November 5, 2023
Pastor John Hering
Revelation 7:9-17
Revelation 7:9-17
9 After these things I looked, and there was a great multitude that no one could count, from every nation, tribe, people, and language, standing in front of the throne and of the Lamb, clothed with white robes, and with palm branches in their hands. 10 They called out with a loud voice and said: Salvation comes from our God, who sits on the throne, and from the Lamb.
11 All the angels stood around the throne, the elders, and the four living creatures. They fell on their faces before the throne and worshipped God, 12 saying: Amen. Blessing and glory and wisdom and thanks and honor and power and might belong to our God forever and ever. Amen.
13 One of the elders spoke to me and said, “These people dressed in white robes, who are they and where did they come from?” And I answered him, “Sir, you know.” 14 And he said to me: These are the ones who are coming out of the great tribulation. They have washed their robes and made them white in the blood of the Lamb. 15 Because of this they are in front of the throne of God, and they serve him day and night in his temple. He who sits on the throne will spread his tent over them. 16 They will never be hungry or thirsty ever again. The sun will never beat upon them, nor will any scorching heat, 17 for the Lamb at the center of the throne will be their shepherd. He will lead them to springs of living water. And God will wipe away every tear from their eyes.
Did you ever think it would happen in my lifetime! The Texas Ranger are the World Series Champions! And once there did you really think they would win? We all remember the last time they were in the World Series and that memory created uncertainty in our minds. We live with uncertainty every day. Win an election these days and before the balloons hit the floor your campaign staff better be figuring out how to fight off a recall election. Uncertainty is all around us. Will that tree branch hanging over the road break off and hit your car today, or next week? How about your heart? The average heart will beat over 3 billion times during a lifetime. But, will today be the last beat that muscle makes? How many people are living with uncertainty of how they stand with God? Is he angry with me right now? I have committed that sin so many times, will his patience run out with me today? Or how about this: what is God’s plan for my life? With so much uncertainty in our life it is good to be here in God’s house to hear what Jesus says about Focusing On Our Future Glory! We have God’s time of grace to live in this world and we want to be certain about our relationship with God. Joyfully, we believers know exactly where we stand with God. May the Holy Spirit strengthen your faith today so you can
Be Certain You’re Sealed For Future Glory
Just like the angels
St John was an old man when Jesus gave him this Revelation. John was to write down what he saw and share the message with the churches in Asia Minor. The message is for us as well. The theme of this book is clear: “Jesus wins!” We read about the angels. “11 All the angels stood around the throne.” We learn from other passages of Scripture that the angels are like gravity, they are all around us, invisible, but they are real with a real impact. They are spirits whom God created as his helpers, “14 Are not all angels ministering spirits sent out to serve for the benefit of those who are going to inherit salvation?” (Heb 1:14). Although there are bad angels called demons, whose leader is the baddest angel, Satan, there are many more good angels who are more powerful. They are sealed in their obedience to God. St. Paul wrote to Timothy, “21 I solemnly charge you, in the presence of God and Christ Jesus and the elect angels,” (1 Tim 5:21), who “in heaven always see the face of my Father who is in heaven” (Matt 18:10).
This is certainty found in God’s angels. They are sealed and confirmed by God to serve you and me. If God wants to extend his heavenly power to the angels to protect us from the evil forces of this earth, they can do that. Like last week when an angel shut the mouths of the hungry lions so that they couldn’t eat the prophet Daniel. Or when an angel rescued the apostle Peter from prison shackles (Acts 12:7). This is what John sees in Revelation. The angels are at work serving God and using supernatural powers over the forces of this earth pictured as angels exerting their supernatural powers over the forces of this earth pictured as ferocious winds: “They were holding back the four winds of the earth so that the wind could not blow on the earth, the sea, or any tree.” God is protecting our future glory by using his angels to serve us in order that we might be taken to our final destiny before the glory of God. Listen to Psalm 91:11 “Yes, he will give a command to his angels concerning you, to guard you in all your ways.” In John’s vision “11 All the angels stood around the throne, the elders, and the four living creatures. They fell on their faces before the throne and worshipped God, 12 saying: Amen. Blessing and glory and wisdom and thanks and honor and power and might belong to our God forever and ever. Amen. The angels know they are serving God in order to bring all glory to him. That is certainty on steroids! Yes, we know on Judgment Day this earth will be destroyed. But not yet! God uses his angels to remove uncertainty and to Seal Our Future Glory!
Dear Christian Friends, on this All Saints’ Day we give thanks for the angels God has used to protect our loved ones who are already in heaven, and to protect us while we live as saints on earth. That near miss at the busy intersection? Perhaps an angel stepped in. It’s time to give thanks to God and give witness to his protection to others. While this is wonderful, we have something much greater! We have the Gospel! Paul wrote in Galatians 1:8 that even if an angel appeared and preached a different gospel, they should be condemned. We have the Gospel. And we thank the Lord for the angels he uses to protect us, and as an example of being elected by God and confirmed in their role. Praise God for angels! And serve God on earth confident in your Future Glory! This was made possible
Because Of The Lamb
We are living in a world of uncertainty. Will the Cowboys win against the Eagles today? Will our government protect us from illegal immigrants reported to be flooding across the border? Will you be around next year? Will I be around 10 years from now? Not sure. Then where is our certainty? How can we put our heads on the pillow at night and say “Amen” to God knowing, without a doubt, that everything is okay in our hearts, homes, church, nation, and world? There is only one answer. One hero. One Savior. Jesus. We clearly see Jesus in the vision,
“9 After these things I looked, and there was a great multitude that no one could count, from every nation, tribe, people, and language, standing in front of the throne and of the Lamb, clothed with white robes, and with palm branches in their hands. 10 They called out with a loud voice and said: Salvation comes from our God, who sits on the throne, and from the Lamb.”
The Lamb of God, shows his authority over all evil, all good, hell, heaven, yesterday, today, tomorrow, and everything in between. He works all things out so we can be Certain of our Future Glory. His keeping the law covers it all. His blood covers it all. His resurrection covers it all. His is ascension to heaven, covers it all and saves all of us from all our sins. Nobody else saves. Nobody else can fulfill his promises. Nobody else knows you like he does and still loves you to death. The life, suffering and death of the Lamb remove all doubt and make us Certain of Future Glory.
St. John describes this beautiful picture for us.
“13 One of the elders spoke to me and said, “These people dressed in white robes, who are they and where did they come from?” And I answered him, “Sir, you know.” 14 And he said to me: These are the ones who are coming out of the great tribulation. They have washed their robes and made them white in the blood of the Lamb. 15 Because of this they are in front of the throne of God, and they serve him day and night in his temple.”
Jesus explains the great tribulation for us in the gospel for today. Living as the Church of God in this fallen world fulfills Jesus’ words, “Blessed are the poor in spirit…those who mourn….who hunger and thirst after righteousness.” These are people just like you who have endured difficult days. We endure these difficult days for the sake of the Lamb. Through faith in Jesus Christ God has declared you not guilty, holy and in a perfect relationship with him. St. John said, “They have washed their robes and made them white in the blood of the Lamb.” These are facts. They are accomplished. And faith in Jesus received what God had to offer. And look how this ends up for the Saints of God! “He who sits on the throne will spread his tent over them.” Do you remember what John wrote about this in his Gospel? In John 1:1, 14 he wrote: “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God…. 14 The Word became flesh and dwelled[literally tented] among us.” Do you see, the times that God deals with his people. First, Jesus came and stayed among us to die. The second time, when we are brought to faith by power of the Holy Spirit through the Gospel. Then we are dressed in white robes before his glorious throne in heaven! Because of the Lamb we will receive the blessings of his glory in heaven. John said, “16 They will never be hungry or thirsty ever again.” I can see that you’re hardly moved by these words. I get it. It’s hard for us Americans to be really inspired by these words. None of you looks all that hungry or thirsty. But, think of John on the deserted Island of Patmos surrounded by salt water! How delicious a thought to never hunger or thirst again! Living in Texas – you get this one. “The sun will never beat upon them, nor will any scorching heat.” Fascinating. God is describing heaven as to what isn’t there. But, don’t you want to know what IS there? “And God will wipe away every tear from their eyes.” The Lamb is there. The Lamb of God who took away the sin of the world is there. Our Savior is there in all His Glory!
I suppose we think about this the most when we lose a loved one who goes to heaven. We can picture them being in front of God’s throne in heaven staring at the Lamb. No, better than that, giving hugs to Jesus. We picture them talking to Adam and Eve, King David, Peter, James and John. Those thoughts turn our tears of sorrow for ourselves to joy for them. But, heaven is so much more vibrant – we just wouldn’t get it. Let me summarize it like this on All Saints’ Day! All who died believing in Jesus have received the goal of their faith as they enjoy the Glory of heaven. What’s it like? All the bad things of this world are not in God’s home.
We are living in a world of uncertainty. But, today we have received the promises of God to be with him in future glory. John brings us those promises with these words, “17 for the Lamb at the center of the throne will be their shepherd. He will lead them to springs of living water.” Mixed metaphor here: Lamb / Shepherd We get Jesus being our Lamb who sacrificed himself for us. And we get the Shepherd, who leads us to living water. And would you like to hear something really awesome. We don’t have to wait to get to heaven to have a drink. Today at Holy Communion Jesus give us the living water of life through the gospel in word and sacrament. And then this magnificent promise: Every tear – make a list of the uncertain things you’ve cried about in the last year—relationship, health, money, stress, anxiety—every tear is wiped away by Jesus’ promise to you. You are certain of your future glory in heaven because of Christ. Amen!
