Christians sometimes forget God has promised us a wonderful new heaven and a new earth. But God hasn’t forgotten and His promises are as sure as yesterday’s sunrise.This is the third sermon in the series “Messages of Hope from the Revelation to St. John.”
In Revelation, John writes about a celebration that dwarfs our nation’s greatest—an immense crowd shouting with joy over the saving work of God. Who are these people? Where did they come from? Why are they waving palm branches and wearing white? What are we to make of this vision and how should we understand it? I’ll answer these questions and more in the second of three “Messages of Hope from the Revelation to St. John.”
Audio Sermon Revelation 21:1-7
Christians sometimes forget God has promised us a wonderful new heaven and a new earth. But God hasn’t forgotten and His promises are as sure as yesterday’s sunrise.
This is the third sermon in the series “Messages of Hope from the Revelation to St. John.”
Audio Sermon on Revelation 7
In Revelation, John writes about a celebration that dwarfs our nation’s greatest—an immense crowd shouting with joy over the saving work of God. Who are these people? Where did they come from? Why are they waving palm branches and wearing white? What are we to make of this vision and how should we understand it? Pastor Hinkle answers these questions and more as he brings another message of comfort from the Revelation to St. John.
Some women in our congregation spent several months designing and constructing the banners pictured here.
A picture of our sanctuary showing the banners.
The banner on the left has symbols for each of the three persons of the Holy Trinity.
The open hand for the Father comes from Psalm 145:16, “You open your hand and satisfy the desires of every living thing.” The circle around the hand is a symbol of God’s eternal being, without beginning or end.
The use of a lamb to represent Christ dates to John the Baptist, who pointed Jesus out as “the lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world” (John 1:29). He stands in front of a cross as a reminder that he had to die to take away our sin.
The Spirit is represented by a dove because he took that form at Jesus’ baptism.
The banner on the right represents the Word and Sacraments. Through these means, God bestows and strengthens faith.
The Word of God is represented by an open book. The cross behind the book reminds us that the entire Bible speaks of Christ.
The shell with water dripping from it represents baptism, which is often done by pouring water over the one who is being baptized.
The cup, wafer, and stalk of wheat, represent the Lord’s Supper or Holy Communion. The cross on the wafer is a reminded that we receive Christ’s body and blood in the sacrament along with the bread (the stalk of wheat) and wine.
Thank you ladies for your hard work which has produced excellent results.
