◄ What Does Revelation 7:9 Mean? ►

Throughout the Church dispensation, God is reconciling the world to Himself, through the Church. However, during the Tribulation Period, He will once again reach a lost world, through the nation of Israel.

Once the Church has been raptured, God will continue His plan of salvation through His people, Israel. Instead of the Church proclaiming the gospel of the grace of God to a lost world, 144 thousand Jewish evangelists will start to proclaim the gospel of the kingdom – and then Christ will return as their anointed King.

Although this is a time of Great Tribulation, it is not God's will that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance through faith in Christ for the forgiveness of sin. And it is during this 'Time of Jacobs Trouble' (the 70th week of Daniel) that we discover a great multitude without number who will be saved by God’s grace, through faith in the Lamb of God Who takes away the sin of the world.

We read in Revelation 7, that after the sealing of the 144 thousand Jews who come from every tribe of Israel, a great multitude which no one could number, will come to faith in Christ. They will be saved out of every nation and people-group in the world... and from every tribe of Israel.

We do not have to speculate about this great company, because we are told in the following verses: "These people are the ones who come out of Great Tribulation. They have washed their robes and made them white, in the blood of the Lamb."

This great multitude are those that have been forgiven of their sin, by faith in Christ. However, from reading the book of Revelation, we discover that their faith will be severely tested, for about three quarters of the entire world's population will be slain during this period.

Although there will be a global slaughter during this terrible time, a great multitude will be saved for the witness of Jesus and for the Word of God, because they did not worship the beast, nor his image, nor did they receive his mark upon their foreheads, or in their hands.

Though not part of the Church, these saints of God will be resurrected when the Antichrist is defeated and Christ returns to earth to take up His rightful position as Israel's King. They will be privileged to reign on earth with Christ for 1000 years – after He has returned, in power and great glory, to sit on the throne of David and begin His earthly rule from Jerusalem.

The great crowd that John saw in his vision were Jews and Gentiles who had rejected God's offer of salvation during the Church age, but who trusted Him for the forgiveness of sin during this terrible time of Tribulation. And we see this blessed group of saints standing before God’s throne and before the Lamb. They were clothed in white robes and held palm branches in their hands.

Having rejected salvation during the Church dispensation, they are not members of Christ's Body but, like the Church, will participate in the Millennial Kingdom – and God will wipe away every tear from their eyes.

Unlike the Church who are destined to be kings and priest of God who will rule and reign with Christ on His throne, this multitude of saints will serve the Lord as priests in the Temple of the Lord, day and night.

Today, we in the Church teach the gospel of the grace of God, but in the Tribulation, Israel will declare the gospel of the coming kingdom of Christ... and in the Millennial Kingdom, Old Testament saints, Church-age saints, and Tribulation saints will unite their voices in praise and thanksgiving for Christ – the Lamb of God and King of Israel Who takes away the sin of the world.

Heavenly Father, thank You for telling us the end from the beginning. Thank You that by grace through faith, I am part of the Body of Christ and have been saved from the wrath to come in the 7 year Tribulation period. I praise Your name and thank You that Israel will finally fulfil their Covenant promise to be a light to the Gentiles and to proclaim the gospel of the Kingdom throughout the world. Thank You that by Your grace, a multitude without number will be saved out of the wrath to come. Thank You, in Jesus' name, AMEN.