11/03 – Revelation 7:2-17 – A Great Multitude Standing Before the Throne

First Reading: Revelation 7:1-4, 9-17

After this I saw four angels standing at the four corners of the earth. They were holding back the four winds of the earth to keep them from blowing on the land, the sea, or any tree. I saw another angel coming from the east with the seal of the living God. He cried out in a loud voice to the four angels who had been given power to harm the land and sea, “Do not harm the land, the sea, or the trees until we have put the seal on the foreheads of the servants of our God.” I heard how many were sealed: 144,000. Those who were sealed were from every tribe of the people of Israel.

After these things I saw a large crowd from every nation, tribe, people, and language. No one was able to count how many people there were. They were standing in front of the throne and the Lamb. They were wearing white robes, holding palm branches in their hands, and crying out in a loud voice, “Salvation belongs to our God, who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb!”

All the angels stood around the throne with the leaders and the four living creatures. They bowed in front of the throne with their faces touching the ground, worshiped God, and said, “Amen! Praise, glory, wisdom, thanks, honor, power, and strength be to our God forever and ever! Amen!”

One of the leaders asked me, “Who are these people wearing white robes, and where did they come from?”

I answered him, “Sir, you know.”

Then he told me, “These are the people who are coming out of the terrible suffering. They have washed their robes and made them white in the blood of the lamb. That is why they are in front of the throne of God. They serve him day and night in his temple. The one who sits on the throne will spread his tent over them. They will never be hungry or thirsty again.  Neither the sun nor any burning heat will ever overcome them. The lamb in the center near the throne will be their shepherd. He will lead them to springs filled with the water of life, and God will wipe every tear from their eyes.”

Epistle Reading: 1 John 3:1-3

Consider this: The Father has given us his love. He loves us so much that we are actually called God’s dear children, and that is what we are. For this reason the world doesn’t recognize us, and it didn’t recognize him either. Dear friends, now we are God’s children. What we will be isn’t completely clear yet. We do know that when Christ appears we will be like him because we will see him as he is. So all people who have this confidence in Christ keep themselves pure, as Christ is pure.

Gospel Reading: Matthew 5:1-12

When Jesus saw the crowds, he went up a mountain and sat down. His disciples came to him, and he began to teach them: “Blessed are those who are poor in spirit. The kingdom of heaven belongs to them. Blessed are those who mourn. They will be comforted. Blessed are those who are meek. They will inherit the earth. Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for God’s approval. They will be satisfied. Blessed are those who show mercy. They will be treated mercifully. Blessed are those whose thoughts are pure. They will see God. Blessed are those who make peace. They will be called God’s children. Blessed are those who are persecuted for doing what God approves of. The kingdom of heaven belongs to them. “Blessed are you when people insult you, persecute you, lie, and say all kinds of evil things about you because of me. Rejoice and be glad because you have a great reward in heaven! The prophets who lived before you were persecuted in these ways.