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Read Introduction to Revelation

 

“Then one of the elders answered, saying to me, “Who are these arrayed in white robes, and where did they come from?” And I said to him, “Sir, you know.” So he said to me, “These are the ones who come out of the great tribulation, and washed their robes and made them white in the blood of the Lamb. “Therefore they are before the throne of God, and serve Him day and night in His temple. And He who sits on the throne will dwell among them. “They shall neither hunger anymore nor thirst anymore; the sun shall not strike them, nor any heat; “for the Lamb who is in the midst of the throne will shepherd them and lead them to living fountains of waters. And God will wipe away every tear from their eyes“

 

7:13

Then one of the elders answered, saying to me, “Who are these arrayed in white robes, and where did they come from?” 

One of the elders asks from where those clothed in white robes came. The answer comes in verse 14. These people came out of the Great Tribulation. Their white robes indicate that the Lamb made their robes white by His blood.

7:14

And I said to him, “Sir, you know.” So he said to me, “These are the ones who come out of the great tribulation, and washed their robes and made them white in the blood of the Lamb 

These saints were not believers from the church age. They came out of the Great Tribulation period. This phrase in Greek is potent, “the Tribulation, the great one.” These are the martyrs killed in the last three and one-half years of the Tribulation.

Ironically, the white robes of these martyrs were made white in red blood. By the shedding of the blood of Jesus, the Lamb, these martyrs stand completely clean before God forever. They stand without sin before God.

7:15

“Therefore they are before the throne of God, and serve Him day and night in His temple. And He who sits on the throne will dwell among them 

The word “therefore” indicates the reason these martyrs stood before the throne and in the presence of God: the shed blood of Christ for their sins. They are now in the presence of the one whom saved them.

We will serve God day and night in His presence (temple). “Night and day” indicates that there is no cessation to serving the Lord. Evidently, they never need to sleep or go to bed.

“Dwell” means to spread a tabernacle, to live, have one’s tent, encamp. Later, John uses this term for heaven itself (Revelation 21:3). Here, God spreads his tent over these martyrs to protect them with His presence. God’s presence protects these saints perpetually. They no longer need to fear any trouble.

7:16

“They shall neither hunger anymore nor thirst anymore; the sun shall not strike them, nor any heat 

Evidently, the people in white robes were martyrs who suffered hunger, thirst, and exposure. In the Tribulation, believers will go without food because of not allowing the mark put upon them by world religion. If they do not have this mark, they cannot buy food. Many will starve to death.

7:17

“for the Lamb who is in the midst of the throne will shepherd them and lead them to living fountains of waters. And God will wipe away every tear from their eyes 

The Lamb personally shepherds the martyrs by leading them to fountains of living water. Jesus sustains these martyrs personally, and He leads them to the living water. The person of Christ is central to our adequacy.

The Greek emphasis is on the word “living.” Christians will partake of God’s life on an ongoing basis — eternal life.

Principle:

We will not grieve in heaven.

Application:

Jesus takes away our grieving. No one can get through life without sorrow. God will not allow us to grieve in heaven. God will personally wipe away every tear.

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