Friends in Christ Message for May 1, 2004

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Friends in Christ Weekly Message
May 1, 2004

This week our scripture selection, taken from the Common Lectionary readings for the fourth Sunday of Easter, is lengthier than normal. I will offer no commentary on it other than to note this is one of three places in scripture which has God wiping away all tears. -Bill Samuel

     After this, I saw a large crowd with more people than could be counted. They were from every race, tribe, nation, and language, and they stood before the throne and before the Lamb. They wore white robes and held palm branches in their hands, as they shouted,
Our God, who sits upon the throne,
has the power
to save his people, and so does the Lamb.
     The angels who stood around the throne knelt in front of it with their faces to the ground. The elders and the four living creatures knelt there with them. Then they all worshiped God and said,
Amen! Praise, glory, wisdom, thanks, honor, power,
and strength belong to our God forever and ever! Amen!
     One of the elders asked me, "Do you know who these people are that are dressed in white robes? Do you know where they come from?"
     "Sir," I answered, "you must know."
     Then he told me:
These are the ones
who have gone through the great suffering.
They have washed their robes
in the blood of the Lamb and have made them white.
And so they stand before the throne of God
and worship him in his temple day and night.
The one who sits on the throne
will spread his tent over them.
They will never hunger or thirst again,
and they won't be troubled
by the sun or any scorching heat.

The Lamb in the center
of the throne will be their shepherd.
He will lead them to streams of life-giving water,
and God will wipe all tears from their eyes.
Revelation 7:9-17 (CEV*)