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.  

Doxology of the Creator 11-15-14

11“You are worthy, our Lord and God,

to receive glory and honor and power,

for you created all things,

and by your will they were created

and have their being.” (Revelation 4) 

Thoughts: This is a song of "honor and thanksgiving" before the One who sits on the throne.  So this is a Thanksgiving song.  It is thanksgiving for life itself.  God should receive all honor for we would not be here without God.  We are here because God willed us here.  As The Message translation says "it was created because you wanted it."  Honor (timen) and Power (dunamen) are reminders that we would not be here to honor ourselves or anyone without God.  We would have no power, energy, strength without the Ground of All Being giving us life.
     As we get near the American holiday of Thanksgiving, this is a great verse to remember.  God is worth our time to give thanks.  God is worth our energy to give thanks.  For those who think church is not worth it- they may be right.  But God is worth it.  Worship comes from the word "worthy-ship."  He is worthy of our attention- our honor and our time and energy because without Him we have and are nothing.  

Prayer: May my soul praise you with honor and energy for you made me, all I love, all I am.  

11/14/14- Vision of Heaven- Rev. 4

1After this I looked, and there before me was a door standing open in heaven. And the voice I had first heard speaking to me like a trumpet said, “Come up here, and I will show you what must take place after this.” 2At once I was in the Spirit, and there before me was a throne in heaven with someone sitting on it. 3And the one who sat there had the appearance of jasper and ruby. A rainbow that shone like an emerald encircled the throne.4Surrounding the throne were twenty-four other thrones, and seated on them were twenty-four elders. They were dressed in white and had crowns of gold on their heads. 5From the throne came flashes of lightning, rumblings and peals of thunder. In front of the throne, seven lamps were blazing. These are the seven spirits^a of God. 6Also in front of the throne there was what looked like a sea of glass, clear as crystal. (Revelation 4) 

Thoughts: Heaven was opened to John.  He saw the rare sight (to us) of God on the throne.  Even Moses, who asked to see this, didn't get to see this.
     What John saw was beyond beautiful.  It is a similar vision as commonly described by those who have had near death experiences.  There is color, beauty.  John uses the prettiest things he has seen- precious gems, rare jewels, colorful rainbows to describe what he saw in heaven.  But such words while perhaps a true approximation are just an approximation.  Heaven is beautiul, and is described as such.  God is not only awesome in beauty but He is also awesome in power.  The pagan god-king, Zeus (Jupiter) held thunderbolts in his hands.  Thunder and lightning are great images of power.  God is on the throne.  He sees all and is powerful enough to help.  By faith we can put our trust in the One who is on the throne. 

Prayer: Lord, may I trust in your awesome power.  

Jesus at the door- 11-13-14

19Those whom I love I rebuke and discipline. So be earnest and repent. 20Here I am! I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in and eat with that person, and they with me. (Revelation 3) 

Thoughts: Often this verse is individualized.  There is some reason to individualize it as the words are "anyone" and a third person singular.  Yet, this message is in the context of the individual church as a person.  He calls the lukewarm church to repent.  They have left Jesus nearby but at the door.
     We would like to have a little bit of Jesus- have Him close in case we need Him. But for many, we do not want Him to fully come in and take control.  Jesus wants to come in to us and eat with us- a sign of an intimate friendship and relationship.  A church establishes a relationship with Christ when it is purposefully all in for Christ- and not just trying to be lukewarm, sociable, and culturally acceptable.  For Jesus to be outside of His own church's door is a sad thing.  But for Jesus to still be there waiting to come in is a gracious thing. 

Prayer: Lord, come into my heart and the heart of the Church. 

11/12/14 Neither Hot nor Cold- Lukewarm toward God

These are the words of the Amen, the faithful and true witness, the ruler of God’s creation. 15I know your deeds, that you are neither cold nor hot. I wish you were either one or the other! 16So, because you are lukewarm—neither hot nor cold—I am about to spit you out of my mouth. 17You say, ‘I am rich; I have acquired wealth and do not need a thing.’ But you do not realize that you are wretched, pitiful, poor, blind and naked. 18I counsel you to buy from me gold refined in the fire, so you can become rich; and white clothes to wear, so you can cover your shameful nakedness; and salve to put on your eyes, so you can see. (Revelation 3) 

Thoughts: There were hot springs that brought relaxation to muscles and healing in Laodicea.  There were cold springs that brought refreshment and nourishment.  But Lukewarm water was not good for anything.  I like cold tea - iced tea.  I like hot tea.  But tea that has been left out for a long time isn't very good.  The people of Laodicea were not refreshing or on fire.  They were apathetic- disinterested.  They yawned at the One who gave His life for them on the cross.  They were indifferent to the One who gave them life and offers them hope.  They acted as if God didn't matter. Many people who go to church today do the same.  They are afraid of getting zealous in their faith.  They are afraid to walk by faith instead of sight.  For them the faith is an extra to their life- not the main ingredient.  

Prayer: Lord, keep me from being apathetic toward you.  Instead, help me to be all in for you. 

Hot springs terrace 6 miles north of Laodicea