Scripture Reflections

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, and crying out with a loud voice, “Salvation belongs to our God who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb!” (Rev. 7:9-10)

For two Sundays in a row we have heard this passage, yet it was not until today, when I was rereading it, that I finally paused long enough for the cry of the multitude to sink in. Perhaps it was the Spirit of God, but my eyes landed on the song of the multitude, and suddenly my heart heard them. Saints from every tribe, tongue, and nation clustering around the heavenly throne, shouting.

“Salvation belongs to God! And it belongs to the Lamb of God!”

Of course, we acknowledge the same thing—salvation does belong to God. Yet we aren’t shouting it, delighting to declare it to one another, or singing it all the time. None of us have likely shouted this at anyone recently. We acknowledge it, but then get back to the business of life.

But the saints around the throne don’t let the moment pass so quickly. They have arrived on the other side, they have come through the tribulation, their sins have been washed away (14), and now they see the salvation with their own eyes. They are safe, in the presence of the Lamb, and so they cry out with a loud voice, “Salvation is yours! You have it in your hands! You alone can save! You have done it!”

We acknowledge that salvation belongs to God, but because we have not yet seen it in many areas of our life—struggles in our families and with personal sin, bodies weary from the effects of the fall, a nation and culture in the throes of turmoil—our voices sometimes falter. Do we really believe that God has salvation in his hands? Salvation from our weariness, our discouragement, our shame, our fear? Do we really believe that we too, one day, will emerge on the other side of the tribulation and get the chance to cluster around the throne, gaze at the Lamb, and shout with the crowd before the Father?

It is hard to keep believing many days. It is hard to believe that salvation is real, that the Lamb really has conquered, and that God the Father truly will preserve us to the end. Listen to the testimony of those who have gone before; listen to the saints who have already emerged from the tribulation, and let their cry bring strength to your soul!

“Salvation belongs to God! And it belongs to the Lamb of God!”

Steven+