December 11th Advent day 15

⁹ 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 before 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!”                Rev 7: 9 -12

I was leading worship this morning and this song was on the set list.  I didnt realise it was going to come up as the reading for today in Joyce Hugget's notes.   As I dont really believe in coincidences.......

I like thinking about what heaven will be like.  Im hoping it will be so far above what I can even think or imagine, but imagining is still fun.   The Biblical visions, the tiny glimpses we get through scripture are so limited because they had to be expressed in words and written down in a language and Im sure that what John actually saw was so beyond words....   but Im glad he made an attempt to describe what he saw.  It give us some small clue.   Firstly its a countless multitude.  As far as the eye can see.  Millions upon millions of people.  I really dont like crowds much, but I think I will probably be able to cope being a part of this one.

I wonder how much noise millions upon millions of people make when they are singing at the top of their voices.   Later on John tries to describe the sound.  He says its like thunder and the roaring of a mighty waterfall.  But Im sure that doesn't really come anywhere close.     All these people are dressed in white and they are waving green branches.  In front of the throne which has already been described as

 And the one who sat there had the appearance of jasper and ruby. A rainbow that shone like an emerald encircled the throne. ⁴ Surrounding the throne were twenty-four other thrones, and seated on them were twenty-four elders. They were dressed in white and had crowns of gold on their heads. ⁵ From the throne came flashes of lightning, rumblings and peals of thunder. In front of the throne, seven lamps were blazing. These are the seven spirits^[a] of God. ⁶ Also in front of the throne there was what looked like a sea of glass, clear as crystal.   Rev 4

So its very bright and colourful and very loud and noisy.  Everything is reflected in a sea like glass so there is double the impact.  And into this riotous joyful scene come the millions dressed in white waving their green branches singing at the top of their voices.   How on earth did anyone ever come up with the idea that heaven consists of angels sitting on clouds playing harps!!! ??

This is part of the gift Jesus gives us at Christmas time.  An invitation to the party.  Entrance fee already paid.  Clean clothes provided.   

Lord Jesus,   thank you that when you came to earth as a man it was not only to save me from my sin and bring me into relationship with Your Father, but it was also to bring me into heaven.   The Christmas carol says ' fit us for heaven to live with Thee there'.    Yes.   And even before we get there may we be people who know how to join together to sing our hearts out, wave our branches and wear our clean robes in praise of You.