Saint Paul, Minnesota, United States - Lutheran Seminary's God Pause "Moved by the Promise" for Saturday, 1 November 2014 - Revelation 5:6-10 So I looked, and there, surrounded by Throne, Animals, and Elders, was a Lamb, slaughtered but standing tall. Seven horns he had, and seven eyes, the Seven Spirits of God sent into all the earth. He came to the One Seated on the Throne and took the scroll from his right hand. The moment he took the scroll, the Four Animals and Twenty-four Elders fell down and worshiped the Lamb. Each had a harp and each had a bowl, a gold bowl filled with incense, the prayers of God’s holy people. And they sang a new song:Worthy! Take the scroll, open its seals.
Slain! Paying in blood, you bought men and women,
Bought them back from all over the earth,
Bought them back for God.
Then you made them a Kingdom, Priests for our God,
Priest-kings to rule over the earth.
11-14 I looked again. I heard a company of Angels around the Throne, the Animals, and the Elders—ten thousand times ten thousand their number, thousand after thousand after thousand in full song:
The slain Lamb is worthy!
Take the power, the wealth, the wisdom, the strength!
Take the honor, the glory, the blessing!
Then I heard every creature in Heaven and earth, in underworld and sea, join in, all voices in all places, singing:
To the One on the Throne! To the Lamb!
The blessing, the honor, the glory, the strength,
For age after age after age.
The Four Animals called out, “Oh, Yes!” The Elders fell to their knees and worshiped.(The Message)
"What do saints do after they die?" No one has ever died and come back to tell us the exact details, but the Apostle John claims to have been given a glimpse of what the saints will do. "They will do a lot of singing," he writes. It was impossible for him to share the tunes, but he does share with us some of the texts.
First of all, the saints sing a victory song. Jesus, who was crucified, reigns victorious in heaven. The future of all things belongs to Jesus. The destiny of every tribe and language and people and nation are in the hands of Lord Jesus. The saints are joined by all the peoples of the earth in singing the praises of Jesus.
Secondly, all the creatures of the land, air and sea are also a part of this heavenly chorus. One is reminded of Paul's words, "At the name of Jesus, every knee shall bend, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue shall confess that Jesus is Lord, to the glory of God the Father."
A friend who was on her death-bed asked me, "What will happen to me after I die?" "I can't give you all the details," I replied, "but John says that heaven will be a happy place. It will be a happy place because Jesus is there and guarantees us a LIFE free from all enemies, and all limitations."
I love to read about this heavenly choir, because it will be the first choir in which I will have ever been asked to sing. Sit close to me, all you saints. I will have a new voice.
Jesus, we don't know the details of what comes after death, but it is enough to know that you will be seated on the throne, and we will join with all creation in singing your praises. To your glory, now and forever! Amen! Amen!
Hub Nelson
Shepherd of the Hills Lutheran Church,
Edina, Minn. (Retired)
Master of Divinity , 1962
Revelation 5:9 They sing a new song: "You are worthy to take the scroll and to open its seals, for you were slaughtered and by your blood you ransomed for God saints from every tribe and language and people and nation;
10 you have made them to be a kingdom and priests serving our God, and they will reign on earth."
11 Then I looked, and I heard the voice of many angels surrounding the throne and the living creatures and the elders; they numbered myriads of myriads and thousands of thousands,
12 singing with full voice, "Worthy is the Lamb that was slaughtered to receive power and wealth and wisdom and might and honor and glory and blessing!"(New Revised Standard Version)
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