The Vision – Revelation 7:9-12

Several years ago, I had the privilege of traveling to the Holy Land. I had spent years studying the Bible and hearing the stories, and so I was super excited to go see the land of the Bible. 

There is so much to see there, and you really need a month or more to take your time visiting the sites. I was only there for 8 days, so we packed a whole lot in. At every turn, there was something that inspired awe and wonder as it reminded me of Bible stories or church history.

The most impactful place for me was the Garden Tomb. One thing you find out pretty quickly while in Israel, is that there are two or three sites where the events of the Bible could have happened. The Church of the Holy Sepulcher is where the Catholics believe Christ was buried. The Garden Tomb is where Protestants believe Christ was buried.

What I can say, is that Garden Tomb was the most peaceful place I visited in Israel. It truly was a garden and the birds were chirping. As we went into the tomb and saw the layout, it just seemed to be the place where it happened. 

But what really uplifted my spirit was walking out of that tomb to an African group celebrating the resurrection. They were a head of us and had gathered outside the tomb and broke out in songs of celebration. I couldn’t understand the words, but my heart and soul was in unison with them. We were having an international worship gathering. I couldn’t help but think, “this is what heaven is going to be like!”

Read Revelation 7:9–12

9 After this I looked, and behold, a great multitude that no one could number, from every nation, from all tribes and peoples and languages, standing before the throne and before the Lamb, clothed in white robes, with palm branches in their hands, 10 and crying out with a loud voice, “Salvation belongs to our God who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb!” 11 And all the angels were standing around the throne and around the elders and the four living creatures, and they fell on their faces before the throne and worshiped God, 12 saying, “Amen! Blessing and glory and wisdom and thanksgiving and honor and power and might be to our God forever and ever! Amen.” 

In this passage, we get a glimpse at the vision of the Gospel, that every nation, tribe, people and language gather together to worship Jesus. One day, all the divisions this world has created between people groups will be dismantled and we will come together to form a beautiful tapestry of praise. 

Today

How do we take this vision and apply it to today? There are so many books on self-help and leadership written to help people succeed in this life. Among the many wise teachings passed on is a phrase that is so important to consider: begin with the end in mind.

Today you need to pause and consider what is the Vision of God and how can you be involved in it. God’s vision is that people of all ethnic groups, languages and tribes join together in the Church and worship Jesus. This means that the message of the Bible is for all people, not just people who look like you, talk like you and act like you.

You can’t read this passage and think racism is okay. You can’t read this passage and think that being bigoted, hateful, or exclusive is okay. Today you need to see that every person you meet potentially could be in that future choir before the throne of Jesus.

What’s holding you back from telling them about Jesus? Do you find yourself judging others that don’t look like you? Do you prefer certain people groups over other groups? 

The Gospel doesn’t build walls, it tears down walls. When we look toward the end goal, we should begin to take steps today to prepare ourselves for the future our God is creating. We know from His Word that He has equipped us and called us to be on mission for Him. Our mission is to fulfill this vision of every tribe and every nation. 

Tomorrow

One day, you will stand before Jesus to give an account for your life. For unbelievers, that day is called the Great White Throne judgment. That is a day when you give account for all your sins, but most importantly, for the sin of rejecting Jesus. It’s at this judgment that Jesus puts an end to sin for eternity and all those who rejected the Gospel will be cast into the lake of fire with Satan and all his demons.

That’s some bad news. But it is important to remember, because we need to catch the vision that God does not want anyone to perish, but all to come to repentance (2 Peter 3:9). This the reason we need to tell others about Jesus, so they don’t face this judgment.

For the believers, you will stand before Jesus at the Bema Seat of Christ. This too is a judgment, but the type of judgment they do at the Olympics where you are rewarded for your accomplishments. Believers will give an account for the opportunities they had, not for the sins they committed, because Jesus paid for their sins on the cross. 

In that day, you will remember every opportunity you had to share Jesus with someone and remember if you took advantage of that opportunity. Will your excuses seem like a good reason when you are looking Jesus in the eyes? 

Think of how Peter felt when he denied Jesus for the third time and look across the courtyard and made eye contact with Jesus. Do you want to feel that way? I certainly don’t. I admit though, I’ve missed a lot of opportunities and I regret not taking advantage of them. 

In that day, you will think of friends and family that you could have told about the Gospel, but you chose not to. What do you think your friend would say to you as they wait in line for the Great White Throne judgment?

You were afraid of not getting invited to a party, so you didn’t tell me? You didn’t think you knew enough, so you didn’t start a conversation? You thought you might be shunned from the senior lunch table for a single year was a good enough reason to let me slip into eternity in hell? You didn’t think I would be interested in something you loved? 

WHY?

Here is what’s true, Jesus saved you for a reason. He rescued you and gave you a new family, a new life and a new mission. You were adopted into His family. You were taken from spiritual death to spiritual life. You were saved to tell the world about a Savior who loves them. 

If you ponder these truths and the teachings of Scripture, your why will grow. Why tell others? Because it is the best news ever! 

Romans 1:16

For I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes, to the Jew first and also to the Greek.

Your Why needs to be bigger than your What. That’s what this series has been all about. The Motive to tell the world is your love for Jesus. Loving Jesus means joining His Cause, to make disciples. Jesus promises to give you power and to be with you on this mission. The vision is to see every tongue, tribe and nation hear the message of Jesus and stand before Him one day in celebration.

If this becomes your why, you will tell others. It’s not always easy, but it does get easier!

My first year at Word of Life Bible Institute, a one year Bible Certificate program, I signed up for Open Air Evangelism (OAE). For some reason, I would choose things that were the most difficult thing for me to imagine seeing myself doing and OAE was that. I could not see myself standing on the streets of NYC and preaching to those who walked by, but that is what we did!

After several weeks of training, we loaded up and headed to the City. It was over four hours away and I remember the sense of dread that came over me. Why and I driving to NYC to do something I was terrified of doing? I kicked myself the entire drive.

I was scared out of my mind as we headed into the city for our first day of street witnessing. I was the van driver, so I thought maybe I would get away with just being the driver. “Horner, you are up first!” said our guide.

I couldn’t believe it and I thought I was going to puke. However, I had prepared a message from God’s Word and stood up and proclaimed it. Before I knew it, the week had passed by and it was time to head home, but I didn’t want to.

What changed? Practice. I put my study into practice and proclaimed the name of Jesus to the streets of NYC. It start off scary and it became fun. We saw lives changed on the streets every day. We were on mission and we were excited. We didn’t want to stop, but we had to head back to school.

The next semester, it was time to go on OAE again. Do you think I was excited? No, I was terrified and couldn’t believe I signed up for this again. I went through the very same process all over again.

What I learned was that beginning an evangelism plan is hard, but the more you practice it the easier it gets. If you stop for some time, it gets hard to start up again. Yet it will get easier once you get started. Practicing evangelism leads to a meaningful life. 

Are you willing to join the mission? What’s your motive? Join the Cause! Hold fast to His Promises! Look to His Vision! 

One day, I hope to arrive on heavenly shores and meet people from all over the world that I had the opportunity to impact in the name of Christ. Until that day, I pray that I continue to be faithful to the heavenly call God has given to all believers