Greetings Disciples of Jesus!
The Bible is a library and very complex literature that is meant to be studied and reflected upon, especially the book of Revelation. The information that follows is gleaned from the Bible and Craig Koester’s book, “Revelation and the End of All Things”. Koester advises us to think about what we expect of Revelation’s visions and the large realities they open for us. Last week we had the 7 letters to the churches and the question of who was worthy to open the scroll with the 7 seals and the slaughtered yet living seven eyed and seven horned Lamb who was found worthy and there was worship. This is the template for our celebration of Christ’s resurrection. This is why we keep the weird looking lamb before us and keep looking for where Jesus shows up. This shapes our developing vision of resurrection.
The worthy Lamb opens four seals and each of the four living creatures calls forth the horse and its rider. The white horse and bowed conquering rider, the red horse and peace taking rider with the great sword, the black horse with the scales holding rider and the green horse with the Death rider who could kill with sword, famine, pestilence and wild animal a ¼ of the earth. These horsemen may stand for the larger realities of conquest, violence, economic hardship and death awakening a sense of uneasiness in the reader's well-being and sense of security. The opening of the 5th seal reveals the martyrs who are told to rest a bit longer and the 6th seal was the earthquake that chases all the powerful into hiding asking, “Who is able to stand?”
This is the question our Sunday lesson from Revelation 7:9-17 answers and we are brought again to the Lamb and the throne with the multitude from every tribe, people, languages robed in white with palm branches shouting out “Salvation belongs to our God who is seated on the throne and to the Lamb!” They are joined with the angels and the 4 living creatures worshipping God. I hope this sounds familiar. Revelation likes layering images upon images hoping to stir our imaginations into deeper insight and reflection. Keep thinking about resurrection.
The vision draws our attention to the white robed worshippers who have come out of the great ordeal and washed their robes in the blood of the Lamb resulting in white robes. Amazing what the power of the Lamb’s blood can do and the worship it calls forth in those who have come through the great ordeal. The vision asks us to look for more than just blood stains as we see this Lamb become the shepherd of the people who will guide them to springs of living water and God will wipe away every tear from their eyes. And the opening of the 7th seal gives 90 minutes of silence in heaven before the smoke of the incense and prayers of the saints rise before God and heavenly fire and thunder comes to the earth. I hope you are thinking about the waters of baptism and the Holy Spirit’s fire.
Besides setting before us the threats we face, the vision is designed to awaken the readers’ willingness to identify with those who have suffered for the faith. The martyrs suffered not because they were sinners but because they were faithful. They received a divine response showing that they are valued in God’s eyes. I hope we are encouraged to look at the lives of those martyred because of their faith. Read their stories to inspire you. Most every week on the back of the bulletin we share the commemorations that names martyrs. Look them up and learn about their lives and deaths and then think about Jesus’ resurrection and the gift we receive because he lives. What does that call forth in you, people of the Risen Christ?
Bold Inquisitive Belief Loving Expansively,
Pastor Connie Spitzack
