Praise Him Because We Win!
Some students at a prestigious divinity school were taking a break from their studies and went to the campus gym to get some exercise. As the entered the gym they noticed and old black janitor sitting in the bleachers reading. As they approached him, they saw that he was reading the bible. They asked him what part of the Bible he was reading and he answered that he was reading Revelation. They grew curious about how much he really understood what he was reading, so they asked him if he knew what it said. The old black janitor responded “it says, We win!”. In Revelation 7:9-17 we see a prophetic vision where people of every nation, language and tribe in numbers too great to count, praising and worshipping God the Father and God the Son. Why, because they have been saved and sin has been defeated. In other words…we win! My prayer for you this week is that you will realize that in Jesus you already have the victory and you will begin living your life like the winner you already are!
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. And they cried out in a loud voice:
“Salvation belongs to our God,
who sits on the throne,
and to the Lamb.”
All the angels were standing around the throne and around the elders and the four living creatures. They fell down on their faces before the throne and worshiped God, saying:
“Amen!
Praise and glory and wisdom and thanks and honor and power and strength be to our God for ever and ever. Amen!” (Rev. 7:9-12) John describes seeing every nation, tribe, people and language around the throne of God the Father and before the Son, in numbers that couldn’t even be counted. They are worshipping God in robes of white and holding palm leaves (which indicate triumph and victory). They worshipped with their faces to the ground, praising the Father and the Son for salvation and ascribing seven attributes to God (praise, glory, wisdom, thanks, honor, power and strength). This multitude of people in white robes are joined in worship by 24 elders, all the angels and 4 living creatures. In heaven, we will praise and worship God together, as one united congregation.
Then one of the elders asked me, “These in white robes —who are they, and where did they come from?”
I answered, “Sir, you know.”
And he said, “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. Therefore,
“they are before the throne of God
and serve him day and night in his temple;
and he who sits on the throne
will shelter them with his presence.
‘Never again will they hunger;
never again will they thirst.
The sun will not beat down on them,’
nor any scorching heat.
For the Lamb at the center of the throne
will be their shepherd;
‘he will lead them to springs of living water.’
‘And God will wipe away every tear from their eyes.’” (Rev. 7:13-17) One of the 24 elders asked John about the worshippers dressed in white robes. John didn’t know the answer, so the elder answered the question himself. He said that they had come out of the Great Tribulation. Having survived that, they were given the privilege of being before God’s throne and under His “shelter“ (protection). They would never again experience the suffering they experienced on earth. Under the care of the Good Shepherd, they would be led to springs of living water and God would wipe every tear from their eyes. God will reward those who endure to the end. There’ll be no more suffering or tears, but we will enjoy restoration, provision and protection.
The Atlanta Braves just won the Major League Baseball 2021 World Series. Fans from all over celebrated by wearing Braves hats, shirts, pins, etc. The Braves fans were ecstatically happy, because they had waited over 25 years to see the Braves victorious in the World Series. Some of the fans who really desired to celebrate and praise the team, attended the victory parade to let them know how much they were appreciated. It was a great celebration indeed. But as great a celebration as that was, the praise and worship of the Father and Son that will go on in heaven will be exponentially greater! On that day we will celebrate because of their victory over sin, our salvation for eternity, our protection from further suffering and our restoration and provision by the Good Shepherd. We have waited long and endured much, but the book of Revelation assures us that there will be victory and we will greatly praise and worship the Father and the Son in heaven among numbers too great for us to count. So go ahead and praise and worship God right now, because we already know…we win!
Blessings,
Rev. Glenn
Please enjoy this song from Todd Dulaney, “Victory Belongs To Jesus”
