Birth of Christ
Great Multitudes
Joseph also went up from Galilee, out of the city of Nazareth, into Judea, to David’s city, which is called Bethlehem, because he was of the house and family of David;
of the tribe of Zebulun twelve thousand,
to enroll himself with Mary, who was pledged to be married to him as wife, being pregnant.
of the tribe of Joseph twelve thousand,
While they were there, the day had come for her to give birth.
and of the tribe of Benjamin twelve thousand were sealed.
She gave birth to her firstborn son.
After these things I looked, and behold, a great multitude, which no man could count, out of every nation and of all tribes, peoples, and languages, standing before the throne and before the Lamb, dressed in white robes, with palm branches in their hands.
She wrapped him in bands of cloth, and laid him in a feeding trough,
They cried with a loud voice, saying, “Salvation be to our God, who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb!”
because there was no room for them in the inn.
All the angels were standing around the throne, the elders, and the four living creatures; and they fell on their faces before his throne, and worshiped God, saying, “Amen! Blessing, glory, wisdom, thanksgiving, honor, power, and might, be to our God forever and ever! Amen.”
There were shepherds in the same country staying in the field, and keeping watch by night over their flock.
One of the elders answered, saying to me, “These who are arrayed in the white robes, who are they, and where did they come from?” I told him, “My lord, you know.”
Room in the Inn: Multitudes
- June 29, 2023
- | Jim Tallman
Room in the Inn: Multitudes
- June 29, 2023
- | Jim Tallman
Dwell With
An interesting parallel to the Birth of Christ begins in Revelation 7:8. It lists the last three of the twelve tribes of Israel “sealed” in the book of Revelation, followed by Great Multitudes before his throne.
Every name in the bible has a meaning. You can point at the name and see it. Zebulun means, “to dwell with” or “wished for habitation.” Mary and Joseph are ascending to Bethlehem the House of Bread.
Physically, they’re going up to a city. Spiritually, they’re ascending to eternity — to the house of God, the “wished for habitation.” The connection is unmistakable.
Souls Added
Mary is pledged to be married. In this case, the name Joseph refers to one of the twelve tribes of Israel. But, of course, Joseph is also the name of the man Mary will marry.
Joseph means “God adds.” Like souls added to the kingdom of God. Like Christ marrying his people, the Church.
Son of the Right Hand
The day has come for Mary to give birth. Benjamin means, “Son of the Right Hand.” The Son of God is about to enter this world.
Multitudes Clothed in White
Mary gives birth to her firstborn son. Jesus is the firstborn of the dead, the beginning of the new creation of God. Now we see the result of everything Jesus has done.
We see a great multitude, which no one can count, from every nation, tribe, people and tongue, standing before the throne and before the Lamb. They’re dressed in white robes, with palm branches in their hands.
Robes symbolize a soul. White is a symbol of holiness. Those who stand before Christ are clothed in holiness. They have palm branches in their hand, like the tree of life. They’ve been reborn into Christ’s Kingdom.
Salvation
Mary wraps Jesus in cloths and places him in a feeding trough, like a tomb. Those who stand before him cry out, “Salvation be to our God, who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb.”
The connection is this: Jesus has come to die, to bring a great multitude out of this world, and into his.
No Room
At his birth, Jesus remains outside because there is no room in the inn. Here, all the angels stand around the throne, elders and four living creatures. They declare God’s glory.
Christ’s Kingdom is full of angels. I believe these are the same angels who first appear in the Christmas scene, declaring God’s glory. Just like this Revelation scene.
Keeping Watch
Shepherds keep watch over their flock. Jesus keeps watch over our souls. One of the Elders asks, “these who are arrayed in white robes, who are they, and where did they come from?”
These souls, clothed in holiness, how did they get here? They’ve joined the House of God, the House of Bread, the Wished for Habitation. Which is where the story began.
Come Out
Strings tell an entire story of salvation – an entire bible – in just a handful of verses and two parallel passages. Here is the story it tells: Mankind is sent out of Eden. Jesus enters our world. A great multitude returns, clothed in white.
This same revelation works just as well with the Shepherd thread we looked at earlier. Click the right arrow, or the “Pt.2” link below.
- No room in the Inn
- Room in the Inn: As-a-String
- Room in the Inn: Multitudes and pt.2
To explore these passages directly, click this button:
