Worship

DEVOTION

THE REVELATION

WORSHIP

Rev 5:6-8

6 Then I saw a Lamb, looking as if it had been slain, standing in the center of the throne, encircled by the four living creatures and the elders. He had seven horns and seven eyes, which are the seven spirits of God sent out into all the earth. 7 He came and took the scroll from the right hand of him who sat on the throne. 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 the saints.

NIV

We have already seen the description of Jesus from John in the very beginning of his encounter. He is described as this all powerful blazing Lord. But here John says he appears as a slain lamb. If we were to conjure up that image we would see this poor little lamb with the evidence of it being slain, with blood all over it and some form of large scares. But this is not what Jesus is. Although he is in fact the Lamb of God, he was slain and his blood was spilled for the remission of our sin, John also says that he was standing in the middle of the throne encircled by the four living creatures and elders. Who was it that we just saw on the throne encircled by the four living creatures and the elders? It was he who sits on the throne, who lives forever and ever, it was God. So here again John tells us that the Lamb had seven horns and seven eyes, which are the seven spirits of God sent out into all the earth. We know that seven is Gods perfect number and it simple means complete, and so six is less then complete. Whether the lamb actually had these seven horns and eyes is not important. What we should see as being important is the fact that all complete power, as the horn of an animal is what they use to demonstrate their power over others. The eyes tell us he has complete sight over all that happens in our lives. Jesus lacks nothing in power or vision, he is complete because he is God. Once Jesus took the scroll being the only one worthy to do so, we once again see the four living creatures and the twenty-four elders falling down before him. Is there any other way for us to worship Jesus? Have we become too casual in our relationship with him? Has the church in general become so much like the world we do not even notice Jesus being there? Have we become, like the church, as we are the church, too much like the world that no one sees Jesus? He is the all-powerful, all seeing Lord of heaven and earth. We sing some songs that would indicate that we have such a close relationship with him, that it is personal, some lyrics proclaim what a day the will be, when my Jesus I shall see. In fact he is not our Jesus, we are his. This type of thinking would be man-centered, and not the way it is in heaven, that the living creatures and the elders fell prostrate before him because he is completely worthy to break the seals and read the scroll. It might serve us well to consider just how full of power and sight is the Lord Jesus Christ. Yes he died for us. Yes, he loves us so very much. Yes, to everything we can say about him, but he still is the creator of everything that was created. He is God. How can we not fall flat on our faces before him? How can we not stand in worship without raising both our hearts and hands in complete adoration to our Lord and Savior? How can we not be fully engaged in worship as all heaven is before the Lamb who is worthy? All of heaven is in worship here, the elders playing their harps, singing a song, which we will see next. They have the bowls or vials filled with the prayers of the saints, which should indicate to us that both heaven and earth should be giving praise in worship.  We see pure worship in heaven here and it would be good for us to be in that kind of worship.