LOOK! A HOST ARRAYED IN WHITE!
Rev. Bernt P. Tweit
Epistle Lesson; Isaiah 26:1-21
Gospel Lesson; Matthew 5:1-12
Sermon Text; Revelation 7:9-17
Today’s text gives us a picture of the church in Heaven. And, as we see this picture of the church in Heaven, we too say,
"Look,
behold,
a host arrayed in white!"
Before we jump into our text today, there are two terms that I want to explain - The ‘Church Militant’ and the ‘Church Triumphant’.
The ‘Church Triumphant’ are those who are already in Heaven. They are triumphant, or victorious, because they have received eternal life, the gift God has given, through faith in Jesus.
The ‘Church Militant’ are believers here on earth. Believers are militant, or fighting, because the devil, sin, death, and temptation are still present in this lifetime. We are members of the ‘Church Militant’. Hence, the hymn we sing, "Onward Christian Soldiers". And, we look forward to being members of the ‘Church Triumphant’.
In 1891, a crop failure crushed Russia, consuming over 900,000 square miles of crops, and killing half a million people. Among those who died were many Christians, whose children remained behind, to face years of tear filled hardship.
Today, little has changed. Christians throughout the world continue to face tear-filled hardship. For example, believers in California, whose homes are being consumed with fires, are facing hardships.
If you are facing hardship, look at our text for today! This part of God’s Word explains that, in this sin devastated world, even Christians can expect tribulation. But more importantly, you can also count on God, who ‘will wipe every tear from (your) eyes’ through your Lord Jesus Christ.
Look! A Host Arrayed in White!
How we will join the Host Arrayed in White
First, I would like to look at how we, members of the Church Militant, will not join the "great multitude that no one could count, from every nation, tribe, people and language", the members of the ‘Church Triumphant’. Here are some ways that we will not join the great multitude. Some people misinterpret passages in the book of Revelation. There are some church bodies that teach, ‘The Rapture’. This is a false teaching, that God will raise up, or rapture Christians, and thus remove them from the tribulation described in Revelation. Some also teach that The Rapture will give people a second chance to repent, before Jesus returns a second time.
Revelation does not teach a Rapture of Christians. God will not remove Christians from the earth, so that they might avoid suffering. Instead, Revelation teaches that God will preserve His people in the face of persecution and suffering.
God’s Word does not teach The Rapture. Nowhere does God say He will remove anyone from the tribulation spoken of in Revelation; however, as The End Times occur (and we are living in The End Times now), God promises to give you all the strength needed to face even the most difficult suffering.
"If God is for us,
who can be against us?
He who did not spare His own Son,
but gave Him up for us all
how will He not also,
along with Him,
graciously give us all things?"
Romans 8:31-32
Then, how will we, members of the ‘Church Militant’ join the "great multitude that no one could count from every nation, tribe, people and language", members of the ‘Church Triumphant’? Revelation 7, verses 9, 10, and 14 give us the answer.
Revelation 7, verse 9 says that we will join them wearing white robes and holding palm branches. White is the color of purity, holiness and sinless ness. We will join them, because we will be without sin.
Palm branches were symbols of victory and royalty. For example, Jesus riding into Jerusalem on what we now know as Palm Sunday. ‘An old custom used to be to put a little palm branch into the hands of a departed Christian, at his/her burial, as a symbol of his/her faith and hope.’
Verse 10 says, "Salvation belongs to our God." We will join the saints who have gone before us, because we are saved by God, "who sits on the throne and to the Lamb".
Verse 14 says we will join the saints who have gone before us through the blood of the Lamb. ‘The blood of the Lamb’ is a figure of speech for the atoning death of Jesus on the cross which washes away sin. To that point, Isaiah 1:18 says,
"though your sins are like scarlet,
they shall be as white as snow,
though they are red as crimson,
they shall be like wool."
We will join the saints in Heaven, the members of the ‘Church Triumphant’, because Jesus shed His blood for us. He has forgiven us our sins and we have received salvation from God.
That is how we will join the ‘Church Triumphant’, but what will we enjoy with them?
What we will enjoy with the Host Arrayed in White.
Verses 14-17 tell us what we will enjoy. It is worth our viewing those verses again.
"Therefore, ‘they are before the throne of God and serve Him day and night in His temple; and He who sits on the throne will spread His tent over them. Never again will they hunger; never again will they thirst. The sun will not beat upon them, nor any scorching heat. For the Lamb at the center of the throne will be their shepherd; He will lead them to springs of living water. And God will wipe away every tear from their eyes.’"
What will we enjoy with the Host Arrayed in White?
We will serve God day and night in His temple (this should remind us of the Holy of Holies, where God’s presence was).
God will spread His tent over us. (This should evoke imagery of the tabernacle in the desert. We will dwell in safety and security under His cover and protection.)
We won’t be hungry (Jesus is the bread of life).
We won’t be thirsty (Jesus is the water of life).
The Lamb at the center of the throne will be our shepherd; He will lead us to springs of living water.
Can’t you just hear the words of Psalm 23 coming through that phrase?
"The LORD is my shepherd, I shall not be in want. He makes me lie down in green pastures, he leads me beside quiet waters, he restores my soul. He guides me in paths of righteousness for His name’s sake. Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me. You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies. You anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows. Surely goodness and love will follow me all the days of my life, and I will dwell in the house of the LORD forever. Psalm 23
We won’t have any tears.
So long as you live on this earth, the devil will continually strive to deceive and destroy you.
Your enemy the devil
prowls around like a roaring lion
looking for someone to devour.
I Peter 5:8
But Jesus has defeated the devil! Though you may face suffering, be fully assured that God will help you through your most difficult times. And, when Jesus returns, He will ‘wipe every tear from (your) eyes,’ and take you to be with Him in Paradise, forever!
The crop failure in Russia in 1891 and the wild fires in California in 2003 should remind us of the difficulties that we may face as members of the ‘Church Militant’. But we look forward to Heaven, where we will see God face-to-face. We will be free from illnesses. We will be free from sin, sorrow and death. Heaven will be better than anything we can imagine and the best part is being with Jesus.
Amen.
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