Music: Track 44 of Handel's Messiah

Handel's Messiah. Probably one of the most noted works of music of all time.

Just like the song Amazing Grace is instantly recognizable so is track 44 of Handel's Messiah.

Whether it is sung with a large professional choir accompanied by a world class orchestra or by a church congregation joined by an organist and two trumpet players, the majesty and magic of these words cannot fail to move.

Track 44 is the Hallelujah Chorus drawn from Revelation 11:15 and Revelation 19:16

Hallelujah! for the Lord God omnipotent reigneth. The kingdoms of this world are become the kingdoms of our Lord, and of His Christ: and He shall reign for ever and ever. KING OF KINGS, LORD OF LORDS.

Gives me both the chills and a thrill of hope whenever I hear that great chorus!

The Book of Revelation is at some level very hard to understand especially if you try to assign every detail to some specific point in human history or current events.

On the other hand, if one takes a thematic approach and let the details go slightly out of focus and allow them to be shading in broader strokes then the book becomes more accessible. As the pastor who I once heard preaching in the book of Revelation would say the great themes are "Jesus is going to win" and "Things aren't as they appear to be."

"Things aren't as they appear to be"

I suppose as linear thinking Americans, it isn't easy to live with the tension that Jesus would say, "Repent, for the Kingdom of Heaven is at hand" and would say pray, "Thy Kingdom Come."

We can and do look around and wonder, the kingdom is at hand? Things don't look so good right now.

I'm sure to the early Christians who had to hide and flee from persecution, they may have wondered, what did I sign up for when I said I will follow Jesus?

Today, in some parts of the world, being identified as a believer in Jesus could be dangerous.

The Kingdom is described by Jesus as yeast and a seed. It sure doesn't look like much but it changes things. Being devoted to Jesus should change us. And as we are changed, we will impact others around us.

But it starts with the resurrection. The Etch-a-sketch of our lives has been shaken up because of the empty tomb. The resurrection of Jesus changed the course of history.

"Jesus is going to win"

Jesus' resurrection is victory!

It is easy enough for some people to say, oh, yeah, Jesus resurrected in that he died and his spirt went back to be with god because he was a good man. But if that is the case, what is the point? Why all this hoopla about Jesus then? What is so special about that? People have been dying and going to heaven for eons.

No, something more happened on Good Friday and Easter Sunday. Jesus death was no ordinary death. Jesus resurrection was not just his spirit returned to god. Rather, there was a theological significance to it that changed us and the situation on the ground.

St. Paul puts it rather clearly in this famous passage about the resurrection. Excerpt:

if Christ has not been raised, your faith is futile and you are still in your sins. Then those also who have fallen asleep in Christ have perished. If in this life only we have hoped in Christ, we are of all people most to be pitied. But in fact Christ has been raised from the dead, the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep. For as by a man came death, by a man has come also the resurrection of the dead. For as in Adam all die, so also in Christ shall all be made alive.

Because the tomb is empty, we can sing:

The kingdoms of this world are become the kingdoms of our Lord.