Who Are Those Wrapped In A White Robe? Where Did They Come From?

And one of the elders answered, saying unto me, 

What are these which are arrayed in 

white robes? And whence came they? And I 

said unto him, Sir, thou knowest. And he said

  to me, These are they which came out of 

great tribulation, and have washed their robes,

 and made them white in the blood of the Lamb. 

Therefore are they before the throne of God, 

and serve Him day and night in His temple: 

and He that sitteth on the throne shall dwell 

among them. They shall hunger no more, 

neither thirst no more, neither shall the sun 

light on them, and any heat. For the Lamb 

which is in them midst of the throne shall 

feed them, and shall lead them unto living

 fountains of waters: and God shall wipe away 

all tears from their eyes. 

Revelation 7:13-17

 

     I apologize for any delay in writing this blog. I was out of town for a few days and had doctor appointments to check out if the cancer had spread into my liver. It has not! But I am back and will give to you some food for thought as we study Revelation.

     The apostle John now asks questions and one of the elders who were before the throne gave to him answers and those answers give to us much hope and praise for the future of all of God's children. Question: "Who are these which are arrayed in white robes?" Furthermore: "Where did they come from?" The symbol white is used to denote purity, and those arrayed in white robes are the ones who have Authentically converted to Jesus Christ. These are not the ones who are nominally Christians, or those who have not put their full trust and assurance in Jesus Christ, no, it is the ones that follow obediently Jesus Christ. John gives us this: "If ye love Me, keep My commandments" (John 14:15). The word used here in Greek is "ean" and it is one of two words translated "if." This word is subjunctive and then is to be understood that a person has a choice. It is true that purity comes from Jesus Christ but that is the righteousness that He gives to all who choose to be obedient to Him, not that works gives to them righteousness, no, but out of the righteousness that is given they obediently keep His commandments. Jesus Christ does not insist on our obedience. We are told by Him very emphatically what we ought to do, but He never, and this is important, never takes the means to make us do it. We, if we are Authentic Christians have to obey Him out of our oneness of Spirit. Jesus always used the subjunctive when He speaks about discipleship. That then means: you do not have to be obedient unless you like to be obedient. Jesus speaks of what it means to be an Authentic Christian: "Then said Jesus unto His disciples, If any man will come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow Me" (Matthew 16:24). What is Jesus saying? He is saying and talking not of eternal positions, but of being of value  to Himself in this world, in this order of things, through all temptations and trials, big and small. It is Jesus Who is speaking these words as harsh as it may sound to you. 

     It is interesting to note that Jesus does not give us rules, but He does give to us His standards and this loud and clear, and that if we have developed our relationship with Him and that out of love, you, we, will do what He says without any hesitation. Think on this: if you hesitate, then you love something, someone, (usually yourself) more than Jesus. Are you waiting for Jesus to make you obey? Well: He will not make you, you must do it, you must decide to obey Him and when you do you have fulfilled your spiritual destiny. If you obey God now, in all the trials, this great tribulation we are in in this world you will discover that you have been blessed by God and more than that many, many other will also be blessed due to your obedience out of love for Jesus Christ. If you have truly repented and the free forgiveness of God through Jesus Christ and this in your soul you will get through to others and you will see that behind all this trial, this great tribulation you in your obedience so the Reality of God Almighty.

     What is waiting for you? Life like you have never experienced before, a life where there is no need of the sun for the light of God, Jesus Christ will shine upon you forever, that is you will see what you cannot see now: God, not visibly, but Jesus Christ Who rose bodily into heaven. There will not be tears nor the heat of pain for in the midst of the throne, notice this: Jesus is said to be at the right side of God, at the throne of God and here He is said to be in the midst of the throne. This is possible for He is God, the Second Person of the Trinity. Your eternal food has begun now but will be the food for you in the future for Jesus Christ will feed you, feed your soul and you will be led to the fountains of living water. No tears for God has wiped them all away. 

     Are you no putting on your white robe? Do not wait for God to do it, you must put on that white robe. The ones who are seen to be wearing white robes are the ones who have overcome, overcome great tribulation, whatever that means for you, you have overcome because you love Jesus Christ and are obedient to His commands. God gives you grace so that you can do it, and God gives to you the Holy Spirit speaking to your soul so that you have His power to be obedient if you choose to listen and obey, to trust and obey as that old hymn so aptly says. The time is now: do no waste it!

 

Turn, O backlsliding children, saith the LORD; 

     for I am married unto you: and I will take 

you one of a city, and two of a family, 

     and I will bring you to Zion.

              Jeremiah 3:14

 

Put on that white robe: Do not wait!

 

Richard L. Crumb