Powerful Prophecy
Back to 1The Bible’s Greatest Prophecies Unlocked!
We have seen that Isaiah recorded more than any other prophet about the circumstances surrounding the escaping Israelite remnant. It is not surprising that his prophecy introduces the subject of “strangers” (Gentiles or foreigners) who come with Israel.
An extensive passage in chapter 56 reveals what God has known all along would occur. The chapter opens with God describing the arrival of salvation and the revealing of His righteousness to all mankind. We will momentarily learn the time setting of this prophecy. Isa 56:2 introduces the Sabbath connection to righteousness. Immediately, and in this context, God invites all Gentiles to be included in what is now to be a plan for ALL nations. Sabbath obedience plays an immediate role.
First read carefully Isa 56:3-7 leading up to how the “stranger” can also have access to the true God: “Neither let the son of the stranger, that has joined himself to the Lord, speak, saying, The Lord has utterly separated me from His people: neither let the eunuch say, Behold, I am a dry tree. For thus says the Lord [even] unto the eunuchs that keep My sabbaths, and choose the things that please Me, and take hold of My covenant; even unto them will I give in Mine house and within My walls a place and a name better than of sons and of daughters: I will give them an everlasting name, that shall not be cut off. Also the sons of the stranger, that join themselves to the Lord, to serve Him, and to love the name of the Lord, to be His servants, every one [Gentiles, too] that keeps the sabbath from polluting it, and takes hold of My covenant; even them will I bring to My holy mountain, and make them joyful in My house of prayer: their burnt offerings and their sacrifices shall be accepted upon Mine altar; for Mine house shall be called an house of prayer for all people.”
The context of the stranger being able to know and serve the true God is at this point brought in. Notice the context of how and where this happens. Now read carefully the next verse: “The Lord God which gathers the outcasts of Israel [the remnant] says, Yet will I gather others to Him, beside those that are gathered unto Him” (Isa 56:8). It is evident that the “others” gathered here (the King James translators added this word because the phrase following commands it) appear at the same time when God gathers Israel. It is the only possible conclusion.
Do not miss a key point that God looks for immediately. Will these strangers keep His Sabbath?
The Big Picture
Let’s now take a moment to bring some more important conclusions, some by way of questions.
By now it should be clear that the Israelite remnant and the Great Multitude of Revelation are not synonymous—are not the same group. But we are forced to ask: Would God introduce such an incredibly important event as is the appearance of the Great Multitude as late as the book of Revelation, and offer the reader no other clues about their identity—or how and why it was that hundreds of thousands, or more likely many millions, would suddenly repent and turn to God? And is it mere coincidence that this repentance comes at exactly the same time the remnant of Israel comes to repentance?
This alone should tell us that these events have to be in some way connected.
Some have thought the Great Multitude receive salvation upon Christ’s Return. Why would this occur when it is evident that even the remnant is not scheduled for salvation at the end of what would just be one year of conversion for these scores of millions? The entire process of character-building would certainly not be possible in one year, and for such vast numbers besides. This is certainly not God’s pattern through the Bible. The Great White Throne Judgment for billions (described in Revelation 20:11-12) lasts 100 years—a long time! So it makes no sense this would happen here for great numbers all at once.
In this same vein, some would naturally note that the Great Multitude are “clothed with white robes” (Rev. 7:9) and that they have “washed their robes...in the blood of the Lamb” (vs. 14). This certainly describes part of the conversion process. But the prophecy offers no evidence that, as happens with the 144,000 (discussed in the next chapter), the spiritual “sealing” that comes with the receiving of God’s Spirit has taken place. (See John 6:27, Ephesians 1:13, 4:30 and II Corinthians 1:22.) If it had, why would God mention this all-important sealing in regard to the 144,000, but not in regard to the Great Multitude?
Some extra space is taken in this chapter to explain certain things about the Great Multitude that make understanding the 144,000 easier.
Recall that Christ promises to “lead” the Great Multitude to the “living waters,” which we saw is the Holy Spirit (John 7:37-39). This happens later, because it is something we also saw “shall” occur, along with the other things that Christ declares He “shall” do for this vast throng of strangers coming with Israel. The arrival of God’s Spirit to the Gentiles means that they are no longer “a dry tree.” Recall Isaiah 56:3.
The Great Multitude (as well as of course the remnant) is shown to have access to God’s throne—they are “before the throne of God and serve Him day and night in His temple” (Rev. 7:15). Christians realize they can come before God’s throne anytime they wish.
Here is a description of what is actually happening every time a Christian prays: “Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need” (Heb. 4:16). This passage alone demonstrates the Great Multitude “before God’s throne” is not a picture of people who have achieved salvation or gone to heaven. It is merely a picture of peoples around the world who now realize they can come in prayer to the throne room of Almighty God—a God they never knew, having always served false gods—any time they wish. This marvelous gift of access has been officially granted.
It is critical to understand that the one-year gap between the appearance of the Great Multitude and the Return of Christ is not a statement of when the multitude will be saved. The same is true of the remnant. Although the reason is obvious, this is now made plain. However, it is also plain that—and this is the important point—both the Israelite remnant and the Great Multitude are protected from the plagues coming during the Day of the Lord.
But here is what is vitally important to realize will occur at the outset of the Millennium—Jesus’ 1,000-year reign on Earth. It becomes apparent that all nations of the world will have a kind of early representation—an “advance guard”—who will almost certainly be part of the human structure of government in each nation, who serve under the God Family—those of the ruling kingdom of God. (It should be noted here that prophecy shows most of Earth’s remaining population will be temporary “holdouts” who will not quickly repent without more “stimulus” from God. See Zechariah 14:16-19.)