Heavenly Worship

Do you have an active imagination? Are you able to read a story and picture it in your mind? What about daydreaming? Ever visit exotic places? Have you ever wondered what heaven would be like?

When I was a new Christian, I remember being terrified of reading the book of Revelation. But sometime after the infilling of the Holy Spirit, I received the courage to read it. Little did I know that, according to Revelation 1:3, those who read that book aloud, along with those who hear it, will be blessed. Why was I so afraid to read it? Only the Lord knows!

One blessing I received from the Holy Spirit was a way to process the information in the book. It was like seeing the events of the book on three giant movie screens. One screen was for the past, one for the present, and one for the future. This was most helpful for my understanding. The events of the book flowed from screen to screen. Cool, right?

Revelation 4 sent my imagination into orbit. Please, read the whole book, but notice that chapter 4 tells of John going up to heaven and seeing fascinating images from the throne of God and those “strange” creatures beside it. I am not in a hurry to cross over into eternity, but I surely would love to see what John saw! Through my imagination, I did see it, because John gave enough details to picture it. 

Not only did John see the One on the throne, but he also saw an additional 24 thrones, 24 elders, lightning flashes, seven spirits of God, and creatures full of eyes with six wings. The most stunning part about all this imagery is that it all led to the worship of the One on the throne!

And the four living creatures, each of them with six wings, 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!”  (Revelation 4:8 ESV).

This level of worship starts a chain reaction that continues with the 24 elders. Verses 10 and 11 read:

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 and were created.”

Have you joined in the praise and worship yet? The invitation to worship is for all of us. Herein is the heartbeat of heaven! You and I get to join in with multitudes of believers to worship our God. My heart races as I imagine being there with them. 

Let us pray: How majestic is Your great name, oh Lord! We extol You on high. May Your praises be continually on our lips. May we live our lives in worship to You. Maranatha!

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Scripture is quoted from the ESV^® Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version^®) copyright © 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. All rights reserved.