Sermon Text: Revelation 7:9-8:1
Below is a sermon manuscript from August 24, 2025. Watch the sermon here.
Introduction
There are a lot of people who are now rolling into town that you might be able to tell “they are not from here.” Just the other day, we saw a young college student who was pulling out of a restaurant, made a left gently – right over a large rock-filled median. The car jolting all about. We pulled up alongside her and her hands were still covering her mouth. We saw another that missed an exit onto Benner Pike and they were backing up on the highway to go onto the ramp. Maybe just drivers not having the best day, but likely they were not from around here. Maybe you have seen things too. Maybe you have avoided grocery shopping or even going out altogether this weekend. For locals, things change when students come. But there is a give and take. Students bring life to the university and town. Without them, many within our congregation would not have the same employment or ministry opportunities here in State College. So sure, there are sacrifices in traffic or congestion in certain parts of town, but we benefit greatly too. Welcoming students is less of a sacrifice and more of a trade-off.
But how different is that from God. When it comes to God’s ways, on our own all of us are not from around here. It doesn’t really matter our skin color, family background, or anything about us, we all are driving over the barriers of God’s law. What’s more. God has everything he need within himself. This is what’s referred to as the self-sufficiency of God. So creation, or creatures like us, do not add anything to God. Because we have sinned, we deserve to be barred from his presence. He doesn’t need us in His presence. In fact, to include us would require true sacrifice with no personal benefit. But the Triune God of Scripture is a God who delights to redeem that which has been lost, to save sinners, to welcome the multitude into His presence. How does this happen? What does it look like? This is what we have a picture of for our final sermon in the series.
Welcomed into the Presence
When we think of Revelation we think of the last book of the Bible, but we also need to recognize that it is an appropriate book for its place in our Bibles. Genesis starts with Adam and Eve in the garden paradise. They are welcomed into the presence of God. They walk with him without fear. But then something happens. They sin. They rebel against God. Sin brings separation from God. We see the garden marked off by angels. In the course of Biblical history, God makes a way to be with his people. There is the tabernacle. But this has layers of access. God’s grace in preventing a sinful people from coming before a holy God. He graciously makes provisions and there is a limited access by some. But here is a reverse. We have people standing before the throne. A multitude that is welcomed into the company of angels who are worshipping. The ripping of the temple veil when Jesus died is now being further realized in this image. What is seen dimly in the here and now is fully realized in this picture in this passage. God’s people are welcome in His presence.
Where you’re from does not disqualify you from the presence
This is a bit of an oversimplification, because it’s more comprehensive than that. This multitude, as we saw last week is from every people group. There may be an echo here of God including all people in his covenant promises through the seed of Abraham, Jesus Christ. Remember that God promised to make Abraham a great nation and here we have nation in singular, and the other words are plural. This may be intentionally echoing the promises given to Abraham to make him a great nation. I said last week that this group may be the same as the group that is listed before, the 144,000 and if so, this would be another clue. The promise to make Abraham into a nation he couldn’t count could also be hinted at with the innumerable multitude.[1]
This group gives comfort for those struggling today
Sometimes it can be easy to feel outnumbered. To feel like the world is against you. Christians throughout the world can feel like this daily. And they are not only in the history of God’s people. In fact, we might think of Biblical examples of Daniel and his friends. Or what about Elijah in 1 Kings 19:14 he complains that he is the only one left who has been faithful to the Lord and God informs him that, actually, there are 7,000 that have not bowed their knees to idols (1 Kings 19:18). Remember that in the beginning of Revelation Jesus addresses the seven churches, a common theme is for them to persevere amid different things they are facing. When we discussed the churches last year, we said that they were likely chosen because they represent perennial issues that the church deals with the struggle in the hear and now. The church in Sardis, like the multitude here, were promised white garments for persevering. The idea of great tribulation in this passage is debated. Some see it as a reference to the specific time at the end where there is increased hostility, while others see it as a characteristic for the whole church age.
Phillips writes,
In Jesus’ end-times teaching, he stated that shortly before his return “there will be great tribulation, such as has not been from the beginning of the world until now, no, and never will be. And if those days had not been cut short, no human being would be saved” (Matt. 24:21–22; see also Dan. 9:24–27). Paul likewise wrote of the man of perdition and a great apostasy within the church before the end (2 Thess. 2:3). Given this background, and since Revelation 7:14 speaks of the great tribulation, some scholars conclude that the elder refers to a final, relatively brief period of extraordinary trials through which these glorified saints will pass.
There are good reasons, however, to hold that the elder is referring more generally to the entirety of the church age as it is characterized by persecution, opposition, and affliction. Under this view, the tribulation is the general hatred displayed toward Christ and his people in this world, although it will be especially concentrated just before the end.[2]
The reasons for seeing this as throughout the church age are that we see the theme of Christians facing tribulation in the gospel of John, think of John 15:19 where it discusses the hostility of the world, or John 16:33 where Jesus teaches that in the world, we will have tribulation, but that Jesus has overcome the world. Or John 1:9 where John describes himself as their brother and partner in the tribulation. While John could be using a technical term to refer to the very last things, it is likely that it is more general. Either way, there is much application for us today.
Perhaps like Elijah, you think “who really is faithful in the midst of all of this.” Well, here is the answer. They are not alone. You are not alone. God has his people. There is not one or two, there is a multitude. A multitude that spans the globe and spans time.
Welcomed at a Price
In this passage, we have the dual reality of salvation. It belongs to God. He alone is the author of salvation and has done everything necessary for it to take place. The cost has been paid for our redemption in the blood of Jesus. We see that within our passage, the robes are made white on the basis of the blood. Salvation from judgment in the form of blood calls to mind God’s saving work in Egypt. Here, his people were being kept in slavery. But on the final plague, God instructs the Israelites to place the blood of a lamb over their doorposts, and his judgment will pass over them.
Jesus died so that we could live
This shedding of the blood of the lamb pointed forward to Jesus’ sacrifice. In this midst of rightful judgment on earth dwellers – those who have rebelled against God and harmed his people, his judgment comes. But those who are marked off are safe. How does this happen? Because Jesus paid the price for us. He willingly laid down his life for our sins. Hebrews 10:11-14 says it like this,
And every priest stands daily at his service, offering repeatedly the same sacrifices, which can never take away sins. 12 But when Christ had offered for all time a single sacrifice for sins, he sat down at the right hand of God, 13 waiting from that time until his enemies should be made a footstool for his feet. 14 For by a single offering he has perfected for all time those who are being sanctified.[3]
This comes after the writers of Hebrews says it is impossible for the blood of bulls and goats to take away sin. The Old Testament practice pointed forward and prepared the way for the lamb of God who would come to lay down his life.
We must grab hold of this gift through faith
But we take hold of it through faith. This is not a work; in fact, faith is the anti-work. It is the recognition that we do not trust in ourselves or our own strategies to be right before God, but that we receive what he has accomplished as a gift. This is difficult. The passage says that they receive the
This is an important concept for us to realize. Those who were protected in Egypt were those who applied the blood to their doorposts. They personally trusted in the way that God provided. In a similar way, we must receive what Christ did through His death.
I said earlier that where you are from does not disqualify you. But though our ethnicity does not disqualify us from God’s presence our sin does and everyone regardless of their people group, have sinned and are guilty before a holy God. All of us need to apply what Jesus did. But this free offer of trusting in Jesus’ work for sinners is available to all. But to take hold of it requires humility. It means recognizing that our sins deserved Jesus’ blood. It means recognizing that who we are and the identities we have created for ourselves, the things we pride ourselves in, contribute nothing to our salvation. If you are a PhD student, you need Jesus. If you are a successful businessperson, you need Jesus. If you are more athletic or determined than anyone you know, you need Jesus. If you are better looking than all your friends, you need Jesus.
Remember the apostle Paul, after listing all his credentials he said,
4 though I myself have reason for confidence in the flesh also. If anyone else thinks he has reason for confidence in the flesh, I have more: 5 circumcised on the eighth day, of the people of Israel, of the tribe of Benjamin, a Hebrew of Hebrews; as to the law, a Pharisee; 6 as to zeal, a persecutor of the church; as to righteousness under the law, blameless. 7 But whatever gain I had, I counted as loss for the sake of Christ. 8 Indeed, I count everything as loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord. For his sake I have suffered the loss of all things and count them as rubbish, in order that I may gain Christ 9 and be found in him, not having a righteousness of my own that comes from the law, but that which comes through faith in Christ, the righteousness from God that depends on faith— 10 that I may know him and the power of his resurrection, and may share his sufferings, becoming like him in his death, 11 that by any means possible I may attain the resurrection from the dead.[4]
What we have, we have now
Another important aspect to this is that what we have, we have now. We are an impatient people who want what we want now, with all the perks. Even DoorDash has buy now, pay later options. This is a great way to overextend yourself! If you don’t have the money to buy that burger, better save and buy it later. It’s not yours yet. But this is not the case when it comes the blessings in Christ. We, along with the original audience, are called to persevere, but we do so from victory and from the surplus of our riches in Christ, not in order to save up enough. No, the robes have been washed. They are already made white. There is a new status for the Christian. We do not need to earn enough to go shopping for heavenly attire, it is ours in Christ the moment we come to Him. Now, that doesn’t mean we won’t struggle to live in light of that, certainly, we are called to persevere. But we are called to victory from victory.
Welcomed Into New Life
Think of these new realities that are depicted in this section.
They are sheltered by God’s presence
This idea of God’s presence is the concept we find throughout Scripture of God’s shekinah glory. That God dwells with his people and they with him. It’s how John’s gospel opens up by discussing Jesus tabernacling among us. This was glimpsed in Jesus’ life on earth, but in this vision of John’s we see it expanded. This multitude is in the glorious presence of God. There, unlike the difficulties of earth, they experience true shelter. We see hints of Psalm 27:1-5 in this,
The Lord is my light and my salvation;
whom shall I fear?
The Lord is the stronghold of my life;
of whom shall I be afraid?
2 When evildoers assail me
to eat up my flesh,
my adversaries and foes,
it is they who stumble and fall.
3 Though an army encamp against me,
my heart shall not fear;
though war arise against me,
yet I will be confident.
4 One thing have I asked of the Lord,
that will I seek after:
that I may dwell in the house of the Lord
all the days of my life,
to gaze upon the beauty of the Lord
and to inquire in his temple.
5 For he will hide me in his shelter
in the day of trouble;
he will conceal me under the cover of his tent;
he will lift me high upon a rock.[5]
It is so easy to focus our eyes on what is right before us. The troubles of today. This is especially true when it seems like they just keep coming and we are in pure response mode.
They are satisfied
The idea of never hungering or thirsting and for the sun not to strike or the scorching heat echoes Isaiah 49:10 about the exiles returning from Babylon.
they shall not hunger or thirst,
neither scorching wind nor sun shall strike them,
for he who has pity on them will lead them,
and by springs of water will guide them.[6]
But we also can see how it serves as a sharp contrast to the judgments that just unfolded. There we have judgments of famine and even of cosmic distress. The elements and economy serving as weapons against the earth dwellers. But here we have a reverse. There is no hunger or thirst and the wind and the sun are not enemies. This is a wonderful hope for those who are going through difficulty now. That one day this will be no more. It’s also a fulfilling of so many promises that we see in Scripture.
Think of Isaiah 55:1-3
“Come, everyone who thirsts,
come to the waters;
and he who has no money,
come, buy and eat!
Come, buy wine and milk
without money and without price.
2 Why do you spend your money for that which is not bread,
and your labor for that which does not satisfy?
Listen diligently to me, and eat what is good,
and delight yourselves in rich food.
3 Incline your ear, and come to me;
hear, that your soul may live;
and I will make with you an everlasting covenant,
my steadfast, sure love for David.[7]
Or Jesus words in Luke 6:21,
“Blessed are you who are hungry now, for you shall be satisfied.[8]
Like so many Christians have known throughout the ages, often faithfulness to Jesus means earthly sacrifices without any relief in this life. But one day this will come to an end.
They are guided
This ties in so nicely with what follows. Not only are we supplied with what we need we also have who we need. We have the lamb with us. The Christian is not content with the blessings of new life without the author of new life. The glory new creation is not glorious without the one who made it possible.
In Ezekiel 34:23 we have a prophecy of a future Davidic rule who will shepherd Israel and the people of God will become one people under a single shepherd.[9] And here in Revelation we have a shepherd over the multitude. But the how is also on display. We have it described for us in a startling and surprising image. The shepherd is the lamb. Think about that. Shepherds are those who tend to and take care of lambs and here we have the shepherd who is the lamb. Jesus is aware of what we are going through, he took of flesh, became like us. We are guided by one who came to us and for us.
They are healed
We also see that they are healed. Verse 17 says that God will wipe away every tear from their eyes. Some say this is mourning for sins we have committed. While that is true, we will be washed clean and not have the regret or shame of sin anymore; this likely alludes to the troubles and sorrows that we have experienced in life. Wipe away is a strong verb that has the idea of “destroy” or “obliterate.”[10] Here, in the context of judgment and God’s wrath, we have God doing work on all the pain and sorrow that we have experienced. He will not stand to have his people suffer in his presence. All tears will be wiped away, all sorrows will run for the hills, God’s people will be in his presence, free to enjoy him forever.
When is this?
These realities echo what we see described as the new earth realities in Revelation 21-22. It’s debated about how they are related. Some say that our section here describes the intermediate state before the new earth. Others see them as parallel descriptions. What’s clear throughout Scripture is that there is immediate hope for those who die in Christ, and there is future hope when all things are made new. Also, even in this life, we get to experience many of these blessings.
Conclusion
The throne room gives us the image of God on the throne and the lamb who was slain and the six seals describe the judgment that comes from the throne, but while there is judgment that comes from the throne for the earth dwellers, there is safety and comfort found in the throne for those who have been washed in the blood of the lamb. Following this section, we have the seventh seal which describes silence and further judgment. But I don’t want to end the series there but instead end it with this final scene. A final contrast between those who have Jesus as Savior and those who have Jesus as judge. These two paths are before us this morning. Who is Jesus to you? Is he someone you have put off, pretending he is a fictional reality. One day you will come face to face with him. This comes to the title of the sermon “You’re welcome.” Who is the “you” in this phrase. It is all who have been washed in the blood. This is a free gift that is offered to you know, that Jesus has done everything necessary for sinners to be welcomed into the presence of God and into new life. He has paid the price. Some will hear this and neglect it. Others will hear it and receive it for the truth that it is, that I am secure because the lamb was slain so that I might live. Then you can say with the multitude “Salvation belongs to our God who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb!” Then you can know regardless of the tribulations in this life, your future hope is secure and one day every tear will be wiped away. I hope this is you. If not, please talk to someone today.
[1] I thank Grant Osborne, Revelation, p. 319 for pointing out this insight from Richard Bauckham.
[2] Richard D. Phillips, Revelation, ed. Richard D. Phillips, Philip Graham Ryken, and Daniel M. Doriani, Reformed Expository Commentary (Phillipsburg, NJ: P&R Publishing, 2017), 254.
[3] The Holy Bible: English Standard Version (Wheaton, IL: Crossway Bibles, 2016), Heb 10:11–14.
[4] The Holy Bible: English Standard Version (Wheaton, IL: Crossway Bibles, 2016), Php 3:4–11.
[5] The Holy Bible: English Standard Version (Wheaton, IL: Crossway Bibles, 2016), Ps 27:1–5.
[6] The Holy Bible: English Standard Version (Wheaton, IL: Crossway Bibles, 2016), Is 49:10.
[7] The Holy Bible: English Standard Version (Wheaton, IL: Crossway Bibles, 2016), Is 55:1–3.
[8] The Holy Bible: English Standard Version (Wheaton, IL: Crossway Bibles, 2016), Lk 6:21.
[9] See Obsorne, Revelation, 331.
[10] Obsorne, Revelation, 332.
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