“Behold, a great multitude which no one could count, from every nation and all tribes and peoples and tongues.”
Revelation 7:9
Imagine. A number of people so large that no one could count. The Population Reference Bureau, Washington, DC 20009, estimates that 108,760,543,790 people have lived on earth. (Actually, that number is extrapolated with some very sophisticated formulae.) Now imagine this. Matthew 7:13 tells us to “Enter through the narrow gate; for the gate is wide and the way is broad that leads to destruction, and there are many who enter through it. 14“For the gate is small and the way is narrow that leads to life, and there are few who find it.” Those who do not enter through the narrow gate, do not go to heaven, but will perish in the lake of fire – hell.
QUESTION #1. So, which is it?
(a) “A great multitude” before the throne of heaven, so large no one could count them? Or,
(b) “A narrow gate” to eternal life and few find it?
The Pew Research Center’s Forum on Religion & Public Life published a new comprehensive demographic report on the size and distribution of the world’s Christian population. The study finds that there are 2.18 billion Christians of all ages in more than 200 countries around the world,
That would mean that only about 2% of the world’s entire humanity found the narrow gate! Small, indeed, when compared to the entire population of the earth throughout all time. But, still, 2,018,000,000 is a lot of people. So, I guess the answer is “BOTH”.
QUESTION #2. So, where did approximately 2 Billion people come from who “were standing before the throne and before the Lamb, clothed in white robes, and palm branches were in their hands;”? (Revelation 7:9)
Revelation 7: 14 says “My lord, you know.” And he said to me, “These are the ones who come out of the great tribulation, and they have washed their robes and made them white in the blood of the Lamb.”
If that number, that multitude came from the Great Tribulation period alone, that is during the final 7 years (The 70th Week of Daniel) the number would not be so large. But, if it comes from the beginning of time, when “your faith was counted to you as righteousness”, the number could be staggering.
1 Thessalonians 4:15 tells us “For this we say to you by the word of the Lord, that we who are alive and remain until the coming of the Lord, will not precede those who have fallen asleep. 16For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel and with the trumpet of God, and the dead in Christ will rise first. 17Then we who are alive and remain will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air, and so we shall always be with the Lord.”
QUESTION #3. Will you be counted in the number of “The Great Multitude” standing before the Throne of the Lamb?
By all accounts, we are witnessing the breaking of the FIFTH SEAL of the tribulation. The return of Christ and the breaking of the SIXTH SEAL marking the beginning of the Great Tribulation, the Great and Terrible Day of the Lord, could occur soon – at any moment.
This is the Christian’s destiny. This is The Christ’s Promise and our Hope. Having been washed clean of all regret and sin by the sacrificial Blood of Jesus, spending our eternity with Him in heaven.
But, time is short – the exact date is not known. Come to Jesus, now! Do not delay. It’s the best decision you could ever make. Surrender your life to Christ Jesus, now.
QUESTION #4. What’s stopping you? Nothing to lose except sin, misery, aimlessness (and outer darkness where there will be and wailing gnashing of teeth!) and everything to gain!
“I came that you might have life, and life more abundant” – Jesus, John 10:10
Your Brother and Friend,
Mike Young
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