Getting Ready for Heaven

Rev. 7:2-17

(God baptizes and saves people from every tribe and race to be the new Israel, His people. He gives them righteousness, glory, peace, and the eternal blessings of heaven. All heaven worships God forever and ever.)

Then I saw another angel ascending from the rising of the sun, with the seal of the living God, and he called with a loud voice to the four angels who had been given power to harm earth and sea, [3] saying, "Do not harm the earth or the sea or the trees, until we have sealed the servants of our God on their foreheads." [4] And I heard the number of the sealed, 144,000, sealed from every tribe of the sons of Israel:

[5] 12,000 from the tribe of Judah were sealed,

12,000 from the tribe of Reuben,

12,000 from the tribe of Gad,

[6] 12,000 from the tribe of Asher,

12,000 from the tribe of Naphtali,

12,000 from the tribe of Manasseh,

[7] 12,000 from the tribe of Simeon,

12,000 from the tribe of Levi,

12,000 from the tribe of Issachar,

[8] 12,000 from the tribe of Zebulun,

12,000 from the tribe of Joseph,

12,000 from the tribe of Benjamin were sealed.

[9] After this I looked, and behold, a 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, [10] and crying out with a loud voice, "Salvation belongs to our God who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb!" [11] And all the angels were standing around the throne and around the elders and the four living creatures, and they fell on their faces before the throne and worshiped God, [12] saying, "Amen! Blessing and glory and wisdom and thanksgiving and honor and power and might be to our God forever and ever! Amen."

[13] Then one of the elders addressed me, saying, "Who are these, clothed in white robes, and from where have they come?" [14] I said to him, "Sir, you know." And he said to me, "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.

[15] "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 shelter them with his presence.

[16] They shall hunger no more, neither thirst anymore;

the sun shall not strike them,

nor any scorching heat.

[17] For the Lamb in the midst of the throne will be their shepherd,

and he will guide them to springs of living water,

and God will wipe away every tear from their eyes."

1 John 3:1-3

(God’s children will be like Christ in heaven. They seek to conform to His will.)

See what kind of love the Father has given to us, that we should be called children of God; and so we are. The reason why the world does not know us is that it did not know him. [2] Beloved, we are God's children now, and what we will be has not yet appeared; but we know that when he appears we shall be like him, because we shall see him as he is. [3] And everyone who thus hopes in him purifies himself as he is pure.

Matthew 5:1-12

(Blessed are all those who abide in the Lord.)

Seeing the crowds, he went up on the mountain, and when he sat down, his disciples came to him.

[2] And he opened his mouth and taught them, saying:

[3] "Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

[4] "Blessed are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted.

[5] "Blessed are the meek, for they shall inherit the earth.

[6] "Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be satisfied.

[7] "Blessed are the merciful, for they shall receive mercy.

[8] "Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God.

[9] "Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called sons of God.

[10] "Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness' sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

[11] "Blessed are you when others revile you and persecute you and utter all kinds of evil against you falsely on my account. [12] Rejoice and be glad, for your reward is great in heaven, for so they persecuted the prophets who were before you.

Getting Ready for Heaven

This Sunday is All Saints Day. We remember those who now rest from their labors in heaven. Their lives witness to God’s precious gifts of faith and forgiveness.

The Lord Jesus Christ gave Saint John a glorious vision of heaven (Revelation 7:2-17). There are people there even now from every tribe and race before the throne of God praising Him and giving Him all glory, honor and praise.

Saints are people who have received the Gospel of forgiveness of sins through the life, death and resurrection of Jesus Christ. Through baptism, they have “washed their robes and made them white in the blood of the Lamb.” Having been claimed as children of God, they seek to do His will on earth. They serve God by helping others, witnessing to the faith that God has given to them.

I performed 14 funerals in 2008 and 2009 and was richly bless by the witness of those who died. One told me, “I do not know how long I will live, but I want to grow closer to Jesus each day.” Others said: “I love the Lord. He has been so good to me.” “I do not fear death. I know where I am going.” “I am looking forward to seeing loved ones again.” “The Lord is my Shepherd.”

I do not know if any of us is truly ready for heaven. Its glory, blessedness, joy and love are beyond human comprehension.

Saint John reminds us (1 John 1:2-3 ESV): “Beloved, we are God's children now, and what we will be has not yet appeared; but we know that when he appears we shall be like him, because we shall see him as he is. And everyone who thus hopes in him purifies himself as he is pure.”

Be strengthened through Word and Sacrament. Be ready for the time of your life in heaven with all the saints. Amen.

Pastor Raymond Van Buskirk, Redeemer Lutheran Church, Baytown, TX

www.rlcbaytown.org