Continued/ from105
Their jubilation:
Their jubilation:
"...and palms in their hands; and cried with a loud voice saying, salvation to our God which sitteth upon the throne, and unto the Lamb" Revelation 7v9-10.
Palm branches in scripture were used on occasions of festal joy, or in times of worship, or in triumph over some conflict. Once again the symbolism of scripture enhances the thought. In Leviticus 23v40 we read "and ye shall take you on the first day the boughs of goodly trees, branches of palm trees, and boughs of thick trees, and willows of the brook; and ye shall rejoice before the Lord your God seven days". This is stated during the feast of tabernacles in the context of rejoicing for the times of peace and rest the Lord had brought to their nation. A similar thing is repeated in Nehemiah 8v15 on the return from exile "and that they should publish and proclaim in all their cities and in Jerusalem saying Go forth unto the mount and fetch olive branches, and pine branches, and myrtle branches, and palm branches and branches of thick trees to make booths, as it is written." In Exodus 15v27 & Numbers 33v9 the children of Israel came to a place called Elim which means "grove of palm trees." This is mentioned in the context of a constant supply of water and the presence of seventy palm trees would afford protection from the rays of the sun, as well as provision of food. They came from Marah (a place of bitterness) to Elim the place of shelter and of provision. The first incursion of the children of Israel into the promised land was at Jericho which is described as "the city of palm trees" (Deutoromy 34v3 & Judges 1v16 & Judges 3v13).
In 1st Kings 6v29 & v32 & chapter 7v36 we read that in the temple there were carvings of palm trees . The palm tree therefore represent the blessing of God upon His people, and their thankfulness and joy in recognition of His grace. In Psalm 92v12 we read "the righteous shall flourish like the palm tree." Another aspect of the palm tree is found in Jeremiah 10v5 "they are upright as the palm tree." No drooping, no swaying, perfectly upright. In the great chapters of Ezekiel 40 & 41 in the context of the millennium kingdom, the palm trees are mentioned twelve times. In John chapter 12v13 when Jesus entered into Jerusalem on a donkey's back it is written "much people were come to the feast, (the feast of tabernacles) when they heard that Jesus was coming to Jerusalem, took branches of palm trees and went forth to meet Him and cried Hosanna: blessed is the King of Israel that cometh in the name of the Lord." The word "Hosanna" is a Greek rendering of the Hebrew verb from Psalm 118; it means "save"; but it means more, because it is in the imperative mood. It is as strong as the word "Hallelujah" which means "praise the Lord, and do it now." Hosanna means "save us" and "save us now." This cry was an acknowledgement that they needed to be saved, and also that He was the Saviour. This same cry is repeated in heaven by the multitudes standing before the throne "salvation to our God and to the Lamb." They are in the presence of Divine majesty acknowledging their need of salvation and that God and the Lamb have provided it for them. It is a cry of jubilation expressing the sense of wellbeing in their experience not only because they have been saved but because of who has saved them, the One sitting upon the throne. Therefore their salvation is eternal and they are ecstatic in the presence of God. This must be taken as the present experience of all those in heaven now, a sense of utter inward well-being . They are longing for the time when, with their spiritual bodies, they will be better able to express with outward jubilation, their thanksgiving to the Lord who saved them.
Palm branches in scripture were used on occasions of festal joy, or in times of worship, or in triumph over some conflict. Once again the symbolism of scripture enhances the thought. In Leviticus 23v40 we read "and ye shall take you on the first day the boughs of goodly trees, branches of palm trees, and boughs of thick trees, and willows of the brook; and ye shall rejoice before the Lord your God seven days". This is stated during the feast of tabernacles in the context of rejoicing for the times of peace and rest the Lord had brought to their nation. A similar thing is repeated in Nehemiah 8v15 on the return from exile "and that they should publish and proclaim in all their cities and in Jerusalem saying Go forth unto the mount and fetch olive branches, and pine branches, and myrtle branches, and palm branches and branches of thick trees to make booths, as it is written." In Exodus 15v27 & Numbers 33v9 the children of Israel came to a place called Elim which means "grove of palm trees." This is mentioned in the context of a constant supply of water and the presence of seventy palm trees would afford protection from the rays of the sun, as well as provision of food. They came from Marah (a place of bitterness) to Elim the place of shelter and of provision. The first incursion of the children of Israel into the promised land was at Jericho which is described as "the city of palm trees" (Deutoromy 34v3 & Judges 1v16 & Judges 3v13).
In 1st Kings 6v29 & v32 & chapter 7v36 we read that in the temple there were carvings of palm trees . The palm tree therefore represent the blessing of God upon His people, and their thankfulness and joy in recognition of His grace. In Psalm 92v12 we read "the righteous shall flourish like the palm tree." Another aspect of the palm tree is found in Jeremiah 10v5 "they are upright as the palm tree." No drooping, no swaying, perfectly upright. In the great chapters of Ezekiel 40 & 41 in the context of the millennium kingdom, the palm trees are mentioned twelve times. In John chapter 12v13 when Jesus entered into Jerusalem on a donkey's back it is written "much people were come to the feast, (the feast of tabernacles) when they heard that Jesus was coming to Jerusalem, took branches of palm trees and went forth to meet Him and cried Hosanna: blessed is the King of Israel that cometh in the name of the Lord." The word "Hosanna" is a Greek rendering of the Hebrew verb from Psalm 118; it means "save"; but it means more, because it is in the imperative mood. It is as strong as the word "Hallelujah" which means "praise the Lord, and do it now." Hosanna means "save us" and "save us now." This cry was an acknowledgement that they needed to be saved, and also that He was the Saviour. This same cry is repeated in heaven by the multitudes standing before the throne "salvation to our God and to the Lamb." They are in the presence of Divine majesty acknowledging their need of salvation and that God and the Lamb have provided it for them. It is a cry of jubilation expressing the sense of wellbeing in their experience not only because they have been saved but because of who has saved them, the One sitting upon the throne. Therefore their salvation is eternal and they are ecstatic in the presence of God. This must be taken as the present experience of all those in heaven now, a sense of utter inward well-being . They are longing for the time when, with their spiritual bodies, they will be better able to express with outward jubilation, their thanksgiving to the Lord who saved them.
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