New Testament | Revelation 7:9-17

Opening Song:
There Is A King by Brandon Lake, Steven Furtick, and Tiffany Hudson

Lyrics:
There is a king seated among us
Let every heart receive Him now
Where there is praise He will inhabit
There will be grace and mercy all around

Every burden will be lifted in His presence
Every trophy will be laid down at His feet
There is a name that reigns above all others
Jesus Christ the king above all kings

Unto the lamb honor and glory
Worthy is He who overcame
Buried in shame risen in power
He is alive the stone is rolled away

All our worship will belong to Him forever
Death is conquered and our Savior holds the keys
There is a name that reigns above all others
Jesus Christ the king above all kings

It won't be long we will behold Him
And every tear He'll wipe away
We'll be at home the war will be over
Soon we will meet our Savior face to face

And all our worship will belong to You forever
Holy holy for all eternity
Yours is the name that reigns above all others
Jesus Christ the king above all kings
Jesus Christ the king above all kings

Passage:
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.”
(Revelation 7:9-17 ESV)

Musical Reflection:
“Amazing Grace,” Appalachian folk tune

Reflection Notes:
This beloved tune, formally known as NEW BRITAIN, originates from the folk music of Appalachia. The melody is simple and outlines triads, making it memorable; the ascending line creates a triumphant climax.

Prayer:
Grant, Almighty God, that as you shine on us by your Word, we may not be blind at midday, nor willfully seek darkness, and thus lull our minds asleep; but may we be roused daily by your words, and may we stir up ourselves more and more to fear your name and thus present ourselves and all our pursuits as a sacrifice to you, that you may peaceably rule, and perpetually dwell in us, until you gather us to your celestial habitation, where there is reserved for us eternal rest and glory, through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
-John Calvin