Bible Commentaries
Revelation 7

Verses 1-17

6 The Saved Remnant (Revelation 7)

We have already seen that during the period of these judgments God will have witnesses who will reach their eternal blessing through martyrdom. Now we learn that before the severer judgments that will follow the opening of the seventh seal God will have a great host of witnesses who will be preserved through "the great tribulation" (verse 14). Isa 49:10 exactly similar language is used to describe the blessing of restored Israel. There we read, "They shall not hunger nor thirst; neither shall the heat nor sun smite them: for he that hath mercy on them shall lead them, even by the springs of water shall he guide them."

It is explained to John that this blessed company has come out of "the great tribulation" about to come upon all the world under the judgments symbolised by the Seven Trumpets, as set forth in the following chapter. Of this solemn time we have already heard in the address to the assembly in Philadelphia, as "the hour of trial which is about to come upon the whole habitable world to try them that dwell upon the earth" (Rev 3:10). Already we have learned in Rev 6:9-11 that there will be during this time of judgment a martyred remnant, but there is nothing to indicate that this great company will suffer martyrdom. It is said that they "came out of the great tribulation," words that would indicate that they are preserved through the trials. They come under the cleansing of the blood of the Lamb, and for this reason they are accepted before God and have access to God, and are sheltered by God, for God "shall spread His tabernacle over them" (N. Tr.). If, however, they are preserved through the judgment this does not mean that they will not have to face trial and suffering, represented by hunger and thirst, and heat and tears. But in the end their sufferings will be for ever past, for "They shall hunger no more, neither thirst any more." The Lamb "shall lead them unto living fountains of waters; and God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes."

Do we not learn from this chapter that, as in this day, there are those who receive the gospel of the grace of God and come into heavenly blessing, while those who obey not the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ come under judgment (2Th 1:8; 2Th 1:9); so in the day to come there will be a vast host who have never heard the gospel of the grace of God, but will receive the everlasting gospel of the kingdom and pass on to the earthly blessing of the millennium, while those who reject this gospel will come under judgment?