Today’s reading is often used for funerals and of course, All Saints Sunday. Written during the final years of the first century AD, the book of Revelation uses symbolism and metaphor about the persecution by Rome against the early churches in Asia Minor, which is now the nation Turkey. The scene is divided into two sections, a heavenly vision in Revelation 7: 9-13 and its interpretation in Revelation 7: 13-17. Worship and praise are central to both sections.
We celebrate All Saints Sunday as remembrance of the famous canonized saints such as St. Francis of Assisi (1181-1226 AD) and maybe just the friendly and helpful neighbor next door. The Mexican Day of the Dead which was celebrated on Nov. 2nd, is taken more seriously than the western European or American version. In Mexico, families visit cemeteries where loved ones are buried and even have a picnic near their grave.
The white-robbed multitude sing songs and wave Palm branches in Revelation. Their daring hymns challenge the Roman Emperor, saying true salvation, blessing, glory and power belongs to God alone. For Revelation, this is a dramatic new Exodus. But this time it’s not Egypt that God’s people leave, but the power and culture of the Roman Empire. And the exodus is led this time, not by Moses but another shepherd called the shepherd of people - Jesus of Nazareth.
In the Revelation story, there are no barriers or gates prohibiting travel or entry. At the Temple in Jerusalem, which was destroyed before Revelation was written, no Gentile could enter beyond the Court of Gentiles, upon facing execution. A Jewish male could pass through the Court of Women, but no further. Beyond that was the Court of Priests alone. But in God’s Kingdom there are no barriers or borders. Race, genders and social status does not matter.
The promise of this reality is that the message of Christ empowers people to work to end hunger, pain and sorrow. And that includes the evils of racism, militarism and escalating gun violence must end.
Verse 10 says “victory” or in some translations say, “salvation belongs to our God.” To the churches in Asia Minor during the 1st century, it was a political statement. Those Jesus followers in Asia Minor had thrown down a heaveley gauntlet directed at the Emperor of Rome. The Greek word for “salvation” can also mean “deliverance.” Revelation chapter seven is a vision of well-being and peace for God’s community. The official source of such a “well-being,” peace and salvation, was supposed to be the Roman Emperor. But only oppression existed. However, in this vision, those who stood before the throne acknowledge God and Christ, as the Lamb, as the ultimate source of holistic salvation. To sing the song of the Great Multitude is to affirm that all power belongs to God and the blessings we receive come from God also.
The Great Multitude has gone through a great ordeal from Rome’s persecution and the path to a joyous celebration has not been easy. As the Elder in the story said, “They have washed their robes and made them white in the Lamb’s blood.”
To be washed in the blood of the Lamb is not easy. Those Jesus disciples who first read Revelation, had felt the violence and oppression from Rome. We can feel that we’re sometimes in a crisis-state also. Maybe it’s because of the condition in our nation and its political turmoil? And the issue of war is always in the news. Many of us are mourning the human-made tragedies done to the people in Gaza. And it could be personal tragedies that overwhelm us.
During this existence, we do have hope because of the opportunity to embody this Great Multitude mentioned in Revelation. We embody them each time we worship with people who are different from us. People of different backgrounds, different ethnic groups and languages. Diversity is not a cliche word to throw around as politically correct, diversity is what exists within God’s Realm, in heaven as it is on earth. Diversity is not an obligation, it’s a gift. The diversity within many churches is a witness of the Holy Spirit for inclusiveness, from the layperson to the clergy.
Revelation chapter seven is a vision of the future to come. It’s also a remembrance for all of us today to celebrate the Eucharist among the saints of the past, present and future.
By the end of Revelation, chapter seven, all of us as God’s people can say with certainty, with God’s help, we are able to stand before God’s throne as part of the Great Multitude.
AMEN
