Thursday, June 13, 2019

So You Want To Read The Book Of Revelation

And you should!


This is Part 5. The final part. It is done.
To read Part 1 Purpose and Approach go here.
To read Part 2 Outline and The end go here.
To read Part 3 Symbol vs Spiritual go here.
To read Part 4 Significance of Numbers go here.

Praise & Worship in Revelation
The book of Revelation is full of praise to God, from both heavenly and earthly sources. This book is a wonderful chorus book - such worship and praise! I’m basically going to simply list all the praise offered. Don’t just read it, join them!

I believe numbers are significant here as well - when heavenly beings offer praise, they offer three or sevenfold praise; while earthly beings offer fourfold praise. Not every outburst of praise is arranged this way, but when it is it is consistent, and when it occurs I will highlight it.

4:8-11
8 And the four beasts had each of them six wings about him; and they were full of eyes within: and they rest not day and night, saying, Holy, holy, holy, Lord God Almighty, which was, and is, and is to come. 
9 And when those beasts give glory and honour and thanks to him that sat on the throne, who liveth for ever and ever, 
10 The four and twenty elders fall down before him that sat on the throne, and worship him that liveth for ever and ever, and cast their crowns before the throne, saying, 
11 Thou art worthy, O Lord, to receive glory and honour and power: for thou hast created all things, and for thy pleasure they are and were created.

5:7-14 
7 And he came and took the book out of the right hand of him that sat upon the throne. 
8 And when he had taken the book, the four beasts and four and twenty elders fell down before the Lamb, having every one of them harps, and golden vials full of odours, which are the prayers of saints. 
9 And they sung a new song, saying, Thou art worthy to take the book, and to open the seals thereof: for thou wast slain, and hast redeemed us to God by thy blood out of every kindred, and tongue, and people, and nation; 
10 And hast made us unto our God kings and priests: and we shall reign on the earth. 
11 And I beheld, and I heard the voice of many angels round about the throne and the beasts and the elders: and the number of them was ten thousand times ten thousand, and thousands of thousands; 
12 Saying with a loud voice, Worthy is the Lamb that was slain to receive power, and riches, and wisdom, and strength, and honour, and glory, and blessing. 
13 And every creature which is in heaven, and on the earth, and under the earth, and such as are in the sea, and all that are in them, heard I saying, Blessing, and honour, and glory, and power, be unto him that sitteth upon the throne, and unto the Lamb for ever and ever. 
14 And the four beasts said, Amen. And the four and twenty elders fell down and worshipped him that liveth for ever and ever.

7:9-12
9 After this I beheld, and, lo, a great multitude, which no man could number, of all nations, and kindreds, and people, and tongues, stood before the throne, and before the Lamb, clothed with white robes, and palms in their hands; 
10 And cried with a loud voice, saying, Salvation to our God which sitteth upon the throne, and unto the Lamb. 
11 And all the angels stood round about the throne, and about the elders and the four beasts, and fell before the throne on their faces, and worshipped God, 
12 Saying, Amen: Blessing, and glory, and wisdom, and thanksgiving, and honour, and power, and might, be unto our God for ever and ever. Amen.

11:15-19
15 And the seventh angel sounded; and there were great voices in heaven, saying, The kingdoms of this world are become the kingdoms of our Lord, and of his Christ; and he shall reign for ever and ever. 
16 And the four and twenty elders, which sat before God on their seats, fell upon their faces, and worshipped God, 
17 Saying, We give thee thanks, O Lord God Almighty, which art, and wast, and art to come; because thou hast taken to thee thy great power, and hast reigned. 
18 And the nations were angry, and thy wrath is come, and the time of the dead, that they should be judged, and that thou shouldest give reward unto thy servants the prophets, and to the saints, and them that fear thy name, small and great; and shouldest destroy them which destroy the earth. 
19 And the temple of God was opened in heaven, and there was seen in his temple the ark of his testament: and there were lightnings, and voices, and thunderings, and an earthquake, and great hail.

14:3 And they sung as it were a new song before the throne, and before the four beasts, and the elders: and no man could learn that song but the hundred and forty and four thousand, which were redeemed from the earth.
Ah, this song is not recorded.

15:1-4
2 And I saw as it were a sea of glass mingled with fire: and them that had gotten the victory over the beast, and over his image, and over his mark, and over the number of his name, stand on the sea of glass, having the harps of God. 
3 And they sing the song of Moses the servant of God, and the song of the Lamb, saying, Great and marvellous are thy works, Lord God Almighty; just and true are thy ways, thou King of saints. 
4 Who shall not fear thee, O Lord, and glorify thy name? for thou only art holy: for all nations shall come and worship before thee; for thy judgments are made manifest.

15:7-8
7 And one of the four beasts gave unto the seven angels seven golden vials full of the wrath of God, who liveth for ever and ever. 
8 And the temple was filled with smoke from the glory of God, and from his power; and no man was able to enter into the temple, till the seven plagues of the seven angels were fulfilled.
This is interesting, no man was able to enter the temple. There is no worship until ch. 19

19:1-7
1 And after these things I heard a great voice of much people in heaven, saying, Alleluia; Salvation, and glory, and honour, and power, unto the Lord our God: 
2 For true and righteous are his judgments: for he hath judged the great whore, which did corrupt the earth with her fornication, and hath avenged the blood of his servants at her hand. 
3 And again they said, Alleluia. And her smoke rose up for ever and ever. 
4 And the four and twenty elders and the four beasts fell down and worshipped God that sat on the throne, saying, Amen; Alleluia. 
5 And a voice came out of the throne, saying, Praise our God, all ye his servants, and ye that fear him, both small and great. 
6 And I heard as it were the voice of a great multitude, and as the voice of many waters, and as the voice of mighty thunderings, saying, Alleluia: for the Lord God omnipotent reigneth. 
7 Let us be glad and rejoice, and give honour to him: for the marriage of the Lamb is come, and his wife hath made herself ready.

21:22 And I saw no temple therein: for the Lord God Almighty and the Lamb are the temple of it.
22:3 …the throne of God and of the Lamb shall be in it; and his servants shall serve him
Chapters 21 & 22 tell us of the new heaven and new earth and the new Jerusalem. There is no praise recorded there because it is all worship and praise!!

Hallelujah! We can join in this rich praise and worship of God! We can praise Him because he sits on the throne! We can praise Him because we know the end from the beginning – He completes His plan of redemption!

It is done

Alleluia: for the Lord God omnipotent reigneth

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