Chapter Twenty/A Multitudinous Great Crowd - In Heaven or on Earth? -

 Additionally, we read: "When the Son of man arrives in his glory . . . all nations will be gathered before him." The whole human race is not in heaven when this prophecy is fulfilled. Certainly, those who "depart into everlasting cutting-off" are not in heaven. (Matthew 25:31-33, 41, 46) Instead, mankind stands on earth in Jesus' view, and he turns his attention to judging them. Similarly, the great crowd is "before the throne and before the Lamb" in that it stands in the view of Jehovah and his King Christ Jesus, from whom it receives a favorable judgment. 

The 24 elders and the anointed group of 144,000 are described as being "round about the throne" of Jehovah and "upon the [heavenly] Mount Zion." (Revelation 4:4; 14:1) The great crowd is not a priestly class and does not attain to that exalted position. True, it is later described in Revelation 7:15 as serving God "in his temple." But this temple does not refer to the inner sanctuary, the Most Holy. Rather, it is the earthly courtyard of God's spiritual temple. The Greek word na-os', here translated "temple" conveys the broad sense of the entire edifice erected for Jehovah's worship. Today, there is a spiritual structure that embraces both heaven and earth. - Compare MATTHEW 26:61; 27:5, 39, 40; MARK 15:29, 30; JOHN 2:19-21, New World Translation Reference Bible, footnote.

Next time: Chapter Twenty/A Multitudinous Great Crowd - A Universal Shout of Praise 

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