The Hymns of Heaven
C. Jason Walker
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· 133 viewsWill your voice be raised in song to the Savior? or have you allowed Sin, Self, or Satan to drown out the joyful refrain?
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Introduction:
Introduction:
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.
Illustration -
Many biblical “worship” phrases have become virtually meaningless in our different culture (what does it mean for God to lift up our head?). I think of many biblical worship choruses today which, taken from their original context, are used completely differently from the way the Bible used the biblical phrases they use. [For example, “This is the day the Lord has made” refers not to every day but to the momentous day when the stone rejected by the builders became the chief cornerstone ().] At the same time, we should, as John did, continue to celebrate biblical, redemptive history, as well as God’s rule over the cosmos and in our lives and contemporary events. Biblically saturated hymns like those of Charles Wesley are ideally suited to such worship. But even when our lips utter the right words or our emotions celebrate a joyful rhythm, the worship for which God longs most of all is our heart and lives as living sacrifices (cf. ; also ). [Craig S. Keener, Revelation, The NIV Application Commentary (Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan Publishing House, 1999), 197.]
[Craig S. Keener, Revelation, The NIV Application Commentary (Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan Publishing House, 1999), 197.]
51 For example, “This is the day the Lord has made” refers not to every day but to the momentous day when the stone rejected by the builders became the chief cornerstone ().
[Craig S. Keener, Revelation, The NIV Application Commentary (Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan Publishing House, 1999), 197.]
Main Thought: Will your voice be raised in song to the Savior? or have you allowed Sin, Self, or Satan to drown out the joyful refrain?
Sub-intro: Review the context of Chapter 5.
Review the context of Chapter 5.
Body:
I. Unity of Praise ().
I. Unity of Praise ().
A. This Song's Participants ().
A. This Song's Participants ().
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;
1. Who They Are & Where They Are.
1. Who They Are & Where They Are.
a. Who - Many Angels.
a. Who - Many Angels.
b. Where - All Around (Throne, Beasts, Elders).
b. Where - All Around (Throne, Beasts, Elders).
2. How Many There Were - Innumerable.
2. How Many There Were - Innumerable.
Lit. myriads of myriads… and thousands of thousands;
B. This Song of Praise ().
B. This Song of Praise ().
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.
1. How They Sang - Loudly.
1. How They Sang - Loudly.
6 That ye may with one mind and one mouth glorify God, even the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ.
2. To Whom They Sang
2. To Whom They Sang
* To the Lamb Alone.
12 That the name of our Lord Jesus Christ may be glorified in you, and ye in him, according to the grace of our God and the Lord Jesus Christ.
a
In that bright scene of splendor, far beyond the skies, at the innermost heart of the universe, they worship Him. They see no man save Jesus only. They worship Him as the Lamb that was slain. It is Calvary that fills their vision and prompts their worship. Over yonder at this very moment they are doing what we do when we worship Him, when we spread the table and remember Him. For:
When in scenes of glory
I sing the new, new song;
’Twill be the same old story
That I have loved so long.
(A. Catherine Hanky)
“Worthy is the Lamb that was slain!” That is the theme of worship in heaven, and that is the theme of worship among the redeemed on earth.
[John Phillips, Exploring Revelation: An Expository Commentary, The John Phillips Commentary Series (Kregel; WORDsearch Corp., 2009), .]
3. What They Sang - “Worthy!”
3. What They Sang - “Worthy!”
* THE Power, Riches, Wisdom, Might, Honor, Glory, Praise.
a
Their song includes seven points.
a. They praise Christ for His power. He is omnipotent: He possesses all power. He is able to open God’s book of destiny and to carry out and execute God’s will throughout the universe. He is able to carry out the events of history and the events of the end time. He is the sovereign Ruler of the universe.
“And Jesus came and spake unto them, saying, All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth” ().
“As thou hast given him power over all flesh, that he should give eternal life to as many as thou hast given him” ().
“And declared to be the Son of God with power, according to the spirit of holiness, by the resurrection from the dead” ().
“But unto them which are called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God, and the wisdom of God” ().
“Now unto him that is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that worketh in us” ().
20 Now unto him that is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that worketh in us,
b. They praise Christ for His riches. He possesses the wealth to meet any need throughout the universe, any need that we or any other creature may have.
“Or despisest thou the riches of his goodness and forbearance and longsuffering; not knowing that the goodness of God leadeth thee to repentance?” ().
“For ye know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that, though he was rich, yet for your sakes he became poor, that ye through his poverty might be rich” ().
9 For ye know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that, though he was rich, yet for your sakes he became poor, that ye through his poverty might be rich.
“In whom we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of his grace” ().
“That in the ages to come he might show the exceeding riches of his grace in his kindness toward us through Christ Jesus” ().
“Unto me, who am less than the least of all saints, is this grace given, that I should preach among the Gentiles the unsearchable riches of Christ” ().
“But my God shall supply all your need according to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus” (Ph. 4:19).
c. They praise Christ for His wisdom. He is omniscient, seeing and knowing all. He knows all about God and heaven, and all about us and our world with all its temptations and trials. He can, therefore, carry out the will of God laid out in the book of destiny, and He can help and succor us through all the trials and temptations of life.
“But of him are ye in Christ Jesus, who of God is made unto us wisdom, and righteousness, and sanctification, and redemption” ().
30 But of him are ye in Christ Jesus, who of God is made unto us wisdom, and righteousness, and sanctification, and redemption:
“For we have not an high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin. Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need” ().
“The Lord is my strength and my shield; my heart trusted in him, and I am helped: therefore my heart greatly rejoiceth; and with my song will I praise him” ().
“But I am poor and needy; yet the Lord thinketh upon me: thou art my help and my deliverer; make no tarrying, O my God” ().
“Fear thou not; For I am with thee: be not dismayed; for I am thy God: I will strengthen thee; yea, I will help thee; yea, I will uphold thee with the right hand of my righteousness” ().
d. They praise Him for His strength. No one nor any thing can stand against Him, not even for a moment unless He allows it. He has infinite strength, the very strength of God Himself. All He has to do is speak the Word and His will is done. Therefore, He can carry out the events in the book of destiny, and he can meet our every need.
“But Jesus beheld them, and said unto them, With men this is impossible; but with God all things are possible” ().
“For with God nothing shall be impossible” ().
37 For with God nothing shall be impossible.
“Now unto him that is able to keep you from falling, and to present you faultless before the presence of his glory with exceeding joy, to the only wise God our Saviour, be glory and majesty, dominion and power, both now and ever” ().
“And the Lord shall deliver me from every evil work, and will preserve me unto his heavenly kingdom: to whom be glory for ever and ever” ().
“And the Lord shall deliver me from every evil work, and will preserve me unto his heavenly kingdom: to whom be glory for ever and ever” ().
“Now unto him that is able to keep you from falling, and to present you faultless before the presence of his glory with exceeding joy, to the only wise God our Saviour, be glory and majesty, dominion and power, both now and ever” ().
“I know that thou canst do every thing, and that no thought can be withholden from thee” ().
“But our God is in the heavens: he hath done whatsoever he hath pleased” ().
“Fear thou not; For I am with thee: be not dismayed; for I am thy God: I will strengthen thee; yea, I will help thee; yea, I will uphold thee with the right hand of my righteousness” ().
“Yea, before the day was I am he; and there is none that can deliver out of my hand: I will work, and who shall let [hinder] it?” ().
e. They praise Him for His honor. He is the Son of God possessing the very nature of God, the eternal and sovereign Majesty, the Creator and Sustainer of the universe. He is the One appointed to open the book of destiny and to execute its events throughout the universe. Therefore, He is the One who is to be honored by all.
“Wherefore God also hath highly exalted him, and given him a name which is above every name: that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth; and that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father” (Ph. 2:9–11).
9 Wherefore God also hath highly exalted him, and given him a name which is above every name: 10 That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth; 11 And that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.
Php.
“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” ().
“O magnify the Lord with me, and let us exalt his name together” ().
“Let them exalt him also in the congregation of the people, and praise him in the assembly of the elders” ().
f. They praise Him for His glory. As stated, He is the supreme Glory and Majesty of the universe, so glorious that His glory shines brighter than the sun to give light in the spiritual world or dimension. His own glory is the light of heaven. In Him is no flaw or defect whatsoever. Therefore, He and He alone is worthy to open the book of destiny and to carry out the will of God throughout the universe. He and He alone is due all the glory of the universe.
“Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven” ().
“Herein is my Father glorified, that ye bear much fruit; so shall ye be my disciples” ().
“That ye may with one mind and one mouth glorify God, even the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ” ().
6 That ye may with one mind and one mouth glorify God, even the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ.
“What? know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost which is in you, which ye have of God, and ye are not your own? For ye are bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God’s” ().
“Give unto the Lord the glory due unto his name; worship the Lord in the beauty of holiness” ().
“Be thou exalted, O God, above the heavens; let thy glory be above all the earth” ().
g. They praise Him for His blessing. He deserves all the blessing that heaven and earth can give, for He has blessed all. He has given life and all the good things of life to all creatures. All blessings have come from Him. Therefore, all the blessings that heaven and earth can give are due Him.
“Giving thanks unto the Father, which hath made us meet [fit] to be partakers of the inheritance of the saints in light” ().
“And let the peace of God rule in your hearts, to the which also ye are called in one body; and be ye thankful” ().
“In every thing give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you” ().
18 In every thing give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you.
1
“When thou hast eaten and art full, then thou shalt bless the Lord thy God for the good land which he hath given thee” ().
“Enter into his gates with thanksgiving, and into his courts with praise: be thankful unto him, and bless his name” ().
“O Lord, thou art my God; I will exalt thee, I will praise thy name; for thou hast done wonderful things; thy counsels of old are faithfulness and truth” ().
[Leadership Ministries Worldwide, Revelation, The Preacher’s Outline & Sermon Bible (Chattanooga, TN: Leadership Ministries Worldwide, 1996), 97–99.]
II. Unanimity of Praise ().
II. Unanimity of Praise ().
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.
A. This Song's Participants (v. 13a).
A. This Song's Participants (v. 13a).
* From Whence They Hail:
* Heaven, Earth, Hades, On & in the Seas.
7 Saying with a loud voice, Fear God, and give glory to him; for the hour of his judgment is come: and worship him that made heaven, and earth, and the sea, and the fountains of waters.
Dr. Donald Gray Barnhouse once observed that there are four things out of place in the universe: the church, which should be in heaven; Israel, which should be living in peace occupying all the land promised to her; Satan, who belongs in the lake of fire; and Christ, who should be seated on His throne reigning. All four of those anomalies will be set right when Christ takes the scroll from His Father’s hand. [John F. MacArthur Jr., , MacArthur New Testament Commentary (Chicago: Moody Press, 1999), 170.]
Dr. Donald Gray Barnhouse once observed that there are four things out of place in the universe: the church, which should be in heaven; Israel, which should be living in peace occupying all the land promised to her; Satan, who belongs in the lake of fire; and Christ, who should be seated on His throne reigning. All four of those anomalies will be set right when Christ takes the scroll from His Father’s hand. [John F. MacArthur Jr., , MacArthur New Testament Commentary (Chicago: Moody Press, 1999), 170.]
John F. MacArthur Jr., , MacArthur New Testament Commentary (Chicago: Moody Press, 1999), 170.]
B. This Song of Praise (v. 13b).
B. This Song of Praise (v. 13b).
1. What They Sang.
1. What They Sang.
* THE Praise, THE Honor, THE Glory, THE Strength.
2. To Whom They Sang.
2. To Whom They Sang.
* To the Father & the Lamb Together.
III. Uninhibited Praise ().
III. Uninhibited Praise ().
14 And the four beasts said, Amen. And the four and twenty elders fell down and worshipped him that liveth for ever and ever.
A. A Song of Prayer (v. 14a).
A. A Song of Prayer (v. 14a).
* The Beasts Say, “Amen.”
B. A Song of Prostration (v. 14b).
B. A Song of Prostration (v. 14b).
1. The Elders Fall & Worship.
1. The Elders Fall & Worship.
2. Whom They Worship.
2. Whom They Worship.
* The Eternal Living One.
a
What a cascade of harmony John heard! In this hymn, they stated those things that Jesus Christ deserved to receive because of His sacrificial death on the cross. When He was on earth, people did not ascribe these things to Him; for many of these things He deliberately laid aside in His humiliation.
He was born in weakness and He died in weakness; but He is the recipient of all power. He became the poorest of the poor (), and yet He owns all the riches of heaven and earth. Men laughed at Him and called Him a fool; yet He is the very wisdom of God (; ).
He shared in the sinless weaknesses of humanity as He hungered, thirsted, and became weary. Today in glory, He possesses all strength. On earth, He experienced humiliation and shame as sinners ridiculed and reviled Him. They laughed at His kingship and attired Him in a mock robe, crown, and scepter. But all of that is changed now! He has received all honor and glory!
And blessing! He became a curse for us on the cross (), so that we can never be under the curse of the broken Law. (Some translations read “praise” instead of “blessing,” but the Greek word carries both meanings.) He is worthy of all praise!
The worship service climaxed with all of the universe praising the Lamb of God and the Father seated on the throne!
And there was even a loud “Amen!” from the four living creatures! In heaven, we are permitted to say “Amen!”
Keep in mind that all of this praise centered on the Lord Jesus Christ, the Redeemer. It is not Christ the Teacher, but Christ the Saviour, who is the theme of their worship. While an unconverted person could praise the Creator, he certainly could not sincerely praise the Redeemer.
All of heaven’s praise came because the Lamb took the scroll from the Father’s hand. God’s great eternal plan would now be fulfilled and creation would be set free from the bondage of sin and death. One day the Lamb will break the seals and put in motion events that will eventually lead to His coming to earth and the establishment of His kingdom.
As you share in these heavenly worship services, do you find your own heart saying “Amen!” to what they have sung? You may believe in Christ as the Creator, but have you trusted Him as your Redeemer?
If not, will you do so right now?
“Behold, I stand at the door and knock: if any man hear My voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with Me” ().
[Warren W. Wiersbe, The Bible Exposition Commentary, vol. 2 (Wheaton, IL: Victor Books, 1996), 586.]
Conclusion:
Conclusion:
Whom do you worship? Sin? Self? Satan? or the Savior?
Sin? Self? Satan? or the Savior?
Sin destroys, self dies and Satan devours.
The Savior alone is worthy because He alone delivers.