May 20, 2025 • 26 mins
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Speaker 1 (00:05):
In Revelation, John describes the various groups he sees in heaven,
including one he calls a multitude of all nations, too
numerous to count. Who are these people today? On turning point,
doctor David Jeremiah explains the origin of this enormous gathering,
how they're distinct from the Church, and why their worship
(00:27):
is unique from Escape the Coming Night. Here's David with
his message, Tribulation harvest.
Speaker 2 (00:34):
And thank you for joining us. This obviously is connected
to what we have been talking about. The Great Revival
during the tribulation period will result in many, many people
coming to faith in Christ. That's the harvest, and the
Book of Revelation tells us all about it, and it
reminds us that when we find ourselves in trouble, we
(00:54):
usually ask the Lord to get us out of the trouble.
But usually he doesn't do that. He does not deliver
us out of the trouble. He delivers us through the trouble.
And in the trouble we learn that's going to be
what happens during the tribulation. People who are confronted with
the Gospel while the trouble is all around them will
be reminded that in the midst of the darkness, there
(01:15):
is light, and the light is Jesus Christ. What a
wonderful privilege we will have to see that happen, and
we'll be visiting it from heaven, not from the earth.
But you know we can see it happen now. Every
time someone comes to Christ, the Bible says they are
delivered out of darkness in the light, and we get
to be a part of that. Well, Hey, listen, we
(01:36):
have a wonderful resource for the month of May, and
that resource is a book called Sixty Days of Prophecies.
You can get a copy of this book sent to
you when you send a gift to Turning Point of
any size during the month of May. And when we
say any size, we actually mean it. We want you
to do the best you can, but the gift that
(01:57):
you give to Turning Point does not make any different
ears when it comes to receiving the book. We want
you to have this book. We hope you will do
your best and help us as we reach out with
the Gospel around the world. The book is one hundred
and forty four pages. Each day you'll learn about a
specific prophecy. You'll learn how the prophecy works in the world. Today.
You'll learn what scriptures go with that prophecy and how
(02:19):
to apply it to your own life. This is a
very practical book that I'm sure you'll use and want
to share it with others. Ask for your copy when
you send your gift to Turning Point today. Now Here
is part one of the Tribulation Harvest.
Speaker 3 (02:36):
Throughout all the ages of the Church, there have been
certain passages that have been a blessing to people who
are going through suffering and death. I suppose we could
list those passages John Chapter fourteen one, Corinthians fifteen, Psalm
twenty three, and on and on. We could go through
(02:57):
some of the encouraging passages Isaiah forty one and forty two.
But before us is a passage of God's Word, the
one which we propose to study, A passage which has
in it all of the seeds of encouragement for people
who are hurting. It is a portion of the Word
of God that is filled with comfort and beauty. It
(03:19):
is a priceless picture of the final state of the
blessed dead. After this, John wrote, I beheld and lower
great multitude which no man could number, of all nations
and kindreds and people and tongues stood before the throne
and before the lamb, clothed with white robes and palms
(03:42):
in their hands. John uses a phrase here to describe
this group in Heaven, which he uses several times in
the Book of Revelation. It is a phrase that is
translated every race and tribe and people and tongue. That
particular description is found elsewhere in the Book of Revelation,
for instance, in chapter five and verse nine. You will
(04:04):
find it in chapter eleven and verse nine, and in
chapters thirteen, fourteen, and seventeen, every race and tribe and
people and tongue. I believe John was particularly fond of
that descriptive phrase because he had been in many of
the great cities of his day, where he had walked
(04:25):
in the great areas of the gathering of the people,
and the cosmopolitan people and the races that he had seen.
And John pictured Heaven like that people from every conceivable
kind of nation and race and tribe. Now John uses
this phrase, and he uses it with great affirmation. When
(04:45):
we look at this multitude that is gathered, according to
verse nine, we have another question to ask, and that
question is.
Speaker 4 (04:51):
This, who are these people.
Speaker 3 (04:53):
What is this multitude that is now in heaven, gathered
around the throne, clothed in white robes with palms in
their hands. Well, we know, first of all, the multitudes
not the church. Some folks have tried to make this
to be the church. And I've read commentaries by men
who believe this is the Church of Jesus Christ gathered.
But apparently they haven't read the earlier part of the book.
(05:16):
For if you have followed this study, you know the
church is already there. They got there between chapters three
and four. The Church is gathered in heaven, represented by
the twenty four elders. It is seen sitting around the
throne of God, not standing, and the four and twenty
elders represent the church. They're already in heaven. This couldn't
be the church. Note also that when John is asked
(05:39):
by one of the elders who these people are, in fact,
there's a very interesting Greek idiom here. One of the
elders answered verse thirteen, saying, unto me, what are these
which are rayed in white robes?
Speaker 4 (05:50):
And whence came they?
Speaker 3 (05:51):
And I said to them, sir, thou knowest, Now that's
a Greek idiom for I don't know. In other words,
how am I supposed to know? John said, I just
got here. I don't know who are these people. John
looked at the group and he didn't recognize anybody. There
wasn't anybody in that group. John knew it couldn't have
been the church. John had just gotten spending a lot
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of time with people in the church. He knew several
people in the church, but he didn't see anybody there.
He knew so this is not the Church of Jesus Christ,
or John would have recognized some of them. Many students
of the Bible and students of the Book of Revelation
have noted the differences between this group of gentiles who
are gathered here in the last part of the seventh chapter,
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and the group of believers who were gathered in the
fourth chapter. Let me just give you some of the
differences between the two groups, so that you will know
that this group in heaven is not the Church of
Jesus Christ, which has been raptured two different groups. They
are distinct from the Church because the Church is kept
out of the Great Tribulation. Remember, we don't go through
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the tribulation. But this group, when they are asked, where
did you come from? The scripture says they say, and
we came out of the tribulation, and others we've been
in the tribulation and we.
Speaker 4 (07:03):
Just got out.
Speaker 3 (07:04):
So it's not the same group. These people wear white robes,
but we're told the church dresses up in white raiment.
These people are standing around the throne, but the church
is seated around the throne. The church wears crowns. These
people are uncrowned. Those who have already gathered there around
the throne have harps and vials, and if you look
(07:26):
in this passage of scripture, they don't have any harps.
They're carrying palms. Those people in the earlier part of
the book sing a new song. These people are crying
out with a loud voice. There are many differences between
these groups. What you understand is you study the Book
of Revelation, is that there is no one single group
that encompasses everything that's going on there until you get
to the end of the Book of Revelation and then
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everything sort of married together and we go into eternity
as one big family. But until that time comes, there
are representatives of all of the various stages of God's work,
The Jews are there, Church is there. And now this
group we see is the multitude of saints, basically gentiles
who have been saved during the Tribulation period. These are
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the people who have been one to Christ. By the
one hundred and forty four thousand Jewish evangelists going out
and preaching the gospel. Not only will a lot of
Jewish people be saved, but a lot of Gentiles will
be saved as well. What's going to happen to them
when they're saved? Do you remember the story Revelation Chapter
six tells you the things that are going on during
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that time. When a Jewish evangelist goes into a town
and he holds an evangelistic campaign, and if he does
it the way we do it today, he gives an
invitation and people come forward to respond to that invitation.
And as soon as a person acknowledges Jesus Christ as
his savior, he will be a marked man in no
uncertain terms. And the Bible says that the majority of
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the saints and the Tribulation period will die as martyrs.
Some of them will be killed by earthquakes, some of
them will die because of war, and pestilence. Others will
be the object of special persecution by.
Speaker 4 (09:07):
The world ruler.
Speaker 3 (09:09):
They will be hounded to death like the Jews were
in World War II. They will be not allowed to
worship Christ. But because they will not worship the Beast,
they will be under a death sentence. And you can
read about it in Revelation thirteen. And those who accept
Christ in that time may be faced with the solemn
alternative of either renouncing their faith in Christ and worshiping
(09:32):
the Beast or being slain. They will be killed, and
the result will be multiplied. Thousands of martyrs during the tribulation.
And what happens to a person when he's martyred. He
exits this world and he gets up to heaven. And
who is this multitude then of people around the throne.
These are they who came out of the Great Tribulation
(09:52):
and have washed their robes white in the blood of
the Lamb. They have been saved in the tribulation period.
And there are multitudes of them. In fact, the scripture
says so many you.
Speaker 4 (10:02):
Can't count them. Now.
Speaker 3 (10:03):
One man I read said, that doesn't mean they can't
be counted, It just means there weren't any computers known
when this was written. But what it does say is
no one man can count them. No one man can
look at the multitude that is there and say there
are this many now in this harvest of souls that
is the result of the Jewish evangelists, we are seeing
(10:25):
fulfilled the prophecy that the Gospel will be carried to
every tongue and nation, and then the end will come.
Let me stop here and straighten something out that we
need to be clear about. Perhaps you have heard people
say that one of the emphasis of evangelism in this
day and time is that we need to preach the
gospel to every creature and who knows, but what somewhere
(10:48):
we'll go and will preach the gospel, and the last
person that is going to hear is going to be saved,
and then Jesus Christ can come back for his church. Tony,
what they's wrong with that? It's not true. Let me
tell you something. If there's anything that has to yet
happen before Christ returns for his church, there is no
such thing as the eminent return of Christ, men and women.
(11:10):
There is not one thing that is yet to be
done before the rapture comes. Jesus Christ could come tonight.
Nothing yet has to be done, nothing has to be fulfilled.
Sometimes you hear people say that the rapture cannot occur
until the whole world has heard the Gospel. The command
to take the Gospel to the whole world is certainly
pressing upon every generation. But the condition of the Gospel
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going to the whole world is not a condition of
the rapture, but of the second coming of Christ. There
are no conditions that need to be fulfilled before the
rapture of Christ. As we examine this great multitude in heaven,
we see people who have been one after the rapture
is already passed. Now the Gospel through these Jewish evangelists
(11:53):
is taken, And where does it go. Look in your
bibles to every race, and every tongue, and every creed
and every that is the fulfillment of that prophecy, not
in our time, but in their time. And perhaps the
radio and television and printed page and all of the
tremendous technology that we now have available, and satellites and
(12:13):
telstar and all the rest of it will be used
during that day. I'll tell you what, if there's any
way ingeniously to do it, the Jewish people will figure
it out, and the gospel will go everywhere, and people
will be saved by the multitudes, and then the end
will come. Now, let's look at these people who are
gathered in heaven, and let's examine this great multitude, and
(12:36):
let's find out what we can learn about them. First
of all, notice their status, the status of the multitude
in heaven. We're told in verse nine, chapter seven that
they stood before the throne and before the Lamb. That's
their status. They're standing. Now, it's interesting, the church is seated.
This group is standing, but their position is one of
(13:00):
prominence and power and honor.
Speaker 4 (13:03):
Before the Almighty God.
Speaker 3 (13:06):
Notice secondly, not only the status of the multitude in heaven,
but the salvation of the multitude in heaven. The Bible
says in chapter seven, verse nine, and again in verses
thirteen and fourteen, that these are people who are made
white in the blood of the Lamb. They have washed
their robes white in the blood of the Lamb. And
(13:26):
this is probably a reference to what happened back in
chapter six, verse eleven. Look at chapter six, verse eleven,
and white robes were given unto every one of them,
and it was sad unto them, that they should rest
for a little season until they are fellow servants. Also,
their brethren that should be killed as they were, should
be fulfilled. Now what do we see. We see more
(13:47):
people being killed, and what do we see about them?
They too are dressed in white. They are clothed in righteousness,
in the righteousness of Christ. Whenever we read in the
Bible that somebody is clothed in it means one of
two things. It means either they have been washed and
clothed through salvation in the righteousness of Christ, or they
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have clothed themselves in their righteousness. Says as believers, there
is inward and outward righteousness, and it is usually termed
by the use of this figure of white. They are
clothed in the righteousness. There's an interesting phrase here in
the Greek and I'll just pass it on to you quickly.
The Greek phrase that is used for the robes of
(14:31):
white is toss stolos, toss lucas stolos.
Speaker 4 (14:38):
They have on a white stole.
Speaker 3 (14:41):
The Greek word stolos is a word which refers to
an outer garment that was worn for dignity and grace
and beauty and distinction. So these who are gathered in heaven.
Now as we look at this picture, have come out
of the tribulation, and they have on white stoles, which
are the righteousnesses of Jesus is Christ. That's their salvation noticed. Thirdly,
(15:02):
their safety, the safety of the multitude in heaven. The
Bible says two things that tell us about their safety.
Number one, they have palms in their hands, and number two,
it says in verse fifteen that God will dwell among them.
Now let's take those one at a time. First of all,
the Bible says that these who are in heaven have
(15:25):
palms in their hands.
Speaker 4 (15:26):
What does that mean?
Speaker 3 (15:27):
Well, the meaning of the palms is not immediately recognized
from this text. We have to go back and study
the Bible to figure out what this is all about.
Speaker 4 (15:36):
The palms.
Speaker 3 (15:36):
However, if you know your history, were a part of
the celebration of a Jewish feast called the Feast of Tabernacles.
Speaker 4 (15:45):
And during that.
Speaker 3 (15:46):
Feast, the Jews would sit in booths that they had made.
Often think about telephone booths, and maybe it was something
like that. But they constructed these little houses, and they
lived in these houses for a period of time, and
they carried palm branches with them to call to remembrance
the deliverance that God had provided them from the terrible
(16:06):
slavery in Egypt. And it was especially celebrated when the
people came back from the Babylonian captivity. Every time the
Jews had been in trouble, in difficulty in tribulation, when
they came out, there was a new celebration of the
Feast of Tabernacles. It was a celebration that was geared
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specifically to the Jewish nation to remind them of how
God had brought them through times of great difficulty and
tribulation and trial. It was specially celebrated when the people
came out of Babylon. And now again God has delivered,
not necessarily the Jews only, but God has delivered his
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children from the wrath of the anti Christ and from
the tribulation period on the earth. And the palm branches
expressed the joy of total and complete deliverance. In this
part currently explains the use of palms on palm Sunday.
Let me just read John twelve. On the next day,
(17:07):
much people that were come to the feast when they
heard that Jesus was coming to Jerusalem took branches of
palm trees and went forth to meet him and cried, Hosannah,
blessed is the King of Israel that cometh in the
name of the Lord. Why were they celebrating. They didn't
know what they were celebrating. They thought they were celebrating
getting rid of Roman dominion. That's what they thought. Jesus
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was a king. He was going to come in and
run the Romans off, and they could be a nation again.
Now those who are in heaven are celebrating the joy
of coming through the tribulation. It is a similar situation
to the time when the children of Israel returned from
captivity and made booths of palm branches. And if you
will read about that in the book of Nehemiah, you
(17:51):
will read that it was a time of great gladness
Nehemiah eight fifteen to seventeen. Now, in the fifteenth verse
of the seventh chapter, we read that the one sitting
on the throne dwelleth with them. It is more than
it at first appears to be. The phrase actually says this,
watch it now. He that sitteth on the throne watch
(18:13):
now shall spread his tent over them. God's shepherding, sheltering
care in their behalf is pictured in that phrase. Do
you think that means anything, my friend, If you've been
through the tribulation, you'd think.
Speaker 4 (18:27):
It meant a lot.
Speaker 3 (18:29):
Jesus and God is their protection, and the Bible literally
says that He spreads his tent over them, He puts
his protective arms around them. Safe at last, Safe at last,
Thank God, Almighty, We're safe at last.
Speaker 4 (18:46):
That's the spirit in their heart. All right.
Speaker 3 (18:49):
Now, let's notice fourthly, the singing of the multitude, the
singing of the multitude in heaven. The Bible says, and
they cried with a loud voice, saying, salvation to God,
which sitteth upon the throne and unto the lamb. And
all the angels stood round about the throne, and about
the elders and the four beasts, and fell before the
(19:09):
throne on their faces and worshiped God, saying, and here's
the longest declaration, here's the long doxology. Amen, blessing in
glory and wisdom and thanksgiving and honor and power and
might be unto God forever and ever.
Speaker 4 (19:22):
Amen.
Speaker 3 (19:24):
Now the multitude is singing praise to God for his salvation.
That's obvious. They have now arrived in heaven. They have
come out of the great tribulation. They've been saved out
of turmoil. They're standing around the throne now and they're
just worshiping God. And they're worshiping God because they have
been delivered. They have not just been delivered in the
sense that they've been taken away from it, but they've
(19:46):
been delivered in the sense that they've been enabled to
conquer it in the power of Christ. One writer by
the name of William Barkley, who is a great historian,
explains the significance of the kind of deliverance that these
people have experienced and helps us understand why they are rejoicing.
Speaker 4 (20:03):
Listen to what he says.
Speaker 3 (20:04):
It is not a deliverance which saves a man from trouble,
but a deliverance which brings him triumphantly through trouble. It
does not make life easy, but it makes life great.
It is not a part of the Christian hope to
look for a life in which a man is saved
from trouble and distress. The Christian hope is that a
man of Christ can endure any kind of trouble and
(20:27):
distress and remain erect through all of it. And come
out to glory and onto the other side. And that's
what these people. They didn't miss anything. They went through
it all. They felt the full sting of the tribulation.
They gave their lives, they shed their blood. But they
still have been delivered, and they've still conquered because in
Christ they now have overcome. And just as our Lord
(20:49):
was overcoming, they are overcoming, and they're celebrating in heaven
the things which they have overcome. Just as Our Lord
was greeted in Jerusalem by the shouting of Hosanna, so
these gentile converts are shouting salvation to the Lord in heaven.
And the song of the Redeemed triggers the angelic choir,
(21:11):
and the sevenfold description of praise is heard in heaven
again as the worship begins. And let us notice number five,
the service of the multitude in heaven. We read Therefore
are they before the throne of God, and they serve
him day and night in his temple. And he that
sitteth on the throne shall dwell among them. I have
(21:32):
people ask me all the time, what are we gonna
do in heaven? Well, two things we've learned. This is
a picture of heaven, though it is not heaven as
we will know it. First of all, we're gonna sing,
We're gonna worship. Secondly, we're gonna serve. Notice what it says,
they will serve him day and night in his temple.
Some of you say, Pastor Jeremiah, gotcha. There isn't any
night in heaven, and it says here they're going to
(21:54):
serve day and night. What that means is they are
just going to continue to serve without regard to time.
Speaker 1 (22:00):
Out.
Speaker 4 (22:00):
Here's a very interesting thing. In the Old Testament.
Speaker 3 (22:02):
The privilege of serving God day and night was reserved
for two people, the levite and the priest. They were
the only ones who got to serve day and night.
And these are the singers, the chief of the fathers
of the Levites, who remaining in the chambers were free,
for they were employed day and night. First Chronicles nine
thirty three. When the Gentiles were on the earth, they
(22:25):
were never allowed to serve in the temple at all.
They couldn't even come into the temple. In fact, no
Gentile could go beyond the court of the Gentiles on
pain of death. An Israelite could pass through the court
of the women and he could go no further beyond
that was the court of.
Speaker 4 (22:42):
The priest, which was for priests alone.
Speaker 3 (22:45):
But in this temple in heaven, in this temple, the
way to the presence of God is open to people
of every race. And now they're engaged in glad unceasing service,
going back and forth serving their God. There are no barriers,
there are no restraints. There is absolute total openness to
the throne of God in heaven. And the reference to
serving day and night simply means that in that day
(23:07):
listen to this.
Speaker 4 (23:08):
This really encourages me.
Speaker 3 (23:09):
In that day, they will not need sleep or rest
in order to serve continually. They will never be tired,
They will not be subject any longer to the limitations
that frustrate all of us here below.
Speaker 4 (23:21):
They will be able to serve God continually.
Speaker 3 (23:24):
And the wonderful opportunity of personal fellowship is referenced here too.
For the Lord and himself, it says, is going to
dwell with them. Can you imagine serving and having God
right there, just fellowshiping with him and serving with him
and continuing to do that odd informitum forever and ever
to serve the Lord.
Speaker 2 (23:47):
You know, someone once told me that you don't love
the Lord if you don't serve the Lord. And maybe
that's a little bit too harsh, but I'll tell you
the best way to know whether you love him is
to ask yourself, how am I serving him? What am
I doing to show my love to him? And the
Bible tells us that we show our love to God
by serving others. That's the only tangible thing you will
(24:08):
find about loving God, keeping his commandments and serving others.
And the Book of Revelation, even this prophetic book, reminds
us of that great truth. Did you know that Turning
Point has a magazine. You can get that magazine in
your mail every month if you'd like to have it.
Turning Points Magazine and Devotional is a wonderful way for
(24:30):
you to stay up with your faith every day. There's
a devotion for every day of the week Monday through Friday,
and one for the weekend, and then there are wonderful
articles there to encourage you in your walk with the Lord.
Ask about it when you write or call or send
an email, and we'll get you the next copy so
you can check it out for yourself. Thank you so
much for joining us today. Be sure and be here tomorrow.
(24:51):
We'll see you next time.
Speaker 1 (24:56):
For more information on Doctor Jeremiah series Escape the Coming Night,
please visit our website, where we also offer two free
ways to help you stay connected, our monthly Turning Points
magazine and our daily email devotional Sign up today at
David Jeremiah dot org slash Radio. That's Davidjeremiah dot org
slash Radio, or call us at eight hundred and ninety
(25:17):
four seven nineteen ninety three. Ask for your copy of
David's timely and valuable new book, Sixty Days of Prophecy,
The Truth behind Endtime Warnings. It's yours for a gift
of any amount. You can also purchase the Jeremiah Study
Bible in the English Standard, New International and New King
James versions available in your choice of versatile and attractive
(25:40):
cover options. Get all the details when you visit our website.
Davidjeremiah dot org slash Radio. This is David Michael Jeremiah.
Join us tomorrow as we continue the series Escape the
Coming Night on Turning Point with Doctor David Jeremiah.
In Revelation, John describes the various groups he sees in heaven,
including one he calls a multitude of all nations, too
numerous to count. Who are these people today? On turning point,
doctor David Jeremiah explains the origin of this enormous gathering,
how they're distinct from the Church, and why their worship
(00:27):
is unique from Escape the Coming Night. Here's David with
his message, Tribulation harvest.
Speaker 2 (00:34):
And thank you for joining us. This obviously is connected
to what we have been talking about. The Great Revival
during the tribulation period will result in many, many people
coming to faith in Christ. That's the harvest, and the
Book of Revelation tells us all about it, and it
reminds us that when we find ourselves in trouble, we
(00:54):
usually ask the Lord to get us out of the trouble.
But usually he doesn't do that. He does not deliver
us out of the trouble. He delivers us through the trouble.
And in the trouble we learn that's going to be
what happens during the tribulation. People who are confronted with
the Gospel while the trouble is all around them will
be reminded that in the midst of the darkness, there
(01:15):
is light, and the light is Jesus Christ. What a
wonderful privilege we will have to see that happen, and
we'll be visiting it from heaven, not from the earth.
But you know we can see it happen now. Every
time someone comes to Christ, the Bible says they are
delivered out of darkness in the light, and we get
to be a part of that. Well, Hey, listen, we
(01:36):
have a wonderful resource for the month of May, and
that resource is a book called Sixty Days of Prophecies.
You can get a copy of this book sent to
you when you send a gift to Turning Point of
any size during the month of May. And when we
say any size, we actually mean it. We want you
to do the best you can, but the gift that
(01:57):
you give to Turning Point does not make any different
ears when it comes to receiving the book. We want
you to have this book. We hope you will do
your best and help us as we reach out with
the Gospel around the world. The book is one hundred
and forty four pages. Each day you'll learn about a
specific prophecy. You'll learn how the prophecy works in the world. Today.
You'll learn what scriptures go with that prophecy and how
(02:19):
to apply it to your own life. This is a
very practical book that I'm sure you'll use and want
to share it with others. Ask for your copy when
you send your gift to Turning Point today. Now Here
is part one of the Tribulation Harvest.
Speaker 3 (02:36):
Throughout all the ages of the Church, there have been
certain passages that have been a blessing to people who
are going through suffering and death. I suppose we could
list those passages John Chapter fourteen one, Corinthians fifteen, Psalm
twenty three, and on and on. We could go through
(02:57):
some of the encouraging passages Isaiah forty one and forty two.
But before us is a passage of God's Word, the
one which we propose to study, A passage which has
in it all of the seeds of encouragement for people
who are hurting. It is a portion of the Word
of God that is filled with comfort and beauty. It
(03:19):
is a priceless picture of the final state of the
blessed dead. After this, John wrote, I beheld and lower
great multitude which no man could number, of all nations
and kindreds and people and tongues stood before the throne
and before the lamb, clothed with white robes and palms
(03:42):
in their hands. John uses a phrase here to describe
this group in Heaven, which he uses several times in
the Book of Revelation. It is a phrase that is
translated every race and tribe and people and tongue. That
particular description is found elsewhere in the Book of Revelation,
for instance, in chapter five and verse nine. You will
(04:04):
find it in chapter eleven and verse nine, and in
chapters thirteen, fourteen, and seventeen, every race and tribe and
people and tongue. I believe John was particularly fond of
that descriptive phrase because he had been in many of
the great cities of his day, where he had walked
(04:25):
in the great areas of the gathering of the people,
and the cosmopolitan people and the races that he had seen.
And John pictured Heaven like that people from every conceivable
kind of nation and race and tribe. Now John uses
this phrase, and he uses it with great affirmation. When
(04:45):
we look at this multitude that is gathered, according to
verse nine, we have another question to ask, and that
question is.
Speaker 4 (04:51):
This, who are these people.
Speaker 3 (04:53):
What is this multitude that is now in heaven, gathered
around the throne, clothed in white robes with palms in
their hands. Well, we know, first of all, the multitudes
not the church. Some folks have tried to make this
to be the church. And I've read commentaries by men
who believe this is the Church of Jesus Christ gathered.
But apparently they haven't read the earlier part of the book.
(05:16):
For if you have followed this study, you know the
church is already there. They got there between chapters three
and four. The Church is gathered in heaven, represented by
the twenty four elders. It is seen sitting around the
throne of God, not standing, and the four and twenty
elders represent the church. They're already in heaven. This couldn't
be the church. Note also that when John is asked
(05:39):
by one of the elders who these people are, in fact,
there's a very interesting Greek idiom here. One of the
elders answered verse thirteen, saying, unto me, what are these
which are rayed in white robes?
Speaker 4 (05:50):
And whence came they?
Speaker 3 (05:51):
And I said to them, sir, thou knowest, Now that's
a Greek idiom for I don't know. In other words,
how am I supposed to know? John said, I just
got here. I don't know who are these people. John
looked at the group and he didn't recognize anybody. There
wasn't anybody in that group. John knew it couldn't have
been the church. John had just gotten spending a lot
(06:12):
of time with people in the church. He knew several
people in the church, but he didn't see anybody there.
He knew so this is not the Church of Jesus Christ,
or John would have recognized some of them. Many students
of the Bible and students of the Book of Revelation
have noted the differences between this group of gentiles who
are gathered here in the last part of the seventh chapter,
(06:34):
and the group of believers who were gathered in the
fourth chapter. Let me just give you some of the
differences between the two groups, so that you will know
that this group in heaven is not the Church of
Jesus Christ, which has been raptured two different groups. They
are distinct from the Church because the Church is kept
out of the Great Tribulation. Remember, we don't go through
(06:54):
the tribulation. But this group, when they are asked, where
did you come from? The scripture says they say, and
we came out of the tribulation, and others we've been
in the tribulation and we.
Speaker 4 (07:03):
Just got out.
Speaker 3 (07:04):
So it's not the same group. These people wear white robes,
but we're told the church dresses up in white raiment.
These people are standing around the throne, but the church
is seated around the throne. The church wears crowns. These
people are uncrowned. Those who have already gathered there around
the throne have harps and vials, and if you look
(07:26):
in this passage of scripture, they don't have any harps.
They're carrying palms. Those people in the earlier part of
the book sing a new song. These people are crying
out with a loud voice. There are many differences between
these groups. What you understand is you study the Book
of Revelation, is that there is no one single group
that encompasses everything that's going on there until you get
to the end of the Book of Revelation and then
(07:48):
everything sort of married together and we go into eternity
as one big family. But until that time comes, there
are representatives of all of the various stages of God's work,
The Jews are there, Church is there. And now this
group we see is the multitude of saints, basically gentiles
who have been saved during the Tribulation period. These are
(08:10):
the people who have been one to Christ. By the
one hundred and forty four thousand Jewish evangelists going out
and preaching the gospel. Not only will a lot of
Jewish people be saved, but a lot of Gentiles will
be saved as well. What's going to happen to them
when they're saved? Do you remember the story Revelation Chapter
six tells you the things that are going on during
(08:32):
that time. When a Jewish evangelist goes into a town
and he holds an evangelistic campaign, and if he does
it the way we do it today, he gives an
invitation and people come forward to respond to that invitation.
And as soon as a person acknowledges Jesus Christ as
his savior, he will be a marked man in no
uncertain terms. And the Bible says that the majority of
(08:55):
the saints and the Tribulation period will die as martyrs.
Some of them will be killed by earthquakes, some of
them will die because of war, and pestilence. Others will
be the object of special persecution by.
Speaker 4 (09:07):
The world ruler.
Speaker 3 (09:09):
They will be hounded to death like the Jews were
in World War II. They will be not allowed to
worship Christ. But because they will not worship the Beast,
they will be under a death sentence. And you can
read about it in Revelation thirteen. And those who accept
Christ in that time may be faced with the solemn
alternative of either renouncing their faith in Christ and worshiping
(09:32):
the Beast or being slain. They will be killed, and
the result will be multiplied. Thousands of martyrs during the tribulation.
And what happens to a person when he's martyred. He
exits this world and he gets up to heaven. And
who is this multitude then of people around the throne.
These are they who came out of the Great Tribulation
(09:52):
and have washed their robes white in the blood of
the Lamb. They have been saved in the tribulation period.
And there are multitudes of them. In fact, the scripture
says so many you.
Speaker 4 (10:02):
Can't count them. Now.
Speaker 3 (10:03):
One man I read said, that doesn't mean they can't
be counted, It just means there weren't any computers known
when this was written. But what it does say is
no one man can count them. No one man can
look at the multitude that is there and say there
are this many now in this harvest of souls that
is the result of the Jewish evangelists, we are seeing
(10:25):
fulfilled the prophecy that the Gospel will be carried to
every tongue and nation, and then the end will come.
Let me stop here and straighten something out that we
need to be clear about. Perhaps you have heard people
say that one of the emphasis of evangelism in this
day and time is that we need to preach the
gospel to every creature and who knows, but what somewhere
(10:48):
we'll go and will preach the gospel, and the last
person that is going to hear is going to be saved,
and then Jesus Christ can come back for his church. Tony,
what they's wrong with that? It's not true. Let me
tell you something. If there's anything that has to yet
happen before Christ returns for his church, there is no
such thing as the eminent return of Christ, men and women.
(11:10):
There is not one thing that is yet to be
done before the rapture comes. Jesus Christ could come tonight.
Nothing yet has to be done, nothing has to be fulfilled.
Sometimes you hear people say that the rapture cannot occur
until the whole world has heard the Gospel. The command
to take the Gospel to the whole world is certainly
pressing upon every generation. But the condition of the Gospel
(11:32):
going to the whole world is not a condition of
the rapture, but of the second coming of Christ. There
are no conditions that need to be fulfilled before the
rapture of Christ. As we examine this great multitude in heaven,
we see people who have been one after the rapture
is already passed. Now the Gospel through these Jewish evangelists
(11:53):
is taken, And where does it go. Look in your
bibles to every race, and every tongue, and every creed
and every that is the fulfillment of that prophecy, not
in our time, but in their time. And perhaps the
radio and television and printed page and all of the
tremendous technology that we now have available, and satellites and
(12:13):
telstar and all the rest of it will be used
during that day. I'll tell you what, if there's any
way ingeniously to do it, the Jewish people will figure
it out, and the gospel will go everywhere, and people
will be saved by the multitudes, and then the end
will come. Now, let's look at these people who are
gathered in heaven, and let's examine this great multitude, and
(12:36):
let's find out what we can learn about them. First
of all, notice their status, the status of the multitude
in heaven. We're told in verse nine, chapter seven that
they stood before the throne and before the Lamb. That's
their status. They're standing. Now, it's interesting, the church is seated.
This group is standing, but their position is one of
(13:00):
prominence and power and honor.
Speaker 4 (13:03):
Before the Almighty God.
Speaker 3 (13:06):
Notice secondly, not only the status of the multitude in heaven,
but the salvation of the multitude in heaven. The Bible
says in chapter seven, verse nine, and again in verses
thirteen and fourteen, that these are people who are made
white in the blood of the Lamb. They have washed
their robes white in the blood of the Lamb. And
(13:26):
this is probably a reference to what happened back in
chapter six, verse eleven. Look at chapter six, verse eleven,
and white robes were given unto every one of them,
and it was sad unto them, that they should rest
for a little season until they are fellow servants. Also,
their brethren that should be killed as they were, should
be fulfilled. Now what do we see. We see more
(13:47):
people being killed, and what do we see about them?
They too are dressed in white. They are clothed in righteousness,
in the righteousness of Christ. Whenever we read in the
Bible that somebody is clothed in it means one of
two things. It means either they have been washed and
clothed through salvation in the righteousness of Christ, or they
(14:09):
have clothed themselves in their righteousness. Says as believers, there
is inward and outward righteousness, and it is usually termed
by the use of this figure of white. They are
clothed in the righteousness. There's an interesting phrase here in
the Greek and I'll just pass it on to you quickly.
The Greek phrase that is used for the robes of
(14:31):
white is toss stolos, toss lucas stolos.
Speaker 4 (14:38):
They have on a white stole.
Speaker 3 (14:41):
The Greek word stolos is a word which refers to
an outer garment that was worn for dignity and grace
and beauty and distinction. So these who are gathered in heaven.
Now as we look at this picture, have come out
of the tribulation, and they have on white stoles, which
are the righteousnesses of Jesus is Christ. That's their salvation noticed. Thirdly,
(15:02):
their safety, the safety of the multitude in heaven. The
Bible says two things that tell us about their safety.
Number one, they have palms in their hands, and number two,
it says in verse fifteen that God will dwell among them.
Now let's take those one at a time. First of all,
the Bible says that these who are in heaven have
(15:25):
palms in their hands.
Speaker 4 (15:26):
What does that mean?
Speaker 3 (15:27):
Well, the meaning of the palms is not immediately recognized
from this text. We have to go back and study
the Bible to figure out what this is all about.
Speaker 4 (15:36):
The palms.
Speaker 3 (15:36):
However, if you know your history, were a part of
the celebration of a Jewish feast called the Feast of Tabernacles.
Speaker 4 (15:45):
And during that.
Speaker 3 (15:46):
Feast, the Jews would sit in booths that they had made.
Often think about telephone booths, and maybe it was something
like that. But they constructed these little houses, and they
lived in these houses for a period of time, and
they carried palm branches with them to call to remembrance
the deliverance that God had provided them from the terrible
(16:06):
slavery in Egypt. And it was especially celebrated when the
people came back from the Babylonian captivity. Every time the
Jews had been in trouble, in difficulty in tribulation, when
they came out, there was a new celebration of the
Feast of Tabernacles. It was a celebration that was geared
(16:26):
specifically to the Jewish nation to remind them of how
God had brought them through times of great difficulty and
tribulation and trial. It was specially celebrated when the people
came out of Babylon. And now again God has delivered,
not necessarily the Jews only, but God has delivered his
(16:47):
children from the wrath of the anti Christ and from
the tribulation period on the earth. And the palm branches
expressed the joy of total and complete deliverance. In this
part currently explains the use of palms on palm Sunday.
Let me just read John twelve. On the next day,
(17:07):
much people that were come to the feast when they
heard that Jesus was coming to Jerusalem took branches of
palm trees and went forth to meet him and cried, Hosannah,
blessed is the King of Israel that cometh in the
name of the Lord. Why were they celebrating. They didn't
know what they were celebrating. They thought they were celebrating
getting rid of Roman dominion. That's what they thought. Jesus
(17:30):
was a king. He was going to come in and
run the Romans off, and they could be a nation again.
Now those who are in heaven are celebrating the joy
of coming through the tribulation. It is a similar situation
to the time when the children of Israel returned from
captivity and made booths of palm branches. And if you
will read about that in the book of Nehemiah, you
(17:51):
will read that it was a time of great gladness
Nehemiah eight fifteen to seventeen. Now, in the fifteenth verse
of the seventh chapter, we read that the one sitting
on the throne dwelleth with them. It is more than
it at first appears to be. The phrase actually says this,
watch it now. He that sitteth on the throne watch
(18:13):
now shall spread his tent over them. God's shepherding, sheltering
care in their behalf is pictured in that phrase. Do
you think that means anything, my friend, If you've been
through the tribulation, you'd think.
Speaker 4 (18:27):
It meant a lot.
Speaker 3 (18:29):
Jesus and God is their protection, and the Bible literally
says that He spreads his tent over them, He puts
his protective arms around them. Safe at last, Safe at last,
Thank God, Almighty, We're safe at last.
Speaker 4 (18:46):
That's the spirit in their heart. All right.
Speaker 3 (18:49):
Now, let's notice fourthly, the singing of the multitude, the
singing of the multitude in heaven. The Bible says, and
they cried with a loud voice, saying, salvation to God,
which sitteth upon the throne and unto the lamb. And
all the angels stood round about the throne, and about
the elders and the four beasts, and fell before the
(19:09):
throne on their faces and worshiped God, saying, and here's
the longest declaration, here's the long doxology. Amen, blessing in
glory and wisdom and thanksgiving and honor and power and
might be unto God forever and ever.
Speaker 4 (19:22):
Amen.
Speaker 3 (19:24):
Now the multitude is singing praise to God for his salvation.
That's obvious. They have now arrived in heaven. They have
come out of the great tribulation. They've been saved out
of turmoil. They're standing around the throne now and they're
just worshiping God. And they're worshiping God because they have
been delivered. They have not just been delivered in the
sense that they've been taken away from it, but they've
(19:46):
been delivered in the sense that they've been enabled to
conquer it in the power of Christ. One writer by
the name of William Barkley, who is a great historian,
explains the significance of the kind of deliverance that these
people have experienced and helps us understand why they are rejoicing.
Speaker 4 (20:03):
Listen to what he says.
Speaker 3 (20:04):
It is not a deliverance which saves a man from trouble,
but a deliverance which brings him triumphantly through trouble. It
does not make life easy, but it makes life great.
It is not a part of the Christian hope to
look for a life in which a man is saved
from trouble and distress. The Christian hope is that a
man of Christ can endure any kind of trouble and
(20:27):
distress and remain erect through all of it. And come
out to glory and onto the other side. And that's
what these people. They didn't miss anything. They went through
it all. They felt the full sting of the tribulation.
They gave their lives, they shed their blood. But they
still have been delivered, and they've still conquered because in
Christ they now have overcome. And just as our Lord
(20:49):
was overcoming, they are overcoming, and they're celebrating in heaven
the things which they have overcome. Just as Our Lord
was greeted in Jerusalem by the shouting of Hosanna, so
these gentile converts are shouting salvation to the Lord in heaven.
And the song of the Redeemed triggers the angelic choir,
(21:11):
and the sevenfold description of praise is heard in heaven
again as the worship begins. And let us notice number five,
the service of the multitude in heaven. We read Therefore
are they before the throne of God, and they serve
him day and night in his temple. And he that
sitteth on the throne shall dwell among them. I have
(21:32):
people ask me all the time, what are we gonna
do in heaven? Well, two things we've learned. This is
a picture of heaven, though it is not heaven as
we will know it. First of all, we're gonna sing,
We're gonna worship. Secondly, we're gonna serve. Notice what it says,
they will serve him day and night in his temple.
Some of you say, Pastor Jeremiah, gotcha. There isn't any
night in heaven, and it says here they're going to
(21:54):
serve day and night. What that means is they are
just going to continue to serve without regard to time.
Speaker 1 (22:00):
Out.
Speaker 4 (22:00):
Here's a very interesting thing. In the Old Testament.
Speaker 3 (22:02):
The privilege of serving God day and night was reserved
for two people, the levite and the priest. They were
the only ones who got to serve day and night.
And these are the singers, the chief of the fathers
of the Levites, who remaining in the chambers were free,
for they were employed day and night. First Chronicles nine
thirty three. When the Gentiles were on the earth, they
(22:25):
were never allowed to serve in the temple at all.
They couldn't even come into the temple. In fact, no
Gentile could go beyond the court of the Gentiles on
pain of death. An Israelite could pass through the court
of the women and he could go no further beyond
that was the court of.
Speaker 4 (22:42):
The priest, which was for priests alone.
Speaker 3 (22:45):
But in this temple in heaven, in this temple, the
way to the presence of God is open to people
of every race. And now they're engaged in glad unceasing service,
going back and forth serving their God. There are no barriers,
there are no restraints. There is absolute total openness to
the throne of God in heaven. And the reference to
serving day and night simply means that in that day
(23:07):
listen to this.
Speaker 4 (23:08):
This really encourages me.
Speaker 3 (23:09):
In that day, they will not need sleep or rest
in order to serve continually. They will never be tired,
They will not be subject any longer to the limitations
that frustrate all of us here below.
Speaker 4 (23:21):
They will be able to serve God continually.
Speaker 3 (23:24):
And the wonderful opportunity of personal fellowship is referenced here too.
For the Lord and himself, it says, is going to
dwell with them. Can you imagine serving and having God
right there, just fellowshiping with him and serving with him
and continuing to do that odd informitum forever and ever
to serve the Lord.
Speaker 2 (23:47):
You know, someone once told me that you don't love
the Lord if you don't serve the Lord. And maybe
that's a little bit too harsh, but I'll tell you
the best way to know whether you love him is
to ask yourself, how am I serving him? What am
I doing to show my love to him? And the
Bible tells us that we show our love to God
by serving others. That's the only tangible thing you will
(24:08):
find about loving God, keeping his commandments and serving others.
And the Book of Revelation, even this prophetic book, reminds
us of that great truth. Did you know that Turning
Point has a magazine. You can get that magazine in
your mail every month if you'd like to have it.
Turning Points Magazine and Devotional is a wonderful way for
(24:30):
you to stay up with your faith every day. There's
a devotion for every day of the week Monday through Friday,
and one for the weekend, and then there are wonderful
articles there to encourage you in your walk with the Lord.
Ask about it when you write or call or send
an email, and we'll get you the next copy so
you can check it out for yourself. Thank you so
much for joining us today. Be sure and be here tomorrow.
(24:51):
We'll see you next time.
Speaker 1 (24:56):
For more information on Doctor Jeremiah series Escape the Coming Night,
please visit our website, where we also offer two free
ways to help you stay connected, our monthly Turning Points
magazine and our daily email devotional Sign up today at
David Jeremiah dot org slash Radio. That's Davidjeremiah dot org
slash Radio, or call us at eight hundred and ninety
(25:17):
four seven nineteen ninety three. Ask for your copy of
David's timely and valuable new book, Sixty Days of Prophecy,
The Truth behind Endtime Warnings. It's yours for a gift
of any amount. You can also purchase the Jeremiah Study
Bible in the English Standard, New International and New King
James versions available in your choice of versatile and attractive
(25:40):
cover options. Get all the details when you visit our website.
Davidjeremiah dot org slash Radio. This is David Michael Jeremiah.
Join us tomorrow as we continue the series Escape the
Coming Night on Turning Point with Doctor David Jeremiah.
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