June 12th, 2022 – In Revelation, John describes a wonderful scene that should give anyone hope who may be suffering for their Christian faith.   In today’s scripture we see that there are “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, and crying out with a loud voice, “Salvation belongs to our God who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb!”   Prior to the tribulation God will gather those who have, through their faith in Christ, been made pure and can stand before the throne of God blameless because of the price that was paid by Christ Jesus who bled and died so that this moment will occur one day.   It is a great hope that carries all believers, and it is the same hope that bonds us and provides that great unification of all ‘tribes and peoples and languages’ that we seek today through worldly means.   This image gives us hope that believers will be freed from persecution, but it also shows how little alone we really are.  Across the world today, Christ binds us to one another so the suffering of one of ‘his children’ should be felt throughout us all.

Revelation 7:1-17