One Very Big Crowd

Listen. Thousands upon thousands of voices, for every language for earth, all of dem dey shout di same words of joy. And every hand dey wave one green palm branch.

Di book of Revelation full with pictures wey hard and wey dey make person fear, because di churches wey John write to dey face hard times wey dey make person fear. For di chapters just before dis one, John see troubles wey dey shake di earth. Then, for chapter seven, everything quiet. Four angels hold back di winds. Dem mark God servants as im own. And then John look up, and e see something wey sure say make im heart jump for joy.

After dis I look, John write, and see, one very big crowd, wey nobody fit count. Crowd wey big so tey say nobody fit ever count am. And look who dey inside. People from all nations, and families, and peoples, and languages. Every country. Every tribe. Every language. No be one group of people, but all of dem, together. Dem dey stand before di throne and before di Lamb, wey be di name wey John dey call Jesus. Dem wear white robes, and dem hold palm branches for dia hand. And dem shout with loud voice: Salvation na for our God, wey sit down for di throne, and for di Lamb!

Then all di angels wey stand round di throne, and di elders, and di four living creatures, fall down flat with dia face before di throne, and dem worship God. Amen, dem talk. Blessing, and glory, and wisdom, and thanks, and honour, and power, and strength, make dem be for our God forever and ever. Amen. Seven words of praise, one on top di other, like say no single word big reach. Then one of di elders turn to John and ask am one question. Dis people wey wear white, who dem be, and where dem come from? And John, maybe as e surprise small, talk, Sir, na you know.

So di elder tell am. Na dis people come out from di great tribulation. Dem don pass through terrible suffering. And dem don wash dia robes, and make dem white inside di blood of di Lamb. Na picture wey go surprise you. Robes wey dem wash white inside blood. E mean say dem don become clean, dem don receive forgiveness, through di death of Jesus for dem. Na why dem dey stand before God throne, and dem dey serve am day and night. And then di elder describe dia future, and na one of di gentlest passages for di whole Bible. Hunger no go catch dem again, and thirst no go catch dem again. Sun no go beat dem, and no hot wey dey burn go touch dem. Because di Lamb wey dey for di middle of di throne go be dia shepherd. E go lead dem go springs of living water. And God go wipe every tear comot from dia eyes. Think of one mama or papa wey kneel down, and gently wipe di tears from im pikin face. Na wetin God go do be dat, for every one of dem.

Palm branches mean celebration. Di law of Moses tell di people make dem take palm branches and rejoice for di Feast of Tabernacles. Di first book of Maccabees describe one Jewish leader wey enter Jerusalem as winner, with palm branches and songs. And di Gospel of John tell how crowds wave palm branches when Jesus ride enter Jerusalem. John first readers go don recognise di palms of di big crowd as sign of victory and joy.

One very big crowd. You go find dem for Revelation chapter seven, verse nine reach verse seventeen. People from every nation and language, dem dey sing together, di Lamb na dia shepherd, and tears no dey again. So see one question wey you go carry dey go. Who from another country or another language you fit pray for today, as you know say God want am inside dat big crowd too?