Every Creature's Song in Heaven

13Then I heard every creature in heaven and on earth and under the earth and on the sea, and all that is in them, saying:

“To him who sits on the throne and to the Lamb

be praise and honor and glory and power,

for ever and ever!”

14The four living creatures said, “Amen,” and the elders fell down and worshiped. (Revelation 5)

Thoughts: Every creature will sing in heaven.  The good news is that those who didn't think they could sing will really sing- and the song will be more beautiful than any song they have ever heard.
     This is every creature every where- heaven, earth, and sea.  Heaven or hell- it doesn't matter- we will all acknowledge that God is God and true.  There is no one anywhere who will not praise God.  Philippians 2 says "every knee shall bow and every tongue confess that Jesus is Lord."
     The song is inspired by the Holy Spirit who enables us to have breath to sing- who gives music in heaven itself.  The Spirit inspires us to sing to the Father (who sits on the throne), and to the Lamb (who purchased all of us who will sing).
      The content of the song is a doxology.  We sing in awe and admiration- praise, honor, glory and power.  All energy, all songs are due Him.  All attention should be directed at the One who died so much for us.  In the end, in heaven, all the distractions will be removed.  

Prayer: Let me see you, O Lord.  Help me to find you - and then help me- to praise and honor you with all that i am.    

Angel Song in Heaven

11Then 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. 12In a loud voice they were saying:

“Worthy is the Lamb, who was slain,

to receive power and wealth and wisdom and strength

and honor and glory and praise!” (Revelation 5) 

Thoughts:  Perhaps we remember, "Hark the Herald Angels sing, Glory to the Newborn King."  In heaven the angels are still glorying in the Son- bringing Him attention and glory. They are reminding everyone in heaven here that Jesus is worthy of worthyship/worship.  He is worthy to receive power (dunamis)- for without Him, none of us would be alive and have energy/life for eternity. He is worthy of wealth.  The one who had nothing- born in a manger and stripped of his possessions at his death- should be honored with the wealth we own.  He deserves, more than any other, our gifts and our best.  He is worthy of wisdom.  He has made a wise way for us to get to heaven.  He has outwitted evil and sin with His grace and love.  He is worthy of strength- for without Him we are paralyzed with weakness and inability to move beyond the grave.  Jesus was amazingly strong in the face of persecution and derision and he inspires and elicits strength to stand up for what is right among His followers.  He is worthy of honor.  He has done nothing dishonorable or shameful, but has found a way to erase dishonor and shame with His own sacrifice.  There is no one so worthy of honor as the Mighty God who was born in a manger and humiliated in his death on the cross.   

He is worthy of glory.  We are called to reflect His glory and make His glory bigger (the meaning of glorify) because without Him there would be no heaven for humans at all.  We should spread the fame of His honor.  He is worthy of our praise- for in Himself He has done great things.  The mighty beings of heaven- the messengers- the angels tell of the worthiness of Christ.  We should follow their advice. 

Prayer: May my crown, my gifts honor you.  

Doxology to the Son

8And 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. 9And 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.

10You have made them to be a kingdom and priests to serve our God,

and they will reign^b on the earth.”

Thoughts: The leaders in heaven- the twelve patriarchs of hte twelve tribes, and the twelve disciples along with the four Cherubim sing this song to the Lamb- the Son of God.  Perhaps you remember John the Baptist said (pointing to Jesus) "Behold the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world" (Jn. 1).
    The song is that He is worthy in many different ways: 

He is worthy to open the future- (symbolized by a sealed scroll) to bring about the redemption of the saints and world.
He is worthy because of his sacrifice on the cross- His blood purchased those who  believe. He has ransomed us from evil into heaven. 

He is worthy because he knit the believers into a kingdom- a kingdom of priests who intercede and offer forgiveness.  This kingdom is as diverse as any- it is made up of every tribe, language and nation.
It is this phrase that is oft repeated in Revelation "every tribe, language and nation" that makes one think that John is not just writing about the first century but of a future time.  It was only 1984 that the last countries (Nepal and Tibet) had Christian believers in them. Christianity is the only religion that is truly in every country.  We are still working on every language group- but that is falling shortly.  There were 17,000 languages unreached in 1990, but now estiates are only 2,000.
Jesus forms a church that is truly non-prejudiced and world-wide.  Whosoever will may come to Jesus. 

Prayer: You are worthy, Lord.  You are worthy of my song of my life.  You have redeemed me from my sin.