Revelation 7:9-10 (NIV)

9 After this I looked, and there before me was a great multitude that no one could count, from every nation, tribe, people and language, standing before the throne and before the Lamb. They were wearing white robes and were holding palm branches in their hands. 10 And they cried out in a loud voice:

“Salvation belongs to our God,

who sits on the throne,

and to the Lamb.”

Reflection:

This is an incredible vision of the people of God of every nation, tribe, and tongue gathered to worship God. They are the people who remained faithful to God throughout the generations. And we, who are in Christ, are counted among them. God revealed to us through His Word that one day we would stand before him. He will see us through the end. How good it is to worship God together now. Then, it will be even more awesome!

Responding to the Transmission:

Let’s pray that we would see and experience this reality even more now as we ask the Lord to gather His people from every nation, tribe, and tongue — people who will worship and praise Him with one voice for His salvation victory over our lives.

CBS News reports,

A South Carolina sheriff is praising a man with a concealed weapons permit who helped disarm someone who kicked in the door of a church armed with a shotgun.

Spartanburg County Sheriff Chuck Wright made national news last year when he urged all women in his county to get a permit to carry a gun after a woman was raped in a park. He said Sunday’s incident shows how citizens carrying a legal weapon can stop crimes and prevent bloodshed.

Jesse Gates had already been to the Southside Freewill Baptist Church in Boiling Springs once Sunday morning, so the pastor’s grandson was keeping his eye on the parking lot when he saw Gates come back, this time taking a shotgun out of his trunk, Wright said.

“They locked the door and they were calling 911 at the time. He didn’t draw his weapon or make any move or action toward this gentleman until he kicked the door open and forced the issue,” Wright said.

After Gates kicked in the door, the pistol pointed at him distracted him enough that the pastor was able to grab the shotgun. Members of the church kept him down until deputies arrived, Wright said.