Where is the multitude that have come out of the ‘great tribulation’? I have accepted them as obviously being in Heaven, but it does not have to be so. Does John see this ‘multitude’ in the distant future, with the New Heavens and the New Earth, about which he will speak later?1 Spreading out His tent—or Tabernacle—over them and overshadowing them against the sun and heat, drying their tears, caring for them so that they no longer suffer hunger and thirst is a metaphor for Heavenly Glory. Or does it point to a new situation on earth? It seems to be referring to Heaven because they worship Him in His Temple, whereas there will no longer be a Temple in the New Jerusalem that descends from Heaven to earth, because the Lord God, the Almighty One, will Himself be its Temple.2 The heat of the persecution of the ‘great tribulation’ is past, as are hunger and thirst which they have suffered from being excluded from economic life because they have refused to worship the ‘beast’ and his ‘image’.3 Corruption and uncleanness because of sin, temptation and the demonic power of this world are past. They are washed by the blood of the Lamb. Living in faith has now become reality by sight for them. They have opened their eyes in the Heavenly realms. 1 Corinthians 2:9 “… as it is written: “What no eye has seen, what no ear has heard, and what no human mind has conceived” the things God has prepared for those who love Him”
The deepest and most ardent desire of these children of God has been fulfilled. They see Him face to face. They who are pure in heart will see God.4 There was a representation of the Heavenly glory in the Tabernacle and the Temple, but the veil separated the Ark of the Covenant, the throne of God, from the people. The people were not permitted to enter the Holy Place. Only the priests were. And only the High Priest was allowed to enter the Holy of Holies, the most holy place, behind the second veil, where the throne of God was.
The veil in the Temple was torn asunder when Jesus died and shed His blood.5 The way to God is open, and now there is a multitude before the throne of God and they are serving Him as priests, day and night, without interruption. Jesus makes all those who are His to be a kingdom, to be priests,6 the holy priesthood 7 that we already now are part of. Our prayers today, already being sent up at home or in the Christian church on our ‘altar of incense’, our ‘altar of worship and praise’, our ‘altar of prayers’ are a priestly service for God. When these prayers reach the ‘altar of incense’ in Heaven they are cleansed by our Heavenly High Pries Jesus, and brought as a perfect fragrant offering before our Lord God in Heaven.
The altar of incense stood in the Tabernacle and the Temple in the Holy Place, which was separated from the Holy of Holies by a curtain— but then in our glorified state, there is no longer any barrier between us and God. We shall see Him as He is.8 What a comfort in our trials and tribulations and even in the ‘great tribulation’; what a prospect!
• They have been taken up into the Temple, taken up into the Tabernacle, before the throne of God, completely covered by Him, in eternal fellowship with Him. No shame covers their faces, as it did Adam’s.9 Fear and anxiety are things of the past. The martyrdom of many is over. The most gruesome earthly reality has ceased to exist. The heart’s deepest desire is met: perfect fellowship with God.
• Whoever already now belongs to Him through Jesus Christ now receives the Holy Spirit,10 the Spirit of Glory, and a foretaste of what is to come.
Bible References:
1.Revelation 21:1–4 2.Revelation 21:22 3.Revelation 13:16–17 4.Matthew 5:8 5.Matthew 27:15 6.Revelation 1:6 7.1 Peter 2:5 8.1 John 3:2; 1 Corinthians 13:12; 2 Corinthians 3:8 and 18; 4:17, 5:8 9.Genesis 3:8–10 10.Ephesians 1:15–21
