Before the Throne of God
The Early Harvest
The 144,000 represent all those saved in the churches as the early rain fell during the Church Age:
Revelation 14:3 And they sung as it were a new song before the throne, and before the four beasts, and the elders: and no man could learn that song but the hundred and forty and four thousand, which were redeemed from the earth.
4 These are they which were not defiled with women; for they are virgins. These are they which follow the Lamb whithersoever he goeth. These were redeemed from among men, being the firstfruits unto God and to the Lamb.
5 And in their mouth was found no guile: for they are without fault before the throne of God.
Notice that after God tells us of their redemption, He says, "they are without fault before the throne of God". To be without fault indicates all of their sins have been paid for and God sees no sin upon them.
The Final Harvest
The great multitude that came out of the Great Tribulation represent all those elect who became saved during the short season of the second half of the great tribulation period as the latter rain fell on the nations outside of the churches.
Revelation 7:13 And one of the elders answered, saying unto me, What are these which are arrayed in white robes? and whence came they?
14 And I said unto him, Sir, thou knowest. And he said to me, These are they which came out of great tribulation, and have washed their robes, and made them white in the blood of the Lamb.
15 Therefore are they before the throne of God, and serve him day and night in his temple: and he that sitteth on the throne shall dwell among them.
The great multitude came out of great tribulation thereby pinpointing this group specifically to the time after the Church Age. And we see that they also have been washed and made white in the blood of Christ indicating God sees no sin upon them as well. They too are "before the throne of God".
To be before the throne of God is a statement that shows that they have become saved and are permitted in God's presence to serve Him. The service to God is done while on the earth (day and night).
2022.07.31 - The Cities of the Nations Fell AND Babylon is Fallen!
Revelation 16:16 And he gathered them together into a place called in the Hebrew tongue Armageddon.
17 And the seventh angel poured out his vial into the air; and there came a great voice out of the temple of heaven, from the throne, saying, It is done.
18 And there were voices, and thunders, and lightnings; and there was a great earthquake, such as was not since men were upon the earth, so mighty an earthquake, and so great.
19 And the great city was divided into three parts, and the cities of the nations fell: and great Babylon came in remembrance before God, to give unto her the cup of the wine of the fierceness of his wrath.
20 And every island fled away, and the mountains were not found.
Judgment Day is very clearly in view in this passage. The place is said to be Armageddon (verse 16). A might earthquake takes place (verse 18). And we are told that the "cities of the nations fell". The cities of the nations must refer to the unsaved population of the world. And joined together with the statement that the cities of the nations fell, is a reference to "great Babylon" being brought into remembrance before God. In other words, Babylon is being judged along with the cities of the nations. Really, we can understand the "cities of the nations" and "great Babylon" to by synonyms.
Lastly, we are told every island fled away and the mountains were not found (verse 20). This passage relates to what we read in Revelation 6:
Revelation 6:12 And I beheld when he had opened the sixth seal, and, lo, there was a great earthquake; and the sun became black as sackcloth of hair, and the moon became as blood;
13 And the stars of heaven fell unto the earth, even as a fig tree casteth her untimely figs, when she is shaken of a mighty wind.
14 And the heaven departed as a scroll when it is rolled together; and every mountain and island were moved out of their places.
We find similar language regarding the great earthquake and "every mountain and island" being moved out of their places.
Revelation 6 concludes with a verse that lets us know exactly which judgment of God is in view:
Revelation 6:17 For the great day of his wrath is come; and who shall be able to stand?
The time when every island and mountain is moved out of its place-is the time of the great day of God's wrath. Judgment Day.
And so, when we read in Revelation 16 that the cities of the nations fell, and great Babylon came into remembrance before God, and every island fled away and the mountains are not found – this means that great Babylon is being used by God as a figure of the end of the world.
Finally, let's compare the declaration that the "cities of the nations fell"- with:
Revelation 18:2 And he cried mightily with a strong voice, saying, Babylon the great is fallen, is fallen, and is become the habitation of devils, and the hold of every foul spirit, and a cage of every unclean and hateful bird.
Babylon is fallen! The cities of the nations have fell! They are saying the same thing.