The Bible Course Muestra

Tribes, the Throne, and the Lamb – a vision of God’s people  

Reflect  

Have you ever experienced culture shock? After the initial disorientation experience, a different culture can be life-changing. We share this planet with 7.8 billion people who all have their story, their own culture, their foods, their lifestyle, and language. In our world, diversity isn’t always celebrated. Racism, the oppression of ethnic minorities, and the eradication of minority languages remind us of our world’s brokenness.  

What is the vision of God’s people expressed here?  

First, we see 144,000 people praising God.   

Why? 144,000 refers to the vast number of all God's people, symbolized by multiplying the 12 tribes of Israel – who themselves were symbolized by the New Testament Apostles – by 12,000. So the number is not a literal cap on spaces in heaven – elsewhere (literally a few verses down) John says there were ‘too many to count’. The number is symbolic. And reminds us that when reading apocalyptic writings, some bits are not to be taken literally. It should also encourage us so much that there is not a cap on God's love, but that his heart extends to all. God extends grace to everyone and longs for all the nations to make their home in him. 

Secondly, we see in that ‘great multitude that no one could count’ people from every nation, tribe, people, and language united in worship. God’s heart is for the nations.  

In Paul’s letter to the Romans, he's clear that the gospel is for everyone. It is the power that brings salvation, ‘first to the Jew and then to the Gentile’ (1.16). The people of the church in Rome could not reconcile their cultural, historical, and religious differences. This is why Paul wrote his richest explanation of what the gospel really is. He knew the only thing that could unite such a divide was the gospel. It makes no sense to believe the gospel and be divided. The gospel is the great leveler, teaching us we all have fallen far further than we ever thought but that we’re all loved more than we dreamed we could be.  

What makes us part of this vision of God’s people?   

Only the blood of the lamb.  

Usually, bloodstains. However, the blood of the sacrificial lamb cleanses. No stain is too tough and no person too broken for the blood to wash and make anew.   

Respond 

Take time today to consider how you can support God’s work around the world. The gospel is for everyone!