Enjoy Life, Enjoy God

TRIBULATION

March 9, 2011

A time of affliction, trial, great distress. That's what the dictionary tells us regarding the meaning of the word, "tribulation."

After this I looked, and there before me was a great multitude that no one could count, from every nation, tribe, people and language, standing before the throne and in front of the Lamb. They were wearing white robes and were holding palm branches in their hands. And they cried out in a loud voice:
"Salvation belongs to our God, who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb."
                                                   - Revelation 7:9,10 TNIV

John's vision sees a host of people in white robes, and he is told they are the ones who've been through "the great tribulation." While we can only speculate what is meant here, we know the listeners were entering a terrible season of tribulation themselves. Yet, these white robed people tell all the generations of those in affliction, "Salvation belongs to our God!" There's a song again.

The white robes they wear come to them having passed through the crimson blood of the Lamb of God, Jesus Christ. To be in Christ may not mean being spared tribulation in our lives, but it offers us the fervent hope of salvation. The stain of blood offers the faithful garments of white, and..."salvation belongs to our God."

Joyfully,

Dale Patterson