Metaphysical Bible Interpretation of Revelation Chapter 7
Metaphysically Interpreting Revelation 7:9-17
7:9After 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; 7:10and they cry with a great voice, saying,
Salvation unto our God who sitteth on the throne, and unto the Lamb.
7:11And all the angels were standing round about the throne, and about the elders and the four living creatures; and they fell before the throne on their faces, and worshipped God, 7:12saying,
Amen: Blessing, and glory, and wisdom,
and thanksgiving, and honor,
and power, and might,
be unto our God for ever and ever. Amen.
7:13And one of the elders answered, saying unto me, These that are arrayed in white robes, who are they, and whence came they? 7:14And I say unto him, My lord, thou knowest. And he said to me, These are they that come of the great tribulation, and they washed their robes, and made them white in the blood of the Lamb.
7:15Therefore are they before the throne of God;
and they serve him day and night in his temple:
and he that sitteth on the throne shall spread his tabernacle over them.
7:16They shall hunger no more, neither thirst any more;
neither shall the sun strike upon them,
nor any heat:
7:17for the Lamb that is in the midst of the throne shall be their shepherd,
and shall guide them unto fountains of waters of life:
and God shall wipe away every tear from their eyes.
SUNDAY, MARCH 21, 1920: Revelation 7:9-17
What is the throne? The throne within the soul is the focal point where the power of unselfish love, purified life – all the constructive forces of Spirit – have gained such a foothold that they form a nucleus or basis from which Spirit exercises its dominion.
Who are the multitudes? The multitudes are the whole thought consciousness, within and without. God is no respecter of persons; in the sight of the Father there are no elect, no royal priesthoods, no peculiar people. The law is: Whosoever will, “let him take the water of life freely.”
What does the lamb represent? The lamb represents the pure, innocent sinless life of God, poured into the race consciousness through Jesus Chris.
What work has the lamb to accomplish? The lamb is the shepherd who leads those thoughts who can follow, into the innermost breathings of the heart of God. All states of consciousness have this inner guide, whose face is ever turned to the light, who leads us to the light according to our ability
What are the robes and the palms? The robes represent the vital aura surrounding the body, which is redeemed and made white through a realization of the Christ Life, as the one purifying energy and substance. The palms are symbols of the victory of purity over sin.
What do the “four living creatures” typify? In the sixth chapter of Revelation, these four creatures were four elemental forces, out of which were called forth four horses and riders. Under the light of Spirit, the riders represent the directive power of Divine Will. The white horse means vigor as a vitalizing, overcoming power. The red horse, life. The black horse, justice and righteousness. The pale horse, final destruction of error.
What is the temple of God in which he is served day and night? The temple of God is man’s perfect spiritual body, whose presence he should affirm, not only in the consciousness of light (day), but also in the shadowy seasons (night).
What general, far-reaching affirmation should man make? “Blessing, and glory, and wisdom, and thanksgiving, and honor, and power, and might, be unto our God for ever and ever. Amen.”
March 25, 1923: Rev. 7:9-17
What do the “great multitude, … arrayed in white robes, and palms in the hands” represent? The “great multitude” represent a host of purified thoughts – thoughts that have passed through the “refiner’s fire” and have come out cleansed of the consciousness of sin.
In verse 10, “And they cry with a great voice, saying, Salvation unto our God, who sitteth on the throne, and unto the Lamb,” correctly translated? No. According to Ferrar Fenton this verse should read:
“And with a loud voice they chanted, exclaiming,
‘The salvation is from our God,
Who sits upon the throne,
And from the Lamb.’”
What do the angels and the elders and the four living creatures standing about the throne represent? Angels represent the original, unlimited thoughts of God; the elders are the redeemed faculties, and the four living creatures are the purified elemental forces.
What is the meaning of: “And they fell before the throne on their faces, and worshipped God”? Bowing the face before the throne is an acknowledgement of the “fame, and the majesty, and the wisdom, and the blessing, and the honor, and the power, and the might” of God throughout eternity.
What does the Lamb of God represent? The Lamb of God represents the purified life and substance of being. Jesus Christ, by his overcoming, restored to humanity the consciousness of this pure life and substance, hence he is called the Lamb of God.
How do the purified thoughts sever God day and night in the temple? The body is the temple of God, and the purified thoughts carry on all of the bodily activities under the divine law.
When the thoughts of men are purified and raised to spiritual consciousness, what will be their condition? “They shall hunger no more, neither thirst any more; neither shall the sun strike upon them, nor any heat; for the Lamb that is in the midst of the throne shall be their shepherd, and shall guide them unto fountains of waters of life; and God shall wipe away every tear from their eyes.”
September 14, 1941: Rev. 7:9-17
Whom does the great multitude represent that no man could number? Those who through the Christ consciousness have overcome the tribulations that are common to all mankind. The multitude was “out of every nation and of all tribes and peoples and tongues.”
For what does the overcomer through Christ first take thought? He first remembers to praise God, instead of thinking of himself. “Salvation unto our God who sitteth on the throne, and unto the Lamb. The overcomer loses the self-centered attitude.
What form does praise take, when those who express it are conscious of God? The form of triumphant affirmation of Truth. “Blessing, and glory, and wisdom, and thanksgiving, and honor, and power, and might be unto our God for ever and ever.”
How are robes made “white in the blood of the Lamb”? The blood of the Lamb is the life of Christ, and the robes are the thoughts in which man “clothes” his ideas. When his thought life is cleansed by the Christ Spirit, man is indeed an overcomer.
What does the “throne of God” symbolize? The center of thought in Divine Mind.
“All the angels were standing round about the throne.” What does this sentence describe? It describes the revolving of all man’s thoughts around the idea of divine power or sovereignty.
Is the statement that “the shall hunger no more, neither thirst any more” an indication of the change that takes place after the death of the body? It is an indication of the change that takes place in man’s consciousness, when he drops the material outlook and realizes the spiritual realm. It does not refer to physical death.
How are the four great beasts, or “living creatures” that fell before the throne, to be dealt with? These “beasts” are the doubt, selfishness, lust, and jealousy found within man’s consciousness. They are to be transformed into their opposites: faith, selflessness, purity, and trust.
What is portrayed by the words “And God shall wipe away every tear from their eyes”? These words portray the comforting, healing action of divine love.
December 14, 1947: Rev. 7:9-17
As we praise God, what happens to us? We identify ourselves with God in our thoughts.
What are the "angels” that "were standing round about the throne"? They are our thoughts of divine sovereignty. We instinctively lean on the thought of God as final justice, love, and understanding.
How are we "saved"? By bringing all our faculties into spiritual consciousness and dwelling in it. When this consciousness is complete we are wholly at one with God and Christ
June 24, 1951: Rev. 7:9-10, 13-14
What is represented by the great multitude, which no man could number … that come out of the great tribulation”? These represent the pageant of redemption, illustrating the universal scope of the saving power of Truth.
Transcribed by Lloyd Kinder on 10-23-2013
