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After this I looked, and behold, a great multitude that no one could number, from every nation, from all tribes and peoples and languages, standing before the throne and before the Lamb, clothed in white robes, with palm branches in their hands, and crying out with a loud voice, “Salvation belongs to our God who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb!” And all the angels were standing around the throne and around the elders and the four living creatures, and they fell on their faces before the throne and worshiped God, saying, “Amen! Blessing and glory and wisdom and thanksgiving and honor and power and might be to our God forever and ever! Amen.” Then one of the elders addressed me, saying, “Who are these, clothed in white robes, and from where have they come?” I said to him, “Sir, you know.” And he said to me, “These are the ones coming 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. They shall hunger no more, neither thirst anymore; the sun shall not strike them, nor any scorching heat. For the Lamb in the midst of the throne will be their shepherd, and he will guide them to springs of living water, and God will wipe away every tear from their eyes.”(Revelation 7:9–17)
It's been several days now since the funeral, and little Danny says, “Dad, I miss Grandpa.”
“Yes son,” says Dad, “we all miss him.”
“Dad,” says little Danny, “will we ever see Grandpa again?”
Dad says, “Yes, some day we will see Grandpa and our Lord Himself in heaven.”
“Dad,” says little Danny, “is Grandpa still in pain from his cancer? What does he look like? What is he doing in heaven?”
“Well son,” says Dad, “sit down and let me tell you about heaven and about Grandpa.” Dad, then, proceeds to answer his son's questions.
Perhaps you yourself or someone in your family have similar questions. Well, on this Festival of All Saints' day, let's look at the vision which the apostle John saw and recorded in Revelation chapter seven. This chapter gives us a picture of heaven. It tells us about the saints in heaven and about the salvation which Christ has provided by His death and resurrection. This is the most beautiful picture in the entire Bible of the saints of God in heaven. What we call “the church triumphant” — the church at rest and at peace.
First of all, John saw a very large crowd of people. There are so many people that no one could number them. They are as numerous as the sand on the seashore and as the stars in the sky. They are not from one ethnic group, but they are “of all nations, tribes, peoples, and tongues” (v. 9).
What are they doing? They are “standing before the throne and before the Lamb.” Christ, our Passover Lamb, died and rose again. The saints are standing before Him in heaven.
What are they wearing? They are “clothed with white robes.” The color white symbolizes holiness. That's why the baptized or the newly confirmed are dressed in white. Christ's righteousness made them pure and holy.
What are they holding? They are holding palm branches in their hands. Palm branches symbolize victory. So, by using palm branches they rejoice that Christ won victory over sin, death, and the devil.
The apostle John hears the multitude singing something. What are they singing? The saints of God and the angels sing a beautiful hymn which has seven stanzas.
The first stanza goes like this: “Holy, holy, holy, Lord God almighty, who was and is and is to come” (Revelation 4:8).
The second stanza goes like this: “You are worthy, O Lord, to receive glory and honor and power; for You created all things. And by Your will they exist and were created” (Revelation 4:11).
The third stanza goes like this: “You are worthy to take the scroll, and to open its seals; for You were slain, and have redeemed us to God by Your blood out of every tribe and tongue and people and nation, and have made us kings and priests to our God; and we shall reign on the earth” (Revelation 5:9–10).
The fourth stanza goes like this: “Worthy is the Lamb who was slain to receive power and riches and wisdom, and strength and honor and glory and blessing” (Revelation 5:12).
The fifth stanza goes like this: “Blessing and honor and glory and power be to Him who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb, forever and ever” (Revelation 5:13).
The sixth stanza is recorded in our text for today. Revelation 7:10 goes like this: “Salvation belongs to our God who sits on the throne and to the Lamb”. Notice that they attribute their salvation to God the Father and Christ Himself, our Passover Lamb.
The seventh and final stanza is also recorded in our text for today. The angels sing: “Amen! Blessing and glory and wisdom and thanksgiving and honor and power and might, be to our God forever and ever. Amen” (Revelation 7:12). Notice that the angels praise God for rescuing a fallen humanity through his Son.
Also notice that this hymn is not “me” centered. It does not talk about what the saints did on earth. The saints are not the subject of the verbs nor are the saints the doer of the verbs. Instead, this great hymn is centered on what God has done in Christ Jesus for the salvation of the whole world. It points out that the redemption of God's people in Christ Jesus is the most important thing that God has done since the creation. Our sermon hymn described their singing this way, “They sing their songs in endless light. Their anthems ring as they all sing with angels shining bright.”
So also, our hymns are a response of thanksgiving to what God has done for us and our salvation. They are Christ–centered giving Him all blessing, honor, and glory for dying upon the cross for our sins and for rising again.
Then one of the twenty four elders asked John, “Who are these arrayed in white robes and where did they come from?” And John said to the elder, “Sir, you know.” So the elder helps John interpret this vision.
Who are these arrayed in white robes? “These are the ones who have come out of the great tribulation” (v. 14). Our sermon hymn put it this way, “These are the saints of glorious fame, Who from the great affliction came.” The hymn goes on to say, “Despised and scorned, they sojourned here; But now, how glorious they appear!” While on earth they suffered from trial and tribulation and from unbelief and sin. Yet during this battle, “[The Lord] was their rock, their fortress, and their might. [He was] their captain in the well–fought fight.” [In the midst of darkness, He was] their one true Light“ (Lutheran Service Book #677 stanza 2). Yet, they have come out of the suffering of this world and have entered heaven.
Who are these arrayed in white robes? “These are the ones who … washed their robes and made them white in the blood of the Lamb” (v. 14). During their baptism, their sins were washed away. They were cleansed with the washing of water by the word (Ephesians 5:26). Baptism is a “washing of regeneration and a renewal by the Holy Spirit0 (Titus 3:5). Their robes which were sinful and scarlet were made white. They now stand pure and holy in the presence of God because of the blood which Christ shed upon the cross. Our sermon hymn put it this way, “Behold a host, arrayed in white, Like thousand snow clad mountains bright!”
Dearly beloved, you are both a sinner and a saint. Inwardly, you still have the Old Adam, but outwardly you have been covered with the robe of Christ's righteousness through the baptismal waters. Out of your heart proceeds evil thoughts, murder, and adultery. Yet, when sins are forgiven, God has created in you a clean heart. Out of the mouth comes cursing and swearing. Yet, here at the altar, Christ's body and blood comes into the mouth and cleanses you of all your sin. While on earth, you will always be sinful yet holy in Christ at the same time.
Who are these arrayed in white robes? “These are the ones who … are before the throne of God, and serve Him day and night in His temple” (v. 15). They are continually in the presence of God. So also today. We are in the presence of God during our Divine Service. We don't see Him but we hear and receive His life giving Word.
Who are these arrayed in white robes? “These are the ones who … shall hunger no more, neither thirst anymore, the sun shall not strike them, nor any scorching heat.” When they were on earth, they suffered from hunger, thirst, and heat. They suffered physically. They suffered from the consequence of their own sin or from the sin of others. They suffered from sickness, disease, aging, strokes, heart attacks, cancer, and the list could go on and on. But now, they “rest from their labors.” Never again will they be affected by a fallen sin–filled world.
Dearly beloved, while we are here on earth, we hunger and by the sweat of our brow we work to put food on the table. Yet there is something more important than daily bread. Jesus once said, “I am the bread of life. He who comes to Me shall never hunger and he who believes in Me shall never thirst” (John 6:35). Here at the communion rail, our hunger and thirst for righteousness is be satisfied. Here we commune not only with angels and archangels, but with all the company of heaven. Here we cannot see our loved ones with the physical eye, but we see them with the eyes of faith for they commune with us.
Who are these arrayed in white robes? These are the ones who … are being taken care of by the “Lamb who is in the midst of the throne.” He will shepherd them and lead them to fountains of living waters. Jesus was their Good Shepherd here on earth, and He is still their Good Shepherd there in heaven. While on earth, Jesus restored their soul. He anointed their head in the waters of holy baptism. He led them on His path of righteousness. And He walked with them through the valley of the shadow of death all the way to heaven itself. The saints in heaven dwell in the house of the Lord forever.
Who are these arrayed in white robes? These are the ones whom “God will wipe away every tear from their eyes.” On earth they had tears of sorrow — sorrow over their own sin or from the sins of others. They had tears of sorrow because of persecution from the unbelieving world. They had tears of sorrow because of the sufferings of a fallen sin–filled world. Our sermon hymn put it this way, “On earth they wept through bitter years; Now God has wipe away their tears.” They now experience eternal peace and joy. Revelation 21:4 tells us that in heaven “there shall be no more death, nor sorrow, nor crying. There shall be no more pain, for the former things have passed away.”
The saints in heaven now rest from their labors. Our sermon hymn put it this way: “They now enjoy the Sabbath rest, the heavenly banquet of the blest.” They have fought a good fight. They have finished the race. They have kept the faith. They now shine in glory.
Dearly beloved, while you remain here on earth, look forward to what lies ahead. Press on toward the goal of heaven. Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things (Colossians 3:1–2). Run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking to Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith (Hebrews 12:1–2). During difficult times, persevere in the one true faith. The Lord is your Captain in the well–fought fight. By the power of the Holy Spirit, remain steadfast by hearing our Lord's Word and by receiving His sacrament.
Press on toward the goal of heaven. The fight will be fierce and the warfare will be long. “But, lo, there breaks a yet more glorious day.”
The golden evening brightens in the west;
Soon, soon, to faithful warriors cometh rest.
Sweet is the calm of Paradise the blest.
Alleluia! Alleluia!(Lutheran Service Book 677 sz 6)
Amen.
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