Revelation 7: "Salvation belongs to our God who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb!"

Martin Luther (Lutheran Study Bible) describes the different types of prophesies. He places the book of Revelation in the category of those prophecies using images and figures, dreams, and visions. An example is 1Peter 2:9 "But you are a chosen Race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for his own possession...Once you were not a people, but now you are God's people." Because we are a chosen people, we should strive to embrace our identity. Our lives should reflect this, not for our accomplishments, but purely from His love and grace. Words from a hymn, "They shall know we are Christians by our love."

John tells us that "The reason why the world does not know us is that it did not know him." Through the water of Baptism, God calls us His children - not by our deeds but by His love for us.

Psalm 149 is the fourth of five hallelujah psalms, describing a festival procession to the Temple Mount. (Lutheran Study Bible) "Joyous praise of God is interrupted with invocations for ‘God's vengeance’ and punishments." Along with God's judgment, the gift of salvation is promised.

Matthew 5 is the very familiar recitation of the Beatitudes, listing the Blessings, but also reminding us that we shall be punished and even hated for our Love of and obedience to God. "Rejoice and be glad for your reward is great in Heaven." SN