Me too my sweet sister in Christ.
Rev 7:9 . . . I beheld, and, lo,
a great multitude, which no man could number (Were there more born to God during this first three and one-half years of tribulation into the body of Christ than the previous two thousand years?), of all nations, and kindreds, and people, and tongues, stood before the throne, and before the Lamb, clothed with white robes, and
palms in their hands; (Notice the reward these of the great multitude possess;
palms.
Rev 7:13 And one of the elders answered, saying unto me, What are these which are arrayed in white robes? and whence came they?
Rev 7:14 And I said unto him, Sir, thou knowest. And he said to me, These are they which came out of great tribulation, and have washed their robes, and made them white in the blood of the Lamb.
Why weren’t these of the great multitude caught up with the twenty-four elders in Rev 4:4 and four beasts of Rev 4:6 prior to the tribulation?
What are some of the differences of the twenty-four elders and four beasts from them of the great multitude?
Rev 5:9 And they (24 elders & 4 beasts) sung a new song, saying, Thou art worthy to take the book, and to open the seals thereof: for thou wast slain, and
hast redeemed us to God by thy blood out of every kindred, and tongue, and people, and nation;
Rev 5:10 And hast made us unto our God kings and priests: and
we shall reign on (Actually over the earth while in heaven)
the earth.
Rev 7:15 Therefore are they (the great multitude) before the throne of God, and
serve him day and night in his temple: and he that sitteth on the throne shall dwell among them.
Did John actually see these different saints in different proximities to God’s throne? Evidently. the 24 elders & 4 beasts are round bout the throne (Rev 4:4), and the 4 beasts were in the midst of the throne and round bout the throne (Rev 4:6).
There are two portions of the Church in Revelation Chapters Two & Three that are commended and said to have crowns, and they are Smyrna (Rev 2:10), and Philadelphia (Rev 3:10-11).
The remaining five churches are told to repent. Ephesus in Rev 2:5, Pergamos in Rev 2:16, Thyatira is even told
they will go into great tribulation unless they repent in Rev 2:22, Sardis in Rev 3:3, and notice that Jesus will come on them as a thief, and they shall not know what hour He will come upon them. (
Is this why they were not caught up with the first rank of those caught up to God?), and finally the Laodiceans of Rev 3:19 are told to repent.
Thanks again.