Zechariah 2:10-12 “Shout and be glad, O Daughter of Zion. For I am coming, and I will live among you,” declares the LORD. “Many nations will be joined with the LORD in that day and will become my people. I will live among you and you will know that the LORD Almighty has sent me to you. The LORD will inherit Judah as his portion in the holy land and will again choose Jerusalem.

Zechariah shares God’s promise to His chosen people to “live among you.” The promise was that He would come through Abraham’s line to be the Savior of ALL PEOPLE, not just the people of Israel. This part of the promise is repeated in this passage: “Many nations will be joined with the LORD in that day and will become my people.”

When I had the honor and privilege of serving the saints at Trinity Lutheran Church in Frankfurt, Germany last month, I saw a glimpse of heaven. There were people attending worship there from all over the world. We made it a point to ask the people we met where they were from, and we counted 18 different countries. It reminded me of John’s vision:

Revelation 7:9 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 in front of the Lamb. They were wearing white robes and were holding palm branches in their hands.

That is why Jesus came down here amongst us. His life and death merited our forgiveness and salvation. He gives us the white robes that enable us to stand before His throne. And when He comes again, He will take all the faithful to Himself to receive the reward He earned for us all.

Hark! A thrilling voice is sounding: “Christ is near,” we hear it say;
“Cast away the works of darkness, All you children of the day!”

Startled at the solemn warning, Let the earth-bound soul arise;
Christ, its Sun, all sloth dispelling, Shines upon the morning skies.

See, the Lamb so long expected Comes with pardon down from heav’n;
Let us haste with tears of sorrow One and all to be forgiv’n.

So when next He comes in glory, And the world is wrapped in fear,
He will shield us with His mercy And with words of love draw near.

Honor, glory, might, dominion To the Father and the Son
With the ever-living Spirit While eternal ages run.

(Lutheran Service Book #345)