Francis Bourdillon, 1873

"After these things I looked, and behold, a great multitude which no one could number, of all nations, tribes, peoples, and tongues, standing before the throne and before the Lamb, clothed with white robes, with palm branches in their hands, and crying out with a loud voice, saying, 'Salvation belongs to our God who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb!'" (Revelation 7:9-10)

Some time ago the census of this country was taken. Every house was visited, and every person reckoned, rich and poor, old and young, all of every class and age—as far as care and pains could do the work. It is over now, and people are no longer thinking of it. It was but the thought of a day; other things have arisen since; so quickly, in this life, does one thing put another out of the mind. Yet let us not part with the subject so quickly. A census is not an every-day thing; it comes but once in ten years. It may teach us a special lesson.

The passage of Scripture at the head of this chapter is a very solemn one. Let us look at it and at the census together—bringing the two to bear on each other.

1. It was a great multitude that was numbered in the census—many millions—but here is a greater multitude. Great as the population of the country is—it has been counted; and that probably not very far from the exact truth.

But here is a multitude, of which it is said that "no man could number" it. It is all gathered together, it is all seen at one view; the eye cannot count the vast concourse; the mind cannot conceive how many there are.

2. Our census was all of one nation, our own country—but this multitude is "of all nations, tribes, peoples, and tongues." Yet our census did not bring all the people together. No place could have held them all; no gathering together of these millions was possible. Men had to go, several thousands of them, from house to house throughout the land, and thousands of separate lists were added together to make the whole.

But here this countless multitude from every land is all together, all seen at once. What a sight! How solemn and overpowering!

3. But we find another stronger difference. Think of the clothing worn by the millions of this country. They who took the census must have seen a vast variety of dress. But here there is no variety; this great multitude is all clothed alike; this countless assembly from every country is all clad in white.

The outward difference represents something far more important—an inward difference, a difference of character.

In the census were numbered people of every character. The good and the bad, the holy and the unholy, the believer and the unbeliever, the Christian and the skeptic—all found a place in that list. If their outward appearance was different—then their characters were more different still.

But here, in this great multitude, all are of one kind. Their robes were washed "and made white in the blood of the Lamb." They are all Christians, all holy.

4. Notwithstanding all the care that was taken, some names were certainly left out of the census. No human skill and pains could do such a work perfectly. Doubtless we came near to the truth, but we cannot pretend to have reckoned every man, woman, and child in the country.

But there will be no mistake with regard to this "great multitude." Not one will be left out, who ought to be there. Not one will be there, who has no rightful place there. For it is not man who brings this multitude together, but God. He knows every person there; each one is precious in His sight; He will leave out none; not one of the redeemed will be missing.

Alas, where are all the rest of the race of man? For even this countless multitude, takes in only the redeemed. Where are the wicked? Where are the impenitent? Where are those who have lived and died without God? Where are the lost?

They are reckoned too, though not in this multitude; they are gathered together, but not here. Not one is left out; not one can remain unnoticed; not one can escape. They have to do with an all-seeing Eye, and with infinite knowledge and power.

5. A census is taken every ten years, but this great gathering will be made only once—once for all.

But is no notice taken of men, no account kept of them, until then? There is a strict account kept already; even now the all-seeing Eye notices us. Not once in ten years only—but every day, every hour, every moment, God visits our houses, sees into our conduct, listens to our words, and observes our hearts. Nothing is secret from Him.

The census officers may be deceived—a false name may be given, or a wrong age set down. But there is no deceiving God. He knows the whole truth about us all—the name, the age, the character, the life. Nay more, He knows what no census can ever ascertain—He knows our future. The census can but set down what we are and where we are, today. God knows what lies before us tomorrow. He not only knows it, but ordains and orders it. We are entirely subject to His will.

6. The census was taken but lately—yet already the number is altered. Even while the officers were calling at our houses for the papers, some whose names were set down in them had already passed away. And by this time many changes have happened: many children have been born into the world; many people have been taken from it by death. They have gone into that eternal state which is here set before us.

Some have gone who will form part of the "great multitude" in white—some to a state of eternal punishment. But all who have been called away from this world have passed into another world, from which there is no return. Hardly was the ink dry upon the census paper, when one here and there was already gone. So ceaseless is the change that is going on—so near are we to the eternal world!

7. Your name was written in the census list—you were numbered among the population of this country.

Oh, look to it that your name be found in the Book of Life! In a short time, your name will appear no more in the census; but if only it be written above, it will never be wiped out. Let everything else come second with you to this. Seek first the kingdom of God; part with all—for the Pearl of great price; win Christ, and be found in Him; make sure of a part in His everlasting salvation. Do not put off this great concern; this is a matter which will not bear delay. "Now is the accepted time; now is the day of salvation."

In this present day of grace, so precious and so fleeting, seek God by Jesus Christ. Then a bright and blessed prospect will lie before you. Then, while yet you live here below, you will have a Savior, a Father, a Sanctifier—and then you will have the sure hope of standing one day before the throne and before the Lamb, clothed in white and with the palm of victory in your hand, and of joining your voice to the voices of that great multitude who will cry, "Salvation belongs to our God who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb!"