The Beloved Disciple recorded by The Holy Spirit in Revelation chapter 7:
9 After these things I looked, and behold, a great multitude which no one could number, of all nations, tribes, peoples, and tongues, standing before the Throne and before the Lamb, clothed with white robes, with palm branches in their hands,
First, the 144,000 are sealed THEN the next group is described.
10 and crying out with a loud voice, saying, “Salvation belongs to Our God who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb!”
11 All the angels stood around the Throne and the elders and the four living creatures, and fell on their faces before the Throne and worshiped God,
12 saying: “Amen! Blessing and glory and Wisdom, Thanksgiving and honor and power and might, Be to Our God forever and ever. Amen.” (7 descriptives)
13 Then one of the elders answered, saying to me, “Who are these arrayed in white robes, and where did they come from?”
14 And I said to him, “Sir, you know.” So he said to me, “These are the ones who come out of the great tribulation, and washed their robes and made them white in the blood of the Lamb.
15 Therefore they are before the Throne of God, and serve Him day and night in His temple. And He who sits on the Throne will dwell among them.
16 They shall neither hunger anymore nor thirst anymore; the sun shall not strike them, nor any heat;
17 for the Lamb Who is in the midst of the Throne will shepherd them and lead them to Living fountains of waters. And God will wipe away every tear from their eyes.”
The 24 elders (representing the true church) sang a new song whereas this group cried with a loud voice. The redemption of the true church is different from those who have been redeemed out of the Great Tribulation. The second group were redeemed by the ministry of the 144,000 who were sealed. Though The Holy Spirit was taken away at the beginning of 70th week, His ministry in an external sense remained on earth so that those left could be redeemed. The Holy Spirit operated externally in the Old Testament and internally within us in the New Testament: He came upon versus entered into.
The 24 elders rule and reign whereas this group serve Him day and night in His Temple.
Why are there tears in Heaven? Aren’t they weeping over lost opportunities? Once any of us comprehend the glory of Heaven to the extent that can be experienced before His Throne, each of us will reflect what could have been done on earth on behalf of Our Lord Jesus Christ. We will comprehend what really matters versus what we thought while walking out this life on earth.
The following table contrast the two groups identified by John:
| Tribulation Saints | 24 Elders | |
| Not Crowned | Crowned | |
| Palms in their hands | Harps, no palms | |
| Saved out of the Tribulation | Kept out of the Tribulation | |
| They stand before thrones | They sit on thrones | |
| They serve Him day and night | They reign as kings & priests | |
| They are not recognized by John |
Now is the time to qualify for the first group who arrives in Heaven as a result of the harpazo.
Paul wrote by The Holy Spirit in 1st Corinthians chapter 9:
24 Do you not know that those who run in a race all run, but one receives the prize? Run in such a way that you may obtain it.
25 And everyone who competes for the prize is temperate in all things. Now they do it to obtain a perishable crown, but we for an imperishable crown.
26 Therefore I run thus: not with uncertainty. Thus I fight: not as one who beats the air.
27 But I discipline my body and bring it into subjection, lest, when I have preached to others, I myself should become disqualified.