And one of the elders answered, saying unto me, ‘What are these which are arrayed in white robes, and whence came they? Revelation 7:13
If we were to read the following verse, we would learn that John did not know the identity of the great multitude arrayed in white. The elder to whom he was speaking knew, but John did not. If that multitude was redeemed by the blood of the Lamb, how could John not know who they were? Why were they strangers to him? They were strangers because they were from a different age than the one John knew. John knew all about the suffering saints around him as he would make a point of visiting and communicating with saints in all of the areas in the known world. No familiar faces appeared in that white-robed throng. This is because John was looking not only into the future but also into the great purposes of God for future events.
There is a wise saying that we know well: I do not know what the future holds, but I know Who holds the future. More important than knowing what will happen tomorrow is knowing that tomorrow is already in God’s hands. More important than knowing what will happen beyond this life is knowing that whatever happens beyond this life is already part of God’s great purpose. And yet, God would, to a certain extent, share the pattern of His great purposes with us. And part of that pattern is His purposes for those who will be saved during the great tribulation. Two great differences stand out between the saints of our day of grace and the saints of the great tribulation. There are actually many differences, but we will look at only two here.
The first great difference is the extent of the persecution of that future company. Today, we know that many – but not most – of the Christians are suffering persecution. But many are not, including you and me. But in the tribulation, persecution and death will be the lot of the majority of the redeemed. Few will escape the torture and wrath of the antichrist. Trusting Jesus Christ as Saviour will cost much more in those days. A second great difference is that the tribulation saints, unlike us, will not be called upon to preach and spread the Gospel. The great commission that the Lord Jesus gave to His disciples, and to us, was to preach the Gospel to every creature. But in the tribulation, the spread of the Gospel was in the hands of God’s special witnesses and of the 144,000 Jews who are to be sealed. The Gentiles who believe in that time will not have an opportunity to spread the Gospel because they will be slain before they will be able to witness for their Lord.
God’s great program for the future includes the redemption of many millions of precious souls. We will have much in common with them. But unlike them, we have a responsibility, and a capability, to spread the Gospel. May be appreciate and exercise this great responsibility. -Jim MacIntosh