Revelation 7:9-10 After this I looked and there before me was a great multitude that no one could count, from every nation, tribe, people and language, standing before the throne and in front of the Lamb. They were wearing white robes and were holding palm branches in their hands. [10] And they cried out in a loud voice: “Salvation belongs to our God, who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb.”

This passage is the hope and comfort of every evangelist and missionary. Much has been made of the 144,000 mentioned in the verses ahead of this, but verse 9 should put to rest any idea that there is some limit to those who will be saved, to rejoice before God in heaven. I love the way it piles on words for different people groups, even including language. No one is left out! However, the sad truth is that it also specifies “from.” That is, not every member of any people group will be saved. As much as we might like it to be the case, there is no Biblical justification for Universalism. That’s why evangelists and missionaries keep working! Jesus specified that every people group being reached was a condition for His return. (Matthew 24:14) That makes the work of various pioneer missionary groups all the more important. We are indeed much closer to the goal of presenting the Gospel to every people group than we have ever been before, with less than 1% of the world’s population still completely unreached. That should give extra impetus to all who are working among people who have already had the Gospel, to increase the number from their particular group while there is still time! We have no idea when Christ will return, when He will say, “Time’s up,” but we should be aware that the moment will come, and all indications are that it could well be very soon.

I have never been one to focus on “end times,” but my thoughts have been going that direction recently much more than before. I do pray for a massive end time harvest in Japan before the final trumpet, and I have committed my life to that end. There are so many I want to take to heaven with me! It’s less than a month until I reach the age at which my father was told, “Well done, good and faithful servant.” I fully expect to be on this earth considerably longer than that, but I am very aware that our time is limited, in one way or another. My priorities could use more refining, and it never hurts to have more zeal. At the same time, I am sharply aware that I can do nothing worthwhile unless God does it through me. I am to be totally committed to Him, available and obedient for whatever He wants to do through me, knowing that my reward is with Him.

Father, thank You for the privilege of being Your servant. Thank You that I have no reason to be anxious about anything, because You are God, and You are love. Help me rest, relax, and rejoice in You more and more consistently, allowing Your love and grace to flow through me unhindered. I do pray for harvest, and I pray for workers to join me in the harvest field, so that all the hindrances may be torn town and massive numbers of people be brought into Your kingdom, for their salvation and Your glory. Thank You. Hallelujah!