Wash your robes in the blood of the Lamb.

The Second Sunday in Lent(3/8/2020)

The Revelation to John 7:13-17

Wash your robes in the blood of the Lamb.

 

ESV

13   Then one of the elders addressed me, saying, “Who are these, clothed in white robes, and from where have they come?”

14   I said to him, “Sir, you know.” And he said to me, “These are the ones coming out of the great tribulation. They have washed their robes and made them white in the blood of the Lamb.

15   “Therefore they are before the throne of God, and serve him day and night in his temple; and he who sits on the throne will shelter them with his presence.

16   They shall hunger no more, neither thirst anymore; the sun shall not strike them, nor any scorching heat.

17   For the Lamb in the midst of the throne will be their shepherd, and he will guide them to springs of living water, and God will wipe away every tear from their eyes.”

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A. Walk as children of light.

{Then one of the elders addressed me, saying, “Who are these, clothed in white robes, and from where have they come?”}(13)

 

Today I want to share the victorious faith with you from the book of Revelation. Revelation chapter seven depicts the people of God who received the final justification deserving the glory of heaven.

 

One of the twenty-four elders of heaven addressed John, One of the elders asked me, “Who are these people dressed in white robes, and where do they come from?”(13). The elder himself asked and answered, which means pay attention to the people, clothed in white robes!

 

A great multitude in white is the victorious people of God. This is our identity. In here, ‘white’(λευκος) means ‘bright, shining.’ Jesus our Lord taught, “You are like light for the whole world” and “In the same way your light must shine before people, so that they will see the good things you do and praise your Father in heaven.”(Matthew 5:14-16)

 

Similarly apostle Paul too said, “Since you have become the Lord's people, you are in the light. So you must live like people who belong to the light”(Ephesians 5:8) and said, “for it is the light that brings a rich harvest of every kind of goodness, righteousness, and truth.”(Ephesians 5:9)

 

B. Do not fall down before the tribulation.

{“These are the ones coming out of the great tribulation. They have washed their robes and made them white in the blood of the Lamb.”}(14)

 

In chapter 7 verse 14, “These are the ones coming out of the great tribulation.” The people in white are those who have endured trials, troubles, persecution, and temptation in the world. It is a word that inspires our faith and confirms the hope of heaven.

 

A religious life is a spiritual warfare. It is a battle with satan and a spiritual struggle against evil forces in the world. The apostle Paul said, “Take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand firm.”(Ephesians 6:13)

 

Jesus our Lord also preached it in the parable of the sower. “When anyone hears the word of the kingdom and does not understand it, the evil one comes and snatches away what has been sown in his heart. This is what was sown along the path. As for what was sown on rocky ground, this is the one who hears the word and immediately receives it with joy, yet he has no root in himself, but endures for a while, and when tribulation or persecution arises on account of the word, immediately he falls away. As for what was sown among thorns, this is the one who hears the word, but the cares of the world and the deceitfulness of riches choke the word, and it proves unfruitful.”(Matthew 13:19-22)

 

C. Wash your clothes in the blood of the Lord.

{“These are the ones coming out of the great tribulation. They have washed their robes and made them white in the blood of the Lamb.”}(14)

 

Then we believers with the hope of heaven and the glory of heaven, how should we live in this world. Let us read the verse 14 together: I answered, “Sir, you know.” And he said, “These are they who have come out of the great tribulation; they have washed their robes and made them white in the blood of the Lamb.”(NIV)

 

Look at the words, ‘have washed’(επλυναν) and ‘made them white’(ελευκαναν). Two words means that the people in white have lived in the world, fighting sins and walking on the cross of Christ till the end.

 

And in the text, ‘cloth’(στολη) represents ‘human character or conduct.’ This reminds us that it is the way of all believers to the measure of the fullness of Christ’s character by the merit of the atonement of Christ. “Put off your old self... and to put on the new self, created to be like God in true righteousness and holiness.”(Ephesians 4:22, 24, NIV)

 

D. Children of Light can enter the holy city.

{“They shall hunger no more, neither thirst anymore; the sun shall not strike them, nor any scorching heat.”}(16)

 

In verses 15-17, the people in white sings of the glory of God. “they are before the throne of God and serve him day and night in his temple.”(15) This worship of the people of God in heaven is the blessing of the children of light. And God will respond to them by sheltering them with his presence.

 

The lamb who was slain is now Christ the victory and leads his children to the springs of living water. And he completely heals our sufferings, pains, scars and wounds we have been through. “God himself will be with them and be their God. He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain.”(Revelation 21:3-4)

 

Apostle John witnessed the Lord Jesus Christ already won and now sitting on the throne of heaven. “The one who conquers, I will grant him to sit with me on my throne, as I also conquered and sat down with my Father on his throne.”(Revelation 3:21). Dear believers, let us hold on this promise and walk with the assurance that we must win.