Before the seventh seal is broken, John of Patmos sees two visions meant to be a comfort to God's people.
The first vision concerns the people of Israel: twelve thousand from each of Israel's twelve tribes are given God's royal seal, a sign of being under God's protective authority, come what may. This number should not be taken literally, because throughout the Bible, twelve is a number of completeness. Nobody is missing from this family.
Then, the vision expands, from an earthly group, from one nation, carefully accounted for, to a heavenly group, from ALL nations, which is uncountable. In heaven, nations, tribes and languages do not disappear--John still sees them distinctly--but they no longer serve as a dividing line between people. They are united in worship and praise, and they are all free of suffering.
When September 11th happened, I was in my third year of college. The phrase "God Bless America" saw a resurgence, as did the Irving Berlin song of the same name, which had been relatively obscure before that point. I distinctly remember lawmakers of both parties singing it together from the capital steps just days after the attacks. In some ways I long for that kind of unity today.
At the same time, I saw in the message of Jesus a contrast to the centering of one nation for God's blessing. Every Sunday, I heard in the liturgy,
For the peace of the whole world, for the wellbeing of the Church of God, and for the unity of all, let us pray to the Lord...
I decided to put my own personal prayers to music. The first verse of the song I wrote was,
God Bless America, united we stand,
but don't just bless my country;
bless the whole land.
God bless Asia, and Africa, too,
and if you've been suffering, may God bless you.
Revelation's vision of an international, uncountable crowd united in worship reminds us that humankind's true unity is not to be found in nation or language. We are united in God's love. This is the heavenly worship to which we are invited every time we gather in Jesus' name.
My poetic interpretation of REVELATION 7
7. Four angels on the earth in corners stand.
The ravages of wind, they hold restrained,
Until God’s servants each are marked by hand,
A multitude that none has yet contained.
Twelve thousand from each tribe of Israel
And untold millions sealed, who sing full-voiced
The blessed song creation knows so well:
“The Lamb salvation owns! Let all rejoice!”
“But who are all these servants, robed in white?”
O elder, I am clueless, but you know.
They are the many, faithful through the fight;
The Lamb’s own blood their faithfulness will show.
No scorching heat, nor hunger shall they see.
The Lamb, their guiding shepherd, then, shall be.
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