The Names on the List
Revelation 7:2-17
5 November 2017 – Redeemer
One of the church’s customs on All Saints Day is to read the names of the departed saints – those members of the congregation who have died since last November 1st. The church bell usually tolls for each name. In so doing the congregation gives thanks for the faithful saints, for their example, for the gifts we received through them, but ultimately the ritual gives thanks to Jesus, for without Him none of us would be saints, holy ones, and none of us would make it through death to life everlasting.
In today’s first reading, St. John sees a revelation of the church and he reads a list of names. Judah, Reuben, Gad, Asher, Napthali, Manasseh, Simeon, Levi, Issachar, Zebulun, Joseph, and Benjamin. Do you know who those twelve guys were? If you guessed that these are the twelve sons of Israel you would be wrong. Eleven of them are sons of Israel, but Manasseh is a grandson of Israel. One of Israel’s boys didn’t make the cut. If you were in my confirmation class I would award 10,000 bonus points if you could name the son of Israel not on this list. Dan is not on the list. Somehow Israel’s son Dan is out and his grandson Manasseh is in. But why?
Well, the Old Testament gives us some clues. Dan was the sixth son. He was born to Jacob (later named Israel) and Bilhah (Rachel’s servant). When it came time to inherit the promised land Dan’s tribe fought against his brothers, stole their land, and set up false gods in Canaan. In fact, the city of Dan became one of two places where King Jeroboam set up a golden calf so people didn’t have to go all the way to Jerusalem to worship. One of the early church father’s named Irenaeus speculated that Dan was left out of the list because the Anti-Christ would come from the people of Dan. Now, if your name is Dan, don’t get mad at your parents. They probably didn’t name you after Dan son of Israel. They likely named you after Daniel of lion’s den fame who confessed his faith in the God of Israel even in the face of death.
So we might conclude that Dan is off the list because he worshipped false gods – a first commandment breaker. But if you know your Old Testament family history these guys don’t get much better as you go down the list.
Most of what we know about these boys of Israel comes from their interaction with Joseph – the favored son of Israel, the boy with the many colored robe of Broadway fame. His brother Judah tops the list in Revelation. Judah kept Joseph from being killed by suggesting to the brothers they sell him into slavery instead. Was that a good work? Sort of. But later in life Judah visited a prostitute who turned out to be his daughter-in-law who eventually bore twin sons to Judah. Not exactly praiseworthy father-in-law behavior. He was a sixth commandment breaker, yet he’s on the list.
Reuben, second on the list, was the first born. He also tried to help Joseph, but later his people wanted to choose their land first in the promised land. Once they received what was theirs they didn’t want to help their brothers. He was a seventh commandment breaker, yet he’s on the list.
Skip a few names and you’ll come to Naphtali. He’s son #5. He settled up north in the promised land, together with his brother Zebulun #10 son. They chose to live far from Jerusalem, far from the gifts of the Lord. I wonder if we could say anything about those who like to go up north on weekends far from the gifts of God in His house. Hmmm! Better not, might offend someone. These two tribes didn’t drive out the Canaanites from the land and by the time Jesus came along these areas weren’t even considered part of Israel – they were pagan, Gentile lands. These guys are breaking the third commandment weekly, and yet they are on the list.
Simeon and Levi are next – they are the 2nd and 3rd son of Israel. You might think these two boys were good. When their sister Dinah was raped they sought revenge. But they did so through deceit, without God’s approval. They killed every man in the village, and plundered their wealth, and took their wives and children as slaves. These guys broke the 4th, 5th, 9th and 10th commandments, yet they are on the list.
None of this should surprise us when we remember their father Jacob. He fought with his twin brother Esau from birth. He bribed his brother, conspired with his mother, and lied to his father n his deathbed to steal Esau’s blessing.
This list should comfort you. It should comfort you because God’s Kingdom isn’t a heavenly assembly of good little boys and girls. It’s an assembly of hellions – as hellish as you when you sin – when you worship in the north woods more than in God’s house, when you let your cravings for sex, or power, or revenge, or people run wild and you trample over your neighbor. Not one of these boys and not one of you is or will be a saint because of who you are or what you do. For all that’s tied to your name is the same sin tied to Judah and Naphtali and Simeon.
St. John sees the source and center of our sainthood, the One name by which our sin is covered and God can look on us in love instead of revolt. John sees this 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.’”
Salvation belongs to our God. If you are to be saved it will be God’s doing. He alone can save you. He alone can deliver you. He alone can favor you, for it is Him that you have offended by your sins. He created you. He gave you all you have. When you sin it is always and foremost against Him and He has the power to destroy both your body and soul in hell. But that is not what He wants. He wants you to be saved, as He wanted Judah the adulterer, and Naphtali the church skipper and Simeon the murderer. God chooses to save you, by sending you His Son – the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world.
Dr. Luther was fond of saying that Jesus was the worst sinner the world ever saw, because Jesus carried the sin of the world. The worst sin you ever committed – Jesus took it. The one you fight and wrestle with and sometimes give in to – He’s got it. The vilest act the boys of Israel ever committed – it’s on Jesus. Don’t think He cannot handle your sin. He is God in the flesh. The fullness of God dwells in Him bodily. He took your sins, suffered the hell of God’s wrath, and finished off your sin, death, and hell. Salvation belongs to our God who sits on the throne and to the Lamb and His salvation is for you.
That’s why Judah’s name can be recorded as a Saint, and why you also are a Saint. One of the Elders asked John about this multitude whom He saw, “These in white robes – who are they?” John replied, “Sir, you know.” And the elder said, “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.”
The little hellions of Israel are Saints by the blood of Christ. Covered by Christ they’re better looking in God’s eyes than a class of junior high kids wearing their confirmation gowns. So it is for you, however hellish your life is. You are a Saint, holy and righteous in God’s eyes, by the blood of Jesus. That means the end of the tribulation is coming. Soon we will be gathered around the Lamb on His throne and God will wipe away every tear of sorrow, sadness, and self-loathing from our eyes – in the name of Jesus. Amen.