All Nations, Tribes, Peoples and Languages Before the Throne
A great multitude, which no one could number, from all nations and tribes and peoples and languages will stand before the throne and before the Lamb, clothed with white robes with palm branches in their hands, and will cry out with a loud voice, “Salvation belongs to our God, who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb!” (Revelation 7:9–10)
Blessed is the King who comes in the name of the Lord! Peace in heaven and glory in the highest! (Luke 19:38)
Have you ever watched an Olympic closing ceremony. I remember watching it last year with my family with wonder and amazement. No doubt music, performers, fireworks were rehearsed over and over again to capture the attention of the world to celebrate the spirit of sport. But my favorite part is the parade of teams seeing all the nations of the earth waving their flag joyfully for the crowd.
John draws our attention to another all nations gathering. If the closing ceremony were a grain of sand, this gathering would be a beach! Multitudes. That is the Church of Jesus Christ! No one could number.
Did you know that research has shown that those churches that focus on diversity are often the least diverse, but those churches that focus on preaching the gospel of Jesus actually see greater diversity. Let us lift high the name of Jesus and begin to see what the heavenly church looks like on earth as it is in heaven.
PRAYER
A great multitude, which no one could number, from all nations and tribes and peoples and languages will stand before the throne and before the Lamb, clothed with white robes with palm branches in their hands, and will cry out with a loud voice, “Salvation belongs to our God, who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb!” (Revelation 7:9–10)
Blessed is the King who comes in the name of the Lord! Peace in heaven and glory in the highest! (Luke 19:38)
Have you ever watched an Olympic closing ceremony. I remember watching it last year with my family with wonder and amazement. No doubt music, performers, fireworks were rehearsed over and over again to capture the attention of the world to celebrate the spirit of sport. But my favorite part is the parade of teams seeing all the nations of the earth waving their flag joyfully for the crowd.
John draws our attention to another all nations gathering. If the closing ceremony were a grain of sand, this gathering would be a beach! Multitudes. That is the Church of Jesus Christ! No one could number.
Did you know that research has shown that those churches that focus on diversity are often the least diverse, but those churches that focus on preaching the gospel of Jesus actually see greater diversity. Let us lift high the name of Jesus and begin to see what the heavenly church looks like on earth as it is in heaven.
PRAYER
- Pray that increasingly the church will become a foretaste of that great vision of John; tribes, peoples and languages from all nations, gathered before the Living Christ declaring, “Blessed is the King who comes in the name of the Lord!”
- Pray for wisdom for our ministry staff and leadership as we seek to lift the name of Jesus above all other names.
- Pray that we will be a people of hospitality and embrace.