“A great multitude which no one could count, from every nation and all tribes and peoples and tongues, standing before the throne and before the Lamb, clothed in white robes, and palm branches were in their hands; and they cry with a loud voice, saying, ‘Salvation to our God who sits on the throne and to The Lamb.’ ” Revelation 7:9-10
Heaven will be filled with prayer and praise. Those who picture it in any other way are looking at it from a world-view, but not with a biblical view. Those who place no priority on prayer and praise on earth are unlikely to be genuine citizens of Heaven. Prayer and praise reveal the indelible seal of the Holy Spirit on a believer’s passport from this world to the next.
“Prayer can move the Heavenly world.” Andrew Murray
John saw countless numbers of people from every nation who perished in The Tribulation. The inhabitants of Heaven have not entered into this holy place through a painless, bloodless passage. Salvation cost Jesus His life- blood. It will cost a believer death to self. In The Tribulation it will cost many people from every nation, their own lives.
There is no easy-believism or cheap grace available to bypass the price of redemption. No matter what some contemporary church conductor has to say about it, there are no discount fares available on this train.
Those who lay claim to God’s salvation have done so through the blood of the Lamb and death to self. God set the fare, Jesus paid the price, and He punches the ticket for all who enter Heaven. He is the guardian of the gate, not St. Peter.
“I am The Way, The Truth and The Life, no man comes to the Father, but by Me.” John 14:6
The Multitude of people John saw before the throne of God and before The Lamb cried out with one united voice and for one great purpose, to serve God. Those who have no joy in serving God on earth, and no passion for prayer and praise reveal they have no real sense of direction for Heaven.
“Prayer is a plan of God. It is an outworking of His sovereignty.
In His wisdom, God chose prayer and gave mankind a role to play to accomplish His purpose. Prayer is about Him, not us. His purposes, His will, not our preferences.” Dave Butts
“These are the ones who come out of the great tribulation, and they have washed their robes and made them white in the blood of the Lamb. For this reason, they are before the throne of God; and they serve Him day and night in His temple.” Vs. 14-15
Those who pass through the Tribulation will pay a price in their own blood, but when they arrive before the throne of God they are overwhelmed with prayer and praise for one thing, the blood Jesus shed for them. The Lamb responds with the care and concern of a shepherd for his flock.
“The Lamb will be their shepherd and will guide them to springs of the water of life; and God will wipe away every tear from their eyes.” V. 17b
NOTE TO SELF: The Scripture’s brief glimpse of Heaven gives you a world of insight, if you are willing to see it with the eyes of faith, through the lens of prayer. While you remain on earth, waiting for The Return of Jesus, remind yourself of this one thing. Heaven is not about you at all. Heaven is all about God. While you remain on earth, may your persistent prayer be, “Not me, but Thee.”