V.9-10 The People in heaven. V.11-12 The Praise of the people in heaven. V.13 The Problem identifying the people. V.14 The People of heaven identified. V.15-17 The Promises given to the people. 2. The Singing of the servants in heaven. 7:9-17 This group is not the Church but another group of saints: I. The Church is kept from the great tribulation 1.Thes.1:10; 5:3, 9; Luke 21:36; Rev.3:10-11, these comes out of the great tribulation. v.14 II. John the elder and apostle didn’ t recognise them, for they were not the Church or Israel. III. In the 7 parables of the kingdom in Matt. Ch.13 Jesus explained 7 realities of the kingdom of God on earth: A. The first 3 parables concern the Word of God in connection to the kingdom. B. The 4th parable concern the manner religious man is corrupting the kingdom. C. The last 3 parables concern 3 different group of selected believers participation of the kingdom. 1. The hidden treasure - Is the 1st called out group from the world: Israel. 13:44 2. The pearl - Is the 2nd called out group from the world: The Church. 13:45 3. The sea creatures of every kind - Is the 3rd called out group from the world: The tribulation saints. 13:46-49 V.9 f) The Standing multitude - I. Perhaps this company of believers are the same as in 15:2-4 II. The world’ s greatest revival is being seen here. A. It’ s a great multitude, which no man can number. B. They are from all nations, tribes, people and tongues. C. Jesus said the harvest would happen at the end. Matt.13:39, 47-49; 24:14; Rev.14:6; III. They are standing before the throne because they had been killed by Antichrist, by the 6th seal or by natural death. IV. The white robes are the righteous acts of the saints. 19:8 V. Revelation is period when the feast of tabernacles is being fulfilled; they used palms during this feast. They now dwell joyfully in the eternal booth of God. Lev.23:33-44; John 12:13 VI. They enjoy their tabernacle rest with God. Deut.16:13-15; Neh.8:13-18 V.10 g) The Sitting One is praised - They proclaim that the salvation they received came from God and the Lamb. V.11 h) The Surrounding worshippers - The greatest scene in Revelation occurs here: The greatest choir ever seen is seen here: Innumerable man, all angels, 24 elders and the seraphim worships God. Like in a great symphony and a united body they prostrate themselves before God. V.12 i) The Saying of praise - I. A 7-fold praise to God. II. It not only ends with amen but begins with amen, amen encloses this praise. Amen means: Firm, trustworthy or surely. V.13 j) The Senior questions the old apostle - I. The elder asks John a question that this old knowledgeable apostle didn’ t know. II. We know in part. 1.Cor.13:9 III. The elder on earth understood he had limited knowledge and didn’ t guess but left the answer to the more knowledgeable elder in heaven. IV. John knew about Israel and the Church, the 2 presently groups on the earth, but the yet future group: The tribulation saints he didn’ t recognise, for he had never met them before. V.14 k) The Saved ones - The elder gives a 2-fold answer: A. The 4 living creatures explains things on the earth, 6:1-8 the elders explains the things in heaven. 7:14-17 B. This great multitude from all nations, tribes, peoples and tongues comes out from the greatest revival in man’ s history, which happens during the period of the great tribulation. C. They have accepted the forgiveness and cleansing of their sins through the blood of the Lamb. 1.John 1:7; Rev.1:5; 5:9 D. In the New Testament this period of tremendous difficulty is called great tribulation, in the Old Testament its called Jacobs trouble. Jer.30:7 V.15 l) The Serving ones before the throne - The Place. I. V.15-17 is a snapshot into to the eternal state of the saints seen in ch.21-22. II. 8 things the precious sacrifice of Christ brought them: 1.Pet.2:25 1. Entrance to the throne of God. Rom.5:2; 2. Service as priest before God in the heavenly temple. 3. Encampment of the Glorious Presence of God in their midst. V.16 m) The Satisfaction of received - The Protection and Provision. 4. Provision from God. They suffered at the great tribulation but now they are satisfied. 6:7-8; 13:17 5. Protection of God. They suffered strong heat and the burning sun. 16:8-9; 21:23; 22:5; Isaiah 49:10 V.17 n) The Shepherd leads them - The Peace. The 6th and 7th promise explains the provision of God (The 4th promise). 6. Care for them as a shepherd feed his sheep. 7. Lead them to the waters that give life. 22:1; John 4:14; 7:37-39 8. Comforts and heals their pain. Isaiah 25:8