Revelation 7:9-10
After these things I looked, and behold, a great multitude which no one could number, of all nations, tribes, peoples, and tongues, standing before the throne and before the Lamb, clothed with white robes, with palm branches in their hands, and crying out with a loud voice, saying, “Salvation belongs to our God who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb!”
Previously, we started considering five facts about the saints who are saved during the Great Tribulation by the agency of the 144 000 “servants of God”. We’ve seen, firstly, that their number is uncountable.
Let us turn to the second fact about these Tribulation saints with this question: what is your attitude to the flags of countries other than your own? I’m quite sentimental about my country’s flag. But, as a witness for Christ, how should I view other nations? Well, today’s text sheds good light here.
It does because it says these saints are multinational–hailing from every nation in the world. Officially, our globe boasts of 196 nations today. Now God’s Word says all of them–African, Asian, European, American, Australian, Pacific, Antarctic, Arctic, Caribbean, Oriental and all–will be represented in glory. That’s the real United Nations, or rather, Universal Nations!
Beloved, the Gospel is indeed the power of God for everyone who believes (John 3:16; Rom 1:16). That’s on an individual basis. However, the Great Commission necessarily includes an international dimension. Christ instructs the Church to go out and make disciples of all nations (Mat 28:19). To God, every one of our nations is precious and capable of getting saved.
This means there’s hope for every nation on earth, regardless of their situation. We must not write off any people group, beloved. We must repent of our prejudices against certain nations. Let us celebrate every nation we come across. Good Christians have a multinational outlook. They appreciate and celebrate the diversity of nations–because our God does. They don’t just think local or national–they think international. That’s the Great Commission!
We must also desire to be vessels the Holy Spirit can use to reach our and other nations. Let us partner with and pray for the ministers and ministries God has already raised to reach entire nations. Pray and praise God for your nation by name today, will you?
Pastor Josh