ADDENDUM to Revelation 7 and the "Great Multitude"

ADDENDUM to:

Revelation 7 and the “Great Multitude”

Some additional scriptures follow for study into this subject if you are so inclined. This list is by no means exhaustive. The first few are from Revelation and show that peoples, nations, etc. are a reference to physical humans. We have added “Comments” interspersed throughout. Naturally, many of these scriptures also relate directly to the “New Heavens and New Earth” as well as the “New Jerusalem” of Revelation. It is important to remember that the “Jews” today represent only one or two tribes of Israel. The other ten tribes of the House of Israel are not “Jewish”, but they are certainly “Israelites”. For a more detailed explanation of who the present day people of Israel are and where they reside see the article The United States and Britain in Prophecy.

Revelation 5:9 And they sung a new song, saying, Thou art worthy to take the book, and to open the seals thereof: for thou wast slain, and hast redeemed us to God by thy blood out of every kindred, and tongue, and people, and nation;

Revelation 7:9 After this I beheld, and, lo, a 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 in their hands;

Revelation 11:9 And they of the people and kindreds and tongues and nations shall see their dead bodies three days and an half, and shall not suffer their dead bodies to be put in graves. (These people must be alive in order to “see” their dead bodies).

Revelation 13:7 And it was given unto him to make war with the saints, and to overcome them: and power was given him over all kindreds, and tongues, and nations. (He could only overpower physical humans, right?)

Revelation 14:6 And I saw another angel fly in the midst of heaven, having the everlasting gospel to preach unto them that dwell on the earth, and to every nation, and kindred, and tongue, and people, (These people “dwell” on the earth and must be physical humans otherwise why bother preaching the gospel to them!)

Revelation 18:4 And I heard another voice from heaven, saying, Come out of her, my people, that ye be not partakers of her sins, and that ye receive not of her plagues. (Comment: God calls Israel out of captivity. This verse has nothing to do with ‘the church’ as some might like to think. The timeframe is the Day of the Lord, not the Great Tribulation.)

5 For her sins have reached unto heaven, and God hath remembered her iniquities.

6 Reward her even as she rewarded you (Comment: It is pay back time now. God is about to place His wrath upon the Beast/ Assyria/ Babylon for the death and overwhelming destruction it exacted upon Israel and, as God’s own words found in the Old Testament state, for going farther then they should have in doing so. Look them up, they are there! So, because of they went ‘too far’ God will pour out a double portion upon ‘her’. This is about what the Beast does to Israel; the Beast does nothing specifically to the “ekklesia”. The “ekklesia” is affected only so much as anyone is affected within Israel while in captivity.), and double unto her double according to her works: in the cup which she hath filled fill to her double.

The remaining scriptures are related to the Great Multitude in various ways. They also show that the Great Multitude can be comprised of Israelites and Gentiles (non-Israelites). Many of these scriptures also tie in directly with the New Heavens and New Earth, the institution of the New Covenant, the re-gathering of Israel from captivity after the Great Tribulation, as well as the new Jerusalem of Revelation. A few also provide related examples of how an Old Testament scripture can be quoted in the New Testament, sometimes word for word, yet carry a different application in the New Testament.

Zechariah 8:20 Thus saith the LORD of hosts; It shall yet come to pass, that there shall come people, and the inhabitants of many cities: 21) And the inhabitants of one city shall go to another, saying, Let us go speedily to pray before the LORD, and to seek the LORD of hosts: I will go also. 22) Yea, many people and strong nations shall come to seek the LORD of hosts in Jerusalem, and to pray before the LORD. 23) Thus saith the LORD of hosts; In those days it shall come to pass, that ten men shall take hold out of all languages of the nations, even shall take hold of the skirt of him that is a Jew, saying, We will go with you: for we have heard (how, when?) that God is with you. (Comment: Notice that ‘others’ of the nations will come with Israel to the Promised Land. The use of the word ‘Jew’ here represents all Israelites returning. ‘Jew’ was used because when Zechariah wrote this, Israel had already been in captivity in Assyria - not the final captivity - for over 100 years. Meanwhile, a portion of the Jews had just returned from Babylonian captivity to rebuild Jerusalem. Both the House of Judah and the House of Israel will go one more time into national captivity and slavery. Paul uses ‘Jew’ in the same exact way in Romans, just as he does with ‘Greek’. In these uses, one name is used to represent all of a type. Therefore, ‘Jew’ represents all of Israel, and not just the one tribe of Judah, while ‘Greek’ represents all of the non-Israelite nations, and not just Greece. God inspired Jeremiah to do the same thing in Jeremiah 31:9 where he uses ‘Ephraim’ in this way.) ‘for I am a father to Israel, and Ephraim is my firstborn’. (Whereas in) Exodus 4:22 (God had Moses record) And thou shalt say unto Pharaoh, Thus saith the LORD, Israel is my son, even my firstborn:

Ephraim represents Israel as the firstborn and the figure of speech is called ‘synecdoche’. Israel is the ‘firstborn’, just as Exodus 4:22 states.

Romans 1:16 For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek. (Comment: If ‘Jew’ did not mean all Israel and ‘Greek’ did not represent all non-Israelite nations then none of this would make any sense at all.)

Romans 10:12 For there is no difference between the Jew and the Greek: for the same Lord over all is rich unto all that call upon him. (Same here, Jew = Israel, and Greek = non-Israelite nations.)

Romans 15:9 And that the Gentiles might glorify God for his mercy; as it is written, For this cause I will confess to thee among the Gentiles, and sing unto thy name. (from Ps. 18:49)

Romans 15:10 And again he saith, Rejoice, ye Gentiles, with his people. (from Deut. 32:43)

Romans 15:11 And again, Praise the Lord, all ye Gentiles; and laud him, all ye people. (from Ps. 117:1)

Romans 15:12 And again, Esaias saith, There shall be a root of Jesse, and he that shall rise to reign over the Gentiles; in him shall the Gentiles trust. (from Is. 11:10)

The above Romans 15 verses all quoted scriptures from the “Old Testament”. Paul applies only the wording of the scriptures to the present day Christians without changing the original intent and application of the scriptures of “old”. The “old” scriptures remain unchanged in their application. They still mean what they meant when they were originally written. There will come a “day” when all of the “old” scriptures will be fulfilled just as originally stated in the “Old Testament”. What Paul has done is simply create an entirely new “application” for the same words. Paul is not saying or implying that the verses of Romans 15 are a “fulfillment” of Psalms, Deuteronomy, or Isaiah, nor is he saying or implying that the “Old Testament” scriptures now apply to the “ekklesia” instead of the original recipient (Israel, Gentiles, etc.), nor is he saying or implying that the “Old Testament” scriptures apply to “both” Israel and the “ekklesia”. What Paul has done is to create a new category wherein the same “words” do apply to a different group. Thus, what we find is a common occurrence in the “New Testament”, the very same “words” that are used in reference to Israel, non-Israelite nations, and others in the “Old Testament” are also being used to apply to “Christians. The difference is that the only thing in common is the “words”. Paul uses the same “words” found in “old” scripture then applies these “words” to a different situation, a different people or recipient, for a different purpose. This is not “duality”, but practicality. The errant application of the meaning of “old” scriptures to “new” scriptures has led to many becoming confused over the role of the ekklesia and Israel. There is a great tendency to co-mingle scripture with the intended recipients of said scripture. People often place the “church” into scriptures where they do not exist and were never intended to occupy. We begin to see “duality” in all the scriptures and lose sight of the plan and purpose of God in the process, all the while believing that we are becoming enlightened with “new” revelation from God. Meanwhile we are actually becoming less “enlightened” and wandering further from what God would have us to see. None of this is to mean that there are not “New Testament” quotes of “old” scriptures that carry the same meaning and fulfillment as those of the “old”. It is being aware of which circumstance applies that is the key.

John 12:13 Took branches of palm trees, and went forth to meet him, and cried, Hosanna: Blessed is the King of Israel that cometh in the name of the Lord. (Comment: The Lamb shed His blood for Israel, His brethren, too. These people were not worshipping their ‘personal’ savior. He hadn’t even died for anyone yet. They were praising someone who they thought was going to be their King, only they thought that He was going to take the throne then, and reestablish the Kingdom of Israel. They did not think that Jesus was the God of the Old Testament, which He wasn’t, they just thought He would be their human leader.)

Hebrews 8:1 Now of the things which we have spoken this is the sum: We have such an high priest, who is set on the right hand of the throne of the Majesty in the heavens;

Hebrews 12:2 Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God.

Psalms 68:17 The chariots of God are twenty thousand, even thousands of angels: the Lord is among them, as in Sinai, in the holy place. (Comment: Where will the holy place be in the future?)

Isaiah 4:5 And the LORD will create upon every dwelling place of mount Zion, and upon her assemblies, a cloud and smoke by day, and the shining of a flaming fire by night: for upon all the glory shall be a defense. (Comment: Do you know why a ‘defense’ is needed and for whom? And when?)

Isaiah 65:13 (vss13-16 are best plus see Is 62:4 = the ‘another name’.) Therefore thus saith the Lord GOD, Behold, my servants shall eat, but ye shall be hungry: behold, my servants shall drink, but ye shall be thirsty: behold, my servants shall rejoice, but ye shall be ashamed:

Luke 6:21 Blessed are ye that hunger now: for ye shall be filled. Blessed are ye that weep now: for ye shall laugh.

Revelation 21:4 And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain: for the former things are passed away. (What former things are “passed away”? See the article on New Jerusalem.)

Psalms 121:6 The sun shall not smite thee by day, nor the moon by night. (Comment: How can the “moon” smite anyone? The answer may surprise you. It can “smite” someone the same way the “sun” can, but it has nothing to do with “sunlight” or heat. See the companion articles for more information on this point. This might be an excellent time to compare Psalms 121:6 with Isaiah 60:19-20 & Revelation 21:23-25, and Revelation 22:5.)

Isaiah 25:4 For thou hast been a strength to the poor, a strength to the needy in his distress, a refuge from the storm, a shadow from the heat, when the blast of the terrible ones is as a storm against the wall.

Revelation 21:6 And he said unto me, It is done. I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end. I will give unto him that is athirst of the fountain of the water of life freely. (This is not about spirit life, but physical life with a new spiritual attitude.)

Psalms 36:9 For with thee is the fountain of life: in thy light shall we see light.

Isaiah 12:3 Therefore with joy shall ye draw water out of the wells of salvation.

Isaiah 30:25 (vss18-33 is best) And there shall be upon every high mountain, and upon every high hill, rivers and streams of waters in the day of the great slaughter, when the towers fall. (When is the ‘day of great slaughter’? What is the “slaughter”? There is only one and it is in the ‘end time’.)

Matthew 24:35 Heaven and earth shall pass away, but my words shall not pass away.

2 Corinthians 6:16 And what agreement hath the temple of God with idols? for ye are the temple of the living God; as God hath said, I will dwell in them, and walk in them; and I will be their God, and they shall be my people. (Comment: This was quoted from the Old Testament, but here it is applied to true Christians in a limited and specific way, which is different from the way that it applies to Israel.)

2 Corinthians 6:17 Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing; and I will receive you, (Comment: Paul quoted this from the Old Testament. He applies it to a Christian’s spiritual life today, but what is the Old Testament intent and for whom, and for when? There is a similarity, but there is also a difference between the two applications. See Isaiah 52:11, Jeremiah 51:6, Ezra 10:11, Numbers 16:26 for a comparison)

1 Corinthians 7:31 And they that use this world, as not abusing it: for the fashion of this world passeth away.

Isaiah 49:6 And he said, It is a light thing that thou shouldest be my servant to raise up the tribes of Jacob, and to restore the preserved of Israel: I will also give thee for a light to the Gentiles, that thou mayest be my salvation unto the end of the earth.

Isaiah 49:7 Thus saith the LORD, the Redeemer of Israel, and his Holy One, to him whom man despiseth, to him whom the nation abhorreth, to a servant of rulers, Kings shall see and arise, princes also shall worship, because of the LORD that is faithful, and the Holy One of Israel, and he shall choose thee. 8) Thus saith the LORD, In an acceptable time have I heard thee, and in a day of salvation have I helped thee: and I will preserve thee, and give thee for a covenant of the people, to establish the earth, to cause to inherit the desolate heritages;

Isaiah 44:23 Sing, O ye heavens; for the LORD hath done it: shout, ye lower parts of the earth: break forth into singing, ye mountains, O forest, and every tree therein: for the LORD hath redeemed Jacob, and glorified himself in Israel.

Isaiah 55:5 Behold, thou shalt call a nation that thou knowest not, and nations that knew not thee shall run unto thee because of the LORD thy God, and for the Holy One of Israel; for he hath glorified thee. (When does this occur?)

Isaiah speaks abundantly about the restoration of a captive Israel back into national statehood. He speaks of this deliverance from captivity and resulting restoration to an independent nation in terms of a resurrection and rebirth. This is ever so appropriate as he also refers to the original falling into captivity as a ‘death’ and dying of Israel. The analogy is complete and appropriate. It is in recent times that these scriptures have been twisted and coerced into supposedly referring to individual physical human resurrections. The proper context totally prohibits any such conclusion. Isaiah consistently speaks of the restoration of statehood to Israel from a place of ‘death’ in captivity. Not so much as a single verse alludes to a literal resurrection of any individuals from the grave. While the Bible does have much to say on the subject of death and resurrections of people none is found in Isaiah.

Finally, here are a few verses that describe Israel returning to the land of Israel and coming under the promised New Covenant. Notice how this ties in directly with Revelation and the new Jerusalem and the new heavens and new earth. May God speed the arrival of this day.

Isaiah 60:1 Arise, shine; for thy light is come, and the glory of the LORD is risen upon thee.

Isaiah 60:2 For, behold, the darkness shall cover the earth, and gross darkness the people: but the LORD shall arise upon thee, and his glory shall be seen upon thee.

Isaiah 60:3 And the Gentiles shall come to thy light, and kings to the brightness of thy rising.

Isaiah 60:4 Lift up thine eyes round about, and see: all they gather themselves together, they come to thee: thy sons shall come from far, and thy daughters shall be nursed at thy side.

Isaiah 60:5 Then thou shalt see, and flow together, and thine heart shall fear, and be enlarged; because the abundance of the sea shall be converted unto thee, the forces of the Gentiles shall come unto thee.

Isaiah 60:6 The multitude of camels shall cover thee, the dromedaries of Midian and Ephah; all they from Sheba shall come: they shall bring gold and incense; and they shall shew forth the praises of the LORD.

Isaiah 60:7 All the flocks of Kedar shall be gathered together unto thee, the rams of Nebaioth shall minister unto thee: they shall come up with acceptance on mine altar, and I will glorify the house of my glory.

Isaiah 60:8 Who are these that fly as a cloud, and as the doves to their windows?

Isaiah 60:9 Surely the isles shall wait for me, and the ships of Tarshish first, to bring thy sons from far, their silver and their gold with them, unto the name of the LORD thy God, and to the Holy One of Israel, because he hath glorified thee.

Isaiah 60:10 And the sons of strangers shall build up thy walls, and their kings shall minister unto thee: for in my wrath I smote thee, but in my favour have I had mercy on thee.

Isaiah 60:11 Therefore thy gates shall be open continually; they shall not be shut day nor night; that men may bring unto thee the forces of the Gentiles, and that their kings may be brought.

Isaiah 60:12 For the nation and kingdom that will not serve thee shall perish; yea, those nations shall be utterly wasted.

Isaiah 60:13 The glory of Lebanon shall come unto thee, the fir tree, the pine tree, and the box together, to beautify the place of my sanctuary; and I will make the place of my feet glorious.
Isaiah 60:14 The sons also of them that afflicted thee shall come bending unto thee (as in Revelation 3:9?) and all they that despised thee shall bow themselves down at the soles (Revelation 3:9 again?) of thy feet; and they shall call thee, The city of the LORD, The Zion of the Holy One of Israel. (Who is called the “city” of the Lord? Is it not Israel? God speaks of His re-gathered People in this chapter “…thy sons shall come from far, and thy daughters shall be nursed at thy side” as if they are the “city” Jerusalem. Is this the “city” that comes down from heaven in Revelation 21:2? See the article, “The New Jerusalem, How New Is It?”)
Back