Easter 4 C
Revelation – It’s Jesus
Revelation 7:9-17
17 April 2016 – Redeemer
Do you know the very first words of the book of Revelation? With the book’s reputation you might think it begins, “Don’t read this book of the Bible first.” Or perhaps you might think it says, “You’ll need a really smart preacher on TV with all sorts of charts and pictures to help you understand this book.” Perhaps surprisingly to all of us this letter, given to Saint John by the Holy Spirit, begins, “The revelation of Jesus Christ.” It’s almost as if Saint John is having some fun with us. What did you think I’m going to write to about? Jesus, of course.
The whole New Testament is the revelation of Jesus. The angels revealed to the shepherds that they would find God Himself wrapped in a diaper and lying in a manger in Bethlehem. God the Father revealed in Jesus’ baptism that Jesus of Nazareth was His Son. The miracles and Jesus’ own Word reveal that He is God in the flesh. The empty tomb and Jesus’ risen body reveal that His Words are true, that your sins are forgiven, and that God has worked His salvation for you. When we listen to Revelation we should expect to hear the same thing we have heard throughout God’s Word – Jesus is God’s Son and our Savior.
Last Sunday’s reading from Revelation revealed Jesus as the Lamb who was slain and who alone was worthy to open God’s Word (the scroll with seven seals held in God’s hand). Between last week’s text and this week’s text the scroll’s seals are opened, one at a time by the Lamb. With each broken seal, there is a revelation, a revelation about what is happening right now, on earth and in heaven, because the Lamb who was slain was raised from the dead and lives. Let this be clear – Revelation is about our life in Christ right now, as we await His return.
When the Lamb breaks open the first four seals, as each seal is broken a horse and rider appear. The first seal – a white horse. The second – a red horse. The third – a black horse. The fourth – a pale horse. If you’ve ever heard the expression, “The Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse” – these are the guys. Apocalypse is just another word for revelation. The only horse whose identity is in question is the white horse – some have thought the horse represents Christ, but that doesn’t really fit the context because all the other horses work evil in the fallen world. Some think the white horse is the anti-Christ, dressed in white like Christ, but using that disguise to do great harm to the church and world. Likely the white horse represents the tyranny and oppression in the world when rulers use their God-given authority to dictate, exploit, enslave and dominate people. The red horse is violence and bloodshed. The black horse is famine and scarcity. The fourth horse – the pale horse and rider is death itself.
Now has Revelation told you anything that Jesus and the Apostolic writers didn’t tell you would happen in the New Testament. The Roman Rulers of New Testament times were tyrants. There was great bloodshed and violence in the world into which Jesus was born and in which the Apostles preached. Famine and death have been in every age since Adam and Eve were removed from the bountiful buffet of Eden. Death is always riding through this world.
The four seals reveal what everyone suffers because of our sin, but the fifth seal reveals something that only Christians suffer. When the fifth seal is opened we are shown something that doesn’t make any sense – those who were killed because they believed in God’s Word and worshiped the Lamb. They are under the altar that John had seen earlier in the Revelation and they are wondering how long before the Lord will avenge them? Once again, there is nothing new here. Jesus said, “A servant is not greater than his master. If they persecuted me, they will also persecute you…” John 15:20 (ESV). It doesn’t make sense that Christians should suffer for Christ’s sake, but that is what Scripture promises those baptized into Christ. Suffering and persecution was the reward of the 12 Apostles and of Christians in every age.
The sixth seal is the last seal opened before the text. And when that seal is opened the world starts coming to an end – earthquakes, darkened moon, stars falling from the sky, mountains crumbling, islands disappearing, and everyone in the world is hiding because God’s final judgment, His wrath against sin is finally coming.
So how do you deal with the afflictions common to all humanity? To tyranny, to famine, to bloodshed and violence, to death itself? Do you strive for power? If I can be in charge, if I can promote myself, if I can succeed then I am less likely to suffer at the hands of others, be subject to violence, be in want. Do you live in denial, ignore the warning signs, let them call evil good and good evil, I’ll just cover my eyes and ears, and keep my mouth shut. Enjoy the good, suffer the bad, live and let live. Do you know the most common reaction to all that is happening in this world? Fear, fear that nothing can be done, fear of our neighbors, and finally, fear of God that He has either forgotten us or worse that He is against us. That fear leads us to anger. Do you have any doubts that we are a people of fear and anger?
Saint John sees the real answer to all this trouble in the world – the answer is the Lamb of God – the answer is belonging to the Lamb. In the text John sees the church triumphant, the church at rest, a great multitude that no one could number. That multitude is all those who are saved, those who have died and are at rest, those who are with Jesus. As we heard last week their heavenly song has one refrain – it’s Jesus. “Salvation belongs to our God who sits on the throne and to the Lamb!” Then John sees and hears exactly how that great multitude was brought out of the great tribulation of those first six seals.
“Who are these, clothed in white robes, and from where have they come?” How is that you will be delivered from tyranny, violence, famine, death, and suffering? “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.”
There is but one garment, one covering, that will preserve you and save you. It isn’t personal power, denial, a carefree spirit, happiness, or fear. Covering your life in those is about as effective as Adam and Eve’s fig leaves in the garden. The only covering that saves and endures is Christ – the blood that He shed on the cross cleanses you from your sins. Covered in Christ your Father claims you as His child. Covered in Christ your Father loves you. Covered in Christ you are forgiven. Covered in Christ Satan has no claim on you. Death has no power over you. Suffering will come but it will not succeed. You might lack for many things on earth, but there is no hunger in eternity. In your life here you will always thirst for more, but whoever drinks of Jesus will never thirst in the end. He will guide you to springs of living water.
Do you want to know something about strange about Christ’s church? We go into battle in our wedding dress. We, along with all who believe, face Satan, meet death, endure suffering, and fight sin, dressed in the gown that Christ has given us, washed clean of our sins, made lovely in His eyes, by His saving blood. When you were baptized – white gown, showing what Christ did for you. When you were confirmed – white gown – confessing what Christ did for you. When you are buried – white funeral pall on your casket – confessing what Christ did for you. White gown, wedding gown, Christ’s gown, His sin forgiving, soul cleansing, washed in the blood of the Lamb gown. That gown will keep you in these dark and latter days. That gown will finally bring you to rest, out of the battle and into shelter of God’s presence. That is this week’s revelation. In the name of Jesus. Amen.
Pr. Bruce Timm
14 April 2016 anno Domini