Washed In The Blood Of The Lamb

Revelation 7:9-17

Grass stains on the knees of your son’s slacks, grape juice stains on the front of your daughter’s shirt.  Then there’s the ink stains on your sleeve, and your favorite white shirt just doesn’t look so bright white anymore.  Those in charge of laundry have heard some tricks for what to do to get rid of some stubborn stains, or what’s the best detergent on the market, and if we’re lucky they actually work.  How about the stain of sin? Sin leaves a stain upon our soul, much worse than any stains our children can bring in on their clothes, and it’s one that no detergent or stain remover on the market can handle. What do we do for those stains? As we read our passage for today from the Book of Revelation we see where we can go to get the stains removed.

Our Scripture begins with John beholding another huge multitude of people before the throne of the Lamb of God singing praises to Him (vs. 9 - 11).  This white-robed multitude of people are probably the same crowd of martyrs who were mentioned in the previous chapter (Revelation 6:9-10). They are those who remain faithful to God throughout time.  The multitude is composed of people from all nations, races, and languages on earth. God’s salvation has always, and will always be open to everyone, no matter what race or country they are from. It is open to all who will seek salvation from God through Jesus Christ, the Lamb of God who shed His Blood for us.

As John talks with one of the elders who stands before God’s throne, he learns that this multitude are those who have come out of the great tribulation and their robes are made white through the Blood of the Lamb (vs. 13 - 14).  The color white has always symbolized sinless perfection and holiness. These folks are clothed in white. How did they get sinless and perfectly holy? I know that every day I mess up and do things I shouldn’t and think things I shouldn’t.  If my sin-stains became visible to everyone, I would be a dark, black stain from head to toe. My stains are filthy, and I need something to wash them and make them pure white. My own attempts fail miserably, just like some cheap detergent; all promise, but no results.  The only thing that can get rid of the stains of sin comes through the shed blood and death of the sinless Son of God on our behalf (vs. 14). The Blood of Jesus is the world’s greatest purifier. It alone will remove the stain of sin.

No one likes to discover a stain on their clothes when out in public, especially if one is at an important party or meeting.  If you were privileged to be presented to the Queen, you’d be certain that your clothes were not stained! There is nothing more important than being before the throne of God, and one cannot come there with the stains of sin present.  The only way to remove the stains of sin is to be washed in the Blood of the Lamb, the Lord Jesus.  His Blood will make our robes whiter than the whitest snow.

These believers came through their time of suffering by remaining faithful and loyal to God (vs. 14).  Believers who have stayed true to Him will be with the Lord in heaven where there will be no more hunger, thirst, or pain.  All sorrow will be gone and God will wipe away our tears. What a joy that will be! The tears we shed here on earth can be countless, but God promises to wipe them all away! Throughout the Book of Revelation God assures us that He will not forget His faithful people during the judgment of the world. Those who put their trust in Jesus will be rescued.

As the old-time hymns say, “What can wash away my sin?  Nothing but the Blood of Jesus!” “Would you be free from the burden of sin? There is power in the Blood of the Lamb!” “Are your garments spotless? Are they white as snow? Are you washed in the Blood of the Lamb?”