As we preview Heaven’s song of the ages to The Lamb we learn of God’s Heart, His Sovereign Gospel Greatness and How Our Prayers Matter 11-21-2024
The hope of this post is to inspire readers through a look at Revelation 4 and 5 and the Worship of Heaven throughout the book of Revelation.
We get a clearer glimpse of how majestic and great God is when we see him on His Throne, the highest throne in the universe, and how the angels, living creatures, and elders worship him! Our knowledge of Him and His Throne Kingship can help us have greater belief and help us better navigate life, believing God in real ways and greater measure. We might find ourselves desiring to worship and commune with God at a deeper and more intimate level when we recognize the wondrous privilege to come before our Great God boldly at the Throne of Grace all because of Jesus Christ!
God wants to reveal Himself to us, thus the name “Revelation”. It reveals heaven’s secrets to its readers and shares, makes known, discloses future events to us. As we now read these statements, I pray you will be Blessed by God!
Some of Heaven’s secrets are written for us. These five potentially eye opening questions may give us pause, perspective and be somewhat of a template for this post:
As far as heaven goes, (in Revelation):
- 1) Do you know what is happening in heaven?
- 2) Do you think knowing this would affect you/us?
- 3) Do you know you are going to heaven? (A question for reflection. This post will not go into assurance of salvation See this post for more.
- 4) Do you know the Lord’s prayer mentions heaven and what this means? (The Lord’s prayer, that Jesus taught us to pray, contains this phrase: “thy kingdom come on earth as it is in heaven”…) It is important for us to know what God wants to come to earth from heaven and to emulate Heaven’s worship!
- 5) Do you know Christ is described as “a slaughtered lamb with 7 eyes and 7 horns”? True or False?
My answer to 5, prior to study of Revelation 4 and 5, would have been False. The correct answer is True!
Let’s unpack some of these questions to see where this takes us in our pursuit to be know God and the Gift of God.
1 and 2 answered: This post will share Revelation 4 and 5 and tell us what John saw of Heaven! It is important information! These chapters have affected my life— in my perspectives, faith and desire to live for eternity—in great measure. I pray they have or will you too! Also this post will share the verses in the book of Revelation that tell of Heaven’s worship. Please pay attention to the magnitude of what is happening in Heaven. God is on his throne and there is no greater power or purpose to live for anyone other than Him. The importance of prayer is clearly shown in this book! We pray because we love God, know who He is and know that He does what He says He can do. We need Him, His presence, power, provisionsj, guidance and grace.
I pray Ephesians 3:20:
Now to You LORD for You who are able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to Your power that is at work within us, to You be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen.
For your convenience: Revelation 4 and 5 (CSB) written below:
The Throne Room of Heaven
Revelation 4:
1 After this I looked, and there in heaven was an open door. The first voice that I had heard speaking to me like a trumpet said, “Come up here, and I will show you what must take place after this.”
2 Immediately I was in the Spirit, and there was a throne in heaven and someone was seated on it. 3 The one seated[a] there had the appearance of jasper and carnelian stone. A rainbow that had the appearance of an emerald surrounded the throne.
4 Around the throne were twenty-four thrones, and on the thrones sat twenty-four elders dressed in white clothes, with golden crowns on their heads.
5 Flashes of lightning and rumblings and peals of thunder came from the throne. Seven fiery torches were burning before the throne, which are the seven spirits of God.
6 Something like a sea of glass, similar to crystal, was also before the throne. Four living creatures covered with eyes in front and in back were around the throne on each side. j
7 The first living creature was like a lion; the second living creature was like an ox; the third living creature had a face like a man; and the fourth living creature was like a flying eagle.
8 Each of the four living creatures had six wings; they were covered with eyes around and inside. Day and night they never stop, saying,
Holy, holy, holy,
Lord God, the Almighty,
who was, who is, and who is to come.
9 Whenever the living creatures give glory, honor, and thanks to the one seated on the throne, the one who lives forever and ever,
10 the twenty-four elders fall down before the one seated on the throne and worship the one who lives forever and ever. They cast their crowns before the throne and say,
11 Our Lord and God,
you are worthy to receive glory and honor and power,
because you have created all things,
and by your will they exist and were created.
The Lamb Takes the Scroll
Revelation 5
1 Then I saw in the right hand of the one seated on the throne a scroll with writing on both sides, sealed with seven seals. 2 I also saw a mighty angel proclaiming with a loud voice, “Who is worthy to open the scroll and break its seals?” 3 But no one in heaven or on earth or under the earth was able to open the scroll or even to look in it. 4 I wept and wept because no one was found worthy to open the scroll or even to look in it. 5 Then one of the elders said to me, “Do not weep. Look, the Lion from the tribe of Judah, the Root of David, has conquered so that he is able to open the scroll and its seven seals.”
6 Then I saw one like a slaughtered lamb standing in the midst of the throne and the four living creatures and among the elders. He had seven horns and seven eyes, which are the seven spirits of God sent into all the earth. 7 He went and took the scroll out of the right hand of the one seated on the throne.
The Lamb Is Worthy
8 When he took the scroll, the four living creatures and the twenty-four elders fell down before the Lamb. Each one had a harp and golden bowls filled with incense, which are the prayers of the saints.
9 And they sang a new song:
You are worthy to take the scroll and to open its seals,
because you were slaughtered, and you purchased people for God by your blood from every tribe and language and people and nation.
10 You made them a kingdom and priests to our God, and they will reign on the earth.
11 Then I looked and heard the voice of many angels around the throne, and also of the living creatures and of the elders. Their number was countless thousands, plus thousands of thousands. 12 They said with a loud voice,
Worthy is the Lamb who was slaughtered
to receive power and riches
and wisdom and strength
and honor and glory and blessing!
13 I heard every creature in heaven, on earth, under the earth, on the sea, and everything in them say,
Blessing and honor and glory and power
be to the one seated on the throne,
and to the Lamb, forever and ever!
14 The four living creatures said, “Amen,” and the elders fell down and worshiped.
End of Revelation Chapter 5
Thoughts on these two chapters:
There are all kinds of teachings on these two chapters. What is clear is that God is on His Throne and His appearance cannot be adequately described. Christ is described as the slaughtered lamb (verse 6,9,12) and worship is happening in heaven by those “in the know”! What John saw matters to us today. We are given some of heaven’s secrets if we will look and see …yet only God can affect us (to be awed, moved, motivated, changed by, comforted, warned) by what is happening in heaven. LORD, I ask that You please would in fact AFFECT US in these ways and any way You desire!
We know from many passages in the Bible that …
*we only get to go to heaven through belief in the Lamb of God, Jesus Christ, who takes away our sins. Jesus is described in these chapters in ways that are far beyond the most known ways. He is the slaughtered Lamb, both the Lion and the Lamb and having seven eyes and seven horns. Wow. The implications are beyond this post.
Do our lives on earth affect heaven? Big question. It seems heaven is to affect earth. But is it both ways? The Lord’s prayer includes “thy kingdom come on earth as it is in heaven”… and there is teaching that affirms the prayers of the saints as affecting heaven and the timing of things to come. May we be more motivated to pray….
Christ is “the slaughtered lamb with 7 eyes and 7 horns” and all of heaven worships Jesus. Over and over and over in the entire book of Revelation we are told how the worship of heaven goes. The honor of Jesus and His sacrifice for the forgiveness of our sins is the resounding chorus of heaven!
verses that specifically tell of the worship of heaven:
Heaven’s Worship in Revelation: (CSB version)
Revelation 4:8 Each of the four living creatures had six wings; they were covered with eyes around and inside. Day and night they never stop, saying,
“Holy, holy, holy,
Lord God, the Almighty,
who was, who is, and who is to come.
Revelation 4:11 Our Lord and God,
you are worthy to receive glory and honor and power,
because you have created all things,
and by your will they exist and were created.”
Revelation 5:8-10 The Lamb Is Worthy
8 When he took the scroll, the four living creatures and the twenty-four elders fell down before the Lamb. Each one had a harp and golden bowls filled with incense, which are the prayers of the saints. 9 And they sang a new song:
“You are worthy to take the scroll and to open its seals,
because you were slaughtered,
and you purchased people for God by your blood
from every tribe and language and people and nation.
10 You made them a kingdom
and priests to our God,
and they will reign on the earth. ”
Revelation 5:12 &13: 12
They said with a loud voice,
“Worthy is the Lamb who was slaughtered
to receive power and riches
and wisdom and strength
and honor and glory and blessing!”
13 I heard every creature in heaven, on earth, under the earth, on the sea, and everything in them say,
“Blessing and honor and glory and power
be to the one seated on the throne,
and to the Lamb, forever and ever!”
Revelation 7:11-17:
11 All the angels stood around the throne, and along with the elders and the four living creatures they fell facedown before the throne and worshiped God, 12 saying,
“Amen! Blessing and glory and wisdom
and thanksgiving and honor
and power and strength
be to our God forever and ever. Amen.”
13 Then one of the elders asked me, “Who are these people in white robes, and where did they come from?”
14 I said to him, “Sir, you know.” Then he told me: These are the ones coming out of the great tribulation. They washed their robes and made them white in the blood of the Lamb. 15 For this reason they are before the throne of God, and they serve him day and night in his temple. The one seated on the throne will shelter them:
16 They will no longer hunger; they will no longer thirst;
the sun will no longer strike them, nor will any scorching heat.
17 For the Lamb who is at the center of the throne will shepherd them;
he will guide them to springs of the waters of life,
and God will wipe away every tear from their eyes.
Revelation 11:15-18
11:15 The seventh angel blew his trumpet, and there were loud voices in heaven saying,
“The kingdom of the world has become the kingdom
of our Lord and of his Christ,
and he will reign forever and ever”
16 The twenty-four elders, who were seated before God on their thrones, fell facedown and worshiped God, 17 saying,
“We give you thanks, Lord God, the Almighty,
who is and who was,
because you have taken your great power
and have begun to reign.
18 The nations were angry, but your wrath has come.
The time has come for the dead to be judged
and to give the reward to your servants the prophets,
to the saints, and to those who fear your name,
both small and great,
and the time has come to destroy those who destroy the earth.”
Revelation 12:5-12
5 She gave birth to a Son, a male who is going to rule all nations with an iron rod. Her child was caught up to God and to his throne. 6 The woman fled into the wilderness, where she had a place prepared by God, to be nourished there for 1,260 days.
Continued Revelation 12:7-12:
7 Then war broke out in heaven: Michael and his angels fought against the dragon. The dragon and his angels also fought, 8 but he could not prevail, and there was no place for them in heaven any longer. 9 So the great dragon was thrown out—the ancient serpent, who is called the devil and Satan, the one who deceives the whole world. He was thrown to earth, and his angels with him. 10 Then I heard a loud voice in heaven say,
“The salvation and the power
and the kingdom of our God
and the authority of his Christ have now come,
because the accuser of our brothers and sisters,
who accuses them before our God day and night,
has been thrown down.
11 They conquered him
by the blood of the Lamb
and by the word of their testimony;
for they did not love their lives to the point of death.
12 Therefore rejoice, you heavens,
and you who dwell in them!
Woe to the earth and the sea,
because the devil has come down to you with great fury,
because he knows his time is short.”
Revelation 15:1-4
1 Then I saw another great and awe-inspiring sign in heaven: seven angels with the seven last plagues; for with them God’s wrath will be completed. 2 I also saw something like a sea of glass mixed with fire, and those who had won the victory over the beast, its image, and the number of its name, were standing on the sea of glass with harps from God. 3 They sang the song of God’s servant Moses and the song of the Lamb:
“Great and awe-inspiring are your works,
Lord God, the Almighty;
just and true are your ways,
King of the nations.
4 Lord, who will not fear
and glorify your name?
For you alone are holy.
All the nations will come and worship before you
because your righteous acts have been revealed.”
Revelation 16:1-7: 1 Then I heard a loud voice from the temple saying to the seven angels, “Go and pour out the seven bowls of God’s wrath on the earth.” 2 The first went and poured out his bowl on the earth, and severely painful sores broke out on the people who had the mark of the beast and who worshiped its image.
3 The second poured out his bowl into the sea. It turned to blood like that of a dead person, and all life in the sea died. 4 The third poured out his bowl into the rivers and the springs of water, and they became blood. 5 I heard the angel of the waters say,
“You are just,
the Holy One, who is and who was,
because you have passed judgment on these things.
6 Because they poured out the blood of the saints and the prophets,
You have given them blood to drink; they deserve it!”
7 I heard the altar say,
“Yes, Lord God, the Almighty,
true and just are your judgments.”
Celebration in Heaven: (Partial) Revelation 19:1-16
1 After this I heard something like the loud voice of a vast multitude in heaven, saying,
“Hallelujah!
Salvation, glory, and power belong to our God,
2 because his judgments are true and righteous,
because he has judged the notorious prostitute
who corrupted the earth with her sexual immorality;
and he has avenged the blood of his servants
that was on her hands.”
3 A second time they said,
“Hallelujah!
Her smoke ascends forever and ever! “
4 Then the twenty-four elders and the four living creatures fell down and worshiped God, who is seated on the throne, saying,
“Amen! Hallelujah!
5 A voice came from the throne, saying,
Praise our God,
all his servants, and the ones who fear him, both small and great!
6 Then I heard something like the voice of a vast multitude, like the sound of cascading waters, and like the rumbling of loud thunder, saying,
“Hallelujah, because our Lord God, the Almighty, reigns!
7 Let us be glad, rejoice, and give him glory,
because the marriage of the Lamb has come, and his bride has prepared herself. “
8 She was given fine linen to wear, bright and pure. For the fine linen represents the righteous acts of the saints. 9 Then he said to me, “Write: Blessed are those invited to the marriage feast of the Lamb!” He also said to me, “These words of God are true.” 10 Then I fell at his feet to worship him, but he said to me, “Don’t do that! I am a fellow servant with you and your brothers and sisters who hold firmly to the testimony of Jesus. Worship God, because the testimony of Jesus is the spirit of prophecy.”
The Rider on a White Horse
11 Then I saw heaven opened, and there was a white horse. Its rider is called Faithful and True, and with justice he judges and makes war. 12 His eyes were like a fiery flame, and many crowns were on his head. He had a name written that no one knows except himself. 13 He wore a robe dipped in blood, and his name is called the Word of God. 14 The armies that were in heaven followed him on white horses, wearing pure white linen. 15 A sharp sword came from his mouth, so that he might strike the nations with it. He will rule them with an iron rod. He will also trample the winepress of the fierce anger of God, the Almighty. 16 And he has a name written on his robe and on his thigh: King of Kings and Lord of Lords….
End Of Verses of Heaven’s WORSHIP in Revelation
Thoughts on Heaven’s Worship
I pray reading Revelation 4 and 5 and the worship of Heaven toward Christ our Savior has impacted your life in a new way of understanding the GIFT OF GOD! I pray we all gain a greater revelation and love for God the Father, Son and Holy Spirit and we worship more like the angels, living creatures and 24 elders. May we fall down before our God in reverence and true worship. For He is worthy!
May Heaven’s worship open eyes to how life is to be more centered on the Worthy Lamb and the greatness of who Christ is and all He has done, is doing and will do….!
Revelation’s reputation can overwhelm and cause people not to venture forth in faith to read and learn of its truths. I pray and hope that this sharing of Heaven’s perspective and worship has inspired you to really read and study this —incredible unveiling, revealing of Christ— book of Revelation for yourself and inspired your intimacy with Christ and His Father!
May God Bless your efforts to Know Him and Love Him.
In Christ’s Name and in His Forgiveness and Redemption, Amen.
Deborah Mott
