(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; (10) And cried with a loud voice, saying, Salvation to our God which sitteth upon the throne, and unto the Lamb. (11) And all the angels stood round about the throne, and about the elders and the four beasts, and fell before the throne on their faces, and worshipped God, (12) Saying, Amen: Blessing, and glory, and wisdom, and thanksgiving, and honour, and power, and might, be unto our God forever and ever. Amen.
If we admire, as that we cannot but admire, and at the same time bless God for the gracious manifestation made to John, for the Church's consolation, in the foregoing representation of God's care over his tribes of Israel, in sealing them; with what thankfulness ought we, of the Gentile Church, to bless God for the discovery made here, of the innumerable body of Christ's members, gathered Out of all the varieties of the earth. Here is evidently the whole Church of Christ, beheld by John in a vision, even the bride, the Lamb's wife. Such, as will be seen in reality, in that day when the Lord will make up his jewels. And it should seem to have been intended by way of confirmation, through the medium of John, to convince the Church, by so plain and palpable a testimony, that both Jew and Gentile form but one and the same Church in Christ. They are no more than one. So saith Christ, and blessed it is to know it m y dove, my undefiled, is but one; she is the only one of her mother; she is the choice one of her that bare her, Song of Solomon 6:9. And this seems to have been particularly designed also for the greater joy of the Church, through John; because, as John had seen Christ seal Israel, and nothing had then been said, concerning the sealing of the Gentile Church; here his mind should be refreshed immediately upon, with the representation of the whole Church, both Jew and Gentile, when brought home to glory. Instead of sealing, which was a most gracious act, before a time of persecution, John shall now see the whole Church after all sorrows are over, when palms of victory, and white robes, shall show, that their troubles are ended. And, instead of an hundred and forty and four thousand of head only he shall behold a multitude of all Israel, Jew and Gentile, which no man could number; to show, that Christ's triumphs shall bear a suitable correspondence to the Almightiness of his Person and offices; nations, that is, some of all nations, shall be blessed in him, and all nations Shall call him blessed.
The best service I can render the Reader, in looking together with him over this most precious scripture, will be, I conceive, to gather out some few of the more special and leading particulars of it, and one by one, offer some remarks, as may be supposed, were particularly intended for them.
And, first. John observes, that this blessed society he saw consisted of a multitude, which no man could number, Such views give us a most pleasing consideration, that although the Church of Christ, compared to the world of ungodly, is but as the remnant of Jacob, in the midst of many people, and therefore called, by Christ himself', a little flock: Luke 12:32 yet, when the whole redeemed of the Lord comes to be gathered into one, they will form an immense body, and such a multitude as no man can number. Paul, speaking of the Church, saith: ye are come to an innumerable company of Angels, Hebrews 12:22-23. And our Lord himself speaks of his mansions in his Father's house, as being many, John 14:2. But it is a blessed thought, that though no man could number them, Jesus can. All his flocks must again pass under the hand of him that telleth them, Jeremiah 33:13. All the Father hath given him, shall come to him, John 6:37. Jesus hath all their names in his book of life, Revelation 21:27. And he said, that as a good Shepherd, he calleth them all by name, John 10:3. Sweet thought, to the least, and weakest lamb, in Christ's fold! However unknown, or unnoticed by the flock, the Great Shepherd both knoweth them, calleth them by name, feedeth them, watcheth over them, and will bring them home to his fold. As it was in coming out of Egypt, so it will be in bringing in to heaven; not an hoof belonging to God's Israel will the Lord leave behind.
Secondly. This multitude is to be gathered out of all nations, and kindreds, and people, and tongues. And consequently, Christ hath a people in all places; otherwise they could not be said to be gathered out. Here opens a most blessed subject to contemplate. And, I very particularly desire the Reader to bear with me, and hear me with patience, upon this very interesting subject. I find cause to bless God, for whit he hath here said of the Gentile Church in this place, as I no less would bless him, for what he had before said and done, in sealing the Jewish Church; for I confess, that I am inclined to think, that in both instances, there was a special design of the Lord in it. I beg indulgence to explain myself.
By sealing Israel, before their long oppressed state, under the despotism and delusion of the false prophet in the East, took place, we have seen the watchful eye of God over his Church. And by this further manifestation to John, concerning the whole Church, both Jew and Gentile, we no less see, how the Lord hath secured the present, and everlasting interests of all his people. But under both we are led to conclude, that both Jew and Gentile were alike to be gathered from the varieties of the earth. What a thought it is, that the seed of Christ should be thus dispersed over the whole world! And what a thought again follows upon the heels of the former, like wave after wave, in the sea; how the Lord's purposes are accomplished. His thoughts not our thoughts, neither his ways our ways! I cannot but admire this plan of infinite wisdom the more, because, for all the eastern world there is no prophecy in this whole book of the Revelation, except in this part. Surely, one might suppose, in so large a tract of the inhabited globe, some respect would be had, in a book of this kind, to those who peopled the East; and especially, As it was in the East that all the glorious transactions, of man's recovery from the fall, by Christ, was accomplished. But without an eye to what is here said, as referring to them, we have none. From the subsequent parts of those prophecies, to the end of the ruin of Antichrist, everything that is said, refers to the Western world. Hence, therefore, this becomes a precious testimony to the recovery, in after days of the Lord's appearing for his people. This view was evidently designed to show the Church, that God hath sealed Israel; and that, from hence also, his Gentile Church should arise; and both be fully known to be the Lord's, when the purposes of God were accomplished.
I would beg to add one word more, upon this gathering of Christ's Church from the varieties of the earth; namely, how blessedly it teacheth us of the safety of God's children, wheresoever they are. Jesus hath marked his sheep. And he will assuredly bring them all home to his fold. Let no child of God, therefore, ever despond, from any situation, or exercise of life. As the day is, the strength shall be. Thousands now in glory, were once, when upon earth, encompassed, as we are, with difficulties, and exercised with temptations. They who have entered into rest, have triumphed over all. If the poor, tried, tempted, and exercised child of God, here upon earth, could see the multitude now before the throne, and could hear their account of the Lord's grace, concerning them, while here below; how would it animate, and encourage his mind? He would learn, that what he now feels, they once felt, what he encounters, they once endured. These things would help him, through grace, to go on. And, being encompassed with so great a cloud of witnesses, he would lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset him, and rim with patience the race that is set before him, looking unto Jesus, the Author, and Finisher of his salvation! Hebrews 12:1-2
Thirdly. There is one feature more of this multitude John saw, which is strikingly descriptive. They are said to have been standing before the throne, and before the Lamb! Here we plainly discover, that the throne of God is one, and that Jesus is in the midst of the throne. And we no less discover, from what is said of the Church standing before the throne, that this is both the everlasting safety, and the everlasting happiness of the redeemed. It is our distance from this throne of God, which is the sad cause of all our misery. We live below our privileges. We have too little actings of faith upon the Person of Christ Jesus. Perfect love casteth out fear. If we love Christ because he first loved us, we shall soon apprehend the blessedness of always living to him, and living upon him. In his presence is fulness of joy, and at his right hand are pleasures forevermore!
Fourthly. They are said to be clothed with white robes, and palms in their hands. Intimating that they had overcome by the blood of the Lamb, and were therefore crowned with the emblems of victory There is somewhat very interesting in this account. Jesus hath made all his redeemed kings and priests, to God, and the Father; therefore, as such, they stand before him, both in their royal, and priestly garments. But the sweetest view is, that these robes of white, implied both their sanctity in Christ, and their everlasting freedom from all sin. Oh! the unspeakable felicity of such a state of holiness and sanctification, and that forever in Christ?
Fifthly. Their hymn of praise is beautiful. Salvation to our God which sitteth upon the throne, and unto the Lamb. Let the Reader from hence observe, how the Church gives her acknowledgments unitedly to all the Persons of the Godhead, as being the joint Authors of all her mercies in redemption. And, when it be considered, that all the Persons of the Godhead alike concurred in that vast design, the song of tribute becomes sweet, and suitable, in being addressed to the Holy Three IN One. God the Father Set forth Christ as a propitiation through faith in his blood. God the Son gave himself an offering, and a sacrifice to God, for a sweet swelling savor. And God the Holy Ghost, through whom that offering was made is the great cause of regeneration, in making the redeemed the happy partakers, by grace, of those unspeakable mercies. Hence the song of salvation to God, that is, Father, Son, and Holy Ghost, as God; and the Lamb, that is, the God-Man Mediator, Christ Jesus.
Sixthly. Though the Angels are said to fall before the throne on their faces, and to have worshipped God, saying Amen; yet they sung not of their salvation; for having, through God's grace, kept their first estate, they needed not salvation. But only as participating in the Joy of the Church of God, and rejoicing in the glories of the Lord, they enter with an holy ardor of affection, into all that belongs to the Church's welfare, and therefore, put their hearty Amen to the heavenly hymn. And the sevenfold praise that follows, is descriptive both of their views of God's glory, and their happiness in it. Blessings say they, for God is blessed in himself, and blessed in his Church and people; yea, is their blessedness, and the fountain of all blessedness. And Glory, because God is the glory of his people. His glory is in himself, and of himself; and his glory is great, in the salvation by Christ, Psalms 21:5. Wisdom, is another of his distinguishing attributes, and most eminently displayed in the salvation by Christ. For Christ himself is both the wisdom of God, and the power of God to salvation, 1 Corinthians 1:24. Thanksgiving: most suitably is this added, for if heaven, in the hierarchies of the place, could be supposed possible to be silent in the contemplation of God's love to the Church, in all that relates to it, the very stones of the earth might be supposed to cry out. Honor is also brought into the vast account. For as God, he is to be honored; and as God in Christ to be everlastingly beheld as the sole source of all honor; and the Lord will take to himself honor, in the destruction of all the foes of our salvation. Power is eminently displayed in salvation, since nothing but the wisdom of God could have contrived it, and nothing but the power of God accomplished it. And Might, to bear up the whole government, in all the departments of nature, providence, grace, and glory. Well might the heavenly host, therefore, catch fire at the Church's song, and join in, with all their powers, to swell the loud Chorus of praises to God and the Lamb. Reader! Shall you and I join our feeble notes to the same? Yes if so be we know, that we have redemption through Christ's blood, even the forgiveness of sins according to the riches of his grace.