Devotional
Too Great to Count
After this I saw a vast crowd, too great to count, from every nation and tribe and people and language, standing in front of the throne and before the Lamb.
They were clothed in white robes and held palm branches in their hands.
Revelation 7:9
They were clothed in white robes and held palm branches in their hands.
Revelation 7:9
This week our nation counted its people in the national census. Numbers tell us a lot of things. Governments make decisions based on numbers. But even with God, there are important numbers, seven days, twelve tribes, twelve apostles. Numbers are often symbols of meaning.
When it comes to those who belong to the kingdom of God, we often think of numbers. How many people in the world are Christians? How many people attend church? How many newcomers did we have this year? And so on.
Then we read this verse, “a great multitude that no one could count.” I find it interesting that a God who often speaks through numbers, now indicates a crowd of people so vast that no one could count them. It turns out that the identity of this crowd are all the people who lost their lives in the great tribulation. Think on that for a minute. Martyrs form only a small percentage of the Christian movement, but even that small percentage is too big to count. That means that when all things come to an end there will be a lot of people in the kingdom.
We should not despair of the evil in the world, nor get discouraged when it feels like we are the minority. Christ will build his church, and the number of those who end up in His kingdom is vast. You are part of that vast group. Be encouraged.
Brett
When it comes to those who belong to the kingdom of God, we often think of numbers. How many people in the world are Christians? How many people attend church? How many newcomers did we have this year? And so on.
Then we read this verse, “a great multitude that no one could count.” I find it interesting that a God who often speaks through numbers, now indicates a crowd of people so vast that no one could count them. It turns out that the identity of this crowd are all the people who lost their lives in the great tribulation. Think on that for a minute. Martyrs form only a small percentage of the Christian movement, but even that small percentage is too big to count. That means that when all things come to an end there will be a lot of people in the kingdom.
We should not despair of the evil in the world, nor get discouraged when it feels like we are the minority. Christ will build his church, and the number of those who end up in His kingdom is vast. You are part of that vast group. Be encouraged.
Brett
Posted in Devotional