9-12 After this I looked, and there before me was a great multitude that no one could count, from every nation, tribe, people and language, standing before the throne and before the Lamb. They were wearing white robes and were holding palm branches in their hands. And they cried out in a loud voice: “Salvation belongs to our God, who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb.” All the angels were standing around the throne and around the elders and the four living creatures. They fell down on their faces before the throne and worshipped God, saying: “Amen! Praise and glory and wisdom and thanks and honour and power and strength be to our God for ever and ever. Amen!”

13-14 Then one of the elders asked me, “These in white robes - who are they, and where did they come from?”  I answered, “Sir, you know.” And he said, “These are they who have come out of the great tribulation; they have washed their robes and made them white in the blood of the Lamb. 15 Therefore, they are before the throne of God and serve him day and night in his temple; and he who sits on the throne will shelter them with his presence. 16 Never again will they hunger; never again will they thirst. The sun will not beat down on them, nor any scorching heat. 17 For the Lamb at the centre of the throne will be their shepherd; he will lead them to springs of living water. And God will wipe away every tear from their eyes.” Revelation 7:9-17 New International Version

What amazing words in vs 17! The awesome Creator of all the galaxies who enables our universe to exist day by day – stoops to wipe away the tears of His people. It's a picture of compassion and tenderness. Apart from showing what sort of God He is, what does it also tell us about Christians?

Christians do cry. Tears will be a part of our journey in this world. In the early days of the Church a man named Stephen was cruelly stoned to death and (in Acts 8:2) Luke tells us that “Godly men buried Stephen and mourned deeply for him.” In Acts 9 Luke also tells of a woman named Dorcas who passed away, and when the apostle Peter came to town “all the widows stood round him, crying, and showing him the robes and other clothing Dorcas had made while she was still with them.” Acts 9:39.

Now in this vision John saw an enormous crowd of people in heaven from every corner of the earth, as well as many angels, and they were all giving joyful praise to God and the Lamb. (i.e. Jesus). What was John told as to who this multitude of people from all over the world were? (vs 13-14)

Some Christians believe 'the great tribulation' mentioned here refers to a time of intense suffering at the end of this world's history. Other's believe it refers to all the days from Christ's ascension till His return. In John 16 Jesus warned His disciples of such sufferings. He said: “I have said all these things to you to keep you from falling away. The hour is coming when whoever kills you will think he is offering service to God.” He went on to say: “I've said these things to you, that in me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation. But take heart; I have overcome the world.” (John 16:2 & 33)

I would suggest that the reason Jesus gave this vision to John was so that Christians could be encouraged to not give up their faith when sorrows and persecutions came along. What is the promise in vs 15 for those who hold on to Christ through life's trials?

Verse 16 then describes some of the things they will never again experience when they've reached the shelter of heaven. It echoes a promise God gave through Isaiah in the Old Testament when He said of those He'd rescued: “They will be my sheep, grazing in green pastures and on hills that were previously bare. They will neither hunger nor thirst. The searing sun will not reach them anymore. For the Lord in his mercy will lead them; he will lead them beside cool waters.” (Isaiah 49:9-10) Yes, the Lamb will lead His people to springs of living water, and God will wipe away every tear from their eyes! They’ve come out of the great tribulation and rejoice before the throne and before the Lamb.