He didn’t fall to temptation and sin; he went to the cross and gave his life – a true sacrifice of love and grace so all of God’s people (the earthly multitude) could be forgiven. Then they could one day live in the eternal home Jesus rose from the dead to prepare for all who believe upon his ascension to heaven, taking his place to sit at the right hand of God.
The Lamb – the spotless, sinless, all-loving, all-gracious Lamb did it all; paid it all for us! We’re blessed beyond all human comprehension! No wonder John’s vision saw everyone clothed in white waving palm branches signifying peace that passes all understanding (which the Lamb provides) and lifting up praises to God and to the Lamb in their words and songs.
Yes, we’re reminded that amid the blessings of life, hardships will come – Jesus said they would (John 16:13), and even harder things are still to come in that final great ordeal or tribulation. But if we remain faithful and trust in the truth to what we profess to believe, because of the Lamb we’ll triumph!
Our victory in Jesus will be won, just as God promised to people of all generations. Our eternal inheritance is sealed. We, too, will receive a robe washed white by the blood of the Lamb and join in with all the saints in that great multitude.
Today we remember and glorify God with thanks and praise for the saints we’ve been blessed with – Ed, Ron, Virginia, Maryellyn, and so many others, who now are part of that great cloud of witnesses. They’ve fought their final battle, they’ve finished their final race, they’ve conquered, won the prize, and joined the multitude, gathered before the throne, singing and praising God and the Lamb. Their sorrows, ordeals, and tribulations are over, their sins are forgiven, all hunger and thirst are gone, all suffering and death are done. No more tears will ever be cried. They’re resurrected to new life forever and reside by the streams of living water for all eternity. Such glorious good news!
And the even better good news is: this is what the Lamb has waiting for you, me, and generations still to come! By the Spirit’s power, let’s believe! By the grace of God, we are part of the great multitude, blessed to live with the Lamb in glory forever! Thanks be to God! Amen.