“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.
They shall hunger no more, neither thirst anymore;
the sun shall not strike them,
nor any scorching heat.
For the Lamb in the midst of the throne will be their shepherd,
and he will guide them to springs of living water,
and God will wipe away every tear from their eyes.”
Truth: In the end, Christ's work will be fully manifested to Israel.
The above "hymn" of praise is spoken as a response to what John prophesies about the "144,000 of Israel" that will be rescued in the end times. There is much debate as to whether this is "physical" Israel (the actual nation of Israel on earth today), or if it is "spiritual" Israel (those, who by faith, are born into the chosen family of God). The debate will continue to rage over that question. Whether physical or spiritual Israel, the result of God's plan is stated in the above verse. God will, in the end, bless "Israel" (both physical and spiritual). In the end, the plan is that God will be victorious over His enemies and will bless those who find rest in Him through Christ by faith. The hymn states that Christ will "shelter them" with His presence. Today we have God's protection, but in the end those who place faith in Him will be completely sheltered. The hymn says they will "hunger no more, nether thirst anymore." In the previous chapters the end of the earth brings famine and corrupts the water supply. Yet, God, in the end, will make sure those who trust Him will have complete physical care. This hymn states that Christ will even protect them from the sun and the scorching heat. It states that Christ will, in the end, be their Shepherd and will guide them and take away the tears from their eyes." This is the final victory of Christ's work. We may not know the "who" of this hymn, but we do know the "what" of God's plan. We can rejoice in God's final act being directed to those He loves to give them final rest and blessing. This is the plan of God.
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