Every Tear

 Then one of the elders asked me, “These in white robes—who are they, and where did they come from?” I answered, “Sir, you know.” And he said, “These are they who have come out of the great tribulation; they have washed their robes and made them white in the blood of the Lamb. Therefore, “they are before the throne of God and serve him day and night in his temple; and he who sits on the throne will shelter them with his presence. ‘Never again will they hunger; never again will they thirst. The sun will not beat down on them,’ nor any scorching heat. For the Lamb at the center of the throne will be their shepherd; ‘he will lead them to springs of living water.’ ‘And God will wipe away every tear from their eyes.’”

— Revelation 7:13-17

Gracious Lord Jesus, my friend and my King,

This is the Great Multitude of Tribulation Saints—believers in Christ who were saved after the church is raptured to Heaven. They are from every nation, tribe, people and language, a multitude so great that no one could count them (vs. 9). Lord, this gives me hope. For I know of loved ones who have yet to make a decision to follow You and my concern grows daily for their eternal salvation. Is it possible that they, among countless others, will come to saving faith in You after the Great Tribulation has begun? If so, the horrors that await them are tremendous. You will wash their robes white with the blood of the Lamb, for their own blood will have been spilled at the hands of the Antichrist (20:4). They will be before You night and day serving in Your temple before Your throne, for on earth there will be no safe place to worship or serve You and the temple will have been desecrated (Daniel 9:27). 

You will shelter them with Your presence, for they will have roamed the earth without safety of shelter. Never again will they hunger or thirst as they did at the end of their lives, suffering each day in their search for food and fresh water. The sun will no longer scorch them (16:8-9). You, O Lord, will be at the center of the throne, shepherding these tribulation saints. You will lead them to springs of living water. They will no longer have to search for fresh water that makes them thirst again (8:11). 

And You will wipe every tear from their eyes, reddened by the endless crying, sorrowful not for their tribulation, but for the intense heartache that they refused to repent and turn to You until after their loved ones and their children were caught up to Heaven.

Gracious Lord, thank You that by Your grace and mercy, You will still save countless people during the Great Tribulation. I pray that those who do not yet know You will turn to You today so they are spared the unnecessary pain, sorrow, and suffering that is to come upon this world. I pray that, should they wait, they will immediately bow their heart to You when it is abundantly clear that You are Lord and the end of days has come. Protect them until You call them home. May they be rescued into Your loving arms and rest in Your protection and care.

— In Jesus’ Name I pray, Amen!

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