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Does the "great multitude which no one could number (Revelation 7:9)"
refer to the raptured saints?
Yes, that is correct. Revelation 7:9 says,
"After these things I looked, and behold, a great multitude which no
one could number, of all nations, tribes, peoples, and tongues, standing
before the throne and before the Lamb, clothed with white robes, with
palm branches in their hands." From the phrase, "of all nations, tribes,
peoples, and tongues… clothed with white robes," we can see that with
their faith in the gospel of the water and the Spirit, a countless multitude
among the Gentiles would fight against and overcome the Antichrist, be
martyred, and participate in the first resurrection and the rapture.
Although in these last days the Antichrist runs amok with impunity, we
can also recognize that at the same time, there would rise even more people
who believe in the gospel of the water and the Spirit given by God. As
such, a great multitude would rise among the Gentiles also, a multitude
so great that no one could even number, who would be saved from sin by
believing in the gospel of the water and the Spirit and embrace their
martyrdom with their faith.
Revelation 7:14 says, "So he said to me, 'These are the ones who come
out of the great tribulation, and washed their robes and made them white
in the blood of the Lamb.'" As the Great Tribulation came upon this
earth, these people were saved from sin by believing in the gospel of
the water and the Spirit preached by God's Church with all their hearts.
They therefore were martyred, for they neither worshipped the Antichrist
nor received the mark of the Beast on their right hand or the forehead,
and thereby joined in the saints' resurrection and rapture. This is why
they stand before the throne and before the Lamb and praise; "Salvation
belongs to our God who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb!"
God, therefore, is not just the God of the Jewish people, but He is also
the God of the Gentiles. As such, He will make sure that when the last
days of the Great Tribulation come, a countless number of Gentiles from
all nations, tribes, peoples, and tongues would believe in the gospel
of the water and the Spirit, receive the remission of sin, and stand among
the martyrs' file.
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