Revelation 7:9

A Great Multitude from Every Nation

After this I looked, and behold, a great multitude that no one could number, from every nation, from all tribes and peoples and languages, standing before the throne and before the Lamb, clothed in white robes, with palm branches in their hands,

Order in the court. We begin with this point of order. It begins with the words “after this” what happened prior to this verse?

Revelation 7:3 saying, “Do not harm the earth or the sea or the trees, until we have sealed the servants of our God on their foreheads.”

This is what is said afterwards. 13 Then one of the elders addressed me, saying, “Who are these, clothed in white robes, and from where have they come?” 14 I said to him, “Sir, you know.” And he said to me, “These are the ones coming out of the great tribulation. They have washed their robes and made them white in the blood of the Lamb.

This was the first resurrection, Revelation 20:5-6 The rest of the dead did not come to life until the thousand years were ended. This is the first resurrection. Blessed and holy is the one who shares in the first resurrection! Over such the second death has no power, but they will be priests of God and of Christ, and they will reign with him for a thousand years.

Revelation 20:11-15 English Standard Version

Judgment Before the Great White Throne

11 Then I saw a great white throne and him who was seated on it. From his presence earth and sky fled away, and no place was found for them. 12 And I saw the dead, great and small, standing before the throne, and books were opened. Then another book was opened, which is the book of life. And the dead were judged by what was written in the books, according to what they had done. 

13 And the sea gave up the dead who were in it, Death and Hades gave up the dead who were in them, and they were judged, each one of them, according to what they had done. 14 Then Death and Hades were thrown into the lake of fire. This is the second death, the lake of fire. 15 And if anyone’s name was not found written in the book of life, he was thrown into the lake of fire.

One way of looking at this is if your name is not on the court docket for judgment, then your name is not found in the book of life and you go to the lake of fire without a trial. 

That is called a summary judgment.

Romans 2

English Standard Version

God’s Righteous Judgment

1 Therefore you have no excuse, O man, every one of you who judges. For in passing judgment on another you condemn yourself, because you, the judge, practice the very same things. 2 We know that the judgment of God rightly falls on those who practice such things. 3 Do you suppose, O man—you who judge those who practice such things and yet do them yourself—that you will escape the judgment of God? 4 Or do you presume on the riches of his kindness and forbearance and patience, not knowing that God’s kindness is meant to lead you to repentance? 5 But because of your hard and impenitent heart you are storing up wrath for yourself on the day of wrath when God’s righteous judgment will be revealed.

I was told by a judge that my ignorance of the law was no excuse. He was the judge and in his court I was subject to his rulings.

The summary judgment of Romans 2:1 is that none are righteous and therefore all are guilty even if you are ignorant of the law. Romans 2:12 “For all who have sinned without the law will also perish without the law, and all who have sinned under the law will be judged by the law.”

What laws do you live under?

Every nation has a rule of law that defines how those citizens are expected to act in their society. It matters not whether those laws are founded under God’s immutable laws or man made, citizens are subject to those laws.

When we stand before our maker we will not be allowed to quote US code in our defense. He is the judge over all mankind according to His will, not the conscience of man. 

In the US, congress writes and amends the law and the president signs laws into effect. Those laws are arguable and rendered constitutional or not by the Supreme Court. Constitutional amendments require approval by all the states. It takes two thirds of the states to approve but cannot be invoked until all the states vote on the amendment.

Citizens of heaven don’t get a vote. In God’s court the citizen has no voice. But we can have an advocate but the court only recognizes the credentials of just one advocate.

1 John 2:1 …. if anyone does sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous.

Wait until judgment day to ask for an advocate and it will be too late. We have to choose Him now before we die. More on that tomorrow.