Beloved Purified Saints

Revelation 7:9-17, I John 3:1-3

 

This last Sunday was All Saints Day where we honor the ones who have passed before us. Our Revelation passage tells of a vision the apostle John has while in exile. It is made up of a multitude of people from all over the world dressed in white.

When asked who they are they are said to be those who have been washed in the blood of Christ – the Lamb sacrificed for all our sins. Salvation has come to them. They are said to have come out of the great ordeal. So, this is telling of the promises that await those who overcome. What are these promises? They will hunger and thirst no more and God will wipe away every tear from their eyes.

Our I John scripture ends by reflecting John’s vison that all who hope in him - Christ will purify themselves as Christ is pure. This is due to the love God has for us that we are called the children of God. He verifies that we are God’s beloved children.

What we will be has not been revealed – though John in his vision later in Revelation sees the purified multitude giving praises to God. But what John is convinced of before his vision is that when all is revealed we will be like him – reflecting the image of God we were created to be since those who have hope in Christ will purify themselves becoming pure just like Christ.

Life on earth may not be all roses. There are thorns we have to overcome – ordeals that we will by hope and help from the Lord will overcome. Yet we have the realization that we too will one day be purified to the image of God in which we are beloved children. Amen.