After this I looked, and behold, a great multitude that no one could number, from every nation, from all tribes and peoples and languages, standing before the throne and before the Lamb, clothed in white robes, with palm branches in their hands, and crying out with a loud voice, "Salvation belongs to our God who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb!" (Revelation 7:9-10 ESV)
Christianity is a global movement. It is not confined to one language, one culture, or one ethnic group. The Syrian Christians who are suffering are my family. The North Korean Christians in prison are my brothers and sisters. Many Iranians are even today coming to faith in Christ. Men and women, boys and girls, from many nations are entering the Kingdom of our Lord Jesus!
I frequently have fellowship with Christians from Turkey, Kenya, and Brazil. The Apostle Paul wrote of the church, "Here there is not Greek and Jew, circumcised and uncircumcised, barbarian, Scythian, slave, free; but Christ is all, and in all." (Colossians 3:11 ESV)
This weekend I have had a most wonderful privilege to join Chinese Christians in a retreat, and to add my voice with theirs to sing praise to the Lord and to study the Scripture together. I am thankful for good translators! I am even more thankful for God's work among the Chinese in this generation -- what a blessing!
And they sang a new song, saying, "Worthy are you to take the scroll and to open its seals, for you were slain, and by your blood you ransomed people for God from every tribe and language and people and nation, and you have made them a kingdom and priests to our God, and they shall reign on the earth." (Revelation 5:9-10 ESV)
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