Seven 'BLESSINGS' from GOD for FAITHFULNESS!
December
27 Bible Reading: Revelation Chapters 7-9
Seven 'BLESSINGS' from GOD for FAITHFULNESS!
"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." (Rev 7:15-17)
In his
vision, Apostle John sees a great multitude of Gentiles from among all the
different parts of the world, who were converted during the Great Tribulation,
arrayed in white and standing before the throne (v. 9). This great multitude
appears in white robes displaying their purity and carries palm branches in
their hands symbolic of their final victory. Their earthly trials are now over.
John is informed by one of the elders that these people had come out of the
Great Tribulation and their robes have been washed in the blood of the Lamb (v.
14).
Faith in
Christ had made these redeemed Gentiles both holy and righteous. These redeemed
saints will receive seven wonderful blessings as a reward for
their faithfulness:
- Blessing of Proximity to God: "Therefore they are before the
throne of God" (v: 15a). They would be stationed right before the
throne where they can see Him forever.
- Blessing of Unending Service to God: "And serve
Him day and night in His temple" (v: 15b). ‘To serve’ indicates
priestly service before the Lord (1:6; 5:10).
- Blessing of Close Fellowship with God: "He who sits
on the throne will dwell among them" (v: 15c). The majority in
the multitude had not seen Christ when He dwelt among Jews (John 1:14) but now
God will ‘tabernacle’ among them in heaven.
- Blessing of Total Satisfaction: "They shall neither hunger nor
thirst anymore" (v: 16a). Christ will give them the ‘bread
of life’ (John 6:33, 35, 48, 51) and ‘living water’ (John
4:10; 7:38) that will totally satisfy them.
- Blessing of Total Security: "The sun shall not strike them,
nor any heat" (v: 16b). Just like Jehovah went before the
Israelites by day in a pillar of cloud to lead the way and by night in a pillar
of fire to give them light (Exodus 13:21-22), He will provide them total
security in heaven.
- Blessing of Accurate Guidance: "For the Lamb who is in the midst
of the throne will shepherd them and lead them to fountains of the waters of
life" (v: 17a). Jesus will fulfill His role as the Good Shepherd
(Psalms 23; John 10) as He will guide them continually for eternity.
- Blessing of the Fullness of Joy: "God will wipe away every tear
from their eyes" (v: 17b). Earthly sorrows will be over, as God
will Himself wipe away every tear of grief. Instead, the following observation
by the Psalmist will become a reality: "In Your presence is
fullness of joy; at Your right hand are pleasures forevermore." (Psalms
16:11)
