The Great Multitude:  God Will Leave No Saint Behind

Shared on April 6, 2025

Introduction

Not one sheep will be lost, that is what Jesus promised (Matt. 18:12-14).  In our Sunday School lesson this week, we will see the appearance of a special group of believers in the kingdom of heaven. This group will be a testimony to God being faithful to His everlasting promise.

A Great Multitude Comes Forth

Again our lesson opens this week with John telling us what he saw in heaven. This time, John tells us that he looked and saw a great multitude that couldn’t be numbered (Rev. 7:9).  The fact that John continues to say “I looked” shouldn’t be overlooked.  John makes it clear that he was witnessing each of these events in heaven.  

If anybody ever tells you that nobody has gone to heaven and come back to tell us what it was like, point to the Book of Revelation.  Remind them that Jesus came from eternity and told us that in His Father’s house are many mansions (John 14:2).  Remind them that Isaiah, when he was called to prophecy, he told us he saw the Lord sitting on His throne surrounded by the seraphim (Is. 6:1-3).  John is repeatedly telling us what he saw in heaven through the Book of Revelation.

John tells us that the multitude he saw in heaven was made up of all nations, cultures, and different languages.  I know that diversity is under attack today, and frankly, has always been under attack by certain people. Well, if you’re one that thinks heaven is going to be made up of one nationality or race of people, you might want to re-read the Revelation because heaven is going to be very diverse!

John tells us that this great multitude was wearing “white robes” and holding palm branches in their hands. Then, John heard them crying out loudly, “Salvation belongs to our God who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb!”  

So, who is this great multitude supposed to be?  The white garments should be a giveaway if you remember our recent lesson where we saw the twenty-four elders were also wearing white robes.  However, there is a noticeable difference in the description of this multitude compared to the twenty-four elders.  The noticeable difference is the palm branches in the hands of this multitude.  

The one time in scripture where we see palm branches used similarly was when Christ entered Jerusalem for the final time.  In John 12:12-13, the people took palm branches and shouted, “Hosanna!  Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord!”  We call that entrance of Jesus His triumphant entrance.  

So, those of this multitude, holding their palm branches, are standing in triumph, singing praises to the Lord!  John said that he saw that their praises caused the angels, the elders, and the four living creatures to fall on their faces in worship of God.  Let me tell you, there is going to be some shouting and dancing going on in the kingdom of heaven!  Even the angels and the seraphim are going to be joining in!

Who Makes Up the Great Multitude

Now, who will be in this great multitude carrying the palm branches?  This is a very important question to answer. One of the elders asked John, “Who are these arrayed in white robes, and where did they come from (Rev. 7:13)?” It almost seems like this elder doesn’t know who this great multitude is, doesn’t it?

If you remember our lesson from last week, when John saw that nobody in heaven could open the seven seals, John began to weep (Rev. 5:4).  However, one of the elders told John not to weep because Christ was worthy to loosen the seals and read the scroll.  In fact, that elder told John with great confidence what would happen next.

So, how could this elder not know who this multitude was?  This elder certainly knew who they were but we almost get a sense of humor in this moment.  Even John called the elder out on knowing who they were!  John said to the elder, “Sir, you know.”  So, the elder was putting forth a question that John was likely thinking himself!

So, who was this multitude?  The elder told John, “These are the ones who come out of the great tribulation, and washed their robes and made them white in the blood of the Lamb (Rev. 7:14).”  Yes, these are the tribulation saints who are seen in heaven!  God will not leave behind any saints!

The elect of the Great Tribulation

In Revelation 6, when Jesus begins to loosen those seals, we will see where events began to unfold on earth.  The timing of those events will occur during the period known as the Great Tribulation.  The Great Tribulation will be a period that Jesus described as being filled with tribulation such as not been since the beginning of the world (Matt. 24:21).

However, something that doesn’t often get mentioned is what Jesus said in the very next verse.  In Matthew 24:22, we will see that Jesus said, “Unless those days were shortened, no flesh would be saved; but for the elect’s sake those days will be shortened.”

At first, this statement may make it seem like nobody from the Great Tribulation will be saved.  However, Jesus makes it clear that the elect – the chosen – will be saved in those days.  When we think of God’s chosen, many of us instantly, and understandably, think of the children of Israel.  However, the children of Israel aren’t the only ones chosen by God.

In John 3:16, Jesus made it clear that whosoever believes in Him will not perish but have everlasting life.  Believing in Christ is a choice.  You see, the Lord chose those who sincerely believe in Him to dwell with Him for everlasting life.  In today’s world, you, if you’re of sincere faith, are one of God’s chosen!

In this case, the Tribulation Saints will also be God’s elect because they chose to believe in His only begotten Son.  Even though their confession of faith came after the church age, God will still accept them and permit them in His kingdom.  I can imagine that those new believers will gather together, learn, and grow in their faith during those days.  

Sadly, some of those believers will be persecuted, hurt, and harmed.  Some may even lose their lives during those wicked days because of they believed in the true Christ.  You have to remember, during the days of the great tribulation, the Antichrist will be claiming himself as Christ.  According to Daniel’s vision, many of the tribulation saints will lose their lives (Dan. 7:21).

Though they may suffer greatly, we see that the Tribulation Saints will overcome and be in the kingdom!  The elder told John that He who sits on the throne will dwell with them (Rev. 7:15).  This is a reference to Christ also dwelling with the tribulation saints as well.  The tribulation saints won’t be treated like some kind of forgotten kid!

The tribulation saints are going to be greatly loved!  The elder told John that the tribulation saints wouldn’t hunger or thirst.  The elder told John that God will wipe away their every tear.  Yes, it will be all love and rejoicing in the heavenly kingdom!

Take Advantage of God’s Second Chances

The tribulation saints will be a very unique bunch!  They’re going to be unique because it will be like them getting a second chance at life after seeing the rapture of the church.  

The rapture is going to be a very unique event, but also a mystery for those not of faith.  If the rapture happened tomorrow or next week, for example, the news cycle would be wild!  There likely would be widespread reports of disappearances all over the world.  In fact, there may likely be reports of those long dead rising from the grave.

To Martha, Jesus spoke of the resurrection when He told her that He is the resurrection.  Lazarus was dead for three days when Jesus visited his tomb.  Jesus said to Martha, “I am the resurrection and the life.  He who believes in Me, though he may die, he shall live.  And whoever lives and believes in Me shall never die (John 11:25-16).”

You see, the resurrection of the dead in Christ is part of the rapture event.   In teaching about the rapture, Paul explained that in the twinkling of an eye, the dead in Christ will be raised incorruptible.   The sincere believer living at the moment of the rapture will be changed and put on their immortal and incorruptible body (1 Cor. 15:51-54).

Our body as it is today, cannot inherit the heavenly kingdom – it is limited and corrupted by sin.  The dead body also cannot inherit the heavenly kingdom because heaven is a place of eternal life.  When the rapture occurs, Jesus will descend and call us forth as He did Lazarus, and we will meet Him in our new bodies, in the air (1 Thess. 4:16-17).

Again, this event will all happen in the twinkling of an eye.  Those left behind would likely be left with news stories of the missing and maybe even the resurrected bodies.  Some won’t believe the news reports and will come up with whatever conspiracy that seems believable.  

However, others will likely remember hearing about the rapture, while not ever believing it, they will turn to scripture.  Who knows, they may even read old Sunday School lessons, bible studies, and sermons to learn of what happened!  They will then be filled with faith and make changes in their life during a very trying time to live in.

God is a God of second chances!  One doesn’t have to wait for the rapture to take place to take advantage of God’s second chances.  In fact, one shouldn’t live with the mindset of waiting in such a manner.  As the old saying goes, tomorrow isn’t promised.  We may not live to see the rapture, or it could happen hundreds to thousands of years from now!

God is giving everybody a second chance right now!  You have a moment to be able to make a change in your life if you’re not of faith today.  Take advantage of the time and make the change!  I encourage you to repent and fall in love with Christ because you never know when you will be out of time.