And They Sang A New Song Series

This passage finds us in Heaven in the presence of God upon His throne. The church has been raptured, perfected and safely delivered home to Heaven. Revelation chapters 4 and 5 find us in Heaven’s courtroom. God is preparing to judge this world. But, before He does, there is a pause for praise in glory because the Lion of Judah stands before the Throne as the Lamb of God!

Revelation 4 – John was in the Spirit, and he beheld, a glorious throne in heaven, with one seated on the throne. Around the throne were twenty-four smaller thrones and seated on the thrones were twenty-four elders, clothed in white garments, with golden crowns on their heads. (We understood these to be symbols of the old testament saints and the new testament saints – some say they represent the 12 Tribes of Israel and the 12 Apostles of Christ). John tells us that from the throne came flashes of lightning and rumblings and thunder… And around the throne, on each side of the throne, are four living creatures, full of eyes in front and behind. They sound like Ezekiel’s cherubim, “the first living creature like a lion, the second living creature like an ox, the third living creature with the face of a man, and the fourth living creature like an eagle.” They sound like Isaiah’s seraphim, “Each had six wings: with two they covered their face, and with two they covered their feet, and with two they flew around the Throne of God singing, "Holy, holy, holy is the Lord of hosts!” And John says that the four living creatures, are full of eyes all around and within, and day and night they never cease to say, "Holy, holy, holy, is the Lord God Almighty, who was and is and is to come!" And every time the said it, the twenty-four elders fall down before Him who is seated on the throne and worship Him who lives forever and ever. They cast their crowns before the throne, saying, "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."

Then in Revelation 5 - John saw in the right hand of Him who was seated on the throne a scroll written within and on the back, sealed with seven seals. And I saw a strong angel proclaiming with a loud voice, "Who is worthy to open the scroll and break its seals?" And no one in heaven or no one on earth or no one under the earth was able to open the scroll or to look into it, and John began to weep loudly because no one was found worthy to open the scroll nor even to look into it. And one of the elders said to John, "Weep no more; 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." When John turned to see, he saw not a lion but a lamb! And then John said, “I saw a Lamb, with the scars of being slain, STANDING … and The Lamb of God went and took the scroll from the right hand of Him who was seated on the throne.”

At this point Heaven is unable to contain itself and all the residents burst forth in rejoicing and praise to God and the Lamb. There is praising and singing and music. This the first mention of music in this book, but it will not be the last. John takes us into Heaven and gives us front row seats at the concert of the ages. Let’s go in, take our seats and listen to the hosts of Heaven as they lift their voices in praise and worship of the Lamb of God! And when he had taken the scroll, the four living creatures and the twenty-four elders fell down before the Lamb, each holding a harp, and golden bowls full of incense, which are the prayers of the saints. And they sang a new song…

Why a new song? Because it answers the question of the Old Testament, “Where is the lamb?” (Genesis 22:7) Though it was asked of Abraham by Isaac in the Old; It was answered in the New Testament by John the Baptist who looked to Jesus and cried out, “Behold the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world” (John 1:29). The choirs of heaven sing, “Worthy is the Lamb!” The Lamb of God is Jesus Christ! When the Lamb came and took the scroll, the weeping ended and the praising began. God’s people and the representatives of God’s creation joined their voices in a new song of praise. Note that praise and prayer were united, for incense is a picture of prayer rising to the throne of God. The “golden vials full of odours” are said to be full of “the prayers of the saints.” These worshippers come before the Lord with all the prayers of the redeemed through the ages. These prayers have ascended into God’s presence with a sweet aroma. These prayers that were offered in faith are about to be answered in power. That is why Heaven praises God! He is a God Who hears and answers the prayers of His children! Not a single prayer that prayed within the scope of His will ever falls to the ground unheard and unanswered, 1 John 5:13-14; James 4:2-3. But, every one of them is answered in His time and in His way.