When explaining who this multitude was in heaven, one of the elders said, ( see Rev 7:14b ) a number of things about this group.
1. They have come out of the great tribulation.
2. They have washed their robes and made them white in the blood of the lamb.
3. They are before the throne of God and serve Him day and night in His temple.
4. God Himself dwells among them.
5. They will not hunger.
6. They will not thirst anymore.
7. The sun shall not strike them nor any heat.
8.The Lamb will be in the midst of them.
9. The Lamb will shepherd them and lead them to living fountains of water
10. And, God will wipe away ever tea from their eyes.
Some thoughts in reflection, and application for our day to day life and understanding.
1. People who were not saved at the start of the tribulation, will at some point in it, come to faith in Jesus Christ.
2. Some of those who become saved, will wind up being killed because of their faith.
3. Upon their death, they will go where we would go today if we died, they will go to heaven.
4. They are clothed in white robes. The Bibles way of saying they are pure and without sin their in heaven. Completely forgiven, and with God in that relationship forever and forever
5. Once arriving in heaven a number of things will be theirs forever and ever. . Those would include being there before the throne of God. They will serve the Lord continually. God will dwell with them.
6. Going on with their blessings. They will never be hungry again, for anything, physical food, or spiritual food. They will be satisfied forever, also, not thirsting in any way. Not feeling ever, any sense of need, of any type. And, nothing will ever hurt them, like the sun or the heat etc.
7. And, there are two more things that Jesus will do for them. First of all, He will shepherd them. Which means, to feed, to rule, to keep. To govern, to furnish pasture for food, to nourish, to cherish, to supply each and every need they might have.
And, Jesus will lead them to living fountains of water. Part of Christ's ministry will be to take these people, and to lead them to living fountain(s) of water. We don't know exactly what this means, but it sure sounds good, doesn't it. It's the picture of what a shepherd does, and that is, to make sure that His sheep are not thirsty.
8. This is the last thing mentioned in this passage, but, it's perhaps the most tender, and intimate ministry that God will have for His people. God Himself will wipe away ever tear from their eyes.
This particular multitude will perhaps have more tears then any other group, due to the loss of life they will experience from their time on earth during the tribulation. There will be pain as it were, expressed by the shedding of tears.
There is nothing more personal and loving if you will then to think of God coming over to one of His people, and taking their head in His hands, and then with the other hand, moving to their cheeks, ( where there are tears flowing down ) and to wipe them away. It's an act of comfort and love to His people.
Lastly, and for us here upon the earth, God keeps us, and God feeds us, and God quenches our thirst, and He leads us to drink of His Spirit, and He comforts us in our times of tears from trouble.
Are you shedding any tears today? Is there a tear, or tears in your heart today? May I pray for you, and ask that today, You will find the comfort of God, in His ministering to you, and caring for you in your time of pain and difficulty.
We learned earlier in Rev that God also puts our tears in a bottle. Our tears are known by God, and collected by God and kept by God, and they are also wiped away by Him.
Pastor Bob Grenier
Calvary Chapel Visalia
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.”
