Who Are These?
Revelation 7:9 – 17
We come to Mother’s Day, a Sunday that one theologian called the third most holy day after Christmas and Easter. It is third because of the presence and participation of the most famous mother in history, Mary the mother of Christ. She carried and birthed the incarnated the Son of God in the stable in Bethlehem. She was also there at the foot of the Roman Cross there on that Friday. In those times and places, she took place in both ends of the incarnation story that leads mankind to the forgiveness and eternal life that, as Solomon tells us, is the fulfillment of the eternity that has been set into the human heart. For her loyalty, love, and faithfulness she has been venerated by Christians over the centuries as a saint, Mother Mary.
We all have saints in our lives, in our past, and in our present. Look around this sanctuary and you can see those that you consider saints. Some are those who are living and walking among us. Some of the Saints in our lives are those who have gone ahead of us, we have lost some this year, consequently Heaven has gained some. The word saint is not limited to the “greats” of history. In fact, the Apostle Paul and other writers of the New Testament use the term synonymously with Christians and believers.
Beginning today we will be spending the next three weeks in the book of Revelation, written by the Apostle John. John, as you may know, is the only one of the Disciples of Christ that does not meet a martyr’s death. He writes that he was in prison “on account of the Gospel.” He is tried and convicted for the crime against the Roman government of being a “Christian.” His punishment for that crime is to be sent into exile to the island of Patmos, a Greek island in the Aegean Sea. He eventually leaves Patmos and dies a free man living with family. It is from this exile that he will write the prophetically apocalyptic book of Revelation, to the “seven churches in Asia and all believers everywhere.” Friends, we are among those believers.
It is during his imprisonment, that something happens to John. God reaches down and lifts John up to Heaven give him a glimpse. A divine foresight of what was happening at that time and what would be happening later so that John could tell other Christians and seekers what they could expect at the end of their Earthly journey.
In our lesson today, the Apostle John recounts for us a vision in the Book of Revelation, where he talks about seeing a great multitude of people, a number that is so large that he says that it “countless.” Not only is it countless but it includes people from every nation, every race, and every language. This great multitude includes men and women, of all ages, it is universally inclusive!
John writes that all the people there were clad in white, they were waving palm branches, and they are resounding with hymns of praise in a loud voice. They cry out “Salvation belongs to our God who is seated on the throne, and to the Lamb!” He writes that the angels gathered around the golden thrones. And the heavenly elders who represent God’s people and the four living creatures who represent all God’s creatures fell on their faces before God. And they sang: “Blessing, glory, wisdom thanksgiving be unto God, be unto God. Honor power might and glory, be unto God forever and forever.”
It is clear that this crowd has come to celebrate their Savior faithfully, ardently, and for an Eternity. The angels hover over and around the great multitude bringing great celestial light to the festivities. The elders watch and listen intently as this Heavenly congregation praises the Father and the Lamb. John is rightful awestruck by the scene.
The Apostle John is then rhetorically asked by one of those elders “Who are These” souls in white, where did they come from. John pointedly replies, “you already know that answer.” The elder repeats his question as prelude to the answer: “Who are these? These are the ones coming out of the great tribulation, they have come through great challenge to be here.” These are the one that have faithfully faced to great challenges of the world below and yet have remained in the true to God who has sustained them.
The elder says that their robes are white because they washed their robes in the blood of the sinless the blood of the Lamb. Those dirty, grimy robes that they had worn, the robes made filthy by the sin, sorrow, pain, and all the despair of this world, are washed in the blood of Jesus and they are now magnificently white!
Who are These? These members of this multitude are the example and image of Jesus to which we are continuously striving. The Apostle Paul is always telling us to put on our faith like righteous garment, to put on the attributes of Christ, to put on the fruit of the Spirit. These are the ones who put on Christ, put on his life, and lived it as though it were their own. They lived it for those in need. They have lived and worked for the benefit of others. Those are the characteristics of saints, both living and resting. Sounds like a testimony to all Godly mothers everywhere and in every time does not it
It is in this truth that we are reminded that while holiness is a Christian calling, it is about the work of God on our behalf. Holiness does not come from us, it comes from the Lamb in whose name, person, and earthly calling that we become the answer to the question “Who are These” that approach the thrones of God and His Son with boldness and conviction. It is us and all of the people that came before us and showed us the truth, and with God’s blessing and faithful work will be those that come after us, because of us!
We can imagine that as John looked at the faces of those in that heavenly multitude, from every nation, tribe people and language, that he could recognize a few faces. The faces of brothers and sisters, all of the Disciples that had served Jesus, those that followed Him on every dusty trail, taking every step with Him and for Him, those who had given their lives in service to God.
In this incredible scene, God was revealing to John his spiritual destiny as well as the spiritual destiny of those like him and those that were to come after him. After all John was washed by the blood of the lamb. He had given his life to Christ and was going through a time of challenge, going through a the time of tribulation in his life at Patmos. Consequently, this would be his reward not because he was special but because he was a faithful believer. One day, he too would stand in heaven waving a palm branch as a symbol of victory over death and evil. And he would no longer hunger or thirst or faint in the heat of the sun. And God would wipe every tear from his eye.
But John’s reward was not just for him in the by and by, but rather this vision has been given to John so that he could pass it on to those that would come after him, you and me, the believers in the here and now. Hope to face the challenges of today and overcome the tribulations that are to come. Strength to carry us through all that would happen to us. John’s testimony to all he saw, has been an inspiration to Christians ever since. Not only for us as individuals but for us collectively, as a universal church God.
Who are these? We are people who normally would not mix because we come from different places, different times, and different lives. But there exists among us a fellowship, a belonging, and companionship which is indescribably wonderful. We are like the passengers of a great liner in that moment after rescue from shipwreck, when camaraderie, joyousness and faithfulness pervade the vessel from those in steerage space to Captain’s table.
Who are These? Together it is a binding joy and thanksgiving for escape from eternal disaster that does not subside as we go our individual ways after the saving event. There remains in us all the feeling of having shared in a common peril and yet a common salvation which becomes a powerful connectedness which binds us to each other and to the Spirit that has brought us together.
Who are These? They are the countless multitude that includes people from every nation, every race, and every language. This great multitude includes men and women, of all ages yet we are connected because we are Spiritual kinfolk! And those things that in the world’s view would never have held us together yet now joins us as a brotherhood because we hold a tremendous common and everlasting truth in our hearts and souls. We have all discovered a common point of salvation, redemption and cleansing, the blood of Jesus Christ and a common home for Eternity.
Who are these? They are us! Have you ever been through times of trouble? Are you going through them now? Has your robe been washed in the blood of the Lamb of God? Does it need a little tidying up, a bit of spot removal here and there? Mine does!
Who are These? We are the ones that daily put our trust in God, His son, our savior, and the Holy Spirit. Have you put your trust in God and God’s Son Jesus? Do you need to lean into Him a little more each and every day? I do!
John promises us today that God will provide for his children’s needs in their eternal home; your destiny is to be gloriously robed for a heavenly choir, have God wipe every tear from your eye, no hunger, no thirst, no pain, no more fainting under the heat and we too will spend our days in joyful adoration of our God just as the Apostle John tells us today. Who are These? Dear ones, as Believers, we are they! Amen.