GETTING THE MESSAGE/Seek that which is above
Revelation 7: 9-17 is a vision of the heavenly bliss those who belong to Christ are destined for. It is given for those on earth who still have a pilgrimage to make through a world full of tribulation. Christians have joy and blessedness on earth, but it is mingled with sin and suffering that we must persevere through by faith.
In verse 9, John sees a multitude of redeemed souls that have come from all over the earth. They are “standing before the throne and before the Lamb, clothed in white robes with palm branches in their hands.” That these souls are standing in the presence of God is contrasted with the question in chapter 6 by those facing the great day of wrath from the throne of God and the Lamb. There the question is “Who can stand?”
The answer is that none can stand before God but those clothed in white robes. The white robes signify their sins being taken away. In verse 14, we see that “they have washed their robes and made them white in the blood of the Lamb.” Christ is the only Savior of sinners and the one thing necessary. There will be no souls in heaven apart from him.
The palm branches indicate victory in the Lamb, and they all cry out in a loud voice, “Salvation belongs to our God who sits on the throne and to the Lamb.” Their united praise is contrasted to men on earth, whose united voice is to exalt men above God.
All the angels join the worship of God. They fall down, saying, “Amen! Blessing and glory and wisdom and thanksgiving and honor and power and might be to our God forever and ever! Amen.” All these attributes of God are exhibited in the plan and accomplishment of Redemption. The angels see greater glory in God in redemption than is on display even in the great creation of God.
The greatness of salvation is immeasurable. Verses 13-14 highlight the necessity souls on earth have of being “dressed in white robes” to persevere in the faith while on earth and to enter into heaven. They are those who have come out of the great tribulation.
The blood of the Lamb mentioned means the death of Christ. Why was Christ crucified? That whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. If sin were a trivial thing, God would not have sent his Son into the world to have the guiltiness of it laid upon him.
Whether a man knows it or not, he is in great tribulation on earth. The first indicator of the wretchedness of sin is that God says it is worthy of death, hell, and eternal destruction. The judgment of God hangs over men, so the intent, design, and aim of Christ dying for sinners is welcome news. The wonder of the gospel is that it meets man where he is, a sinner. It tells him of a remedy to that which will destroy him. The vision of heaven points us to our soul’s necessities.
Verses 15-17 describe the blessedness of inheriting the promise of God in Christ Jesus. There is no angel with a flaming sword keeping men away from the presence of God. Rather, they are “before the throne and serve him day and night.” This simply means there is no hindrances, nothing to spoil the full enjoyment of God. Every hint of sin and darkness has been taken away.
In Psalm 27, David had such a taste of heaven he wanted to dwell in the house of the Lord all the days of his life. Oh, David thought, if I could just stay in this frame forever. But he had to face enemies, being weighed down with his own sin, and the weakness of the flesh. But it’s not like that in heaven. Verse 16 tells us that there are no vestiges of the curse we faced on earth in heaven.
And verse 17 points us to the great love of Christ. His exaltation does not mean he is at a greater distance from his people. He is very near to them as a Shepherd, no longer to uphold them through tribulations, but now to lead them to springs of living water, meaning new discoveries of his love and glory. They will know God and love God to the fullest. It is a mutual love.
Therefore, we must be resolved that we will seek that which is above, where Christ is. It is a great salvation. Sin makes us unworthy of heaven, but it is a defilement that Christ has cleansed. Happy are those who feel all these things and are forgiven in Christ.
The Rev. Chris Shelton is pastor of Union’s First Presbyterian Church.