TO BRUCE WARNER/ REV.7:14(RE: Bruce Warner (25 Apr 2012)
"WHEN YOU KNOW THE MEANING OF THE WORD 'EKKLESIA' YOU CAN THEN UNDERSTAND THE REAL MEANING OF REVELATION 7:14.......")Hello Bruce!
I really enjoyed your letter on the meaning of the “ekklesia”. I agree with your conclusion. It seems that most people see the great multitude in Rev. 7:9- as referring to the Wheat harvest and the majority of people who are saved during the tribulation. There are some good arguments as to why they see it that way, but I just cannot bring myself to agree for several reasons.
I have always seen this great multitude as the Bride of Christ who comes away from, and totally out of, the tribulation; just as you said. The main reason I feel this way is that the description of these people fits better with them being the Bride, than with them being the Tribulation saints.
My reasoning is that they represent the Bride, because of these three things:9”After this I beheld, and, lo, a great multitude, which no man could number, of all nations, and kindreds, and people, and tongues, stood before the throne and before the Lamb…”
First, they all appear, at once, together. They are a great multitude because they represent all born again Christians throughout history, and they come from all walks of life and all nations. Although many will be raptured during the Tribulation, they will come at different time intervals, in the midst of, or throughout the tribulation, not out of it entirely, as you so aptly noted.
Second, they have palm branches in their hands:“…clothed with white robes, and palms in their hands;
To me, this represents accepting Jesus as the Messiah, as He came the first time, as a Suffering Servant, and before His Power and Glory as King is revealed. And the Glory and Power of God will be revealed during the Tribulation through the Two Witnesses and the 144,000 that are supernaturally protected and will prove this Glory and power with many miraculous signs and wonders, on a grand, worldwide, scale.
In other words, tribulation saints will have to see it in order to believe it!! But this great multitude are made up of those who believed without physically seeing, just as those who witnessed His first coming, as a humble lowly servant, riding a donkey.The third, and most important reason, is that we are told that these saints will rule with Christ in Heaven, and that is a definite sign of the Bride of Christ.
15Therefore are they before the throne of God, and serve him day and night in his temple: and he that sitteth on the throne shall dwell among them.16They shall hunger no more, neither thirst anymore; neither shall the sun light on them, nor any heat.17For the Lamb which is in the midst of the throne shall feed them, and shall lead them unto living fountains of waters: and God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes.
They are before the Throne and will serve Him day and night in His Temple!! This sure sounds like the Bride to me.
You seem to see this the same way, and so I have a question for you that I hope you will answer. Most people see the Bride being raptured in Rev. 4.1, when John is called up to heaven. Therefore they see the Bride as the group mentioned in Rev. 5:9 and 10. Here it is stated in Rev.5:10 “And hast made us unto our God kings and priests: and we shall reign on the earth.”
I feel these are the pre-Church saints, and as such are not part of the Bride of Christ, but will rule with Him on the earth, not in heaven. What is your take on this?I look forward to hearing what you have to say, as you seem to have a very definite outlook on these issues, and I respect your opinion.
Thank you for your post, it was nice to hear that someone sees these verses in the same light.
Bless you brother!!
Patti C.############(RE: Bruce Warner (25 Apr 2012)
"WHEN YOU KNOW THE MEANING OF THE WORD 'EKKLESIA' YOU CAN THEN UNDERSTAND THE REAL MEANING OF REVELATION 7:14.......")Dear Doves,In Strong's Greek Concordance, the word 'ekklesia' (word #1577) is defined as "an assembly", and it is derived from the following two words: the word 'ek' (word # 1537) which means "out of", and the word 'klesis' (word #2821) which means "a calling". Therefore, 'ekklesia' means "a called out assembly".Christ's ekklesia, ie. called out assembly, is His Church/bride. His ekklesis are His called out ones who are His Church/bride. Jesus is going to call His ekklesia from out of the great tribulation on the Day of our rapture.Revelation 7:14"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."In other words:These are the ekklesia who are called out of the great tribulation, and washed their robes and made them white in the blood of the lamb.The great tribulation has NO EFFECT on His ekklesia because they are the ones who are called out of the great tribulation. Therefore, the great multitude who are standing before the throne and before the Lord while holding palm branches are His ekklesia or His Assembly who are called out of the great tribulation. Believe me when I tell you that you want to be part of that great multitude assembly.According to Your Word, come for Your Ekklesia Lord Jesus!Bruce Warner