Revelation Series #3 From Rev. 4-5
Heavenly Worship
PART 1: Revelation 4 - 5:7
THE LION AND THE LAMB
Revelation 4 and 5 describe an amazing Worship Service in Heaven. Instead of just talking about this Heavenly Worship Service today, we’re also going to JOIN IN WORSHIP. Today we will share in Apostle John’s heavenly vision and take our places around the heavenly throne. We will sing the songs of the angels and of the redeemed. We will worship the Father and the Lamb upon the Throne. Let us turn our attention to the text in Revelation 4 and 5.
Revelation chapter 4 is the beginning of the Apostle John’s Heavenly adventure: After this I looked, and there before me was a door standing open in heaven. And the voice I had first heard speaking to me like a trumpet said, “Come up here, and I will show you what must take place after this.” Revelation 4:1
If you’ve ever tried to imagine what Heaven is like, Revelation chapter 4 is a great place to start. John says, At once I was in the Spirit, and there before me was a throne in heaven with someone sitting on it. And the one who sat there had the appearance of jasper and ruby. A rainbow that shone like an emerald encircled the throne. Rev. 4:2-3
From the throne came flashes of lightning and peals of thunder. And before the throne was what looked like a sea of glass, clear as crystal.
It must have been hard for John to find human words to describe what he saw in Heaven. In the book of Revelation, John used earthly terms to describe eternal reality. The best he could do is to compare what he saw in Heaven to the most dazzling jewels and the most powerful manifestations of nature.
I am drawn to the heavenly scene and amazed to hear about the rainbow that surrounds the throne of God. You can recall that it was a rainbow that God used as a reminder, after the worldwide flood. The Rainbow sealed God’s promise that he would not ever again destroy the world by water.
This rainbow surrounds God’s throne. He literally wraps himself up in the sign of His promise.
You see, God is the original promise keeper. He always keeps his word. He can be trusted to do what He says He will do. The rainbow around the throne is the symbol of God’s promise-keeping nature. But the scene in chapter 4 is only half of John’s heavenly vision. The scene shifts as John continues to describe what he saw.
In Chapter 5, the action begins. John sees a scroll with 7 seals. This image was familiar to John’s readers. Important documents were usually stamped with an official seal. That seal could only be broken by a person with authority.
This particular scroll contains information about the future of planet earth. The seals need to be broken to make way for the triumphant Second Coming of Christ. But no one can be found who is worthy to break the seals.
John is so anxious to know the secrets contained in the scroll that he begins to weep. Then one of the elders comforts John and says, “…Do not weep! See, the Lion of the tribe of Judah, the root of David, has triumphed. He is able to open the scroll and its seven seals.” Revelation 5:5
But notice that when John looks, he does NOT see a Lion. Instead John sees “a Lamb, looking as if it had been slain, standing in the center of the throne.” Revelation 5:6
The elder saw a Lion, but John saw a Lamb.
This makes sense when you understand that the elder knew Jesus in His Heavenly glory. The Lion of Judah represents Jesus in his second appearance when He will “rule with a rod of iron.”
John knew Jesus from His FIRST coming: the Lamb of God who takes away the sins of the world.
Consider this:
• The Lamb refers to His 1st coming. The Lion refers to His 2nd coming.
• The Lamb symbolizes His meekness. The Lion symbolizes His majesty.
• As a Lamb He is Savior. As a Lion He is Sovereign.
• As a Lamb He was judged. As a Lion He is the supreme Judge.
• The Lamb represents God’s grace. The Lion represents God’s government.
• The Lamb offers perfect peace. The Lion demonstrates perfect power.
Isaiah 11:6 gives us a prophecy that in the coming Kingdom of God the lion will lie down with the lamb. John’s vision shows that on the throne of God, the Lion IS the Lamb. John was looking at the Lion of Judah who is also the Lamb of God.
Think of Jesus – the LION and the LAMB as we worship him together.
Responsive Reading: Revelation 5:8-10 (Do not print reading in bulletin – will use screen.)
Leader: The four living creatures and the twenty-four elders fell down before the Lamb. Each one had a harp and they were holding golden bowls full of incense, which are the prayers of the saints. And they sang a new song:
Congregation: “You are worthy to take the scroll and to open its seals, because you were slain, and with your blood you purchased men for God from every tribe and language and people and nation. You have made them to be a kingdom and priests to serve our God, and they will reign on the earth.”
PART 2: Revelation 5:8-10
THE SONG OF THE REDEEMED
BECAUSE he was the Lamb that was slain, Jesus was worthy to open the scroll. Jesus earned the RIGHT TO RULE all earthly kingdoms when he sacrificed His life for all mankind. The text records that after He took the scroll, the four living creatures and the elders all fell down and sang a new song to the Lamb.
Have you ever wondered what a song-service in Heaven will be like? Will it be like the Brooklyn Tabernacle Choir? Will it be like a performance of Handle’s Messiah? Will it be like a Contemporary Christian Concert with David Crowder? Classical style or Country? Hymns or Choruses? Organs or Guitars? Will people be dancing for joy or falling to their knees?
John doesn’t describe the style of music. But he does tell us the words to the “new song” in verses 9-10 “You are worthy to take the scroll and to open its seals, because you were slain, and with your blood you purchased men for God from every tribe and language and people and nation. For you made them to be a kingdom and priests to serve our God, and they will reign on earth.”
The music in Heaven will be all about Jesus. Whatever the style … you can bet the music will be fantastic. It will transcend time and culture. For the first time, every tribe and language and people and nation will join their voices in praise of Jesus.
We’ve had a little taste of this when we have a bilingual service with the Spanish church. But one day language barriers will be gone. We’ll be singing together with Christian brothers and sisters from India and Africa and China … from Mexico and Russia … from Saudi Arabia and Iran … from every nation that has ever existed throughout all History.
Notice that this particular song is all about what Jesus did for human beings when he came to earth. On the cross, Jesus did His most amazing work.
With His blood he purchased humans for God. This is the song of the redeemed.
Angles can sing ABOUT redemption, but they have never experienced what it means to be saved. Angels were never lost, so they don’t know what it means to be found. The Song of the Redeemed is OUR song. How beautiful the music must be in the ears of the Angels, --- when they hear the song of the redeemed sung by the people Jesus purchased with His own blood.
Can you sing the Song of the Redeemed? Is God’s Amazing Grace personal to you?
PART 3: Revelation 5:11-14
Every Living Creature will Praise HIM
(with the Congregation still standing)
The end of Revelation chapter 5 describes a time when every living creature in heaven and on earth will shout spontaneous praise to Jesus.
What a tremendous worship service that will be --- so much greater than anything we have ever experienced here on earth. I can hardly wait until that day finally arrives. We can’t be in Heaven right this minute, but we can “rehearse” for that great day when our voices will join with all creation in praise.
Let’s end our service with heart-felt praise, as we read the last verses of Revelation 5 together.
Responsive Reading: Revelation 5:11-14
Leader: Then I looked and heard the voice of many angels, numbering thousands upon thousands, and ten thousand times ten thousand. They encircled the throne and the living creatures and the elders. In a loud voice they sang:
Congregation: “Worthy is the Lamb, who was slain, to receive power and wealth and wisdom and strength and honor and glory and praise!”
Leader: Then I heard every creature in heaven and on earth and under the earth and on the sea, and all that is in them, singing:
Congregation: “To him who sits on the throne and to the Lamb be praise and honor and glory and power, for ever and ever!”
Closing Prayer
Closing Song:
