What is WORSHIP? My Webster’s dictionary defines it as: (1) reverence toward a divine being or supernatural power; (2) expression of reverence; (3) extravagant respect or devotion. I’ve also heard it said that worship is about ascribing worth to something or someone, such as God.
Revelation chapters 4-5 are all about worship.
I’m slowly trying to teach through the book of Revelation in my small group, and we spent time in Rev. 4-5 last night. It was a great discussion about worship because chapter 4 focuses on worshiping God the Father and chapter 5 focuses on worshiping Jesus as the Lamb who was slain. They go together and form a necessary foundation before moving on to the judgments that follow.
Theologians tell us that God reveals Himself and His character and His glory to us as He desires. What we know about God is only because God revealed it to us. In other words, what we do see and know of Him is exactly what He wants us to see and know (nothing more, nothing less). Therefore, because heaven is beyond our finite comprehension at this point, God gave us a few brief descriptions of His throne room so we can try to visualize it. Personally, I think it is intentionally designed to blow our minds and leave us in a state of shock and awe, as they say.
What John saw in Revelation 4-5 is consistent with several other Old Testament images of heaven and God’s throne, including Exodus 24:9-10; Isaiah 6; Ezekiel 1; and Daniel 7:9-14. I also love 1 Timothy 6:15-16 as well. Take a moment to look each of these up and meditate on the images conveyed.
Think about what you noticed. What stood out to you? What confused you or scared you? And can you picture it in your mind? Did you catch that God is not described as having any shape or form? (So as not to confuse the One on the throne as being human.) Instead, God is described as having the appearance of light and brilliance, with words John could understand such as jasper (diamond?), carnelian, rainbow, and emerald.
If nothing else, did you notice the throne room of God overflowing with corporateworship? Specifically, the living creatures and the elders never stop praising and worshiping the LORD God who sits on the throne! EVER!
“Holy, holy, holy is the Lord God Almighty, Who was, and is, and is to come.” (Rev. 4:8b, NIV)
Revelation 4 gives us an incredible picture of worship in heaven. Do your best to move beyond the weird looking creatures with wings and eyes and focus on what they are doing: day and night they never stop praising God. The goal is for us is to establish God as the sole object of our worship if for no other reason than because He is worthy! He is the Almighty and He sits on the throne of heaven! When was the last time you fell down on your face before God and worshiped Him? If it has been a while, do it today!
Then, moving on to Revelation 5, we also see two statements of praise but this time they are both directed at Jesus. Again, this whole scene is a continuation of what John began describing in chapter 4. Yet in Rev. 5:9, the first song comes in response to the sacrificial actions of the Lamb.
“You are worthy to take the scroll and to open its seals, because you were slain, and with your blood you purchased for God persons from every tribe and language and people and nation. You have made them to be a kingdom of priests to serve our God, and they will reign on earth.” (Rev. 5:9-10, NIV)
Don’t miss this crucial verse! Jesus was worthy of taking the scroll from God’s hand (earlier in Rev. 5) precisely because He was slain! Through His death and resurrection Jesus conquered sin and death once and for all and purchased you and me for God! This might be one of the key themes in Revelation: victory through sacrificial death. And it starts with Jesus!
The second eruption of praise in this chapter comes from the millions of angels who worship the Lamb for being worthy. This must have been an awesome sight! Not only are the four creatures and the twenty-four elders and angels singing and worshiping Jesus, but now every creature on earth starts singing as well! Can you imagine? This was an incredible event and an awesome picture of what worship in heaven is like!
And finally, don’t miss that this chapter ends with a concluding statement of praise for both God and Jesus together in 5:13. The slain Lamb is elevated to the throne of God, which is a statement of His divinity. His enthronement is a reference to His resurrection and ascension into heaven and describes Christ’s death as not only redeeming humans but also conquering the power of the enemy.
Here’s the point: Jesus, the Lion of Judah, secured victory over evil and death by offering his life as a sacrifice for us on the cross. He overcame Satan, therefore, by willingly walking the path that leads through suffering and death. And this is the same pathway He extends to His followers and church, by the way. “Dying to self,” and “taking up your cross,” and “the way of the Cross” are all invitations to victory over this world through suffering and death.
There are three conclusions I want to draw from these two chapters in Revelation:
- If worship means “ascribing worth” to something, then God the Father and Jesus the Son are definitely worthy of our worship. Therefore, focus on how you praise and worship the Triune God. Are you giving Him your all? Worship HIM alone!
- Worship is more than just praise music in a church service. Find unique ways to worship Him in silence, in prayer, through His Word, through music, in nature, in writing, etc.… Get creative!
- Be comforted in the fact that millions of angels are on your side and that one day every knee shall bow, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord (Philippians 2:10-11).
Find time today to praise and worship God!
