Thematic Bible: Multitude


Thematic Bible



Then suddenly there appeared with the angel a large number of the heavenly "army" [i.e., of angels], who were praising God and saying, "May there be glory to God in the highest [heavens], and may there be peace on earth among men who are pleasing to God."


And they [i.e., the 144,000] were singing a new song in front of God's throne, and in front of the four living beings and the [twenty-four] elders. No one could learn [to sing] this song except the one hundred and forty-four thousand [See 7:4,9] who had been purchased from the earth. Verse ConceptsCreatureselders, in the churchMarketsSongsThroneAbundance, SpiritualHeaven, Worshiping GodBeastsFour CreaturesOne Hundred Thousand And MoreCosmic CreaturesA New SongFruitless LearningElders In Heaven144,000elders

saying, "We thank you, O Lord God Almighty, who exists [in the present] and who existed [in the past], because you have taken your great power and have begun to rule. Verse ConceptsGod, Power OfGod, The EternalThanksgivingThanksgiving, OfferedThe AlmightyThe Existence Of GodGod Showed His PowerWe Thank GodThank YouBeing Grateful

And each of the four living beings had six wings [and] were covered with eyes all around them and [even] within them. And day and night they never stop saying, [Note: Some translations have "singing" here and at other places below], "Holy, holy, holy [is] the Lord God Almighty, who was [in the past] and who is [in the present] and who will come [in the future]." Verse ConceptsGod, Holiness OfdoxologyNightSeraphimWingsWorship, Reasons ForGod, TrinityPraise, Should Be Offered ByThe AlmightyUnceasing PraiseThe Existence Of GodFour CreaturesSix ThingsUnceasingAlways PraisingInside And OutEyes In ProphecyFeet Of CreaturesThe Fact Of His ComingEyesCherubimPurgatoryrejuvenationAngelic Beings Praising God

Then I looked, and heard the voice of many angels surrounding the throne and the living beings and elders. They numbered in the tens of thousands, and thousands and thousands [more]. [Note: The Greek says "myriads of myriads"]. They were saying in a loud voice [See Note at 4:8], "The Lamb, who was killed, deserves to receive power and wealth and wisdom and strength and splendor and praise."

And all the angels were standing around the throne and around the [twenty-four] elders and the four living beings. And they fell down on their faces in front of the throne and worshiped God, saying [See Note at 4:8], "May it be so; May there be praise and splendor and wisdom and thanksgiving and honor and power and strength to our God forever and ever. May it be so."

Then a voice came from the throne, saying, "Give praise to our God, all of you [who are] His servants, you who are the least significant and [also] the most important ones, who revere Him." Verse ConceptsBabylonPraise, Reasons ForSmallnessReverence To GodGod's VoiceGreat And SmallPraise The Lord!Slaves Of GodGay Marriage

The first man [i.e., Adam] came from the dust of the ground [See Gen. 2:7]; the second man [i.e., Christ] came from heaven. Verse ConceptsAdam and Jesus ChristDust, Literal UseThanksgiving, OfferedCreatures From DustFirst OnesSecond BeingChrist And HeavenThe EarthGoing To HeavenGodly Mandustman

The One who comes from above [i.e., Jesus] ranks over all [others]; but the one who is out of the earth [i.e., of human origin] is [merely] an earthly [being] and he speaks in earthly [ways]. [But] the One who comes from heaven [i.e., Jesus] ranks over all [others]. Verse ConceptsPreeminence Of ChristChrist And HeavenAll Authority Has Been Given To JesusHeaven Better Than EarthSchoolThe EarthGoing To HeavenThe WorldPerspective


Jesus replied, "If God were [truly] your Father you would love me, because I came from God to be here. For I did not come on my own authority, but God sent me. Verse ConceptsMission, Of Jesus ChristLove Towards Christ, Shown ByChrist's Relationship To GodLove For GodDivine MessengerPeople BeginningNot AloneGod Sending OthersNot Loving GodLove And RelationshipsFathers Love

Now we realize that you know everything and do not need anyone to ask you [questions]. This makes us believe that you came from God." Verse ConceptsKnowing God, Nature OfJesus Christ, Omniscience OfNot Asking OthersChrist Knowing All ThingsChrist's OriginThose Who Believed In Christ

Jesus replied, "You people are from below [i.e., from the earthly realm]; I am from above [i.e., from the heavenly realm]. You belong to this world; I do not belong to this world. Verse ConceptsWorldlinessThe I Am's Of ChristThings UnderChrist And HeavenPerspective

This was done so that now God's many-sided wisdom could be made known through the church, to the rulers and authorities in the heavenly realms [Note: "Heavenly realms" here refers to the world around us, where these angelic beings (good or bad) view the unfolding of God's wonderful plan], Verse ConceptsChurchDemons, Christ's AuthorityGod, Wisdom OfWisdom, Source Of HumanPrincipalities And PowersThe Church UniversalRanks Of AngelsRebellion of Satan and AngelsorganizationprincipalitiesVarieties

which He exerted when raising Christ from the dead and seating Him at His right side in the heavenly realms [i.e., heaven itself]. Verse ConceptsSittingChurch AgeExaltation Of ChristRight SidesGod Raising ChristChrist And HeavenAll Authority Has Been Given To JesusThe power of Christ

May the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ be praised, for He has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly realms in [fellowship with] Christ. [Note: The term "heavenly realms" is used somewhat differently throughout this book. Here it refers to Christians as part of the church on earth]. Verse ConceptsAbility, Of God To SaveGod, Fatherhood OfAffluenceBlessedGenerosity, God'sPraiseParticipation, In ChristPraise, Reasons ForPresent, TheSeeking Things AboveThat Which Is SpiritualBelonging To HeavenBlessed By ChristRelationship Of Father And SonBless The Lord!Church Distinct From IsraelMillionaire MentalitySpiritualSpiritual crownsTrinityBeing Thankful For BlessingsUnconditional LoveBlessings From GodBlessing Others



After seeing [all] these things, I looked and there [I saw] a huge crowd, which no one could count, from every nation, and tribe, and race, and language group standing in front of the throne [of God] and in front of the Lamb. They were dressed in white robes and had palm tree branches in their hands. Verse ConceptsMultitudesGentiles, In NtCrowdsAn Innumerable NumberBranches, Types OfAudiencesLanguagesNationalismRobesStandingWhiteGlorified SaintsMany In The ChurchWhite And Bright ClothesWhite ClothsAll LanguagesThe Gospel To The NationsEvangelism During The TribulationGreat White Throne JudgmentLanguageColorRaceculture

Then I heard what sounded like the voices of a huge crowd, and the sound of much rushing water, and great rolling thunder. They shouted, "Hallelujah! For the Lord, our God Almighty rules. Verse ConceptsBabylonGod, Power OfGod, Sovereignty OfKingsPraise, Manner And Methods OfShoutingThunderGod's OmnipotenceThe AlmightyGod, InfiniteMultitudesMany In The ChurchThings Like WaterLike WaterPraise The Lord!Gay MarriagewaterfallsThunder Showing God's Presence


These people are the ones who did not practice sexual immorality with women, for they were virgins [Note: This probably has reference to people who avoided idolatry]. These are people who followed the Lamb wherever He went. They were purchased from among mankind to be the firstfruits [devoted] to God and to the Lamb. Verse ConceptsFollowing Jesus Christdiscipleship, nature ofDefilement, By SinCommitment, to Jesus ChristAsceticism, TypesMarketsCelibacyMetaphorical Firstfruits144,000UniversalismDefilementFirst fruitsSexual PurityThe Rapturerevelationredeemedvirginity

And they sang a new song [which went like this]: "You deserve to take the book and break the seals on it, for you were killed and, with your blood, you purchased people for God from every tribe and language and race and nation, Verse ConceptsAtonementGiving, Of OneselfAtonement, Redemption ByAudiencesAtonement, in NTLanguagesHeaven,  Redeemed CommunityMarketsNationalismRansomRedemption, In NtValuesWorthinessThe Act Of OpeningOpening DocumentsA New SongAll LanguagesBooks In ProphecyChrist Was KilledThe Gospel To The Nationsrevelationredeemed





Those eating numbered about five thousand men, in addition to the women and children. Verse ConceptsFive ThousandPeople EatingNumbers Of Males

The number who ate were four thousand men, besides women and children. Verse ConceptsFour ThousandPeople EatingNumbers Of Males