A Great Multitude

Welcome to God First with Brian C. Thomas, a program committed to encouraging you to put God first while viewing life through the window of the Bible. Now, in honor of the one and only true God, the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, let's join Brian C. Thomas for today's message.

And as always, it is a joy and honor and a privilege to join you each week on the God First program. Well, as you are probably aware by now, our current government administration has approved a COVID-19 relief package in the amount of $1.9 trillion. That is right, trillion with a T. And there are many areas of concern with this package, but there is allocation for millions of dollars for quote, family planning services, unquote. And folks, that's just the gentle way of saying abortion services. And so again, there are many areas of concern and there is a group out there that goes by the name of Pro-Life Evangelicals for Biden.

And they have issue with this package. So I want to begin by playing a clip from spokesman, Dr. Richard Miles, spokesman of this Pro-Life Evangelicals for Biden. He's expressing that they felt used and betrayed in clip one, Dr. Richard now spokesperson for the Pro-Life Evangelicals for Biden coalition tell CBN News. They were shocked to learn Hyde was left out. We felt betrayed by the fact by the fact that furthermore, they did not give us a heads up on this. There was no sense of accountability to evangelicals and Catholics who took a lot of risks in saying publicly that they were going to vote for Mr. Biden.

So here this spokesman, Richard mile was saying they felt betrayed. They felt used because they were not given a heads up that the Hyde amendment was left out. The Hyde amendment is legislation that took effect in 1982 prohibit federal funds that is taxpayers money from being used to perform abortions with exceptions for life saving situations or pregnancy resulting from rape or incest. So again, that is an amendment that was put in place in 1980.

That would say, well, you go to work every day, you, you work hard and you get your paycheck and you see that there are taxes that come out. And it says, well, your tax dollars cannot go towards funding abortion. And for those of us who are Christians that are pro-life that is very important.

But here this, this letter, they wrote an open letter to the president concerning this package. We are very disappointed about the COVID-19 relief packages, exclusion of the Hyde amendment, a longstanding bipartisan policy that prevents taxpayer funding for abortion. We're even more upset that the Biden administration is supporting this bill as pro-life leaders in the evangelical community. We publicly supported president Biden's candidacy with the understanding that there would be engagement with us on the issue of abortion and particularly the Hyde amendment. The Biden administration wanted to talk to us during the campaign to gain our support, and we gave it on the condition that would be active dialogue and common ground solutions on the issue of abortion.

There has been no dialogue since the campaign. They go on to state in this letter, we feel used and betrayed and have no intention of simply watching these kinds of efforts happening from the sidelines. Many evangelicals and Catholics took risk to support Biden publicly. Democrats need to honor their courage. We call on president Biden to honor his commitment to us and immediately demand that the house of representatives apply the Hyde language to the American relief package. This is no time for radical change to long standing abortion policy. We call on, and then they list the names of different representatives to oppose this bill as it stands and demand the Hyde amendment be included. If this is not done, it will raise the question of whether or not we are still welcome in the democratic party. All right, folks.

So there's a, there's a lot there. And you're probably thinking like me, pro-life evangelicals for Biden. When I heard about this group several months ago, back in the last quarter or maybe the third quarter of last year, they formed this group. And I thought how oxymoronic this, this group who they're saying they're evangelicals, they're saying they're Christians. They are saying that they're pro life, but yet Joe Biden and Kamala Harris made it very clear where they stood on abortion. Kamala Harris has been described by many as being the most, uh, radical far left Senate member when it comes to abortion. And yet they pledge their allegiance to their, their team, their administration for candidacy. So, so you're scratching your head.

And I, and I asked myself the question, where were they? When they were campaigning on their position, when it comes to abortion, because on June 15th, 2020, Joe Biden put out a plan parenthood campaign ad, and I want you to hear it for yourself in clip two together, we're going to reverse the global gag and domestic gag restoring the title 10 program. We will protect women's constitutional right to choose.

And I'm proud to stand with you in this fight. And in his own words, say that he would restore title 10 title 10 was law in which president Trump, he adjusted it so that it was stripped $60 million from plan parenthood. Well, so now with Joe Biden, they are getting that $60 million back. He made that very clear.

He made it very clear that he believed in a woman's right to choose. So again, these pro-life evangelicals for Biden, asking yourself the question, where were these people during the campaign? Where, where is their mind?

Where is their discernment? Because I think about this. What if I were to decide one day I meet this woman and she tells me that she's a prostitute. She says she believes in prostitution. She believes in a woman's right to, to live in prostitution. And she's going to continue prostitution. And she, she feels like that's a woman's right. And in light of that, I say, well, take my hand in marriage. And she agrees to do so. Now I've made it clear that I don't agree with prostitution. I don't, I don't support that, but she agrees to take my hand in marriage, but she's made it clear.

She believes in a woman's right to prostitution. So within a couple of weeks of us getting married, she one night goes stepping out and I ask her the question, where are you going? And she says, I'm going to work the street corner.

Later, early in the morning. And, and I asked her, where have you been? And she says, I told you, I was going to work the street corners to make money. I've been out with me and prostituting. And then I say to her, I feel so used and betrayed. I'm shocked. If I would tell anyone that they would say, Brian, you a fool. Why would you marry a woman who has said she believes that it is her right to be a prostitute and she's told you she's going to continue doing it.

Why would you take her hand in marriage thinking that something's going to change. And so that's why I look at this group, this pro-life evangelicals for Biden. And I thought that back when they first formed the group, I thought that that just doesn't make sense to me.

And now here they are. They say they are used. They feel used and betrayed. I just find this hard to believe that they can really be that naive. And I, and I hate to use a strong word, but to really, to be that ignorant, to think that if you look at Joe Biden's record, he was vice president to Barack Obama for eight years, who was very pro abortion. Again, Kamala Harris has been described as the, the most far-leaning left member of the Senate in her support for abortion.

So where do they come up with this idea of, well, we're going to pledge our supports for this administration thinking that something would be different thinking that something would change. What I think about when it comes to this issue is millions of babies have been aborted. Sadly, they've been torn apart in the womb and my heart breaks for them. But those young little babies, those little children are now with Jesus Christ. And I heard a woman once who, who gave a description of a vision that she had, and she said she had a vision into heaven and she saw Jesus. And there were all these little children around her, a great multitude of children as far as she could see. And she asked Jesus, who are these? And Jesus said, these are the ones who were killed in their mother's womb. It's really heartbreaking, but they are with Jesus Christ. They are now in the security of our Lord. There is a great multitude of little children that are around the throne of God.

They are there today and they're going to be there in the future. So that is the thing that I want to highlight is that why is it that again, this group, these pro-life evangelicals abiding with think that something would be different. But the fact that now we can rest in the assurance that these babies who have been taken away through abortion, they are a great multitude in the presence of our almighty Lord. And we're going to take a short break, but on the other side, I'm going to talk with you about another great multitude that the Bible speaks of that is also going to be present around the throne of God in the future. You are tuned into the God First program. Don't go away.

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Box 266, Knightdale, North Carolina 27545. A great multitude. There's a great multitude of young children, babies who are in the presence of our almighty Lord. And that's also going to be another great multitude that is going to come out of a period in the future, a period known as the Great Tribulation. So this week's word is coming from Revelation Chapter seven, and we'll be looking at verses nine through 17.

So I want you to please grab a pen and paper, grab your Bibles and let's be students of God's great and mighty holy word. Revelation Chapter seven, verses nine through 17. As we are in the church age, the Bible tells us that there is a period of apostasy, the fallen away that is going to take place and it will continue until the church is taken out. But the Bible says there will be a great revival that will take place during the tribulation as the Antichrist is advancing his agenda. The Holy Spirit is going to move on the hearts of millions, leading them to Jesus Christ. In Revelation Chapter seven, verse nine, we find 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.

A great multitude. The greatest soul harvest in history will take place during the first part of the tribulation. There will be a Christian from every nation, from every race.

And as I get this picture now in heaven, this vision that this woman had of Jesus Christ and all these children around, there is a child there from every tongue, from every nation, from every race. And that is what we are going to see also in this great multitude that will come out of the great tribulation. We see here they are clothed in white robes, which represents redemption.

And then they have palm branches, which indicate victory in Jesus Christ. There are some out there who are saying, well, the Lord, when is he returning? But we must remember the words of Second Peter Chapter three, verse nine.

The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some count slackness, but is long suffering toward us, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance. There are some out there that believe more will be saved in the early months of the tribulation than the entire preceding 2000 years. This event that we are looking forward to as believers in our day in the church age is the rapture of the church, the time in which a trumpet will sound and then there will be the voice of an archangel and we will be caught up to meet the Lord in the air. As the Bible says, the dead will rise first, the dead in Christ. Then those of us who are alive and remain will be caught up together with them to meet the Lord in the air.

When that happens, chaos will reign upon the earth because pilots will disappear. Train engineers, government officials, doctors, nurses, people all over the world are going to disappear as they will be caught up to be with our Lord. And I truly believe that this is the event that will persuade many to follow the one hundred and forty four thousand evangelists that our Lord is going to call out during the great tribulation. This will be like following one hundred and forty four thousand apostle Paul's. And during this time period, the tribulation, we must remember that the Holy Spirit will be on earth because no one can be saved without the Holy Spirit.

In the book of Acts, chapter two, verses 14 through 21, the apostle Paul spoke of the outpouring of the Holy Spirit. It happened on the day of Pentecost, but the complete fulfillment of Paul's reference to Joel, chapter two, verse 32 will take place during the tribulation. This is when there will be wonders in heaven and signs on the earth, blood and fire, billows of smoke.

The sun turned to darkness in the moon to blood. This seven year tribulation period that is yet to come for the earth's inhabitants. Everybody will have to make a decision either for Jesus Christ or for the Antichrist.

As we've looked in previous weeks at the seal judgments, the sixth seal will remove the sense of security from mankind on the earth. And this will cause many to seek God, but many will still reject him. But during this time period, the conditions will be ripe for this one hundred and forty four thousand evangelists. But John is looking into the future here in the book of Revelation, and he sees this great multitude in heaven. And then in verse 10, we find and crying out with a loud voice saying, salvation belongs to our God who sits on the throne and to the lamb. The individuals in this multitude are recipients of personal salvation. There is only one way, folks, to the father, and that is through Jesus Christ.

Doesn't matter what Oprah Winfrey says, doesn't matter what Barack Obama says, doesn't matter what Steve Harvey says. The Bible says that there is only one way. And Jesus Christ says, I am the way, the truth and the life.

No one comes to the father but by me. And as we look back in the biblical days, when the shepherds would would take the sheep in for the night to settle, they would take them into their their holding area, into their their their fencing area. And there was a gate present and the shepherd would literally lie down at the gate. And the only way that the sheep could go in and out would be by going through the shepherd.

So he would go to sleep, but he would be awakened if one tried to go out because they could only go through him. And Jesus Christ said, I am the door. He said, I am the way. I'm the good shepherd. And the only way you can go in and out to the only way you can get to the father is by going through our great Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. And so as we come to verse 11 in Revelation, chapter seven, all the angels stood around the throne and the elders and the four living creatures and fell on their faces before the throne and worshiped God, saying, amen, blessing and the glory and wisdom, thanksgiving and honor and power and might be to our God forever and ever.

Amen. This is a beautiful picture as the angels in heaven rejoice. They're rejoicing over this multitude. The angels rejoice when one sinner is saved.

When we look at Luke chapter 15, verse seven, I say to you that likewise, there will be more joy in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety nine just persons who need no repentance. So note how the angels words are as they look upon the redeemed from the earth. They're rejoicing. They're giving praise. They're giving honor.

They're giving glory to our God by by through Jesus Christ, how he brought salvation to these people. Listen, folks, I don't want anyone to doubt your importance. There are some of you out there who think that you are not important. You've been living a life of sin and you think that you're just too far gone and you think that if you're missing from the world, no one would care and it wouldn't matter. But let me assure you of something. Jesus Christ died with you in mind when his he shed his blood at Calvary.

He had you in mind because you mean something to him. And the Bible says that the angels rejoice over one person coming to repentance. So don't listen to the devil as he tries to discourage you, as he tries to tell you it's too late.

He tries to tell you to quit, to to take your yourself out through suicide or or any other means. Trust in the word of God that Jesus Christ loves you. He died for you. He did it for you.

He did it for all of us. Do not doubt your importance as all the angels rejoice. So give your life to Jesus Christ and let heaven rejoice as you come to salvation. And then as we go to verse 13 and 14, then one of the elders answered and answered, saying to me, who are these arrayed in white robes and where did they come from?

And I said to him, sir, you know. So he said to me, these are the ones who come out of great tribulation and wash their robes and made them white in the blood of the lamb. I tell you, the word of God is awesome. The word of God is so rich. The word of God is so pure.

The word of God is so powerful. As one of the 24 elders questions John and John does not recognize those in this multitude. And this implies that he does not know them because they are not from the church age or from the Old Testament, but redeemed from the tribulation, just as the church, just as Israel, just as the Old Testament saints are all in a distinct category, but all make the body of Jesus Christ.

So are the tribulation saints. You know, as I take my clothes through to the dry cleaners and I'll have stains in them. And they have special solution that they use to get those stains out and blood stains. You know, blood stains are are just so hard to remove, but they have special solutions to get that blood out. But when we look at our Lord Jesus Christ, the red blood of Jesus makes one white. You see, that goes in reverse with us because red blood from us, it stains things. But the red blood of Jesus Christ makes one white, whiter than anything that we can imagine. It is as it removes the stain of sin. So, again, I want to encourage you today. Give your heart to Jesus Christ.

If you've never accepted him, today is the day. And then as we move on to verses 15 through 17, 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 dwell among them. They shall neither hunger anymore nor thirst anymore. The sun shall not strike them nor any heat for the lamb who is in the midst of the throne will shepherd them and lead them to living fountains of water.

And God will wipe away every tear from their eyes. Again, folks, God's word is so amazing. We truly serve a mighty God. We truly serve a loving God.

We truly serve a powerful God. And as we look at this, eternal rewards are going to be given to this great multitude. They are before the throne of God and they serve him day and night.

They are not on the earth, but they have died. God will dwell with them forever. Just as First Thessalonians chapter four, verse 17 tells us, it promises us and thus we shall always be with the Lord. All their needs will be met because apparently during the tribulation, the saints will suffer great hunger.

They will suffer great thirst, exposure to the elements while they're on the earth. But God will wipe away every tear. The same promises given to the church after the great white throne judgment in Revelation 21, verse four. And God will wipe away every tear from their eyes. There should be no more death, nor sorrow, nor crying. There should be no more pain for the former things have passed away.

Now, we cannot say with 100 percent certainty exactly what this refers to. But I believe that it could very well be that God is going to change our minds in the way that we will not be able to remember unpleasant things, including those who are eternally lost, because remembering our lost loved ones would cause us to not have the joy in heaven. He's going to wipe away every tear from the eyes of this great multitude.

He's going to wipe away every tear from the eyes of all of us who will put our faith and trust in him. Folks, we must be eternally minded. The problem today is a lot of people are not eternally minded.

People just want to focus on the here and now. But we we must be willing to delay self gratification in exchange for eternal life, in exchange for eternal rewards, just as we see this great multitude will do during the Great Tribulation, as they will lose their lives because of the fact that they have trusted in Jesus Christ. They will put their faith and trust in him and their lives, their physical lives will be taken. But they will gain eternal life. And that day, the day is coming in which their physical bodies will be resurrected as a glorified body.

And God, again, is going to wipe away every tear. We are reminded by this multitude that every human being must make a choice to accept or reject Jesus Christ. Will today be the day for you to accept our Lord?

I'm encouraging you to do so. In the book of John Chapter one, verse 10 through 12, he was in the world and the world was made through him. And the world did not know him. He came to his own and his own did not receive him. But as many as receive him to them, he gave the right to become children of God to those who believe in his name. Without Jesus Christ, our best is as filthy rags before our God. But the cleansing blood of Christ makes us to be found worthy to be in the presence of our almighty God. And only those who accept Christ will be children of God. You hear people oftentimes say we're all children of God. But the Bible says that, no, it is only those who accept Jesus Christ that are true children of God.

If you've not accept Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior, you are not a child of God. So the question is, will you receive him today? Will you come to know and accept our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ? And, folks, I focus a lot on the Book of Revelation. I love God's prophetic word.

But this is about the heart. It's not about head knowledge. If it's only head knowledge, it's not going to do you a bit of good because you will still go into eternal damnation unless it convicts your heart and makes you want to to accept Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior. Even if you don't understand all the the ins and outs and all the intricacies of the Book of Revelation. But you still need Jesus Christ. So accept him as your Lord and Savior. Because, again, there's coming a day in which there's going to be a great multitude that will come out of the tribulation.

But you don't have to wait until then. You can give your heart to him today and go away in the way of the rapture. And we can be in the presence of our almighty Lord. And it's just a beautiful picture in which the children, the multitude of babies that have been aborted, the millions that have been aborted throughout the world. They're going to be a great multitude living in the presence of our Lord. They also are going to receive glorified bodies and they're going to be able to live the life that they did not get on this earth. And then for those who go into the tribulation as unsaved, but they also will give their lives to Jesus Christ.

That is those who choose to refuse the mark of the beast. It is a beautiful picture of our Lord saving grace in the redemption that he so graciously gives us. Again, folks, the word of God is just so powerful. The word of God is so loving. Our Lord came out of a perfect heaven. He came to this earth and he died for us so that we could have eternal life. And again, I want to encourage anyone out there, if you're doubting your worth, you feel like the world is is going to go on fine without you?

No. Jesus Christ loves you. Jesus Christ wants you. Jesus Christ is is urging you through the Holy Spirit to come into his kingdom.

So give your heart to him. Just confess that you are a sinner. Repent of your sins and profess Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior. And you too will have eternal life. And God will wipe away every tear from your eyes.

He'll wipe away every tear from my eyes. No more suffering, no more pain. We will live in perfect peace and joy in the presence of our almighty Lord as this great multitude.

Well, folks, we're all out of time for this week. I want to thank you for joining me. Please come back next week as we continue to encourage you to put God first while viewing life through the window of the Bible. Until then, remember to pray for the peace of Jerusalem. Bless God's great nation of Israel. To the only wise God be glory through Jesus Christ forever.

Amen. You've been listening to the Bible teacher, Brian C. Thomas, founder and president of God First. Brian and God First reserve all copyright protection under applicable law. Our copyright policy is available at our website, Godfirst.org. Until next time, remember to pray for the peace of Jerusalem, bless God's great nation of Israel and seek first the kingdom of God.