saints alive!

Again, today is All Saints Day, when the theology of our Collect for the Day is that our virtuous and godly living determines whether we come to the ineffable joys, which is to join the eternal multitude standing around the throne worshiping and singing in a loud voice. 

There's no reason for me to make light of this, and surely not of the Lamb, whose nature in Revelation is far, far different from the nature of the Lamb of God as revealed in the Gospel according to John, who introduces Him right up front, "Behold, the Lamb of God."

How is He? The Lamb, what's He like, how is He? And is He like that because that's what you believe, does what you believe create the Lamb in your image of the Lamb? I wander down this thorny path because the Revelation of John (John was/is a common name, there's no reason except your unexamined certainties to think Gospel John and Revelation John were the same man) - - because Revelation John knows the Lamb that was Slain as a fiercely violent, punitive, vengeful actor. Did the Lamb change His nature after Easter? 

There are reasons why Martin Luther (not MLK, dear reader) and others said Revelation bears no relationship to the Lord Jesus of Paul and the Gospels, and has no business being included in the New Testament canon. 

So anyway, as for virtuous and godly living determining whether we inherit the ineffable joys, is that theology compatible with a theology that God's only characteristic is Grace, which is pure, unconditional Love? 

Make it a point to examine what we do and say and sing and pray when we gather for worship, over against what you believe about God. 

And, if you like, consider joining me so to speak, in seeking the Truth: Who or What is God? It's the search of my lifeTime, especially once I looked beyond the firmament and realized that my God is too small - -

At your Word all things came to be: the vast expanse of interstellar space, galaxies, suns, the planets in their courses, and this fragile Earth, our island home.

The Collect

Almighty God, you have knit together your elect in one communion and fellowship in the mystical body of your Son Christ our Lord: Give us grace so to follow your blessed saints in all virtuous and godly living, that we may come to those ineffable joys that you have prepared for those who truly love you; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who with you and the Holy Spirit lives and reigns, one God, in glory everlasting. Amen.

Revelation 7:9-17

After this I, John, looked, and there was a great multitude that no one could count, from every nation, from all tribes and peoples and languages, standing before the throne and before the Lamb, robed in white, with palm branches in their hands. They cried out in a loud voice, saying,

"Salvation belongs to our God who is seated on the throne, and to the Lamb!" And all the angels stood around the throne and around the elders and the four living creatures, and they fell on their faces before the throne and worshiped God, singing,

"Amen! Blessing and glory and wisdom

and thanksgiving and honor

and power and might

be to our God forever and ever! Amen."

Then one of the elders addressed me, saying, "Who are these, robed in white, and where have they come from?" I said to him, "Sir, you are the one that knows." Then he said to me, "These are they who have come out of the great ordeal; they have washed their robes and made them white in the blood of the Lamb.

"For this reason they are before the throne of God,

and worship him day and night within his temple,

and the one who is seated on the throne will shelter them.

They will hunger no more, and thirst no more;

the sun will not strike them,

nor any scorching heat;

for the Lamb at the center of the throne will be their shepherd,

and he will guide them to springs of the water of life,

and God will wipe away every tear from their eyes."