“After this I beheld, and, lo, a great multitude, which no man could number, of (or from) all nations, tribes, and people, and tongues, stood before the throne, and before the Lamb, clothed with white robes, and palms in their hands” (Rev 7:9)
This particular company is said to be STANDING BEFORE the throne, in distinction from those who are privileged to be SEATED with Jesus IN the throne (Rev 3:21) as his bride and joint-heir. They are also stated as standing BEFORE the “Lamb”, whereas the 144,000 are seated WITH the Lamb (Rev 14:1).
It is also stated that they are “clothed with white robes”
We understand that AT PRESENT these white robes represent the IMPUTED righteousness, of the “man” Jesus Christ, our JUSTIFICATION in the eyes of God. However because of our contact with the world, we are admonished that we go to the throne of heavenly grace continuously that we might keep these robes without spot or stain (2 Pet 3:14).
It is quite evident that this, “great company” DID NOT HEED this admonishment, and thus allowed their garments to become defiled (Rev 3:4) and spotted, thus the necessity of Verse 14, the washing of their robes in the blood of the Lamb.
However in this particular scene (Verse 9) this great company class is pictured as standing before the throne (IN HEAVEN), therefore the event pictured here takes place following the “washing” mentioned in Verse 14. Therefore the white robes to which these are clothed in, no longer represent the “imputed” merit of Christ, but rather their own perfection and righteousness as newly BORN spirit beings.
Lastly they are spoken of as having “palms in their hands” Palms are symbols of victory or deliverance. The Feast of Tabernacles [Booths] (Lev 23:33-44) is an example of this.
Annually, the Israelite's made TEMPORARY abodes of palm branches to symbolize the temporary nature of their wilderness existence before being given a home in “the promised land.” So, these booths of palms represent deliverance from the temporary to the permanent.
In Verse 9 they have the same meaning; the Great Company is delivered to its permanent home IN HEAVEN -- never again to wander or to be in need. (See Verses 16 & 17.)
In Lev 10:1, 2, we see how God destroyed both Nadab and Abihu, two of Aaron’s sons for offering “strange fire” before the Lord; these two pictured the SECOND DEATH class.
Aaron’s other two sons who remained picture two other classes
Eleazar (Greek meaning, “Lazarus”) represents the Church. He became the next high priest (Deut 10:6.) Ithamar (whose name means LAND OF PALMS) is, therefore, a picture of those who miss THAT privilege but who are yet delivered -- the Great Company.
As we have stated there is but the “One Calling”, and all those who have entered into THIS RACE, have entered through CONSECRATION, having made a covenant with God, a “covenant of sacrifice” (Psa 50:5).
That is God has provided for our justification as MEN for the sole purpose that we set apart, sanctify or consecrate our RECKONED justified HUMANITY with all its RESTITUTION rights purchased by Christ, to Him. From the moment we give or consecrate ourselves to the Lord we are reckoned as dead, as human beings, and thence forth are deemed “New Creatures” in Christ, there is no turning back.
“This thought is of utmost importance to all the consecrated; for if we have covenanted with God to sacrifice the human nature, and if that sacrifice was accepted by him, it is useless to attempt to take it back. The human is reckoned of God as dead now, and must actually die, never again to be restored. All that can be gained, then, by turning back to live after the flesh, is a little human gratification at the expense of the new spiritual nature.” (A 213)
Thus we believe that although the “Great Company” class is not a called class, even so they shall be born as spirit beings, for they too have relinquished their humanity in consecration, and because they felled to render proper sacrifice they shall miss out on the greatest opportunity ever presented to man, and never to be offered again, not only the opportunity to become a joint heir and ruler with Christ, in his kingdom, but likewise to share with him in his glory as a DIVINE, immortal being.
This particular company is said to be STANDING BEFORE the throne, in distinction from those who are privileged to be SEATED with Jesus IN the throne (Rev 3:21) as his bride and joint-heir. They are also stated as standing BEFORE the “Lamb”, whereas the 144,000 are seated WITH the Lamb (Rev 14:1).
It is also stated that they are “clothed with white robes”
We understand that AT PRESENT these white robes represent the IMPUTED righteousness, of the “man” Jesus Christ, our JUSTIFICATION in the eyes of God. However because of our contact with the world, we are admonished that we go to the throne of heavenly grace continuously that we might keep these robes without spot or stain (2 Pet 3:14).
It is quite evident that this, “great company” DID NOT HEED this admonishment, and thus allowed their garments to become defiled (Rev 3:4) and spotted, thus the necessity of Verse 14, the washing of their robes in the blood of the Lamb.
However in this particular scene (Verse 9) this great company class is pictured as standing before the throne (IN HEAVEN), therefore the event pictured here takes place following the “washing” mentioned in Verse 14. Therefore the white robes to which these are clothed in, no longer represent the “imputed” merit of Christ, but rather their own perfection and righteousness as newly BORN spirit beings.
Lastly they are spoken of as having “palms in their hands” Palms are symbols of victory or deliverance. The Feast of Tabernacles [Booths] (Lev 23:33-44) is an example of this.
Annually, the Israelite's made TEMPORARY abodes of palm branches to symbolize the temporary nature of their wilderness existence before being given a home in “the promised land.” So, these booths of palms represent deliverance from the temporary to the permanent.
In Verse 9 they have the same meaning; the Great Company is delivered to its permanent home IN HEAVEN -- never again to wander or to be in need. (See Verses 16 & 17.)
In Lev 10:1, 2, we see how God destroyed both Nadab and Abihu, two of Aaron’s sons for offering “strange fire” before the Lord; these two pictured the SECOND DEATH class.
Aaron’s other two sons who remained picture two other classes
Eleazar (Greek meaning, “Lazarus”) represents the Church. He became the next high priest (Deut 10:6.) Ithamar (whose name means LAND OF PALMS) is, therefore, a picture of those who miss THAT privilege but who are yet delivered -- the Great Company.
As we have stated there is but the “One Calling”, and all those who have entered into THIS RACE, have entered through CONSECRATION, having made a covenant with God, a “covenant of sacrifice” (Psa 50:5).
That is God has provided for our justification as MEN for the sole purpose that we set apart, sanctify or consecrate our RECKONED justified HUMANITY with all its RESTITUTION rights purchased by Christ, to Him. From the moment we give or consecrate ourselves to the Lord we are reckoned as dead, as human beings, and thence forth are deemed “New Creatures” in Christ, there is no turning back.
“This thought is of utmost importance to all the consecrated; for if we have covenanted with God to sacrifice the human nature, and if that sacrifice was accepted by him, it is useless to attempt to take it back. The human is reckoned of God as dead now, and must actually die, never again to be restored. All that can be gained, then, by turning back to live after the flesh, is a little human gratification at the expense of the new spiritual nature.” (A 213)
Thus we believe that although the “Great Company” class is not a called class, even so they shall be born as spirit beings, for they too have relinquished their humanity in consecration, and because they felled to render proper sacrifice they shall miss out on the greatest opportunity ever presented to man, and never to be offered again, not only the opportunity to become a joint heir and ruler with Christ, in his kingdom, but likewise to share with him in his glory as a DIVINE, immortal being.
