Ask the question
Then one of the elders answered, saying to me, “Who are these arrayed in white robes, and where did they come from?” Revelation 7:13
Each day as I write the Daily Dose, I ask the Holy Spirit two questions: 1. What do you want to show me in this passage of scripture today? 2. What truth do you want me to write about and share? These are good questions, yet most times I am still amazed that He answers those questions so quickly as I read His Word. I don’t have to get down on my knees and beg for revelation and I don’t have to wait for days for the answers to come. I just begin writing what He puts on my heart and many times it unfolds as I write. Whatever He highlights in a passage, I begin to think about it and then begin writing about it and as I do, He opens up my understanding even more. This is one of the reasons I encourage all people to journal. Not only does it help in processing your thoughts and feelings, but more revelation comes as a result of writing down the things God’s Spirit is showing you at the time.
In today’s reading, the apostle John has just watched as the 144,000 servants of God have been sealed on the forehead with God’s seal in the world. When he is finished watching angel that is doing the sealing on the earth, his attention is drawn back to the throne of God. Suddenly, there is a great celebration going on again! A multitude of newcomers of every nation, tribe and tongue are now standing before the throne of God and before the Lamb of God, their Savior. This innumerable crowd is clothed in white robes, holding up palm branches and praising God with a loud voice saying: “Salvation belongs to our God Who sits on the throne, and the Lamb!” This seems to be a contagious shout because everyone else that is there around the throne joins in with the worship and they know just what to sing: “Amen! Blessing, glory, wisdom, thanksgiving, honor, power, and might be to our God forever and ever, Amen!”
While this is happening, John is questioned by one of the elders, who seems to be close to him or guiding him at this point in the vision. The elder asks: “Who are those dressed in white robes and where did they come from?” John does not try to guess or make up an answer that might sound intelligent or wise, he simply says: “Please, tell me what you know about them.” As this vision and scripture is being revealed to John, I love that he doesn’t pretend like he understands it all. He writes what is given to him by faith, but he asks questions along the way when given the opportunity. It is almost like the elder senses that John has a question right now and then asks him.
The elder explains that what John is seeing is millions of people that have come out of the Great Tribulation who were turned to salvation by the 144,000 witnesses that he had just seen get sealed by the angel. These that have been saved at that time are before the throne of God and serve Him day and night in His temple. God the Father lives among them and they will never hunger or thirst anymore because the Lamb of God will be shepherding them and leading them to living fountains of waters. Then God will wipe away every tear from their eyes. These that are before the throne have suffered much in the Great Tribulation and now, they are home with the Lord, never to suffer again for all eternity.
This is a great scene and a joyous celebration of those who have been persecuted and afflicted beyond anything we know today. Now they are in heaven away from the terrible misery of the Great Tribulation. God personally wipes away their tears and grief and welcomes them home! John did not ask any more questions like: Why did they have to suffer so much? Why were they left on earth for so long? or Why didn’t God protect them from suffering? He receives by faith that the end result was salvation that brought them to the end of suffering and into Glory to ever be with their Lord.
Today I want to encourage you to ask questions. Especially when you have trouble understanding scripture, ask the Holy Spirit to reveal the message that He has for you in it at that time. Begin to write out the things that He is showing you. Recognize that you don’t have to know all the details, be satisfied with what you receive in the moment and by faith apply that to your heart and life. Don’t be so set on understanding the whole council of God in one moment, because it will never happen. God is way to big for us to ever understand Him completely. The good news is that He will give you exactly what you need in your moment of struggle as you ask and receive His assurance to your heart! Trust Him today to lead you in that perfect path and them by faith start walking on it.
Today’s scripture reading: Revelation 7:9-17
9 After these things I looked, and behold, a great multitude which no one could number, of all nations, tribes, peoples, and tongues, standing before the throne and before the Lamb, clothed with white robes, with palm branches in their hands,
10 and crying out with a loud voice, saying, “Salvation belongs to our God who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb!”
11 All the angels stood around the throne and the elders and the four living creatures, and fell on their faces before the throne and worshiped God,
12 saying: “Amen! Blessing and glory and wisdom, Thanksgiving and honor and power and might, Be to our God forever and ever. Amen.”
13 Then one of the elders answered, saying to me, “Who are these arrayed in white robes, and where did they come from?”
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.
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.
16 They shall neither hunger anymore nor thirst anymore; the sun shall not strike them, nor any heat;
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 Daily Dose 