阅读经文 

当有人询问叙述这个场景的约翰：“这些穿白衣的是谁？是从哪里来的？”（参启 7:13）他的表情是一片空白和困惑的。我们很容易便会在人群中迷失，特别是面对“许多的人，没有人能数过来”（参启 7:9）的人群，就更加容易迷失了。难怪约翰回答说：“我主，你知道。”（参启 7:14）

这些启示是神的灵赐给约翰的，神愿意我们知道这些人是谁。尽管我们不认识每一个人，但是他们当中有些人是我们非常熟识的，他们是已经离世和比我们先到天家与神同在的基督徒。例如，我认识那位三十三岁，有两名年幼子女的女士，我很高兴见到她也在那里。在她生命中的最后五年，她因患了多发性硬化症（MS）而被困在轮椅上，她是我最年长的姐姐。我也认识那位笑容满面的十七岁青年，他是在建筑工地意外丧生的家人。

我舅舅曾经带我探访祖父母埋葬的墓园。他中途会停下来看看其他墓碑上面的名字，他认识这些人，因为他曾经是牧养过他们的教会长老。

我们因所爱的人离世感到忧伤并且想念他们。神安慰了我们，祂让我们看到这幅有许多人聚集在祂宝座前的画面，这些人并没有在人群中消失，神认得其中每一位，并且看顾着他们，并且祂要继续做他们的牧人。

Perhaps John, the narrator of this story, had a blank and puzzled look on his face when he was asked: "These in white robes—who are they, and where did they come from?" It is easy to get lost in a crowd, especially "a great multitude that no one could count" (Revelation 7:9). No wonder John responded by saying, "Sir, you know."

The Spirit of God, who gave John this revelation, wants us to know who these people are. We do not know them all, but we know some of them very well. They are believers in Christ who have died and have gone before us to be in heaven with God. For example, I know the 33-year-old mother of two young children. It is good to see her standing. For the last five years of her life, she was confined to a wheelchair because of multiple sclerosis (MS). She is my oldest sister. I also know the 17-year-old young man with a beaming smile. He was part of our family until he was suddenly taken away in a construction accident.

My uncle once walked me through the cemetery where my grandparents are buried. At times he stopped to read the names on some of the other headstones there. He had known these people. He had been their pastoral elder.

We grieve the deaths of our loved ones. We miss them. To comfort us, God gives us this picture of a multitude before his throne. And they are not lost in the crowd. God knows and cares for each one, and he continues to be their shepherd.