The Book of Revelation is full of significant pictures, but none is more
so than that presented in the Ninth Chapter. It is drawn in climaxes. The
first part might seem disturbing if considered alone. As to whether God
proposes to save the many or the few, it would seem to favor the first
answer. John says that he heard the number of them that were sealed, and
there were only twelve thousand from each of the tribes of Israel.
But let us not form our conclusions too hastily. John has more to say. He
follows the above assertion with this: “And after these things I saw, and
behold a great multitude which no man could number, out of every nation
and of all tribes, and peoples, and tongues standing before the throne and
before the Lamb arrayed in white robes; and palms in their hands.” This
second part of the vision is the answer as to whether God proposes to save
the many or the few.
From this point one might move out along any one of many lines of thought.
He might think of Christianity as the religion of the masses. He might
think of it as the religion of the long ago with their changes and their
progress. He might see it as the religion of the nations. This leads to
the outstanding significance of the passage under discussion. Christianity
is the international religion. It is potentially so today. It will be
actually so tomorrow.
This means something finer than that Christ will become the temporal or
political ruler of nations. It means more than that he will become the
king or lord of any land. It means he will become King of kings and Lord
of lords. He will become the spiritual ruler of the hearts of men. No
power can go beyond that. He will be enthroned in the hearts of peoples
everywhere. The New Jerusalem will be world-wide in its scope.