Worship in heaven
1. Revelation 5:8
And when he had taken it, 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 God’s people.
In this verse we see that when Jesus received the book that was sealed with seven seals in God’s right hand, the four living angels and the twenty-four elders who were around the throne of God fell down before Jesus.
In this way, the praise and worship that they started then grew, and we see a huge group of angels joining them, singing and praising Jesus in the beginning until Revelation 5:8-14.
i. “each with a harp”
We all know that King David was a very talented harpist and songwriter. The many hymns of thanksgiving, praise and worship written by him are a great blessing to Christians.
Meanwhile, in Revelation 5:8 we see a band of 28 harp players.
Revelation 14:1-2
Then I looked, and there before me was the Lamb, standing on Mount Zion, and with him 144,000 who had his name and his Father’s name written on their foreheads. 2 And I heard a sound from heaven like the roar of rushing waters and like a loud peal of thunder. The sound I heard was like that of harpists playing their harps.
Children of God, isn’t this a group of 144,000 people playing harps and singing? Ponder the question.
ii. “The Prayers of the Saints”
Children of God, understand the importance and necessity of prayer.
Our God knows all our needs. He is the God who loves us and is always waiting to help us. But He gives us many things only if we ask for them.
Matthew 7:7-8
“Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives; the one who seeks finds; and to the one who knocks, the door will be opened.
James 4:2
You desire but don’t have, so you kill. You covet but you cannot get what you want, so you quarrel and fight. You do not have because you do not ask God.
iii. “They took golden bowls full of spices and fell down before the Lamb.”
The four living angels and the 24 elders fall down before Jesus.
2. Revelation 5:9
And they sang a new song, saying:
“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.
i. “Singing a New Song”
In the Old Testament hymns, God was often praised for His creation, His word, His protection, and His wonderful works.
Meanwhile, Psalm 33:3, 40:3, 96:1, 98:1, 144:9, 149:1, Isaiah 42:10 and other Old Testament verses mention ‘a new song’.
In the New Testament, the ‘New Psalms’ often refer to the ‘salvation paid for by the blood of Jesus to all who believe’.
3. Revelation 5:10
You have made them to be a kingdom and priests to serve our God,
and they will reign[a] on the earth.”
i.”Are they a kingdom unto our God?”
All of us who have been saved are children of God who belong to the kingdom of God. We live temporarily on this earth, but our kingdom and citizenship is in the kingdom of heaven. Therefore, even if problems/suffering/obstacles come to us in this world, let us not be discouraged.
ii. “He also made them…priests”
As citizens of God’s kingdom, we are all priests of God. Thus He has appointed us as priests of God, and one of the most important responsibilities of a priest is to offer spiritual sacrifices that are pleasing to God.
Some of these sacrifices mentioned in the Word of God are,
Psalm 50:14
“Sacrifice thank offerings to God,
fulfill your vows to the Most High,
and call on me in the day of trouble;
I will deliver you, and you will honor me.”
Psalm 51:17
My sacrifice, O God, is a broken spirit;
a broken and contrite heart
you, God, will not despise.
Psalm 141:2
May my prayer be set before you like incense;
may the lifting up of my hands be like the evening sacrifice.
Romans 12:1
Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God—this is your true and proper worship.
Hebrews 13:15
Through Jesus, therefore, let us continually offer to God a sacrifice of praise—the fruit of lips that openly profess his name.
Hebrews 13:16
And do not forget to do good and to share with others, for with such sacrifices God is pleased.
iii. “They Reign on the Earth”
Revelation 3:21
To the one who is victorious, I will give the right to sit with me on my throne, just as I was victorious and sat down with my Father on his throne.
Revelation 20:6
Blessed and holy are those who share in the first resurrection. The second death has no power over them, but they will be priests of God and of Christ and will reign with him for a thousand years.
4. “The Song of Praise of the Angelic Hosts”
Revelation 5:11-12 describes an innumerable host of angels praising the slain Lamb.
5. “The Song of Praise of All Creation”
Revelation 5:13-14 says that all creation will praise God and Jesus.
They declared that praise, honor, glory and power be to God and to Jesus forever and ever,
– The four living angels said: Amen.
– The elders fell down and worshipped.