PASTOR'S MESSAGE

   

“Who are these...?”

Revelation 7:2-17

 (Preacher: Reverend Timothy D. Storck)

May the words of my mouth and the meditation found in all of our hearts be pleasing to you, O Lord, with the Son and the Holy Spirit, ever one God, world without end.  Amen.

 

Grace, mercy, and peace be to you from God our Father and our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.  Amen.

 

Intro.

            Who are these…? the elder asks St. John as they beheld 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…  John knew who they are, the elder surely knew, and we know also. 

            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.  On this Sunday we observe All Saints’ Day which is normally celebrated November 1st.  Most often when we speak of the saints we remember those that the Roman Catholic Church has made prominent through the rigorous process of canonization.  1)  The person has to be dead for five years. 2) The bishop can begin an investigation to see just how virtuous the hoped-to-be saint was.  3) The information collected by the investigator(s) is turned over to theologians, cardinals, and bishops in Rome to vote whether to continue or not.  4) There must be proof of one miracle performed by the dead-saint-to-be before the examination is completed, and one miracle performed after.  What a process! 

            Who are these though, for the multitudes that stand before the throne can’t just be those whom the Roman Church has canonized? 

I.

Behold a host, arrayed in white

Like thousand snow-clad mountains bright!

With palms they stand; Who is this band

Before the throne of light?

These are the saints of glorious fame,

Who from the great affliction came

And in the flood of Jesus blood

Are cleansed from guilt and shame.

They now serve God both day and night;

They sing their songs in endless light.

Their anthems ring As they all sing

With angels shining bright. (LSB 676: 1)

            Who is this band before the throne of light?  This band came from the great affliction.  From a world stained and tainted with sin.  Sin that infects and destroys all that it touches, for in sin all mankind will die.  This host didn’t always where garments of white for at one time they were children of darkness, only one who served themselves.  From the small child greed and sin ruled their minds to the oldest one they fought and stole.  They knew nothing of the one who came to die, for in their sickness of sin they were already dead.   

            There lives were lived in guilt and shame for the sins that they committed and the pain of the punishment that they deserved.  You shall have no other Gods, remember the Sabbath day, honor father and mother, thou shalt not covet.  These Holy Ten Commands they broke, without forgiveness they were lost.  For they are sinners and left to themselves all sinners are lost.  They knew nothing of God’s love and goodness, nor His mercy for all mankind. 

Here on this earth without faith they serve only themselves, anthems sung to themselves and to others.  And yet He came for them.  He cleansed them from the sins that they committed and made them perfect.  In robes of gleaming white He clothes them, to be perfect in His sight, though yet sinner but also saint.

II.

Despised and scorned, they sojourned here;

But now, how glorious they appear!

Those martyrs stand, A priestly band,

God’s throne forever near.

On earth they wept through bitter years;

Now God has wiped away their tears,

Transformed their strife To heav’nly life,

And freed them from their fears.

They now enjoy the Sabbath rest,

The heav’nly banquet of the blest;

The Lamb, their Lord, At the festive board

Himself is host and guest. (LSB 676:2)

             Despised and scorned, one sojourned here.  He came, being born in a lowly stable.  Among mankind He lived with sinners, tax collectors, and little children, those not highly thought of and despised by the people.  Jesus was the one who took all of the scorn and shame that we have received and hung with it upon the cross.  Bitter tears He wept at the death of sinners.

            With His perfect work upon the earth He has transformed all of the believer’s strife into heavenly life.  Through His cleansing blood He has atoned for the sins of all mankind.  From the fears of sickness, abandonment, ridicule, scorn, suffering, and death His beloved no longer have anything to fear and are freed to enjoy the rest given to them by Christ, their Lord. 

            He still gives of Himself at the banquet feast in heaven above.  For He spreads of Himself to those children which He hast claim, allowing them to feast on His very self.  For at this heavenly banquet are all who have been claimed with His death and resurrection and have faith in Him.  They come from all corners, tribes, and nations, multitudes of saints and eat of the one great feast.

           

III.

O blessed saints in bright array

Now safely home in endless day,

Extol the Lord, Who with His Word

Sustained you on the way.

The steep and narrow path you trod;

You toiled and sowed the Word abroad;

Rejoice and bring Your fruits and sing

Before the throne of God.

The myriad angels raise their song;

O saints, sing with that happy throng!

Lift up one voice; Let heav’n rejoice

In our Redeemer’s song! (LSB 676:3)

            Who are these?  You, you and those who have died in the faith are the ones that we sing about this morning.  From the great tribulation you have come.  In His arms, claimed His through the washing in Christ’s blood, you are as good as home from the newborn infant just claimed to the eldest of His children.  You are a saint, the steep and narrow path you tread. 

            As His very own chosen ones you have toiled and sweated spreading His Word throughout the world.  He has sustained you, with the Waters of Baptism, fed and nourished your bodies and souls with the life giving Body and Blood given and shed for you for the remission of your sins, and His own very life giving Word He keeps you in the faith.  He has sustained you on the narrow way, for without Him and His Gifts you would fall away.

            So we rejoice this blessed All Saints Day and every day giving thanks with our fruits and gifts that He has entrusted to us.  Even now, washed in the blood of the Lamb we come before His throne as His chosen saints, in His eyes wrapped in garments of brilliant white, we can approach His throne where He gives us of His very self. 

            We can sing even now with those who have gone before us and who we will see on that great day of resurrection, and with the angels and archangels and with all the company of heaven we can laud and magnify His glorious name in sings:  Holy, Holy, Holy, Lord God of Sabaoth; heav’n and earth are full of they glory.

            Who are these, clothed in white robes, and from where have they come?  You know.  They are not just the ones who have been canonized by the Roman Catholic Church, but 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.  Amen.

 

The peace of God, which passes all understanding, keep your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus.  Amen.

  

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