All Saints Day

Scripture

Revelation 7:9–17 NIV

After this I looked, and there before me was a great multitude that no one could count, from every nation, tribe, people and language, standing before the throne and before the Lamb. They were wearing white robes and were holding palm branches in their hands. And they cried out in a loud voice: “Salvation belongs to our God, who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb.” All the angels were standing around the throne and around the elders and the four living creatures. They fell down on their faces before the throne and worshiped God, saying: “Amen! Praise and glory and wisdom and thanks and honor and power and strength be to our God for ever and ever. Amen!” Then one of the elders asked me, “These in white robes—who are they, and where did they come from?” I answered, “Sir, you know.” And he said, “These are they who have come out of the great tribulation; they have washed their robes and made them white in the blood of the Lamb. 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 shelter them with his presence. ‘Never again will they hunger; never again will they thirst. The sun will not beat down on them,’ nor any scorching heat. 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.’”

Pray.

Introduction

I was 10 years old when I first remember facing death. My grandfather died tragically and suddenly. I remember him playing basketball with me, shooting cap guns, drinking milkshakes with him. I remember that he would straight up turn off his hearing aid to have peace and quiet and grandma would yell at him from three feet away. I didnt know him as well as my older cousins but I loved him. I remember my aunt brought me to the graveside....the younger cousins did not go to anything, I think my parents were trying to find the right balance with me. So I did not go to the funeral but the graveside. I just remember crying a lot. then we went to subway.

All saints day intro....

All Saints’ Day (November 1). Major observance dating to at least the late fourth century, originally set aside to honor Christian martyrs. Other (non-canonized) deceased Christians are honored the following day, on All the Faithful Departed/All Souls’ Day (November 2). Many Protestants, holding that all Christians are saints, honor all the Christian departed on All Saints’ Day (November 1) or the Sunday following. Historically, the date has varied widely among traditions.

Background, set up the passage

I could always tell what Bible Study Fellowship was studying because I would get these office visits with questions or ponderings about what a certain passage might say. I loved it as a biblical studies nerd....this is my love language. Well when Revelation was the focus of study for BSF I had to tell people to schedule time to meet with me through my admin because otherwise I couldnt get anything done.

It is a weird book and a lot of interpretation over the years about parts of this book and what it means. A lot of obsession too. Numerology, end times prediction etc etc.

Revelation is a prophetic book that gives us a view of heaven. It has present and future implications. This passage is one that invites us to consider the promise for all those that have gone before us and our future promise too.

John has this vision and before him he sees a multitude that no one could count...

every tribe

every nation

people

language

They are wearing white robes, holding palm branches in their hands, around the thrown of the lamb....and singing

“Salvation belongs to our God”

Who sits on the throne,

and to the lamb.”

Then in response to this angels all around them fall to their faces and sing out!!!

Amen!

Praise and glory

and wisdom and thanks and honor

and power and strength

be to our God for ever and ever.

Amen!”

John interacts with an elder and they talk about these in white. They are the called out ones. A lot of interpretation here about what that means and we are not going to discuss the tribulation today. Some think these are the martyrs, but most say these are all those that have passed before Christ’s return. And here they are surrounding the throne. Serving as priests in the temple all day and night.

no more hunger

no more thirst

no more pain

no more tears

What a vision of salvation.

What emotions are invoked for you when you hear this vision? When you picture it?

(pause)

Well for me, some of my caricatures of heaven are challenged, maybe some of yours today as well as we worship and celebrate the truth of salvation today!

In the arms of Jesus, with loved ones, joining the angels

We say all sorts of things to comfort ourselves and others when death confronts us.

Another angel has gained his wings

The sight of the beloved dressed in white standing in salvation, causes the angels to fall to their faces and worship.

They are with their loved ones....When my grandma died it was reliving to say that he was finally with my grandpa. But this is too small too. Yes, this is true, but they have also joined the cloud of witnesses, they have come home to the place their soul always wanted to be.

Or they are in the arms of Jesus. Even this is challenged when I look at Revelation. The full picture is that of every tribe and tongue....

Salvation belongs to the Lord

The beloved is dressed in white cleaned by the blood of the lamb.

CS Lewis: “To enter heaven is to become more human than you ever succeeded in being on earth.”

This is the fate of those in Christ and your reality. Humanity restored. Healed. vertical and horizontal healing.

Fully known, fully loved.

Three things we see of the salvation:

Salvation experience:

Priest in the temple

They are priest in the temple. I know some of you are like pshhhhh I dont want to be a priest forever. Ok, fair, but this is something more. The temple is the place where God dwells, and it is now all a temple. But priests are responsible rulers on behalf of God. Adam and Eve were meant to be priests. To steward God’s work in the world.

no more pain

You have heard this over and over again but it must be said again.

The lamb of the throne is their shepherd forever

See the juxtaposition. The slaughtered lamb is also their shepherd.

Preach this out....To know the lamb is to know the protection of the shepherd.

They are in this presence.

This is salvation and it belongs to the Lord!

Amen!

On all saints day, we get to worship this truth. We get to be strengthened by it. Both as we rejoice for our loved ones that have gone on before us, but this is the reality we stand in today. We practice what will happen on that day every time we gather.

Do you know what Amen means? It means “Yes.”

I love that in response to loved ones singing about salvation....the angels cry out with Amen! It is their resounding affirmation.

All Saints Day is the church’s opportunity to add our voices to theirs....

The New International Version Chapter 7

Amen!

Praise and glory

and wisdom and thanks and honor

and power and strength

be to our God for ever and ever.

Amen!”

But not just our voices....our lives in the world. May they be an Amen to this reality.