Thursday, April 21, 2016
THE LAMB ON THE THRONE WILL SHEPHERD THEM (4)
Revelation 7:13-14 Then one of the elders answered, saying to me, "Who are these arrayed in white robes, and where did they come from?" And I said to him, "Sir, you know." So he said to me, "These are the ones who come out of the great tribulation, and washed their robes and made them white in the blood of the Lamb...."
THE LAMB IS HOST AND GUEST
In a prophetic vision like this, John was content to let the Lord Himself answer the question about the identity of the white-robed multitude: "Sir, you know," he said. The answer received was, "These are the ones who come out of the great tribulation, and washed their robes and made them white in the blood of the Lamb." "The blood of the Lamb" refers to the sacrifice of Jesus, the Lamb of God, on the cross which washes away all sin.
What is "the great tribulation"? It is NOT a specific period of intense suffering and persecution before a supposed "rapture" is ushered in, allowing some Christians to be whisked away to escape it all (as millennialists claim). Far from it! Christians will have to endure suffering. The Lord Jesus taught His disciples that "Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness' sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven..." (Mt. 5:10). St. Paul writes, "We must through much tribulation enter into the kingdom of God" (Acts 14:22).
By the power of the Holy Spirit, believing children of God endure as, with the martyr Stephen, they "see the heavens opened and the Son of Man standing at the right hand of God!" (Acts 7:56).
The Norwegian hymnwriter, Hans Brorson (d. 1764), who also wrote "I Walk in Danger All the Way," captures the thrust of this text in his treasured hymn:
Behold a host, arrayed in white, Like thousand snow-clad mountains bright,
With palms they stand. Who is this band Before the throne of light?
Lo, these are they of glorious fame Who from the great affliction came
And in the flood of Jesus' blood Are cleansed from guilt and blame.
Now gathered in the holy place, Their voices they in worship raise,
Their anthems swell where God doth dwell, Mid angels' songs of praise.
Despised and scorned, they sojourned here; But now, how glorious they appear!
Those martyrs stand a priestly band, God's throne forever near.
So oft, in troubled days gone by, In anguish they would weep and sigh.
At home above the God of Love For aye their tears shall dry.
They now enjoy their Sabbath rest, The paschal banquet of the blest;
The Lamb, their Lord, at festal board Himself is Host and Guest.
(The Lutheran Hymnal, 656:1-2)
