Correspondence

Narrator: Chris Genthree
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During the short interval between the coming of the Lord for His saints into the air, and His coming with them to the earth in judgment, there will be a great gathering out from amongst the heathen nations. In Revelation 7. we see a parenthesis of mercy amidst a scene of judgment. A definite though doubtless symbolic, number from all the tribes of Israel (except Dan) are sealed, and an innumerable multitude of all nations, &c., are saved. These latter are Gentiles; but it appears to me that both these companies must be distinguished from those who have part in the First Resurrection (Rev. 20:44And I saw thrones, and they sat upon them, and judgment was given unto them: and I saw the souls of them that were beheaded for the witness of Jesus, and for the word of God, and which had not worshipped the beast, neither his image, neither had received his mark upon their foreheads, or in their hands; and they lived and reigned with Christ a thousand years. (Revelation 20:4)). They are saved not for heavenly but for earthly blessing, and enter the millennium alive without passing through death at all. The palm-bearing multitude, we are distinctly told, came out of the great tribulation. It is not great tribulation in any vague sense of that word, but the great tribulation. How could they have come out of it if they had died during it?
The expression, “Therefore are they before the throne of God,” does not prove that they are in heaven. This must be understood, not in a local, but in a moral sense. The same expression is found in Revelation 14:33And they sung as it were a new song before the throne, and before the four beasts, and the elders: and no man could learn that song but the hundred and forty and four thousand, which were redeemed from the earth. (Revelation 14:3), where clearly the people referred to are standing on Mount Zion.
Further, they serve God day and night in His temple, but that temple is on earth, for of the heavenly city John says, “I saw no temple therein” (Rev. 21:2222And I saw no temple therein: for the Lord God Almighty and the Lamb are the temple of it. (Revelation 21:22)). But though on earth throughout the thousand years, they hold an altogether special place― “He that sitteth on the throne shall tabernacle over them.” This is a different expression from that found in Revelation 21:33And I heard a great voice out of heaven saying, Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, and he will dwell with them, and they shall be his people, and God himself shall be with them, and be their God. (Revelation 21:3). Here it is tabernacle “over” them, there it is tabernacle “with” them. To tabernacle “over” reminds us of the cloud upon the tabernacle of old (Exod. 40:34-3834Then a cloud covered the tent of the congregation, and the glory of the Lord filled the tabernacle. 35And Moses was not able to enter into the tent of the congregation, because the cloud abode thereon, and the glory of the Lord filled the tabernacle. 36And when the cloud was taken up from over the tabernacle, the children of Israel went onward in all their journeys: 37But if the cloud were not taken up, then they journeyed not till the day that it was taken up. 38For the cloud of the Lord was upon the tabernacle by day, and fire was on it by night, in the sight of all the house of Israel, throughout all their journeys. (Exodus 40:34‑38)). That cloud rested not upon the court, but upon the tabernacle itself. So these saints from amongst the heathen or Gentile nations, specially tried and tested as they will have been, specially faithful, too, in spite of all, will be specially blessed during the thousand years. They will occupy a special place of nearness, as priests to God, having access to, and serving Him day and night in His temple.
Other Gentile millennial saints will be more like the worshippers in the court outside (Rev. 11:22But the court which is without the temple leave out, and measure it not; for it is given unto the Gentiles: and the holy city shall they tread under foot forty and two months. (Revelation 11:2)), to use the figure of the tabernacle of old, whereas these will have access as priests more directly to God.
They will have the consolation, too, of knowing that they are the special object of the Lamb’s care, and that none of those earthly trials to which they had been exposed could touch them under His protecting hand. ED.