Looking Across the Finish Line
- William Long said that our spirits should soar at the
imagery in Revelation 7:9 of a "great multitude" from "every nation, tribe,
people and language" giving praise to God.
- What John saw in Revelation 7:9 will reverse the scattering
of people that occurred in Genesis 11 at the Tower of Babel.
- The promise of blessing for all peoples made to Abraham in
Genesis 12 can be thought of as one "bookend" of salvation history. John's "look across the
finish line" in Revelation 7:9 is the other bookend of that story
- Other world religions also have beliefs about End Times.
What does the Holy Spirit want to say to us through the words of Revelation
7:9?
Missions: The Heart of God
Commentary on Revelation 7
"There before me was a great multitude no one could count, from every nation, tribe,
people and language, standing before the throne and before the Lamb" -- Revelation 7:9
In a sermon preached while the Olympic Games were going on one summer, Lutheran pastor
David Rockhoff told his Kenosha, WI, congregation that Revelation 7 gives us a "look across the
finish line." In verse 9 of that look-across-the-finish-line, John described people from all over
the world at the throne of God giving praise to King Jesus.
That heavenly image of a huge crowd of born-again believers from around the globe should
not surprise anyone familiar with Scripture. Indeed, when what John the Revelator described
comes to pass, it will fulfill statements about world evangelism that were said to people like
Abraham, Isaiah, and the Apostles. God's messages to them included such things as:
- Genesis 12:3, 22:18 -- A
promise that through Abraham and his descendants (spiritual as well as biological), "all
nations on earth" will be blessed.
- Isaiah 42:6 and 49:6 -- A message that God's people would be "a light for the Gentiles that my
salvation may reach to the ends of the earth."
- Matthew 24:14 -- Jesus'
answer to a question about when the End Times would begin: "This gospel of the kingdom
will be preached in the whole world as a testimony to all nations, and then the end will
come."
- Acts 1:8 -- The promise
of the Holy Spirit with the result that "you will be my witnesses . . . to the ends of the
earth."
Those four passages all speak of world evangelism, and all four of them will be brought to
completion by what John described in Revelation 7:9. Presbyterian minister William Long was
right when he wrote that our spirits should soar at the imagery of a "great multitude"
from "every nation, tribe, people and language" giving praise. For those believers who
have prayed, given, and even gone for the cause of world evangelism, the sight will be
joyous.
In the Genesis 11 Tower of Babel story, language differences divided and scattered
humanity. What John saw in Revelation 7:9 will reverse that scattering. This look ahead to the
finished product of the world missions enterprise should excite all but the most xenophobic
among us -- xenophobic being a big word signifying unreasonable fear of foreigners or
strangers.
As God reached out to His rebellious and lost creation, He made some promises to Abraham
and others. The vision John recorded in Revelation 7:9 is about those promises coming true.
Thus, the promise of a blessing for all peoples on earth made to Abraham at the beginning of the Old Testament can be thought of as one "bookend" of salvation history. At the end of the New Testament, John's "look across the finish line" is the other bookend of that wonderful story in which we are called to actively participate.
-- Howard Culbertson,
This mini-essay on a world missions Bible passage is one of more than three dozen articles in the
"Heart of God" series published in Engage magazine. That series explores what the Bible says about missions.
Discussion questions
- How does the image of the "great multitude" in Revelation 7:9 connect with the promises
made to Abraham, Isaiah, and the Apostles about world evangelism?
- Is it valid to say that the scattering of people at the Tower of Babel will be reversed in
what John described in Revelation 7:9? Why or why not?
- Why would the image of people from every nation, tribe, people, and language giving praise to God be so significant for believers who have prayed, given, and gone for the cause of world evangelism?
- How might the promise of blessing for all peoples made to Abraham at the beginning of the Old Testament connect with John's "look across the finish line" in Revelation 7:9 at the end of the New Testament?
- What is our role as believers in actively participating in the story of salvation history that has
its "bookends" in the promises made to Abraham and the image of the "great multitude" in
Revelation 7:9?
Afterword
Revelation 7:9 describes a vision seen by John the Apostle during his exile on the island of
Patmos. In this vision, John saw a vast multitude of people from every nation, tribe, people, and
language standing before the throne of God and the Lamb, wearing white robes and holding palm
branches. This vision is important in Christian theology for several reasons:
- Inclusivity and Worldwide Reach: The vision
demonstrates the inclusivity and global scale of God's salvation. It emphasizes that God's love
and grace are not limited to a particular ethnic group, nation, or culture but are extended to all
peoples. What John described underscores the fundamental Christian belief in the equality and dignity of all humanity before God.
- Fulfillment of Prophecy: The vision of the multitude
echoes numerous Old Testament prophecies, including those found in Isaiah and the Psalms,
which speak of people from all nations coming to worship God. This fulfillment highlights the
continuity between the Old and New Testaments while underscoring God's overarching plan
throughout history.
- Victory and Redemption: The white robes worn by the multitude symbolize purity, victory, and redemption through the blood of the Lamb (Jesus Christ). They signify that those in the vision have been cleansed from sin and are now partakers
in Christ's eternal victory over sin and death.
- Hope and Encouragement: John's vision provides
hope and encouragement for persecuted Christians. It reassures believers that despite suffering
and persecution in the present world, there will be ultimate victory and vindication for those who
remain faithful to God. It reminds them that their struggles are temporary and that an eternal reward awaits them.
- Worship and Adoration: The scene depicts a heavenly worship gathering, where a
vast multitude praises God and rejoices over what the Lamb has done. This highlights the central
role of worship in the life of Christ-followers and underscores the ultimate purpose of human
existence -- to glorify and enjoy God forever.
In short, the scene described in Revelation 7:9 is rich in theological significance. It speaks to
the themes of inclusivity, redemption, victory, hope, and worship. It has served to inspire and
encourage believers throughout history by reminding them of the ultimate triumph of God's
kingdom and the eternal fellowship of the redeemed.
What other world religions believe about the End Times
- Buddhism: Buddhism generally focuses on
individual liberation from suffering rather than a cosmic end-time scenario. However, some
Buddhist texts mention the concept of Maitreya Buddha, a future Buddha who will appear in the
world to teach the Dharma after the teachings of Gautama Buddha have been forgotten or
corrupted.
- Hinduism: Hindu eschatology is complex and
diverse. Different texts and traditions offer various perspectives. Concepts such as Kalki,
the final avatar of Vishnu, and the cycles of creation, destruction, and rebirth (as depicted in the
concept of Yugas) are significant. The end times in Hinduism are often associated with the
dissolution of the universe. That will be followed by a period of dormancy before a new cycle
begins.
- Islam: In Islam, the end times are associated
with the Day of Judgment, known as "Qiyamah." Muslims believe in the return of Jesus (Isa) as a
sign of the approaching end. Islamic eschatology includes beliefs about the appearance of the
Mahdi (a messianic figure), the Dajjal (the Antichrist), and the descent of Isa (Jesus) to defeat the
Dajjal and establish justice.
- Judaism: Jewish eschatology is not as well-defined as it is in Christianity or Islam. However, there are Jewish beliefs about the coming of the Messiah, the resurrection of the dead, and the establishment of the Messianic Age or Olam Haba. Some Jewish interpretations suggest a future time of peace and harmony. Others emphasize the ingathering of the exiles and rebuilding the Temple in Jerusalem.
- Sikhism: Sikh eschatology is centered around the idea of "Chardi Kala," which means rising spirits or eternal optimism. Sikhs believe in the eventual triumph of good over evil, but they don't have a specific End Times narrative similar to some other religions.
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