Tears
For the Lamb which is in the midst of the throne shall feed them, and shall lead them unto living fountains of waters: and God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes. (Rev 7:17)
In a vision John the Apostle sees an innumerable multitude. He is told that these have come out of the Great Tribulation (v. 14). They seem to be martyrs out of this special period of time. There have been martyrs all throughout the Church Age. These, however, seem to be a particular class of people. If the Pre-Tribulation Rapture doctrine is correct, these are not people who belong to the Church Age (such as you and I).
They have come through one of the most traumatic times in the history of the human race. Their personal experiences were some of the most terrible in the history of the world. These are a special class of believers. They have a special place with God and He wipes “away all tears from their eyes”. God removes even the memory of their own slaughter for Jesus' sake and they experience a comfort that is unique.
There is another class of persons that also receives a special comfort from God.
And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain: for the former things are passed away. (Rev 21:4)
These are also people who have just gone through one of the most terrible experiences imaginable. They are natural people who have been born in or have lived through the Millennial Kingdom. Jesus has been ruling the earth for 1,000 years in a near perfect environment. Satan, who has been bound for the entire time, is loosed to deceive and gather rebellious people to attack the capital city, Jerusalem. This is the final battle that there will ever be. Fire comes down out of heaven and devours them.
With Satan, his cohorts, and every unbeliever cast into the Lake of Fire, only the faithful remain. The earth will be made new. It will no longer be a near-perfect environment. Everything will be totally restored to God's complete paradise. No memories from the past will remain. All things are perfected and the former way things were will not be remembered.
What about us? We are in a special class also, the Church Age saints. If God has such comforts for all the faithful He does not ignore us from the Church Age. We will probably be co-rulers with Christ in “heavenly places” (Eph 2:6). No doubt, we will also be able to travel from the heavens to the earth as well. As Jesus' body did, we will be able to travel from the spirit realm to the physical dimension.
I see several distinct groups of people.
Old Testament saints
Believing Israel
Church Age saints (Us today)
Tribulations saints
Natural humans from the Millennium
None of us will be able to remember the evil and pain of this life. We will be not remember the former ways. However, we will be able to realize and remember and celebrate the great price that Jesus paid to bring us to God.
Even to the last chapter of the Bible, Jesus is called The Lamb. John said earlier,
... Behold the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world. (John 1:29)
Mar. 4, 2024