August, 1941
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T H E K I N G ’ S B U S I N E S S
t persistence in their worship of the true God will have meant untold anguish. Finally, however, their darkness will be passed forever. There will be no more tears (v. 17). The Lamb Himself shall lead these tested ones into the realization of their hearts’ desire. At last they will see that infinite wis dom a-nd eternal love were active though unseen in all the bitter exper iences of life. The lesson for us is this: It is abundantly worth while—in any dis pensation and under even the severest persecutipn—to reverence the Lamb of God, the Saviour of the world, and to declare one's sole allegiance to H.m. The greater the testing, the more satis fying will be the reward. Points and Problems 1. “After this” ,(Rev. 7:9). In the first vision of this chapter, we saw God sealing 144,000 from the tribes of the children of Israel. In the second vision, we learn that many Gentiles also will be saved in the days of God’s judg ments. But here we find the ancient order restored: the Jew first. Hitler and all other despisers of the Jew should read this chapter. 2. “A great multitude . . . of all nations” (v. 9). An objection has some times been raised to the number men tioned in relation to the saved Israelites of this chapter. Why, people argue, should the saved here be limited to ex actly 144,000, and no more? It seems to me that this first company of 144,000 Israelites is selected for a specific pur pose and service (cf. 14:1-5). The num ber is not intended to suggest any limi tation on the whole number of saved Israelites. Since the great company of the second vision is saved out of “all nations, and kindreds, and people, and tongues,” why may not the Jews also be included here? Are they not a “people” ? Do they not represent a “ tongue” ? 3. "Clothed with white robes, and palms in their hands” (v. 9). For the Old Testament typical background of this imagery, the reader should consult Leviticus 23:27-44. The Day of Atone ment, which gave to the people their righteous standing before God, was im mediately followed by the Feast of Tabernacles, which was a time of re joicing, when the people brought "branches of palm trees.” Thus we have in Revelation 7:9 the picture of a great host rejoicing for the righteousness which they have received through the Lord’s own blood. 4. “And I said unto him, Sir, thou knowest” (v. 14). This brief saying represents the proper humility the in terpreter must have as he appror ches the words of Scripture, especially in the book of Revelation. The book is not sealed, but a revelation. Therefore, we are to study it, not to shun it. Neverthe-
will, true to His promise, reward us. There are many who, like this rock to my left, appear to be Christians,
but who, when they are tested, refuse to give forth the light of the gospel of Christ.
SEPTEMBER 14, 1941 THE ETERNAL GOD, THE SOURCE OF HELP R evelation 7:9-17
and the living creatures standing about the throne (v. 11). And this answer was a paean of praise unto the living God to whom is due “blessing, and glory, and wisdom, and thanksgiving, and honor, and power, and might, (v. i2 ). Tne God to whom the great multitude gave praise is the same One to whom all heaven ascribes adoration; He is the living God before whom every created intelligence must bow. n . T he O rigin of the M ultitude (13, 14) One of the elders asked the seer, “What are these which are arrayed in white robes?” (v. 13). John did not know what to answer, and the question evidently was meant to arouse him to ask whb they were. He had seen the Jewish remnant sealed (Rev. 7:4-8), and possibly his heart was in danger of being satisfied because of racial in terest in h is' own people. The elder would remind him of the wider pur poses of God concerning the whole earth. The origin of the multitude is plain ly stated by the angel: “These are they which came out of the great tribula tion” (the tribulation, the great one). The teaching is clear - that there will be a vast host from among every nation, tongue, and people, who will be saved during the time .known as “the great tribulation.” For these redeemed ones, the blood of the Lamb will prevail to make their robes white (v. 14), as they prove His faithfulness and compassion even during their terrible experience of tribulation. III. T he F uture of the G reat M ultitude . (15-17) This multitude tvill be before the throne of God and serve Him day and night in His temple (v. 15). While no one can speak dogmatically concerning future developments, the reference here seems to be clearly to the throng and temple to be upon the earth where the service of these individuals will be rendered, rather than to the throne and temple in heaven. He shall "spread his tabernacle over them” (v. 15, R. V.) —another indication of their earthly position. They will be in the kingdom to be set up on the earth, in to. which kingdom this multitude will enter at the close of the great tribulation. Their sorrows will all be over. And what .sorrows they will have known (v. 16)1 Their refusal to worship the beast and to accept his mark, and their
Revelation 7:9 After this I beheld, and, !e, 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 sltteth upon the and unto the Lamb. HI J n d 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, Ament Blessing, and glory, and wisdom, and thanksgiving, and honor, 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 1 said unto him. Sir, thou knowest. And he said to me, These are they which came out of great tribula tion, 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 templet and he that sltteth 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 thé 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. GOLDEN TEXT: “ Holy, holy, holy, Lord God Almighty, which was, and is, and is to come” (Rev. 4:8V. DEVOTIONAL READING: Isa. 41:8-14. Outline and Exposition I. T he C ry of the M ultitude (9-12) I N THE STUDY of the lesson for today, two facts should be kept in mind: First, the events are all future, occurring at tne tin" •c x»... s judgment upon the peoples of the earth, sometime after 1 Thessalonians 4:16,17 has been fulfilled; and second, the church of Jesus Christ is nowhere re ferred to in these verses. Believers in the Lord Jesus Christ are never to be judged here on earth. psGV’r divinely enabled to look far Into the future, John beheld a great multitude which no man could number. Because this company was composed of individuals from all nations and tongues, unmistakably the passage has to do with Gentile nations, and it reveals the fact that the gospel must have been preached throughout the world. The people mentioned were seen stand ing before the throne and the Lamb, clothed in white robes (v. 9). Their cry was: “ Salvation to our Goa” t v\ 10). They attested the fact that salvation is a glorious reality—now and through out eternity. The answer to the cry of this multi tude came from the angels, the elders,
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