Father Mike Schmitz

144,000, this is the proclamation, the prophecy that says that, no, there's a restoration of the people of Israel.

But then after that, this is incredible, in verse 9, I looked, and behold, a great multitude which no man could number from every nation, from all tribes and peoples and tongues, standing before the throne and before the Lamb.

Clothed with white robes, with palm branches in their hands, crying out with a loud voice, salvation belongs to our God who sits upon the throne and to the Lamb.

And again, everyone's worshiping.

And this is just incredible because not only are the Jewish people meant to be saved, meant to be restored, the kingdom of Israel meant to be restored, but...

us, Gentiles, who belong to the Lord God, get to participate in heavenly worship.

Last line, verse 13.

Then one of the elders addressed me saying, who are these clothed in white robes and from where have they come?

And I said to him, bro, you're the one who lives here.

He says, sir, you know.

And he said to me, 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.

These are the martyrs and the martyrs have a special place.

It's incredible, right?

These are the martyrs.

And after this, I looked, as John says, and behold, a great multitude, which no man could number from every nation, from all tribes and peoples and tongues.

And these are the ones who have come out of the great tribulation.

They have washed their robes and made them white in the blood of the Lamb.

And they have a special place.

And that's one of the things that's true, right?