Great Multitude

5 min read

9 After this I looked, and there before me was a great multitude that no one could count, from every nation, tribe, people and language, standing before the throne and before the Lamb. They were wearing white robes and were holding palm branches in their hands. 10 And they cried out in a loud voice:

“Salvation belongs to our God, who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb.”

Revelation 7:9-10

Verse 9 is the source of the vision statement for the International Mission Board: A multitude from every nation, tribe, people and language, knowing and worshiping our Lord Jesus Christ.

Later in this passage, one of the twenty-four elders standing around the throne of God asks the Apostle John who these people in the robes are. John didn’t know, so he says, “Sir, you know.” And then the elder proceeds to tell John:

“These are they who have come out of the great tribulation; they have washed their robes and made them white in the blood of the Lamb.”

Revelation 7:14b

Naturally, there is a lot of debate about who this “great multitude” includes and what the “great tribulation” is, but three points are clear: (1) There will be a “great tribulation”; (2) this “great multitude” will survive it by God’s grace alone through faith alone in Jesus Christ alone; and (3) the reward for this “great multitude” will be to serve before the throne of God with Jesus Christ as our Shepherd forever and ever.

The vision that God has given to us (which is mind-blowing in and of itself) is this “great multitude.” The vision is not about the “great tribulation.” And so it would be a huge mistake to shrink back from God’s vision of the “great multitude” for fear of experiencing the “great tribulation.”

The “great multitude” is God’s endgame. And it is to fulfill that vision that Christ has given to us the Great Commission. It would also be a mistake to shrink back from the Great Commission for fear of experiencing the “great tribulation.”

But truth be told, the “great tribulation” probably has more to do with suffering that God’s people will have to endure through the end times.

Here and now, whatever “tribulation” we might have to endure for the sake of the Great Commission and God’s “great multitude” vision is probably not that great at all. We endure the same kinds of “tribulation” for the sake of going on vacations.

Changing our perspective and our heart posture about these things begins with seeing and embracing the vision of God.

Father, Forgive me for taking Your Great Commission so lightly. Help me to see Your vision of the “great multitude” more clearly. Help me to take it to heart and to have Your heart for the lost. And let every “tribulation” be turned to joy for the sake of pursuing Your vision. In Jesus’s name. Amen.