A Revelation Invitation

Then one of the elders addressed me, saying, “Who are these, clothed in white robes, and from where have they come?” I said to him, “Sir, you know.” And he said to me, “These are the ones coming out of the great tribulation. They have 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 shelter them with his presence.
They shall hunger no more, neither thirst anymore;
the sun shall not strike them,
nor any scorching heat.
For the Lamb in the midst of the throne will be their shepherd,
and he will guide them to springs of living water,
and God will wipe away every tear from their eyes.”
(Revelation 7:13-17 ESV)

It seemed odd to John that the elder would ask him who these white-robed people were. As John surmised, the man already knew the answer. In fact it seemed pretty obvious. The question served to help John (and us) to look beyond the present circumstances of God’s persecuted people. What set these people apart, this multitude from every nation, tribe, people and language? While most of the world was suffering divine judgment, these people were coming through those same circumstances in a much different state. Even though God had protected them, they still suffered as the elder said coming out of the great tribulation. These people had not been protected from tribulation, but they had been protected through tribulation. How was that possible? Because they had washed their robes in the blood of the Lamb. There is no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.

The elder continued to describe these people in terms that we tend to associate with the age to come. But the promises spoken here were present promises as well. God’s people “serve him day and night in his temple”—even now. God “will shelter [his people] with his presence”—even now. What real harm can come on us when we are sheltered with his presence? “The Lamb … will be their shepherd”—even now. Whatever dangers we face, the shepherd will lead us through them to green pastures so that we “shall hunger no more.” “He will guide them to springs of living water” so that even now his people “thirst no more.” “God will wipe away every tear from their eyes”—even now. He has sent us his comforter, the Holy Spirit. It is true that in the age to come these promises will be fulfilled more completely. But the new day has already dawned and God’s people—even now—sing the song of salvation.

If we aren’t experiencing tribulation at the moment, we should expect to at some time. How will we fare? Times of trial can be very discouraging and mistakenly viewed as evidence that God is absent or even that he is punishing us. God promises to shelter us with his presence. How is that protection manifested? It comes through the comfort of the Holy Spirit. It is secured by the cleansing of our robes in the blood of the Lamb. It is experienced in the joy of the fellowship of believers. It is assured by our hope in the resurrection of the dead. For the people of the world tribulations can take from them everything that they’ve lived for, everything that they’ve worked for, the very things they love the most. Not so for Christians. Tribulations cannot harm or take from us what we treasure, what we live for or what we work for.

Lord God, your promises are a great comfort and encouragement to me. You are ever-present in my life. I trust your promises. Your assurances are refreshing. Thank you for the guiding presence of the Shepherd. I believe you will protect and preserve all that I treasure most because because my treasures are with you. You refresh me and sustain me along with all of your people. Amen.