This Sunday we celebrate All Saints, we remember those who have gone before, who have born witness to the work of God in Christ.

One of our readings is Revelation 7:9-17 and it paints a picture of what is in store. The book of Revelation is not well understood, but it is first and foremost a book about reality…the way things are. The image is there are two worlds colliding, the kingdom of this world and the kingdom of God. Like the tectonic plates coming against each other, the pressures lead to earthquakes and a great shaking. The proclamation of Revelation is that the kingdom of God is the kingdom that will last. Throughout the book John speaks of hearing and seeing. A line from a song by my favorite group says “I listened hard but could not see” it proclaims the reality of those in the world. The listening does not lead to seeing reality.

Celebrating All Saints is celebrating those who like John listened and saw. They saw the reality of the finished work of Jesus Christ. The end is determined and he is the victorious one. Do we see Him? Do we hear Him? Do we hear and see? When we know that Revelation 7:9-17 is about us, then our entire focus in this world will be different. When we have heard and seen the one described in Revelation 1 starting at verse 9, we will hear and see everything we encounter in the world differently!

Blessings,

Rev Allan Carson