God saves His people for everlasting glory.

 

Sermon for All Saints’ Sunday, November 6, 2022

To Him who loved us and washed us from our sins in His own blood, and has made us kings and priests to His God and Father, to Him be glory and dominion forever and ever.  Amen.

Revelation 7:2–12  ²And I saw another angel coming up from the east, who had the seal of the living God.  He called out with a loud voice to the four angels who were given power to harm the earth and the sea. He said, ³“Do not harm the earth, the sea, or the trees until we have placed a seal on the foreheads of God’s servants.”  ⁴And I heard the number of those sealed: 144,000 sealed from all the tribes of the people of Israel: ⁵from the tribe of Judah,12,000, who were sealed, from the tribe of Reuben,12,000, from the tribe of Gad,12,000, ⁶from the tribe of Asher,12,000, from the tribe of Naphtali,12,000, from the tribe of Manasseh,12,000, ⁷from the tribe of Simeon,12,000, from the tribe of Levi,12,000, from the tribe of Issachar,12,000, ⁸from the tribe of Zebulun,12,000, from the tribe of Joseph,12,000, from the tribe of Benjamin,12,000, who were sealed.  ⁹After 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.  ¹⁰They called out with a loud voice and said: Salvation comes from our God, who sits on the throne, and from the Lamb.  ¹¹All the angels stood around the throne, the elders, and the four living creatures.  They fell on their faces before the throne and worshipped God, ¹²saying: Amen.  Blessing and glory and wisdom and thanks and honor and power and might belong to our God forever and ever.  Amen. (EHV)

God saves His people for everlasting glory.

 Dear friends sealed in the blood of the Lamb,

            The Revelation of our Lord likely causes more fear and consternation among people of all walks of life than anyone should ever expect.  Because Jesus gave this prophecy in symbols and pictures, it is often misunderstood, and many maliciously misuse the book to terrorize those who don’t know it well.  However, we have no reason to be afraid of what Jesus showed His apostle, John, because Jesus assured us upfront: “Blessed is the one who reads the words of this prophecy and blessed are those who hear it and hold on to the things written in it.” (Revelation 1:3)  Therefore, as we consider the pictures before us this morning, believe that God saves His people for everlasting glory.

There have been a wide variety of interpretations of the visions John records in this text.  Some of tried to figure out which groups of people Jesus was intending to picture.  Others look for secret meanings, but when one considers everything involved, it soon becomes quite clear that Jesus is describing His assembly of believers in time and eternity.  More than that, alone, it shows us how the Lord preserves, protects, and delivers us from this sin-damaged, corrupt, and broken world.

John reports, “I saw another angel coming up from the east, who had the seal of the living God.  He called out with a loud voice to the four angels who were given power to harm the earth and the sea.  He said, ‘Do not harm the earth, the sea, or the trees until we have placed a seal on the foreheads of God’s servants.’”  Some wonder who this angel from the east might be, but when we consider other Scriptures, we remember that Jesus said, “I came that they may have life, and have it abundantly.” (John 10:10)  In addition, in Old Testament times, the second person of the Trinity was often revealed as the Angel of the Lord, and the psalmist testifies to God about the Son of Man, “You have crowned him with glory and honor.  You have made him to have dominion over the works of Your hands; You have put all things under his feet.” (Psalm 8:5-6 NKJ)  Jesus, who often referred to Himself as the Son of Man, confirms this for us when He declared, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me.” (Matthew 28:18)

Now, recognizing that this world is destined for destruction because of sin, Jesus commands that process to stand still until His Father’s house may be filled.  In the verse before this text, that day of destruction is pictured as four winds of earth that will destroy the land, the sea, and all the trees.  The four angels pictured here are commanded by the Angel of the Lord to hold back those destructive forces until His work, and that of His Spirit, is completed. 

As we think about our times, how many people are filled with worry, doom, and gloom about the future of our planet, our nation, our culture, and even our own bodies?  To be honest, much of the world’s population is again terrified about the future.  Of course, an election season often fans the flames of those fears as candidates for office try to scare those who might vote against them. 

Yet, truly, we need not fear because Jesus is taking care of us.  He commands those who will one day destroy this earth, “Do not harm the earth, the sea, or the trees until we have placed a seal on the foreheads of God’s servants.”  The sealing is God putting His mark of ownership and protection on the foreheads of those He claims out of this dark, rebellious ocean.  No one comes to God by works, desires, or decision.  Yet by His Word, God calls, gathers, and enlightens all those whom He chooses.

We next see a list of 144,000 people who are sealed by the Lord.  Again, there is much speculation about what this means, but when faithfully observing the symbolic way that the Revelation uses numbers, it is easy to see that these are the believers who are counted as descendants of Abraham.  It is most definitely not a literal representation of Abraham’s bloodline, for not all who are born of that line are Jews. (Romans 2:28)  Rather, this represents the sum total of believers on earth. 

St. Paul wrote, “The promise is by faith, so that it may be according to grace and may be guaranteed to all of Abraham’s descendants—not only to the one who is a descendant by law, but also to the one who has the faith of Abraham.  He is the father of us all.” (Romans 4:16)  In addition, we remember that Jesus said, “I am the Way and the Truth and the Life.  No one comes to the Father, except through me.” (John 14:6)  It is through the work of Jesus, and the Spirit He sends, that we are marked here in time as God’s people to whom He will share Jesus’ glory. 

When you were baptized, you were marked with the sign of the cross on the forehead and on the chest as the sign and seal that Jesus had set you apart for His Father’s kingdom.  Believing that promise, and the sacrifice Jesus made to pay the penalty for your sins, brings forgiveness and eternal life.  By working that faith in you and me, by the Gospel in Word and Sacrament, God saves His people for everlasting glory.

The second vision of our text is really much the same, except that the location has changed.  No longer is the assembly of believers on earth.  Now, we see them gathered around the throne of our God.  John wrote, “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.”  Here, we are again comforted.  The first vision showed us that Jesus is preserving us through the trials and hardships of life on earth and holding back the day of destruction until all the elect are gathered in.  Now, Jesus shows us that those who believe in Him are elevated to the glory of heaven.

Here, we see fulfilled what the Holy Spirit gave through St. Paul, “Indeed, as many of you as were baptized into Christ have been clothed with Christ.  There is not Jew or Greek, slave or free, male or female, for you are all one and the same in Christ Jesus.  And if you belong to Christ, then you are Abraham’s descendants and heirs according to the promise.” (Galatians 3:27-29)  That great multitude, gathered from all parts of earth, was prepared for this great day by the work of Jesus; He lived the holiness we need to stand before God, and He bore the penalty for all our sins, rebellion, and inherited guilt just as God’s holy justice demanded.

When we remember those fellow believers who have left this world ahead of us, we often feel pangs of sorrow for our loss.  However, we simply must also rejoice for their gain.  No longer does any guilt trouble them.  No longer does the curse of sin on this world cause them any grief.  Now and forever, they wave their palm branches in victory and praise for the Lamb of God who freed them from the curse of death.  Today, they are dressed in the glorious righteousness of the Son who could not sin and had no stain of sin in His being.  Therefore, we see fulfilled what Jesus promised His Father in heaven, “I have given them the glory you gave me, so that they may be one, as we are one: I in them, and you in me.  May they become completely one, so that the world may know that you sent me and loved them even as you loved me.” (John 17:22-23)  Again, we see that God saves His people for everlasting glory.

Those who reside forever in heaven know what brought them there.  They testify in joy that it wasn’t their own efforts or good will that opened the doors of God’s home to them.  Rather, they cry out in praise, “Salvation comes from our God, who sits on the throne, and from the Lamb.”  And the promise of the Holy Spirit is confirmed, “God made him, who did not know sin, to become sin for us, so that we might become the righteousness of God in him.” (2 Corinthians 5:21)

Jesus told His disciples, “I tell you, there is joy in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner who repents.” (Luke 15:10)  Under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, St. Paul tell us, “No one can say, ‘Jesus is Lord,’ except by the Holy Spirit.” (1 Corinthians 12:3)  Thus, the celebration continues with joy and peace that will never end, for John shows us, “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, saying: ‘Amen.  Blessing and glory and wisdom and thanks and honor and power and might belong to our God forever and ever.  Amen.’”

Dear friends, though many are confused over what the pictures of the Revelation might mean, take comfort and confidence in this, that Jesus gave these pictures to assure us of His victory over Satan, sin, and death.  Jesus both warned and promised His disciples, “In this world you are going to have trouble.  But be courageous!  I have overcome the world.” (John 16:33)  Because of the life and death of God’s Son, Jesus, all your sins are forgiven, and God has removed them from His memory forever.  Furthermore, by the work of the Holy Spirit through Word and Sacrament to give you faith in Jesus, “You were washed, you were sanctified, you were justified in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ and by the Spirit of our God.” (1 Corinthians 6:11)  God does this all so that you are now counted among His people and will enjoy forever the glory and peace of His house in heaven, all because God saves His people for everlasting glory.  Amen.

Now to Him who is able to keep you from stumbling, and to present you faultless before the presence of His glory with exceeding joy, to God our Savior, Who alone is wise, be glory and majesty, dominion and power, both now and forever.  Amen.