Chapter Twenty - The Multitudinous Great Crowd

The Blessings of the Great Crowd

Through the divine channel, john receives further information regarding this great crowd:  "And he [the elder] said to me:  'These are the ones that came out of the great tribulation, and they have washed their robes and made them white in the blood of the Lamb.  That is why they are before the throne of God; and they are rendering him sacred  service day and night in his temple; and the One seated on the throne will spread his tent over them.' " -Revelation 7:14b, 15.

On an earlier occasion, Jesus had said that his presence in t Kingdom glory would culminated in "great tribulation such as has not occurred until now, no, nor will occur again."  (Matthew 24:21, 22)  In fulfillment of that prophecy, the angels will unleash the four winds  of the earth to devastate Satan's  world system. First, to go will be Babylon the Great, the world empire of false religion.  Then, at the peak of the tribulation, Jesus will deliver  the remaining ones of the 144,000 on earth, together with the multitudinous great crowd. -Revelation 7:1; 8:2. 

How do individuals of the great crowd qualify for  survival?  The elder tells John that the have washed their robes and made them white in the blood of the Lamb."  In other words, they have symbolized their dedication by water baptism, and "hold a good conscience" by their upright conduct.  (1 Peter 3:16, 21; Matthew 20:28)  Thus, they are clean and righteous in Jehovah's eyes. And they keep themselves "without spot from the world." -James 1:27.  

Next time: Chapter Twenty - The Multitudinous Great Crowd - Conclusion of The Blessings of the Great Crowd

From the book of Revelation