Sermons on Revelation 5:9

Revelation 5:9 Interpretation:

Reviving Intimacy: The Power of Exuberant Worship (Apostolic Church Dallas) offers a unique interpretation of Revelation 5:9 by connecting the "new song" sung in heaven to the act of exuberant, even physical, worship on earth. The preacher draws a parallel between David's dance before the Ark and the worship of the redeemed in Revelation, arguing that both are responses to unexpected, unmerited access to God's presence. The sermon uses the Greek and Hebrew roots of words like "sing" and "praise" to emphasize that the worship described is not merely verbal but demonstrative and communal. The analogy of Dance Dance Revolution (DDR) is used to illustrate how bold, public praise draws others in, creating a contagious community of worshipers, just as the new song in Revelation is sung by a diverse, unified people. The preacher also notes that, in the biblical narrative, singing in heaven is not recorded until Revelation 5, suggesting that the "new song" is a uniquely human contribution to heavenly worship, brought by the redeemed from earth to heaven.

Embracing Community: The True Meaning of Church (Highest Praise Church) interprets Revelation 5:9 as a foundational text for understanding the church as a called-out, assembled community. The sermon emphasizes the Greek term "ekklesia" and its roots, arguing that the church is not just a collection of individuals but a divinely gathered assembly from every tribe, tongue, people, and nation. The preacher insists that the "new song" is not just about individual salvation but about the corporate identity and unity of the redeemed, who are called out and gathered together by the blood of Jesus. The passage is used to challenge individualism and to call for a return to a communal, family-oriented understanding of faith, where the blood of Christ covers not just individuals but households and communities.

Faith and Promise: Abram's Journey of Trust (David Guzik) interprets Revelation 5:9 as the fulfillment of the promise made to Abraham in Genesis 12:3, that "in you all the families of the earth shall be blessed." The sermon sees the "new song" as the ultimate expression of God's missionary vision, where the blessing given to Abraham extends to all nations through Christ. The preacher highlights the linguistic connection between the Genesis promise and the language of Revelation 5:9, emphasizing that the redemption accomplished by Jesus is intentionally multi-ethnic and global, fulfilling God's ancient covenant.

Celebrating God's Salvation: A New Song of Worship (David Guzik) interprets Revelation 5:9 as the climactic fulfillment of the "new song" motif found throughout the Psalms. The preacher notes that the "new song" in Revelation is sung by the redeemed from every tribe, tongue, and nation, signifying the global scope of God's salvation. The sermon draws attention to the fact that the new song is always a response to God's "marvelous things," especially the redemptive work of Christ, and that the worship of heaven is both fresh and rooted in the lived experience of salvation.

Universal Call to Worship and God's Righteousness (David Guzik) interprets Revelation 5:9 as the prophetic fulfillment of the Old Testament vision of global worship. The preacher connects the "new song" of Psalm 96 to the scene in Revelation, where all nations, tribes, and tongues are gathered before God's throne. The sermon emphasizes the continuity between the Old Testament's call for all families of the earth to worship God and the realization of that vision in the worship described in Revelation 5:9, highlighting the universality and inclusivity of God's redemptive plan.

Finding Freedom from Guilt Through Christ's Grace (Desiring God) offers a unique interpretation of Revelation 5:9 by focusing on the Greek word translated as "slain," noting that it literally means "slaughtered" (??????, sphagén). The preacher emphasizes the visceral, sacrificial nature of Christ's death, likening it to the slaughter of a lamb, and argues that the redeemed in heaven will sing about this slaughter forever. The sermon draws out the implication that the song in heaven is not a vague or abstract celebration, but a conscious, eternal remembrance of the cost of redemption—our guilt and Christ's bloody sacrifice. This interpretation is used to counsel believers that even in glory, the memory of our sin and Christ's atonement will fuel humble, grateful worship, rather than shame or debilitating guilt.

Embracing God's Call: The Mystery of Missions (Desiring God) provides a detailed linguistic and theological analysis of Revelation 5:9, focusing on the phrase "from every tribe and language and people and nation." The preacher highlights the Greek construction and its Old Testament background, arguing that the passage correlates the design of the atonement (Christ's death) with the design of missions. The sermon uniquely stresses that Christ did not purchase entire nations or groups, but "people from" every group, emphasizing the individual nature of saving faith while also affirming the global, multi-ethnic scope of redemption. The preacher also draws attention to the Moravian missionary motto, "May the Lamb that was slain receive the reward of his suffering," as a direct application of Revelation 5:9, interpreting the verse as a call to pursue the peoples Christ has ransomed.

Proclaiming God's Oneness: A Call to Evangelism (Desiring God) interprets Revelation 5:9 as evidence of God's intention to redeem individuals from every ethnic group, using the verse to challenge any notion that certain groups are beyond the reach of the gospel. The preacher uses the passage to argue against prejudice and to affirm the universality of God's saving purpose, insisting that no tribe, tongue, or nation is excluded from God's plan. This interpretation is set within a broader argument for the oneness and coherence of God, and the singular way of salvation through Christ.

Embracing Suffering: God's Purpose in Our Pain (Desiring God) references Revelation 5:9 in the context of missionary martyrdom, interpreting the verse as a promise that God will indeed gather worshipers from every tribe, tongue, and nation. The preacher moves beyond a surface reading by reflecting on the implications for missions: if God has promised to redeem people from every group, then the suffering and even death of missionaries is not in vain but is part of God's sovereign plan to fulfill this promise. The sermon uses the verse to frame suffering and loss within the larger narrative of God's redemptive mission.

Christ's Sacrifice: Unity and Redemption for All (Desiring God) offers a unique interpretation of Revelation 5:9 by focusing on the effectiveness and certainty of Christ’s blood in purchasing a people from every tribe, language, people, and nation. The sermon draws a striking analogy between the “purchase” language of Revelation 5:9 and the language of commercial transaction, emphasizing that Christ’s sacrifice was not a potential or hypothetical offer but a real, effectual purchase that guarantees the gathering of a multi-ethnic people. The preacher also brings in a fresh perspective by overlaying Philippians 3, where Paul lists his ethnic and religious credentials, and then counts them as loss for Christ. This juxtaposition is used to highlight how Christ’s blood breaks both ethnic pride and ethnic shame, making the purchased people a single, unified people despite their diverse backgrounds. The sermon’s metaphor of the blood “breaking the back” of ethnic pride and “surprising” tribal inferiority is a vivid, novel way to express the reconciling power of Christ’s atonement as described in Revelation 5:9.

Embracing the Divine Call to Global Missions (SermonIndex.net) provides a detailed linguistic and exegetical analysis of Revelation 5:9, focusing on the Greek phrase “panta ta ethne” and its Old Testament Hebrew equivalents. The sermon uniquely explores the grammatical disagreement in Matthew 28:19 between the neuter “ethne” (nations) and the masculine pronouns that follow, arguing that this points to the individual nature of salvation within people groups. The preacher then uses Revelation 5:9 as a “lodestar” text, correlating the design of the atonement (Christ’s purchase of a people from every group) with the design of missions (the church’s calling to reach those very groups). The analogy of the Moravian missionaries, who declared “May the Lamb that was slain receive the reward of his suffering” as they departed for unreached peoples, is used to illustrate the missionary implications of Revelation 5:9. The sermon’s careful tracing of the biblical development of “nations” from Genesis through Paul’s writings, and its insistence that Christ did not purchase nations but individuals from every nation, is a distinctive interpretive contribution.

Empowering Missions Through Bible Translation and Local Engagement (SermonIndex.net) interprets Revelation 5:9 through the lens of ethno-linguistic diversity and Bible translation. The sermon uses the Greek word “ethne” to argue that the biblical concept of “nation” refers not to modern nation-states but to distinct ethno-linguistic people groups. The preacher employs a vivid metaphor, contrasting the United Nations and its political “nations” with the biblical vision of nations as language and culture groups, and asserts that even in heaven, distinctions of language and nation will persist as a testimony to God’s creative diversity. The analogy of a heavenly orchestra, where every tribe and tongue sings in its own language, is a unique and memorable way to interpret the “new song” of Revelation 5:9. The sermon’s focus on the practical outworking of this vision—namely, the necessity of Bible translation for every people group—sets it apart from other interpretations.

Embracing Racial Harmony: A Gospel-Centered Call (SermonIndex.net) interprets Revelation 5:9 as a foundational text for understanding racial and ethnic diversity in the church, but goes further by emphasizing that the diversity described in the verse is not merely a social or political issue, but a "blood issue"—that is, the diversity of the redeemed is something Christ purchased with his own blood. The sermon uniquely frames the verse as a direct challenge to conservative churches that might otherwise dismiss diversity as a secondary or liberal concern, arguing that the global, multi-ethnic church is at the very heart of the gospel and the atonement. The preacher uses the language of "worth his blood to have diversity," which is a striking and memorable way to interpret the text, and repeatedly insists that the cross itself is the basis for pursuing ethnic harmony, not just a peripheral motivation.

Assurance and Mission: Embracing God's Global Purpose (SermonIndex.net) offers a distinctive interpretation by connecting Revelation 5:9 to Jesus’ statement in John 10:16 (“I have other sheep that are not of this fold. I must bring them also...”). The sermon argues that Revelation 5:9 is the ultimate fulfillment of Jesus’ promise to gather a people from every tribe, language, people, and nation, and that this gathering is not a hypothetical or potential outcome, but a divinely guaranteed reality. The preacher highlights the necessity (“must”) and certainty (“will”) of Christ’s global mission, using the Greek sense of divine necessity (???, “it is necessary”) to underscore that the inclusion of all peoples is not optional or contingent, but is woven into the very fabric of God’s redemptive plan. The analogy of “one flock, one Shepherd” is used to interpret the “kingdom and priests” language of Revelation 5:9, emphasizing the unity and diversity of the redeemed as a single, global people of God.

Revelation 5:9 Theological Themes:

Reviving Intimacy: The Power of Exuberant Worship (Apostolic Church Dallas) introduces the theme that worship is not merely a response to God's acts but a prophetic, participatory act that brings heaven to earth. The preacher argues that the "new song" is a demonstration of intimacy between the bride (the church) and the groom (Christ), and that exuberant, even "weird" praise is the appropriate response to being redeemed and given access to God's presence. The sermon also presents the idea that praise is the only "vehicle" that can carry the presence of God, surpassing human strength or effort, and that communal, demonstrative worship is a prophetic sign to the world.

Embracing Community: The True Meaning of Church (Highest Praise Church) develops the theme of corporate identity and family in the church, using Revelation 5:9 to argue that salvation is not just individual but communal. The preacher insists that the blood of Christ covers households and that the church is a family, not a collection of isolated individuals. The sermon challenges the modern, individualistic approach to faith and calls for a return to a communal, interdependent model, where the assembly is essential for spiritual health and growth.

Faith and Promise: Abram's Journey of Trust (David Guzik) adds the theme of the Abrahamic covenant as the foundation for the global scope of redemption. The preacher highlights that the blessing promised to Abraham is fulfilled in the multi-ethnic worship of Revelation 5:9, and that the church's missionary mandate is rooted in God's ancient promise to bless all nations through Abraham's seed.

Celebrating God's Salvation: A New Song of Worship (David Guzik) brings out the theme that the "new song" is always a response to God's redemptive acts, especially the work of Christ. The preacher emphasizes that worship in heaven is both fresh and rooted in the lived experience of salvation, and that the global, multi-ethnic nature of the redeemed community is a central aspect of God's plan.

Universal Call to Worship and God's Righteousness (David Guzik) introduces the theme of the universality of worship and the fulfillment of Old Testament prophecy in the New Testament. The preacher argues that the "new song" in Revelation 5:9 is the realization of the prophetic vision of all nations worshiping God, and that the church's mission is to proclaim God's glory to all peoples, fulfilling the promise made to Abraham.

Finding Freedom from Guilt Through Christ's Grace (Desiring God) introduces the theme that the redeemed will eternally remember both their sin and Christ's atoning sacrifice, but this memory will be purged of all debilitating effects, leaving only humble, grateful worship. The preacher suggests that guilt feelings, when purified, serve to magnify Christ's grace and fuel worship, rather than hinder it—a nuanced approach to the psychology of redemption.

Embracing God's Call: The Mystery of Missions (Desiring God) presents the distinct theme that the atonement and the missionary mandate are directly correlated: Christ's death was designed to ransom individuals from every people group, and the church's mission is to "go get what he bought." This theme is further developed by emphasizing the individual nature of saving faith, even as the global scope of redemption is affirmed.

Proclaiming God's Oneness: A Call to Evangelism (Desiring God) adds the facet that Revelation 5:9 undercuts all forms of ethnic or cultural prejudice within the church, insisting that God's redemptive plan is radically inclusive. The preacher applies this to challenge listeners to crucify their prejudices and to see every ethnic distinction as a "God thing," worthy of love and gospel proclamation.

Embracing Suffering: God's Purpose in Our Pain (Desiring God) brings a unique application by connecting Revelation 5:9 to the theology of suffering and martyrdom. The preacher argues that the promise of a redeemed people from every group gives meaning to missionary sacrifice, framing suffering as a necessary part of God's plan to fulfill his global purpose.

Christ's Sacrifice: Unity and Redemption for All (Desiring God) introduces the theme that the blood of Christ not only achieves a multi-ethnic redemption but also decisively overcomes both ethnic pride and ethnic shame. The sermon develops the idea that the atonement’s effectiveness is not hindered by human divisions or self-perceptions; rather, the blood of Christ “shatters tribal superiority” and “gives hope to linguistic shame,” ensuring that no cultural or ethnic barrier can prevent the fulfillment of God’s redemptive purpose. This theme is articulated with unusual clarity and depth, moving beyond generic statements about unity to address the psychological and social realities of pride and inferiority.

Embracing the Divine Call to Global Missions (SermonIndex.net) presents the theological theme that the design of the atonement (Christ’s purchase of a people from every group) is inseparably linked to the design of missions (the church’s mandate to reach every group). The sermon adds a fresh angle by emphasizing that salvation is always individual, even as God’s redemptive plan is intentionally multi-ethnic and multi-linguistic. The preacher’s insistence that “he didn’t purchase nations, he purchased people from nations” challenges both individualistic and collectivist distortions of the gospel, and grounds missionary strategy in the specific language of Revelation 5:9.

Empowering Missions Through Bible Translation and Local Engagement (SermonIndex.net) advances the theme that the persistence of ethno-linguistic distinctions in heaven is not a problem to be overcome but a feature of God’s redemptive plan. The sermon uniquely applies this theme to the practical necessity of Bible translation, arguing that the “new song” of Revelation 5:9 will be sung in every language, and that the church’s mission is incomplete until every people group has access to the Scriptures in their own tongue. This is a distinctive theological application that connects eschatology, ecclesiology, and missiology in a concrete way.

Embracing Racial Harmony: A Gospel-Centered Call (SermonIndex.net) introduces the unique theological theme that ethnic diversity in the church is not a secondary or pragmatic concern, but is intrinsic to the gospel itself because it is “blood-bought.” The preacher insists that the cross of Christ was not only for individual salvation but for the creation of a multi-ethnic people, and that to downplay or ignore this is to misunderstand the very purpose of Christ’s atonement. This theme is further developed by connecting justification by faith (Romans 3:28) to the inclusion of all nations, arguing that the doctrine of justification is inherently global and multi-ethnic in its scope.

Assurance and Mission: Embracing God's Global Purpose (SermonIndex.net) presents the theological theme of the absolute certainty of God’s global redemptive purpose, rooted in the sovereignty of Christ’s mission. The preacher stresses that the gathering of a people from every tribe, language, people, and nation is not only a future hope but a present, unstoppable reality because it is grounded in the necessity and efficacy of Christ’s death and resurrection. The sermon also adds the facet that the unity of the global church (“one flock, one Shepherd”) is not merely organizational but ontological, created by the blood of Christ and guaranteed by God’s sovereign will.

Revelation 5:9 Historical and Contextual Insights:

Reviving Intimacy: The Power of Exuberant Worship (Apostolic Church Dallas) provides historical context by explaining that, in the Old Testament, only Levites could enter God's presence, and that David's dance before the Ark was a radical act of longing for access to the holy of holies. The preacher notes that Gentiles were historically excluded from God's presence, making the access granted through Christ all the more remarkable. The sermon also references the compilation of the Psalms during the Babylonian exile as a way for the Israelites to maintain spiritual connection to God when physical access to the temple was lost, drawing a parallel to the church's current need for spiritual intimacy in a hostile world.

Embracing Community: The True Meaning of Church (Highest Praise Church) offers historical insight into the use of the term "ekklesia" in both the Old and New Testaments, explaining its roots in Greek and Hebrew and its application to the assembly of God's people in the wilderness. The preacher also discusses the communal nature of the early church, where excommunication was a painful experience due to the close-knit nature of the community, contrasting this with modern individualism.

Faith and Promise: Abram's Journey of Trust (David Guzik) provides historical context by tracing the promise of blessing to all nations back to Genesis 12 and connecting it to the missionary vision of Israel. The preacher also discusses the historical mistreatment of Jews by Christians and the consequences for the church, arguing that the promise to bless those who bless Abraham's descendants remains in effect.

Celebrating God's Salvation: A New Song of Worship (David Guzik) and "Universal Call to Worship and God's Righteousness" (David Guzik) both provide context by tracing the motif of the "new song" through the Psalms and connecting it to the eschatological vision of global worship in Revelation. The sermons highlight the continuity between Old Testament prophecy and New Testament fulfillment, emphasizing the historical development of the theme of universal worship.

Embracing God's Call: The Mystery of Missions (Desiring God) provides historical context by referencing the shift in missionary strategy following Ralph Winter's 1974 Lausanne address, which highlighted the biblical and practical importance of reaching "people groups" rather than just countries. The preacher also discusses the Old Testament background of the phrase "every tribe and language and people and nation," connecting it to the Abrahamic promise in Genesis and its fulfillment in Christ, and explains the development of the concept of "peoples" in both biblical and modern missionary thought.

Embracing Suffering: God's Purpose in Our Pain (Desiring God) offers cultural context by recounting the story of missionary martyrdom among the Waodani (Auca) people, illustrating the violent norms of the tribe and the radical transformation brought about by the gospel. The preacher uses this historical narrative to show how Revelation 5:9 is being fulfilled in real-world contexts, where the gospel penetrates even the most violent and isolated cultures.

Empowering Missions Through Bible Translation and Local Engagement (SermonIndex.net) provides extensive historical context regarding the development of the modern missions movement, particularly the shift from targeting countries and continents to focusing on ethno-linguistic people groups. The sermon traces the three phases of missions history—from William Carey’s coastal missions, to Hudson Taylor’s inland missions, to William Cameron Townsend’s focus on every distinct people group—and explains how this shift was driven by the recognition that “nations” in the Bible refers to language and culture groups, not political entities. The preacher also discusses the historical realities of colonialism, the artificial creation of nation-states, and the persistence of ethnic identities despite political boundaries, using examples from Africa, the former Soviet Union, and the Balkans to illustrate the biblical concept of “nation.”

Embracing the Divine Call to Global Missions (SermonIndex.net) offers historical insight into the evolution of missionary strategy, particularly the impact of Ralph Winter’s presentation at the 1974 Lausanne Congress, which shifted the focus of world missions from “countries” to “peoples.” The sermon recounts how, prior to this shift, missionary prayer and planning rarely considered “peoples” as a category, and how the biblical language of “nations” was rediscovered as referring to ethno-linguistic groups. The preacher also references the Moravian missionary movement of the 18th century as a historical embodiment of the Revelation 5:9 vision, highlighting their willingness to leave everything for the sake of unreached peoples.

Embracing Racial Harmony: A Gospel-Centered Call (SermonIndex.net) provides historical context by referencing the early church’s struggle with Jewish-Gentile relations, particularly through the story of Peter eating with Gentiles in Galatians 2 and the resulting controversy. The preacher explains how Paul’s rebuke of Peter for withdrawing from Gentile fellowship was not just a matter of social etiquette but a fundamental gospel issue, as it threatened the unity of the blood-bought people described in Revelation 5:9. The sermon also references the broader history of racial and ethnic conflict, both in the ancient world and in modern America, to illustrate the ongoing relevance of the passage.

Assurance and Mission: Embracing God's Global Purpose (SermonIndex.net) offers historical insight by tracing the fulfillment of Revelation 5:9 through the history of Christian missions, mentioning figures such as John Eliot, David Brainerd, William Carey, Hudson Taylor, Peter Cameron Scott, Cameron Townsend, and Ralph Winter. The preacher situates the global mission of the church within the context of centuries of missionary expansion, emphasizing that the movement toward a multi-ethnic church is not a recent innovation but a fulfillment of the biblical vision articulated in Revelation 5:9.

Revelation 5:9 Cross-References in the Bible:

Reviving Intimacy: The Power of Exuberant Worship (Apostolic Church Dallas) references 2 Samuel 6 (David dancing before the Ark), Matthew 1 (genealogy of Jesus), Genesis 4 (origins of music and worship), and Hebrews (discussion of the veil and access to God's presence). These passages are used to draw parallels between Old Testament worship, the lineage of Christ, and the access granted to believers through Jesus' sacrifice, culminating in the worship described in Revelation 5:9.

Embracing Community: The True Meaning of Church (Highest Praise Church) references Hebrews 10 (the importance of assembling together), Numbers 10 (the calling of the congregation in the wilderness), Acts 16:31 (household salvation), and the story of the prodigal son. These passages are used to support the argument that the church is a called-out, assembled community, and that the blood of Christ covers households and communities, not just individuals.

Faith and Promise: Abram's Journey of Trust (David Guzik) references Genesis 12:3 (promise to Abraham), Galatians 3:8-9 (fulfillment of the promise in Christ), and Revelation 5:9 (the new song of the redeemed). The preacher uses these passages to trace the continuity of God's redemptive plan from Abraham to Christ to the multi-ethnic worship in Revelation.

Celebrating God's Salvation: A New Song of Worship (David Guzik) references Psalm 98, Isaiah 42, Revelation 5 and 14 (the motif of the new song), Luke 1 (Mary's Magnificat), Genesis 12:3 (promise to Abraham), and John 5:22 (Jesus as judge). These passages are used to show the development of the new song motif and its fulfillment in Christ.

Universal Call to Worship and God's Righteousness (David Guzik) references Psalm 96, 1 Chronicles 16, Genesis 12:3, Revelation 5:9, Romans 8:21, Isaiah 35, and Matthew 25. The preacher uses these passages to connect the Old Testament vision of global worship to its fulfillment in Revelation, and to emphasize the universality and inclusivity of God's redemptive plan.

Finding Freedom from Guilt Through Christ's Grace (Desiring God) references several passages to support the meaning of Christ's atonement and its connection to Revelation 5:9: Colossians 2:13 (cancellation of debt), 1 John 4:10 (propitiation), 1 Peter 2:25 (bearing sins), Isaiah 53:4,6 (the suffering servant), and Galatians 3:13 (Christ becoming a curse). These passages are used to build the case that real guilt is removed by Christ's sacrifice, which is then celebrated eternally as described in Revelation 5:9.

Embracing God's Call: The Mystery of Missions (Desiring God) cross-references Genesis 12:2-3, 18:18, 22:18, 26:4, 28:14 (the Abrahamic promise), Galatians 3:7-8 (Paul's interpretation of the promise), Romans 15:9-11 (Paul's missionary self-understanding and use of Old Testament texts), Matthew 28:19 (the Great Commission), and Psalm 117:1 (parallelism with nations and peoples). Each reference is used to show the biblical continuity of God's purpose to redeem people from all nations, culminating in the vision of Revelation 5:9.

Proclaiming God's Oneness: A Call to Evangelism (Desiring God) references Acts 17:26 (God making every nation), Romans 3:27-31 (justification by faith for all), and Psalm 96:1-4 (declaring God's glory among the nations). Revelation 5:9 is used to reinforce the theme that God's saving work is for every group, and these cross-references support the universality and inclusivity of the gospel.

Embracing Suffering: God's Purpose in Our Pain (Desiring God) references 2 Corinthians 5:17-20 (new creation and reconciliation), Acts 2 (God's predetermined plan in Christ's death), and the Great Commission, using these to frame the missionary calling and the cost of discipleship in light of Revelation 5:9.

Christ's Sacrifice: Unity and Redemption for All (Desiring God) references a wide array of biblical passages to support and expand on Revelation 5:9. John 10:15-16 is cited to show Jesus’ intent to gather “other sheep” not of the Jewish fold, reinforcing the global scope of redemption. John 11:52 is used to emphasize the gathering of God’s children scattered abroad. Acts 18:10 is referenced to encourage evangelism based on Christ’s prior claim on his people. Ephesians 5:25 and Acts 20:28 are used to illustrate the particularity of Christ’s love and the purchase of the church with his blood. Ezekiel 36:26-27 is brought in to explain the new covenant’s promise of a new heart, connecting the purchase of a people to their transformation. Revelation 13:8 and Ephesians 1:4 are cited to ground the doctrine of election and the certainty of Christ’s redemptive work. Philippians 3:4-7 is used to illustrate the futility of ethnic and religious boasting in light of Christ’s purchase. The cumulative effect of these references is to show that Revelation 5:9 is the culmination of a biblical theme running from the Old Testament through the New.

Embracing the Divine Call to Global Missions (SermonIndex.net) draws on a comprehensive set of cross-references to illuminate Revelation 5:9. Matthew 28:19 is analyzed in detail, with attention to the Greek grammar and its implications for the nature of “nations.” Genesis 12:2-3 and its repetitions (18:18, 22:18, 26:4, 28:14) are cited to show the Abrahamic promise of blessing to all families of the earth, which is then linked to Galatians 3:7-8, where Paul interprets the promise as fulfilled in Christ and extended to all “ethne.” Romans 15:9-11 is used to demonstrate Paul’s understanding of his missionary calling as the fulfillment of Old Testament promises to the nations, with Psalm 117:1 providing a poetic parallel between “nations” and “peoples.” The sermon also references 2 Corinthians 4:6 and Ephesians 1:18 to emphasize the individual nature of saving faith, and Matthew 25:31-33 to illustrate the eschatological gathering of all nations and the separation of individuals within them. These cross-references are marshaled to argue that Revelation 5:9 encapsulates the entire biblical trajectory of God’s redemptive plan for the nations.

Empowering Missions Through Bible Translation and Local Engagement (SermonIndex.net) references Revelation 5:9 directly to support the claim that God’s redemptive purpose includes every tribe, tongue, people, and nation. The sermon also alludes to the Great Commission (Matthew 28:19) and its use of the Greek word “ethne,” as well as to the Abrahamic promise in Genesis and the persistence of ethnic distinctions in biblical history (e.g., Hebrews remaining Hebrews in Egypt). The preacher uses these references to argue that the biblical concept of “nation” is fundamentally ethno-linguistic, not political, and that the church’s mission must be shaped accordingly.

Embracing Racial Harmony: A Gospel-Centered Call (SermonIndex.net) references several passages to support and expand on Revelation 5:9: Ephesians 2 (the cross reconciling Jews and Gentiles into one body), Romans 3:28 (justification by faith for both Jews and Gentiles), and Galatians 2 (Peter’s withdrawal from Gentile fellowship as a denial of the gospel). Each of these passages is used to demonstrate that the inclusion of all peoples is central to the gospel, not a peripheral concern. The preacher also references Luke 4 (Jesus’ rejection in Nazareth after citing God’s mercy to Gentiles) to show that God’s heart for the nations is a consistent biblical theme.

Assurance and Mission: Embracing God's Global Purpose (SermonIndex.net) draws a direct line from John 10:16 (“I have other sheep...”) to John 11:51-52 (Caiaphas’ prophecy that Jesus would die to gather the children of God scattered abroad), and then to Revelation 5:9, arguing that these passages together form a biblical chain demonstrating the certainty and scope of Christ’s global mission. The preacher also references Romans 8:30-31 (the “golden chain” of salvation) to reinforce the certainty of God’s redemptive plan, and alludes to other passages in John (John 17:6, 20; John 6:37) to show the continuity of this theme throughout the New Testament.

Revelation 5:9 Christian References outside the Bible:

Faith and Promise: Abram's Journey of Trust (David Guzik) explicitly references Donald Grey Barnhouse, who comments on the historical consequences for nations that have blessed or cursed the Jewish people, and Martin Luther, who is quoted as saying that the promise "in you all the families of the earth shall be blessed" should be written in golden letters and extolled in all languages. The preacher also references Charles Spurgeon, who highlights the missionary character of the seed of Abraham, and James Montgomery Boice, who comments on the significance of the Abrahamic covenant.

Celebrating God's Salvation: A New Song of Worship (David Guzik) references F.B. Meyer, who comments on the freshness of the new song, and James Montgomery Boice, who notes the parallels between Psalm 98 and Mary's Magnificat. The preacher also references C.S. Lewis' "The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe" as an illustration of creation's joy at the return of the true king.

Universal Call to Worship and God's Righteousness (David Guzik) references Adam Clarke, Matthew Poole, Charles Spurgeon, and James Montgomery Boice, who provide insights into the meaning of the new song, the nature of God's glory, and the significance of God's righteous judgment. Spurgeon is quoted at length on the justice of God's coming judgment and its implications for oppressed peoples.

Embracing God's Call: The Mystery of Missions (Desiring God) explicitly references Ralph Winter, a missiologist whose 1974 Lausanne address revolutionized the understanding of "people groups" in missions. The preacher credits Winter with shifting the focus from countries to peoples, and recounts personal interactions with Winter, highlighting his influence on modern missionary strategy. The sermon also references the Moravian missionaries and their motto, "May the Lamb that was slain receive the reward of his suffering," as a historical example of Revelation 5:9's impact on missionary zeal.

Empowering Missions Through Bible Translation and Local Engagement (SermonIndex.net) explicitly references William Cameron Townsend, founder of Wycliffe Bible Translators, and his conviction that “the greatest missionary is the Bible in the mother tongue.” The sermon recounts Townsend’s encounter with a Cakchiquel Indian in Guatemala, which led him to devote his life to Bible translation for every language group. The preacher also references John Wycliffe, the “morning star of the Reformation,” as the first to translate the Bible into English, and discusses the influence of Hudson Taylor (China Inland Mission) and William Carey (coastal missions) in shaping the three phases of modern missions. The sermon further cites G. Edward Griffin’s “The Fearful Master” and George Washington’s warning about government as a “fearful master” in its critique of the United Nations, though these are more tangential to the interpretation of Revelation 5:9.

Embracing Racial Harmony: A Gospel-Centered Call (SermonIndex.net) explicitly references William Wilberforce, highlighting his lifelong commitment to the abolition of the slave trade and his theological conviction that justification by faith is the foundation for moral and social reform. The preacher notes that Wilberforce’s only book, “A Practical View of Christianity,” argued that the loss of the doctrine of justification led to moral decline in England, and that true social change must be rooted in the gospel. John Newton is also mentioned as Wilberforce’s mentor, providing wise counsel on the relationship between gospel doctrine and social action. The sermon further references Mark Noll’s book “God and Race in American Politics” for its thesis that the Christian worldview uniquely accounts for the failures of Christians to live up to their ideals, and S.J. Packer’s definition of the gospel as “propitiation by substitution” is cited as a theological anchor for confession and vulnerability in addressing racial sin.

Revelation 5:9 Illustrations from Secular Sources:

Reviving Intimacy: The Power of Exuberant Worship (Apostolic Church Dallas) uses the secular example of the video game Dance Dance Revolution (DDR) as a metaphor for exuberant worship. The preacher explains in detail how DDR required players to physically engage with the game, drawing crowds and creating a sense of community. The analogy is used to illustrate how bold, demonstrative worship in the church can draw others in, break down barriers of pride, and create a contagious atmosphere of praise. The preacher also references the cultural phenomenon of fans at sporting events (e.g., football games, Lady Gaga's meat dress) to challenge the church's reluctance to engage in expressive worship, arguing that the world celebrates "weirdness" and passion, and that the church should not be ashamed of its own distinctive expressions of joy and praise.

Embracing Suffering: God's Purpose in Our Pain (Desiring God) provides extensive secular and cultural illustrations, particularly the story of the Waodani (Auca) tribe in Ecuador. The preacher recounts the anthropological detail that the Waodani had the highest homicide rate ever studied, with over 60% of deaths due to violence, and describes their cultural practices, such as gift exchange and their initial hostility to outsiders. The narrative includes the transformation of the tribe through the gospel, the reconciliation between the missionary families and the killers, and the cultural misunderstandings experienced when Waodani visited the United States (e.g., confusion over light switches, mirrors, and running water). The story is used to illustrate the power of the gospel to fulfill Revelation 5:9 in even the most unlikely contexts, and to challenge listeners to embrace suffering and cross-cultural mission.

Empowering Missions Through Bible Translation and Local Engagement (SermonIndex.net) uses a variety of secular illustrations to clarify the biblical concept of “nation.” The preacher contrasts the United Nations and its member states—described as “gangsters with flags” and “the largest collection of unelected dictators”—with the biblical vision of nations as ethno-linguistic groups. The sermon references the European Union’s parliament building, deliberately modeled after Bruegel’s painting of the Tower of Babel, and interprets the EU’s motto “Many tongues, one voice” as a secular attempt to reverse Babel and defy God. The preacher also draws on the history of the Soviet Union, Yugoslavia, and Czechoslovakia to illustrate the artificiality of modern nation-states and the persistence of ethnic identities. The American Pledge of Allegiance is critiqued as a “mindless pledge” to an indivisible nation that does not exist in biblical terms, and the demographic diversity of the United States is used to reinforce the point. The sermon further references the Star Wars quote “You will never find a more wretched hive of scum and villainy” to describe the United Nations, and recounts the story of Catherine Bolkovac, a whistleblower who exposed human trafficking within the UN. These secular illustrations are employed to challenge contemporary assumptions about nationhood and to underscore the biblical vision of Revelation 5:9.