Pastor's Sermon - November 1st, 2026 -- All Saints' Day
Revelation 7:2-17
Our God is so good. He is a Father who has grieved the death of His own Son and so He knows well the heavy weight of sorrow and grief that each of us bears when our loved ones are called to their eternal rest. All of our senses assault us at the death of a loved one, trying to convince us that death is the end—trying to convince us that we’ve witnessed something hopeless and final.
I’m sure many of us know what this is like. The tears. The gut-punch feeling. The confusion and fogginess of grief. The questions—the why’s and the what’s-next’s.
And what can we do for ourselves to receive comfort? What can we do to have answers?
Obviously, we can’t make a call to the deceased and ask them what it’s like. We can’t write to our loved ones who are gone and ask how they’re doing. So, what foundation can we stand upon in the waves of grief?
This is one way our God is so good. He knows the grief of the death of a loved one. He knows it very well. And He has the answer to it. It’s an answer that doctors can’t provide, nurses can’t offer, self-help gurus can’t enlighten us with, and busy work can’t obtain for us.
Only God can provide the answers. Only God can provide the comfort that uplifts the mourning heart.
The revelation to St. John.
John sees the 144,000 people, whom are to be sealed before the end, and they are from every tribe, language, and race. They are clothed with white robes and they are before the throne of the Lamb.
And this is the comfort we get from God’s promise—from what He reveals to us.
We can ask the question, what of our loved ones now? What of those who have gone before us in the Lord?
Here they are. John sees them. We’re told of them.
They’re sealed—baptized and claimed as God’s dear ones. His treasured possessions that the Lord will not give up or neglect. They are His dear children whom He keeps near, not over there or in some far off paradise, but right with Him, at the very Throne of the Lamb. They stand before Him sealed and redeemed—donned with white robes—innocent and perfect in our Lord’s sight.
John looks and He sees. Each one is there. All of them. It doesn’t matter their race. Their age. Their nation. Their language. Each one is before the Lamb. Each one is sealed. Each one is in white robes. Each and every one is in Christ and before His throne.
How do we know all of them are there?
That’s the 144,000. This is not a literal number. This is a symbolic variable. 12x12x1000. 1000 is 10x10x10. This is all symbolic. 12 is a number for completion or fullness. 10 is also a number for completeness or fullness. This is to say that one is to multiply fullness, by fullness, by fullness, by fullness, by fullness. And the answer? It’s completion. It’s fullness. That is to say, John looks out and sees ALL the saints. Every single one that belongs to God is there. Not one is missing. No one is lacking their white robes. No one is lacking their seal. They’re all there and they’re better than okay.
They all went through the tribulations. The aches and pains, the sorrows and troubles, the offenses and the miseries of this world. But no more. They have passed through the Valley of the Shadow of Death and now they stand at the Throne of Christ. All of them. Where they fear no evil and suffer nothing.
What if my loved one made a great mistake on this earth—a sin? In Christ, they’re forgiven and they live. What if my loved one missed church before death? They’re with Christ now. The what-if’s will always challenge us, but God’s promises do not. They are sure and clear. Those who are sealed by God—those who are His by faith—they’re with God now.
And what does John see regarding those who stand before the Throne of Christ? They have washed their robes in the Blood of the Lamb—they are forgiven and pure. And here’s what they experience now and let this comfort each of us:
“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. They shall hunger no more, neither thirst anymore; the sun shall not strike them, nor any scorching heat. 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.”
This is God’s promise.
Do we need to worry over our loved ones?
No. This is why we celebrate All Saints’ Day. Yes, there is grief involved. I miss my brother. I’m sure you miss your loved ones who are with our Lord. But I don’t worry over my brother and I wouldn’t ask for him back in this life. He’s good where he is. That’s a sure promise. Those who are in Christ are in perfection.
And the good news for us personally? The same promise is ours. Despite the trials and the tribulations we each endure. Despite our sins and our struggles. Despite all that this world and the prince of it would toss our way, we are saved. God has given us His promise. We are sealed by Christ—our baptism, in the Name of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. We have washed our robes clean in the Blood of the Lamb—we approach this table and receive His body and blood for our forgiveness.
The promise is certain. Death cannot have us. We shall be numbered with the saints who have gone before us where alleluias never end. We shall stand along with them in the joy of paradise. No tears. No hunger or pain. No sin.
It will be a glorious reunion. Yes, with our loved ones. But more importantly, it will be a glorious union of the Church with her bridegroom, Christ. We will be with our Lord in perfection forever.
Oh, that this day would come swiftly!
The agonies of this world cannot even begin to be compared to the glories of Heaven with our Lord.
So, with all the saints, we lift up the world-long prayer:
Come, Lord Jesus!
May we with saints be numbered where praises never end. In glory everylasting, amen, O Lord, amen!
In Christ’s Name,
Amen.