There are few passages more glorious, more majestic, than Revelation 4 and 5, in which true, heavenly worship is modeled.
In chapter 4, John is transported to heaven in a vision, and he is allowed to see how things take place before God's glorious throne. He sees what we will see and experiences what we will experience one day when we are in the presence of God.
First, John saw a throne in heaven, one Isaiah told us was high and exalted. Everyone and everything was focused toward it. We can only imagine the beauty and the glory of the heavenly throne room, though John tries to give us what information he can. But, in spite of all the beauty in the place, his focus was not on the throne or its beauty, but on the One seated on the throne. God is seated on the throne. He is not running for office or fighting to protect that throne. He is seated, at rest. His rule over the world is settled, his sovereignty is secure. He has no rival for his kingdom, for no one can challenge his power and authority.
John noticed that there were other thrones in heaven, lesser thrones but awesome nonetheless, and these 24 thrones encircled the great throne. On these were seated twenty-four elders, who represent the redeemed of the ages, perhaps the twelve tribes of Israel and the twelve apostles. In the world, they faced hardships and persecution, but in heaven they are seated in places of honor and authority. They are clothed in white robes, sinless and righteous, having all their sins washed away, and they wear gold crowns on their heads, signifying that they have received all the rewards of their labor. They served faithfully on earth, many gave their very lives for the cause of Christ, and now they rule in heaven under the authority of the Great One on the great throne.
John saw that lightning flashed from the throne, and peals of thunder rumbled through heaven. Even those who are welcome in heaven cannot escape the fact that this is an awesome God, a God who inspires awe among his people and terror in his enemies. Before the throne were seven burning torches, but this was no normal fire. They were spiritual creatures, perhaps the Cherubim of the Old Testament, beings of light and glory. Surrounding the throne is a sea of glass, shining like crystal.
Around the throne, on each of its sides, he saw four living creatures with eyes in front and behind. One looked like a lion, another like an ox, the third looked human and the fourth like an eagle in flight. What do they signify? No one really knows, but perhaps they speak of God’s authority and power. In Isaiah 6, they are called Seraphim. Two of their wings cover their eyes, two cover their feet and with two they fly. These are creatures more amazing that you could ever imagine, but they humble themselves in the presence of the Almighty. Day and night these creatures continue to speak words.
Holy, holy, holy is the Lord of hosts;the whole earth is full of his glory!”Holy, holy, holy, is the Lord God Almighty, who was and is and is to come!
They never cease to speak these words of praise. Day and night, month after month, year after year they give honor and glory to the God of Heaven. They are the heavenly ministers of worship.
Their ceaseless worship moves the 24 Elders, those who have experience God's redemption, the heroes of the faith, to join in the praise. They know that they unworthy sinners made holy by the grace of God. So they get off their thrones, their places of honor, and they fall down before the one seated on the Great White Throne. They remove their crowns and cast them on the floor before the throne. They know that the only reason they rule in heaven is because of the mercy and power of the Lord of Hosts.
They express their worship in powerful words, focusing on God’s character and glory.
“Worthy are you, our Lord and God, to receive glory and honor and power, for you created all things, and by your will they existed and were created.”
We are not worthy, you are worthy. We should not receive glory, you should receive glory. All of heaven gives glory to the Father, the greatest of the great, seated on the throne, high and exalted, glorious and powerful – the awesome King of kings. It is my belief that one day each of us will mimic the actions of the 24 Elders. Whatever crowns, whatever rewards we receive will be laid at the feet of the Father in heaven, in recognition of our total dependence on Him and His grace for all things, especially our successes here on earth.
The Scroll and the Lamb
When chapter 5 opens, John sees something he has not seen before, a scroll in the hand of God, sealed with seven seals, containing the judgments of God on the sin of humanity. It is time, in the vision John was about to see, for the judgments of God to be poured out on earth. A powerful angel inquired in a voice that all in heaven could hear, “Who is worthy to open the scroll and break its seals?”
Everyone looked around, hoping one would step forward who was worthy to pour out God’s judgment on earth, but no one came forward. No one was worthy to take the scroll. John broke down in tears because there was no one in all of heaven worthy to pronounce and pour out God’s righteous judgment. But one of the elders looked at him and told him not to weep. There was one who was worthy.
“Behold, the Lion of the tribe of Judah, the Root of David, has conquered, so that he can open the scroll and its seven seals.”
That is when John saw him for the first time. Between the throne and the four living creatures, among the 24 Elders, there he was. A Lamb – the Lamb of God, looking as if he had been slain. All of these glorious, heavenly creatures, awesome and powerful; yet the only one worthy to open the scroll of God was a crucified lamb, the Lamb of God slain from the foundation of the earth. In that room were mighty angels, living creatures, Cherubim and Seraphim, and the greatest servants of God that history could offer, but none of them were worthy to take the scroll. The only one worthy was a Lamb, the one who humbled himself and died for the sins of the world. He stood before the throne and took the scroll. He was the one, the one worthy to carry out the eternal plan of God. As he had carried out God’s plan of redemption, now He would carry out the plan of judgment.
The Elders, along with the four living creatures, fell down before the Lamb. They presented him bowls, filled with the prayers of believers. And then, heaven broke out in song. It is interesting to note that it was only when the Crucified and Risen Lamb stepped forward that the song of heaven began. The truest music is the music of the Cross. The Elders, the redeemed, those whose place in heaven was purchased by the blood of that crucified Lamb; they sang this new song,
“Worthy are you to take the scroll and to open its seals, for you were slain, and by your blood you ransomed people for God from every tribe and language and people and nation, and you have made them a kingdom and priests to our God, and they shall reign on the earth.”
As the angels had worshiped the character of God, the elders worshiped the work of redemption that had purchased their place in heaven.
Suddenly, all of heaven joined the worship. All the heavenly hosts surrounding the throne, and the living creatures and the elders and myriads of angels, thousands upon thousands of angels began this chant of praise to the Lamb. The words thundered throughout heaven.
“Worthy is the Lamb who was slain, to receive power and wealth and wisdom and might and honor and glory and blessing!”All of creation joined the refrain. Praise swelled not only from heaven, but also from every creature in heaven and on earth and under the earth and in the sea. All of creation joined to praise the Lamb who was slain, saying
“To him who sits on the throne and to the Lamb be blessing and honor and glory and might forever and ever!”This is how the world should be; every creature looking at the Creator giving praise; every redeemed heart thinking about the Lamb who brought redemption through his blood. This is how life was meant to be. Not the rat race of activity, materialism and immorality that we live in. This is how all of creation was meant to live, and so the four living creatures said, “Amen.” So be it. It is as it should be.
And the Elders, the redeemed fell down before the one seated on the throne and the Lamb who now held the scroll of God, and they worshiped him. Forever and forever their praise will swell. One day, each of us, redeemed by the blood of Christ, will join that choir and sing,
“Holy, holy, holy is the Lord God Almighty. The whole earth is full of His glory.” “Worthy is the Lamb who was slain, to receive power and wealth and wisdom and might and honor and glory and blessing!”“To him who sits on the throne and to the Lamb be blessing and honor and glory and might forever and ever!”“Holy, holy, holy is the Lord God Almighty. The whole earth is full of His glory.” “Worthy is the Lamb who was slain, to receive power and wealth and wisdom and might and honor and glory and blessing!”“To him who sits on the throne and to the Lamb be blessing and honor and glory and might forever and ever!”Lord, may I today, and every day, praise you as I one day will forever!
Sorry, sermon length devotional...this is one of my favorite passages.
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