LEARNING DAILY

Revelation 5:13, And every creature which is in heaven and on earth and under the earth and such as are in the sea, and all that are in them, I heard saying, “Blessing and honor and glory and power be to Him who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb, forever and ever!”

Read the fourth and fifth chapters of The Revelation and you will see a glimpse of what heavenly worship is like before the throne of God. John saw the glorified Christ in all His glory, whose “eyes were like a flame of fire” (The Revelation 1:14). The ultimate praise and adoration Jesus Christ and God the Father is seen being given; a picture of the worldwide praise given to the Lamb of God who gave everything for the sake of others. It is important to see all beings, regardless of their location, participate in this worship.

Read The Revelation 4:6-11 and see the “four living creatures” leading worship, “giving glory and honor and thanks to Him who sits on the throne” – they do not rest day or night but continually give God praise. When they do, the twenty-four elders (representing the Church?) fall down, worship, and cast their crowns before Him. Can you even imagine what this sounds like? One day Believers will be there; until that day should not this be our example to praise and worship the Lamb and God the Father.

Read this quote written by Dr. Vernon M. Whaley that I found doing some research on worship in heaven:

“Notice that no one in these passages [The Revelation 4-5] seems to be under compulsion to worship God. No one is standing there, cracking the whip and demanding veneration. The whole of heaven is rejoicing voluntarily and from the heart. Why? Because they know that Jesus Christ is no longer that baby in a manger, represented by so many cracked and peeling images in Nativity sets the world over. Neither is he the bleeding and broken “criminal,” humbled and half-naked on a cross, the victim of those who thought they were bigger than Him. And He’s not the cold and mangled corpse that once lay in a borrowed tomb either. Those whose praises fill the heavens know that Jesus Christ is exalted. He is all in all, and heaven’s inhabitants never tire of worshipping Him. Neither will we. You and I will never run out of things to thank Him for and praising Him will never become boring.”

I know there are other theological thoughts about why this worship is occurring. For this time, just focus on the worship celebration John was able to hear. “Blessing and honor and glory and power be to Him who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb, forever and ever!” Notice on who worship is centered on. Worship is centered on “Him who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb”; it is not focused on me. Being transparent this morning, I get distracted too often when I do not like the song(s) being sung, the way it is sung, or the way others are worshipping. Or there might be something in the message (which is worship as well!) is presented that is distracting. If you are like me, we need to get over it. Worship is not about you and me; it’s about “Him who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb”.

It is pretty clear from God’s Word that eternity in heaven, in God’s kingdom, is about worshipping Him. Believers should get as much practice in before they get there!