“After these things I looked, and behold, a great multitude which no one could count, from every nation and all tribes and peoples and tongues, standing before the throne and before the Lamb, clothed in white robes, and palm branches were in their hands; and they cry out with a loud voice, saying, “Salvation to our God who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb.” And all the angels were standing around the throne and around the elders and the four living creatures; and they fell on their faces before the throne and worshiped God, saying, “Amen, blessing and glory and wisdom and thanksgiving and honor and power and might, be to our God forever and ever. Amen” Revelation 7:9-12

Amidst the great plagues and cataclysms of the last days of this present age, there will be a great ingathering of people from all regions and nationalities. In this largely figurative scene in Revelation 7, many will die martyr’s deaths for their faith. They testify loudly as to the salvation of God and the Lamb, joined by an angelic chorus. It is an awe-inspiring scene.

During the eleventh hour of this age, as Jesus declared, “This gospel of the kingdom shall be preached in the whole world as a testimony to all the nations, and then the end will come” Matthew 24:14. The descriptive scene of Revelation 7 reveals the fruits of these labors. As those entrusted with this life-saving, two-pronged gospel of “the good news about the kingdom of God and the name of Jesus Christ” Acts 8:12, our evangelism efforts are not in vain. In the darkest of times, the gospel finds fertile soil in the lives of those imperiled.

We seek to be faithful with the Acts 8:12 gospel, regardless of apparent results. Affluence and ease have often been enemies of the gospel, but we live in times when both are at risk. Gospel opportunities are being enriched by these uncertain times.

An old children’s song declares that we are a sermon in shoes, and indeed we are. When fear and anxiety grip many without faith and hope, our confident and peaceful demeanor will be cause “to make a defense to everyone who asks you to give an account for the hope that is in you, yet with gentleness and reverence” 1 Peter 3:15. In a world gone mad, those who keep their wits in the midst of it all will gain an audience with the gospel.

One general lesson and application we walk away with from the Revelation 7 verses listed above is that a great gospel harvest is coming, and we ought not to lose heart today as we faithfully involve ourselves in its work. “Therefore we do not lose heart” 2 Corinthians 4:16.

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