Yesterday, our church hosted Voddie Baucham for the morning service where he preached from Revelation 7. The overarching subject of his sermon was, “The Trinity Leads You Home.” Through the sermon, Voddie pointed the work of our Triune God in our salvation.
In his introduction, Voddie pointed out that most of what we find in the book of Revelation is present rather than future. Although there are texts that point to the future, most of what we find in this book is being carried out in the present. Likewise, Voddie pointed out that the book of Revelation is mostly symbolic and we should take the language as such unless it’s communicated otherwise. Therefore, the numbers and other aspects of the book have specific meaning and are used by John for a specific purpose.
A Great Number from Every Nation
In Revelation 7:9-10, we get another picture similar to what we see in Revelation 5 of the profound greatness of God’s saving grace among the nations. God’s love is not centered upon one people—Israel. God’s grace has been poured out upon all nations, and people, and tongues.
In chapter 6, the point is that nobody can stand and nobody can survive the wrath of God. Pointing back to the final verse of chapter 6, Voddie stated, “Some of you believe that the answer to that question is—you. That you can stand in the great day of God’s wrath because you’re better than most people or because you’re smarter than most people or because you’ve sinned less than most people.” Voddie went on to point out that we can’t get there on our own. We need God. Salvation belongs to our God who sits on the throne.
Sevenfold Praise to God
As Voddie pointed out in the opening comments of his sermon, the book of Revelation is filled with symbolism. One way John employs this symbolic language is through numbers. In verse 12, we see the angelic host of heaven falling upon the ground and worshipping God crying out, “Amen! Blessing and glory and wisdom and thanksgiving and honor and power and might be to our God forever and ever! Amen” (Rev. 7:12).
The number seven is the number of completion. This praise to God points to the completion and perfection of salvation. Not one of God’s people from any nation will be lost or overlooked. God, in a powerful display of His grace, saves wretched sinners by His perfect power. Salvation is complete.
Eternal Provisions from our Triune God
As we see the Spirit of God leading us home in chapter 5, we must recognize that it would be impossible for us to arrive home before the Lord of glory without the Holy Spirit’s work. We also see the work of the Father and the Son mentioned in chapter 7 in verses 15-17 as the chapter comes to a close.
Voddie pointed out the fact that it’s God Himself who is our shelter and provides for our needs in eternity. All of our eternal provisions are met in God. Just as we see all people on planet earth working diligently to provide for their family (food, water, and shelter)—God Himself provides everything in eternity. Voddie stated, “Those things that we have been scratching and clawing and fighting to secure for ourselves—we wont be in glory. We wont have to. And notice, it doesn’t say that God will give us these things. He will be these things.”
May all praise be to the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit now and for all eternity.
