Ⅲ
The testimony of Jesus is the great multitude serving God in the temple, the whole Body of God's redeemed, who have been raptured to the heavens to enjoy God's care and the Lamb's shepherding with all the spiritual blessings in the heavenlies and in Christ that can be enjoyed today—Rev. 7:9-17; Eph. 1:3; Gal. 3:14; Gen. 12:2; cf. Rev. 21:3-4; 22:3-5; Isa. 49:10:
A
The great multitude consists of those who have been purchased with the blood of the Lamb from every nation, tribe, people, and tongue to be the constituents of the church—Rev. 7:9a; 5:9; Rom. 11:25; Acts 15:14, 19; 1 Cor. 6:19-20.
B
"These are those who come out of the great tribulation, and they have washed their robes and made them white in the blood of the Lamb"—Rev. 7:14:
１
The great tribulation in verse 14 refers to the tribulations, sufferings, persecutions, and afflictions experienced by God's redeemed people throughout the ages—John 16:33.
２
The blood of the Lamb answers before God all the accusations of the devil against us and gives us the victory over him (Rev. 12:11); because of the redeeming Christ as the opened fountain of blood for all our sin and impurity (Zech. 13:1; John 19:34), we can plunge beneath that blood, lose all our guilty stains (Hymns, #1006, stanza 1), and "rise to walk in God's own light / Above the world and sin, / With heart renewed and garments white / And Christ enthroned within" (Hymns, #1010, stanza 3).
３
To wash our robes is to keep our conduct clean through the washing of the blood of the Lamb; this gives us the right to enjoy the tree of life and to enter into the city of life as the realm of God's eternal blessings—1 John 1:7; Rev. 22:14.
C
Those of the great multitude are standing before the throne and before the Lamb with palm branches in their hands—7:9b:
１
Palm branches signify our victory over tribulation, which we have undergone for the Lord's sake; palm trees are also a sign of satisfaction gained through being watered—v. 14; cf. John 12:13; Exo. 15:27.
２
In the Triune God as the temple of God, we will serve Him day and night to enjoy Him as the eternal Feast of Tabernacles and to flourish in life like the palm tree—Rev. 7:15a; 3:12; Lev. 23:40; Neh. 8:15; Psa. 92:12-13; John 7:2, 37-39; Rom. 1:9; Col. 2:19.
３
Our service in time today is a preparation for our service in eternity; God's only goal in time is to dispense Himself into us day by day; when God comes into us and comes out of us, that is service—Matt. 25:19-23; John 7:37-39.
Morning Nourishment
Rev. 7:9 …I saw, and behold, there was a great multitude which no one could number, out of every nation and all tribes and peoples and tongues, standing before the throne and before the Lamb, clothed in white robes and palm branches in their hands.15 Because of this they are before the throne of God and serve Him day and night in His temple; and He who sits upon the throne will tabernacle over them.
In Revelation 7:9-17 we see the testimony of Jesus as the great multitude. According to the record of chapter 7, this great multitude is the whole Body of God’s redeemed ones, having been redeemed “out of every nation and all tribes and peoples and tongues” (v. 9). All of them have passed through tribulation. This indicates that at no time nor at any place is there a church that has not passed through tribulation. The world always persecutes the churches (John 16:33). Wherever the church is, there will always be a certain amount of persecution. That the whole Body of the redeemed ones will pass through tribulation is indicated by Revelation 7:14, which says, “These are those who come out of the great tribulation.” This great multitude has come out of tribulation in a victorious way, for they all hold palm branches, which signify their victory over tribulation (v. 9). Eventually, in eternity, they will be overshadowed by God as the tabernacle [v. 15]…This is the destiny of God’s redeemed ones. How wonderful! Furthermore, they will also be shepherded by the Lamb at the springs of waters of life for eternity (v. 17). (Life-study of Revelation, p. 28)
Today’s Reading
The great multitude in Revelation 7:9-17 consists of the redeemed ones from the nations throughout all generations, who are innumerable and who constitute the church. Their standing before the throne indicates that they have been raptured to the heavens, to the presence of God. Thus, the record in these verses describes in a general way the scene from the time of the rapture of the believers to their enjoyment in eternity.Verse 14 says, “These are those who come out of the great tribulation.”…The great tribulation here is tribulation in a general sense. All of God’s redeemed people have passed through certain tribulations, sufferings, persecutions, and afflictions. No Christian can avoid these things. In our spirit, we Christians are a people of enjoyment, but on the physical side, we are a suffering people. However, one day we shall come triumphantly out of the great tribulation and stand before the Lamb. The palm branches in the hands of the saints signify their victory over tribulation, which they have undergone for the Lord’s sake, and they are also a sign of satisfaction gained through being watered (Exo. 15:27). In eternity the One who sits on the throne will tabernacle over them, overshadowing them with Himself as the One who is embodied in Christ (John 1:14). Moreover, they will not hunger or thirst anymore, for the Lamb who is in the midst of the throne will shepherd them and guide them to springs of waters of life. (CWWL, 1975-1976, vol. 1, “The Testimony of Jesus,” pp. 366-367)
Our service in time is to prepare us for eternity…Time is like a school; it is a place where we receive spiritual training and education. Our spiritual training and education in time will make us useful to God in eternity.
According to Matthew 25, when the Lord comes back, He will say to the faithful slaves, “You were faithful over a few things; I will set you over many things” (v. 21). If we learn our lesson well, the Lord will entrust us with greater works when He comes back. Today is the time for us to learn; our proper service does not begin until the Lord comes back…Revelation 22 tells us that we will serve God in eternity (v. 3). God places us among His children today in order for us to serve together with all of them. I say again: Our service in time today is a preparation for our service in eternity. (CWWN, vol. 37, “General Messages,” p. 181)
Further Reading: CWWL, 1975-1976, vol. 1, “The Testimony of Jesus,” chs. 9—11