I've had an Epiphany!

Revelation 7:9-17 After this I looked and there before me was a great multitude that no one could count, from every nation, tribe, people and language, standing before the throne and in front of the Lamb. They were wearing white robes and were holding palm branches in their hands. 10 And they cried out in a loud voice: "Salvation belongs to our God, who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb." 11 All the angels were standing around the throne and around the elders and the four living creatures. They fell down on their faces before the throne and worshiped God, 12 saying: "Amen! Praise and glory and wisdom and thanks and honor and power and strength be to our God for ever and ever. Amen!" 13 Then one of the elders asked me, "These in white robes-- who are they, and where did they come from?" 14 I answered, "Sir, you know." And he said, "These are they who have come out of the great tribulation; they have washed their robes and made ...

They say when God closes a door, he opens a window. That’s a beautiful thought, and often we see how it proves true. But it doesn’t seem to happen in this week’s Gospel, does it (Matthew 25:1-13)? The virgins who were ready went in with the bridegroom to the wedding banquet. And the door was shut. Later when the foolish virgins finally got their act together and were ready to enter the banquet hall, the door stayed shut. And that’s when we say, “This is the Gospel of our Lord” and move on to our next hymn. “Umm, Jesus? (Knock, knock, knock). We’re still standing out here. We understand the urgent cautionary nature of the story you are telling us. We always need to be prepared for your return. We never want to be on the outside looking in. But Jesus, you kind of leave us listeners standing on the front step of the wedding banquet with the foolish virgins. You don’t really show us what was going on inside!” Of course, showing what was going on inside the wedding banquet was n...

Title: Saints Triumphant Artist: Melanie Schuette, Avignon Studios Worship Theme: Lord, keep us watchful for our triumph! Today the Church hears strains of the distant triumph song and affirms, “Blessed are they who are called to the marriage feast of the Lamb.” Jesus wants us to be the waiting Church— the Church that watches for her Savior and cries, “Come, Lord Jesus!” As we journey through these latter days, however, our vigilance slips, and our hearts grow drowsy because the bridegroom seems to be taking so long. So while we wait, the Church prays, “Keep us ever watchful for the coming of your Son that we may sit with him and all your holy ones at the marriage feast in heaven.” Old Testament:   Ezekiel 37:15-28 The word of the LORD came to me: 16 "Son of man, take a stick of wood and write on it, 'Belonging to Judah and the Israelites associated with him.' Then take another stick of wood, and write on it, 'Ephraim's stick, belonging to Jo...

Matthew 25:31 "When the Son of Man comes in his glory, and all the angels with him, he will sit on his throne in heavenly glory. 32 All the nations will be gathered before him, and he will separate the people one from another as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats. 33 He will put the sheep on his right and the goats on his left. 34 "Then the King will say to those on his right, 'Come, you who are blessed by my Father; take your inheritance, the kingdom prepared for you since the creation of the world. 35 For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in, 36 I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me, I was in prison and you came to visit me.' 37 "Then the righteous will answer him, 'Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you something to drink? 38 When did we see you a stranger and invit...

Through the waters of baptism, I am where Christ is, Christ is where I am. Faith fuses us together. He is the head, I am the body. We are one, inseparably joined. This point will be evidenced in a most vivid fashion on the Day of Judgment. For on that day, we will respond quite rightly with the words of Matthew 25:37 and following. We will rightly say, “Lord when did we see you hungry and feed you?” For one thing, we will say that because we didn’t necessarily recognize at the time that by doing those things for the least of men, we were doing them for Jesus (Matthew 25:40).   But you know, we could also ask that question, “When did we do those things…?” because the fact is … those instances might be barely memorable, spread out few and far between during our lives, obscured and far outnumbered by the countless times that we’ve passed by the hungry and left the thirsty one dry. Or maybe our meager “helping hands” moments were tainted with selfish motivations before or s...

Nobody said demons, plagues, and an appointment with Armageddon would be fun, but it doesn't have to be feared-at least not for the Christian. Our new Bible study “Explaining All The Scary Stuff In Revelation,” gives both insight-and encouragement to those who follow "the bright Morning Star." Often, the book of Revelation is viewed with mixed emotions. Its fantastic imagery and cryptic phrasings can leave people scratching their heads as they wonder about its real message. Unfortunately, this impasse can lead the individual to sidestep the book altogether, thus missing its power and significance as a one-of-a-kind text of Scripture. In this four-part study, Pastor Klaus, Speaker Emeritus of The Lutheran Hour, explains how Revelation reveals God's divine plan for His creation and has Him fully in control. Though Revelation indicates God's people will endure sufferings it reminds them their victory is final and sure. The text also gives believers the ...

Title: Last Judgment Artist: Melanie Schuette, Avignon Studios Worship Theme: Lord, keep us mindful of the Judgment! He will come to judge the living and the dead. We confess it every Sunday, but often live like those are empty words. Moses’ psalm on the mortality of man shakes us from our spiritual slumber. Number your days aright and gain a heart of wisdom! Today the Church prays that God keep us ever mindful of the Last Judgment that we might be found in faith, fruitful in both word and deed. Then there’s no need to fear Judgment Day; rather, we can look forward to the day of our redemption. Old Testament:   Daniel 7:9-10 "As I looked, "thrones were set in place, and the Ancient of Days took his seat. His clothing was as white as snow; the hair of his head was white like wool. His throne was flaming with fire, and its wheels were all ablaze. 10 A river of fire was flowing, coming out from before him. Thousands upon thousands attended him; ten thous...