All Saints Sunday

<)) Listen to the sermon here and here.

[Revelation 7:2-17] And I heard the number of the sealed, 144,000, sealed from every tribe of the sons of Israel… 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, 10and crying out with a loud voice, “Salvation belongs to our God who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb!”…

Israel of Heaven

I.

It’s good to know your roots, where you come from. But who are these 144,000 people “sealed from every tribe of the sons of Israel”? Is this the current nation of Israel today? Is this the number of ethnic Israelites who make it to heaven, exactly 144,000?

Considering that the population of Israel just in the days of the Exodus was around 2,000,000 people, that interpretation seems unlikely. What is that number, 144,000? And, more interestingly, what is the even bigger number that comes right after it?

Did you notice the bigger number? Bigger than anyone could count. Look again. John, the Apostle, looks at this vision of heaven. There are 12,000 from this tribe, 12,000 from that tribe, 12,000 from each of the twelve tribes of Israel – that’s 144,000 – and then John turns and sees the rest:

“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…”

144,000 was a lot, and there was a lot more than that. Not just from the twelve tribes, but from every tribe and people, from every nation and language. Who is this enormous crowd in heaven? It is the Israel of heaven. The true Israel from all the nations.

That number – 144,000 – is a number of bigness and completion. It’s like when we say, “I’ve told you a thousand times!” Or, “There were a bazillion people there!” Twelve is a number of completion. Twelve-thousand is abundantly whole and complete. Twelve times twelve thousand is superabundant.

The first Christians were all Jewish Christians – Jews who believe in the Messiah of Israel, Jesus who saved them. But John sees in heaven how much more complete Jesus’ work of salvation is. “See that ‘144,000 of Israel’, and then turn around, John, and see the whole, whole Israel – the whole Israel of heaven beyond numbering, from all the nations. From the gentiles.” 

II.

Earthly Israel, as in the physical descendants of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, is significant. It’s no small thing that God fulfilled His promises to them by sending Jesus to be their Messiah and Savior. What is even greater is that Jesus is the Savior for the whole world.

Now when Scripture uses terms like “Israel” and “Zion” and even “Jerusalem” and its Temple, God’s Word is telling you about your heavenly nation which He has redeemed out of all the nations. This is His true Israel. Not born of the flesh – not from any ethnicity or earthly nation – but born of faith. Faith in Christ.

Let’s hear from Scripture what God’s true Israel is: “For not all who are descended from Israel belong to Israel, and not all are children of Abraham because they are his offspring… it is not the children of the flesh who are the children of God – it’s not about birth-roots – but the children of the promise are counted as offspring – it’s about faith in the promise – faith in the promised Savior, Jesus.” [Romans 9:6-8]

“Know then that it is those of faith – faith in the coming of Christ – who are the sons of Abraham” – “just as Abraham ‘believed God, and it was counted to him as righteousness.’” [Galatians 3:6-7]

Both that whole, complete “144,000” and that great multitude from every nation that no one could number are the Israel of God. The Israel of heaven. Mount Zion. “Jerusalem, My Happy Home.” “The Jerusalem above.” [Galatians 4:26]

For “There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there is no male and female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus” – “For as many of you as were baptized into Christ have put on Christ” – “And if you are Christ's, then you are Abraham's offspring, heirs according to promise.” [Galatians 3:27-29]

All baptized believers in Jesus Christ are heaven’s Israel. All baptized believers in Jesus Christ are All-the-Saints, in heaven and on earth – all those whose robes have been washed white in the blood of the Lamb who takes away the sin of the world [Revelation 7:14; John 1:29].

You, brothers and sisters, are citizens of the Israel of heaven. You are “All Saints”. Not by your works or worthiness, but by the blood of Jesus which has won for you “redemption, the forgiveness of your sins” [Colossians 1:14; Ephesians 1:7]. Those are your roots. That tells you where you come from, where you stand, and where you’re going.

III.

The Whole Israel, “All Saints”, is in heaven and on earth. On earth, the saints are hidden under sin, death, and the cross: You are still racked with sin, but are struggling to do better by His power. You suffer from death like everyone else, but with sure hope in Jesus who conquered death.

And the saints on earth suffer under the cross: Sometimes persecuted. Sometimes mocked or made fun of – for believing the Bible, for the hope we have, for our do’s and don’ts as people looking to live a God-pleasing life.

The saints on earth – Heaven’s Israel on earth – are redeemed sinners. Bought back from this fallen world for God. But still struggling in this fallen world and with this sin-fallen flesh. You live by faith.

You are justified – counted right with God – by faith alone. And you keep your head up, day by day, by faith – believing with sure confidence that you will one day be the Israelite of heaven, the true saint, that Christ has redeemed you to become. We strive for that day.

The saints in heaven are the saints at rest. They are freed from the flesh and their souls are freed from sin. Though they have died, yet do they live [John 11:25-26]. They rest from their struggling, enjoying His blessedness and righteousness which their souls have received. They wait and look forward, with us, to the resurrection when also our raised bodies will enjoy those same blessings.

IV.

Heaven’s Israel. All the Saints. All baptized believers in Christ. In heaven and on earth. Your robes washed white in the blood of the Lamb which covers all your sin. Counted holy to God, and becoming holy.           

Remember, that though you still live on earth in sin-fallen flesh, your roots are in heaven. That saint in heaven is who you most truly are, though you don’t yet look the part [1 John 3:1-3]. Heaven is your roots. Therefore, day by day, strive to live your heavenly roots as a birth-right citizen of the Israel of heaven.

What do those heavenly roots look like when lived out on earth today? “Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.” “Blessed are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted.” They mourn in faith. “Blessed are the meek, for they shall inherit the earth.” “Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be satisfied.” “Blessed are the merciful, for they shall receive mercy.” “Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God.” “Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called sons of God.” [Matthew 5:3-9]

What does a citizen of heaven endure today? “Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness’ sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Blessed are you when others revile you and persecute you and utter all kinds of evil against you falsely on my account. Rejoice and be glad, for your reward is great in heaven…” [Matthew 5:10-12]

And, finally, what rest will you soon enjoy: “He who sits on the throne will shelter them with His presence. They shall hunger no more, neither thirst anymore; the sun shall not strike them, nor any scorching heat. 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.” [Revelation 7:15-17]

You were born in sin-fallen flesh. You are born-again as saints of heaven’s Israel. Again, remember your roots in heaven, which show you not just where you come from but where you are going and who you are becoming. Amen.