Worship of Heaven

Introduction

Today we are going to talk about the worship we will see and be a part of in heaven my friends.

But before we begin to look at the worship of Heaven, I need to back up for a second and address a topic we began looking at last week.

Did Jesus go to Hell and preach ..... Yes and No.. What does that mean.

I am going my best to stay away from just “preaching” and look at the theological context of Scripture. I have always heard that Jesus went into hell., but is this truly accurate.

Well lets go back and look at the text.

Ephesians 4:8–10 ESV

8 Therefore it says, “When he ascended on high he led a host of captives, and he gave gifts to men.” 9 (In saying, “He ascended,” what does it mean but that he had also descended into the lower regions, the earth? 10 He who descended is the one who also ascended far above all the heavens, that he might fill all things.)

When I say yes, I am saying Jesus descended into the lower parts of the earth, but that doesn’t mean hell.

We have talked about the Word Hades and Gehenna which can be interpreted as hell or the grave.

Jesus descended into the grave, he was there three days (reference to Jonah in the belly of the whale so must the son of man be 3 days ) Matthew 12:40

Matthew 12:40 ESV

40 For just as Jonah was three days and three nights in the belly of the great fish, so will the Son of Man be three days and three nights in the heart of the earth.

So essentially, Jesus was in the grave, (hades) for 3 days.

Zechariah 9:11 ESV

11 As for you also, because of the blood of my covenant with you, I will set your prisoners free from the waterless pit.

Now let me share another passage with you… , verses 18-20.

Zechariah 4:9 ESV

9 “The hands of Zerubbabel have laid the foundation of this house; his hands shall also complete it. Then you will know that the Lord of hosts has sent me to you.

Acts 2:24 ESV

24 God raised him up, loosing the pangs of death, because it was not possible for him to be held by it.

1 Peter 3 ESV

1 Likewise, wives, be subject to your own husbands, so that even if some do not obey the word, they may be won without a word by the conduct of their wives, 2 when they see your respectful and pure conduct. 3 Do not let your adorning be external—the braiding of hair and the putting on of gold jewelry, or the clothing you wear— 4 but let your adorning be the hidden person of the heart with the imperishable beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which in God’s sight is very precious. 5 For this is how the holy women who hoped in God used to adorn themselves, by submitting to their own husbands, 6 as Sarah obeyed Abraham, calling him lord. And you are her children, if you do good and do not fear anything that is frightening. 7 Likewise, husbands, live with your wives in an understanding way, showing honor to the woman as the weaker vessel, since they are heirs with you of the grace of life, so that your prayers may not be hindered. 8 Finally, all of you, have unity of mind, sympathy, brotherly love, a tender heart, and a humble mind. 9 Do not repay evil for evil or reviling for reviling, but on the contrary, bless, for to this you were called, that you may obtain a blessing. 10 For “Whoever desires to love life and see good days, let him keep his tongue from evil and his lips from speaking deceit; 11 let him turn away from evil and do good; let him seek peace and pursue it. 12 For the eyes of the Lord are on the righteous, and his ears are open to their prayer. But the face of the Lord is against those who do evil.” 13 Now who is there to harm you if you are zealous for what is good? 14 But even if you should suffer for righteousness’ sake, you will be blessed. Have no fear of them, nor be troubled, 15 but in your hearts honor Christ the Lord as holy, always being prepared to make a defense to anyone who asks you for a reason for the hope that is in you; yet do it with gentleness and respect, 16 having a good conscience, so that, when you are slandered, those who revile your good behavior in Christ may be put to shame. 17 For it is better to suffer for doing good, if that should be God’s will, than for doing evil. 18 For Christ also suffered once for sins, the righteous for the unrighteous, that he might bring us to God, being put to death in the flesh but made alive in the spirit, 19 in which he went and proclaimed to the spirits in prison, 20 because they formerly did not obey, when God’s patience waited in the days of Noah, while the ark was being prepared, in which a few, that is, eight persons, were brought safely through water. 21 Baptism, which corresponds to this, now saves you, not as a removal of dirt from the body but as an appeal to God for a good conscience, through the resurrection of Jesus Christ, 22 who has gone into heaven and is at the right hand of God, with angels, authorities, and powers having been subjected to him.

1 Peter 3:18–20 ESV

18 For Christ also suffered once for sins, the righteous for the unrighteous, that he might bring us to God, being put to death in the flesh but made alive in the spirit, 19 in which he went and proclaimed to the spirits in prison, 20 because they formerly did not obey, when God’s patience waited in the days of Noah, while the ark was being prepared, in which a few, that is, eight persons, were brought safely through water.

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19

What does it mean that “he preached to the spirits in prison”....??????

What does it mean that “he preached to the spirits in prison”....??????

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Probably the best word I can give you is from verse 19, and I am going to share what John Piper says on the matter.

With regard to , take these words to mean that Christ, through the voice of Noah, went and preached to that generation, whose spirits are now “in prison,” that is, in hell. In other words, Peter does not say that Christ preached to them while they were in prison. He says he preached to them once, during the days of Noah, and now they are in prison.

He said that he would be in paradise with the thief that day, leading those captives free. But it does not say they needed more preaching in order to be free.

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Calvin (Institutes, II:XVI:9) seems to take it that Christ went to the nether world and preached the fulness of grace to the righteous dead and condemnation to the wicked dead. He also affirms the phrase in the Apostles’ Creed, that Christ “descended into hell,” to mean that He bore the full wrath of God on our behalf (II:, II:XVI:9) seems to take it that Christ went to the nether world and preached the fulness of grace to the righteous dead and condemnation to the wicked dead. He also affirms the phrase in the Apostles’ Creed, that Christ “descended into hell,” to mean that He bore the full wrath of God on our behalf (II:XVI:10-12).

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A second group of interpreters take it that the pre-incarnate Christ preached through Noah to Noah’s disobedient contemporaries. Augustine (ca. A.D. 400) taught this view (Kistemaker, ibid.).

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A third group of interpreters think that Christ proclaimed His victory on the cross to fallen angels. This group is subdivided into those who say that this took place between His death and resurrection (through a descent into hell) and those who say that He made this proclamation in His ascension.

So, there is a lot of information out there.... you have to study and make some conclusions for yourself.

What do I believe, i think Jesus was in the grave and paradise and from there proclaimed his victory over death, hell and the grave. If those in hell, like the rich man could see Abraham and Lazarus, it is consistent to say that from this temporary place - Paradise, Jesus could have proclaimed truth to them.

So I have shared a lot of information with you....

What do you think?

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Now if we can, lets move forward and talk about Worship in Heaven

Take your Bible and lets find Revelation chapter 4, and lets look at the first 6 verses.

Revelation 4:1–6 ESV

1 After this I looked, and behold, a door standing open in heaven! And the first voice, which 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 At once I was in the Spirit, and behold, a throne stood in heaven, with one seated on the throne. 3 And he who sat there had the appearance of jasper and carnelian, and around the throne was a rainbow that had the appearance of an emerald. 4 Around the throne were twenty-four thrones, and seated on the thrones were twenty-four elders, clothed in white garments, with golden crowns on their heads. 5 From the throne came flashes of lightning, and rumblings and peals of thunder, and before the throne were burning seven torches of fire, which are the seven spirits of God, 6 and before the throne there was as it were a sea of glass, like crystal. And around the throne, on each side of the throne, are four living creatures, full of eyes in front and behind:

So lets begin looking at this passage and lets see that is happening.

1. The Door....

Verse 1 says there is a door into heaven.... it is open for John to look through and see what God desires Him to see.

Now this door is different, let me explain. There have been times when God opened the heavens for people to see things...

Ezra 1:1 ESV

1 In the first year of Cyrus king of Persia, that the word of the Lord by the mouth of Jeremiah might be fulfilled, the Lord stirred up the spirit of Cyrus king of Persia, so that he made a proclamation throughout all his kingdom and also put it in writing:

Ezekiel 1:1 ESV

1 In the thirtieth year, in the fourth month, on the fifth day of the month, as I was among the exiles by the Chebar canal, the heavens were opened, and I saw visions of God.

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The heavens were opened here and those below were allow to see what was on display for them .....

And also with Stephen being stoned....

Acts 7:56 ESV

56 And he said, “Behold, I see the heavens opened, and the Son of Man standing at the right hand of God.”

So the same thing is happening, the heavens were opened so those below could see....

But....

In this passage in the book of we see that the the door has been opened…John is transported in a vision through an open door into heaven, so enables him to see things God desires.

And once there John reports of hearing a voice like a trumpet, this is the voice he has heard before..

Revelation 1:10 ESV

10 I was in the Spirit on the Lord’s day, and I heard behind me a loud voice like a trumpet

The voice called for John to come and see what God desires him to see

Note.............

I want to remind you that we are separated from heaven here on earth unless the Lord desires to show us. As a child of God we have access to that city, but unless it be in a vision, we will not see it until death or His return.

Heaven is a special place, the place of God and our future home.

2. The Throne Room of Heaven....

When we think about heaven please understand that heaven is a place, it is our future home, but it is His city and I can see in verses 2 and 3, what is at the center of the city.

Look at verse 2-3 with me...

Revelation 4:2–3 ESV

2 At once I was in the Spirit, and behold, a throne stood in heaven, with one seated on the throne. 3 And he who sat there had the appearance of jasper and carnelian, and around the throne was a rainbow that had the appearance of an emerald.

John says in the “spirit”, this is truly something wonderful. There is a bit of mystery here… what does that mean? The word Spirit here is capital “S” not little “s”.... so I was in the Spirit,

He was enabled by the Holy Spirit to see, perceive what God desires him too....

And he says behold! A throne.

The throne is the center of this passage.

So at the center of it all, we find a throne, a lovely wonderful throne that is mighty and magnificent and John says “with one seated on the throne.”

Psalm 11:4 ESV

4 The Lord is in his holy temple; the Lord’s throne is in heaven; his eyes see, his eyelids test the children of man.

Psalm 103:19 ESV

19 The Lord has established his throne in the heavens, and his kingdom rules over all.

We know without a doubt who is sitting on this throne. If these verses are not enough, know that Chapter 4 verse 11, praise is given here to the Father, God almighty.

Revelation 4:11 ESV

11 “Worthy are you, our Lord and God, to receive glory and honor and power, for you created all things, and by your will they existed and were created.”

And if you examine chapter 5 when Jesus the lamb of God is introduced we find that a new song was sung in reference to Jesus the perfect lamb.

Revelation 5:9–12 ESV

9 And they sang a new song, saying, “Worthy are you to take the scroll and to open its seals, for you were slain, and by your blood you ransomed people for God from every tribe and language and people and nation, 10 and you have made them a kingdom and priests to our God, and they shall reign on the earth.” 11 Then I looked, and I heard around the throne and the living creatures and the elders the voice of many angels, numbering myriads of myriads and thousands of thousands, 12 saying with a loud voice, “Worthy is the Lamb who was slain, to receive power and wealth and wisdom and might and honor and glory and blessing!”

Revelation 5:9–10 ESV

9 And they sang a new song, saying, “Worthy are you to take the scroll and to open its seals, for you were slain, and by your blood you ransomed people for God from every tribe and language and people and nation, 10 and you have made them a kingdom and priests to our God, and they shall reign on the earth.”

So Revelation chapter 4 is all about God the eternal Father and about His worship.

Now as we look at that passage we see that the one who is one the throne is one who bore the appearance of Jasper and Carnelian....

So Revelation chapter 4 is all about God the eternal Father.

Jasper is a beautiful, crystal stone that is highly valued but it is not a diamond as some would like to say … But regardless it is a valuable , precious, and wonderful to say the least.

Carnelian or Sardis stone is one what was red and some say it was a ruby but I am not sure, I only saw one reference to it as a ruby. It was a reddish brown stone, a quartz type if you will. Both of these were used on the High Priest breast covering, the Ephod. It starts with the Sardis and end with the Jasper...

Revelation 5 ESV

1 Then I saw in the right hand of him who was seated on the throne a scroll written within and on the back, sealed with seven seals. 2 And I saw a mighty angel proclaiming with a loud voice, “Who is worthy to open the scroll and break its seals?” 3 And no one in heaven or on earth or under the earth was able to open the scroll or to look into it, 4 and I began to weep loudly because no one was found worthy to open the scroll or to look into it. 5 And one of the elders said to me, “Weep no more; behold, the Lion of the tribe of Judah, the Root of David, has conquered, so that he can open the scroll and its seven seals.” 6 And between the throne and the four living creatures and among the elders I saw a Lamb standing, as though it had been slain, with seven horns and with seven eyes, which are the seven spirits of God sent out into all the earth. 7 And he went and took the scroll from the right hand of him who was seated on the throne. 8 And when he had taken the scroll, the four living creatures and the twenty-four elders fell down before the Lamb, each holding a harp, and golden bowls full of incense, which are the prayers of the saints. 9 And they sang a new song, saying, “Worthy are you to take the scroll and to open its seals, for you were slain, and by your blood you ransomed people for God from every tribe and language and people and nation, 10 and you have made them a kingdom and priests to our God, and they shall reign on the earth.” 11 Then I looked, and I heard around the throne and the living creatures and the elders the voice of many angels, numbering myriads of myriads and thousands of thousands, 12 saying with a loud voice, “Worthy is the Lamb who was slain, to receive power and wealth and wisdom and might and honor and glory and blessing!” 13 And I heard every creature in heaven and on earth and under the earth and in the sea, and all that is in them, saying, “To him who sits on the throne and to the Lamb be blessing and honor and glory and might forever and ever!” 14 And the four living creatures said, “Amen!” and the elders fell down and worshiped.

Exodus 28:17–20 ESV

17 You shall set in it four rows of stones. A row of sardius, topaz, and carbuncle shall be the first row; 18 and the second row an emerald, a sapphire, and a diamond; 19 and the third row a jacinth, an agate, and an amethyst; 20 and the fourth row a beryl, an onyx, and a jasper. They shall be set in gold filigree.

The stones represented the 12 tribes, and here in this passage in , Jasper is mentioned first and Sardis or Carnelian is mentioned last.

And around the throne was a rainbow that had the appearance of an emerald. Now this bow went all the way around the throne, not merely the arch we see here on earth.

Why do I say this … for in heaven all things are complete.

Why do you think that the bow it self has the predominate color of an emerald and not perhaps the core rainbow colors we see.

I believe that green, emerald greed represents life.. and with the mercy and love of God we see it exhibited from his throne.

Now let me share this passage from the OT prophet Ezekiel, chapter 1

Ezekiel 1:28 ESV

28 Like the appearance of the bow that is in the cloud on the day of rain, so was the appearance of the brightness all around. Such was the appearance of the likeness of the glory of the Lord. And when I saw it, I fell on my face, and I heard the voice of one speaking.

Now there is on thing I see here, Worship is about Him not us… the Throne was center of all that was heaven.... not the people, not the saints, not the angels or the 24 elders, the Throne and Him who sat on the throne

He is in control of all, above all, the sovereign King of the Universe!

So how wonderful, John as been allowed to see into heaven and the wondrous glory of his sight sees the Throne and the image… or likeness of the one who is on the throne.

Now how much of God he is allowed to see, we are uncertain, but he is allowed to see some representation of God the Father.

3. John gets a chance to see the worshippers of Heaven...

Lets look back at our text to get an idea of who we are looking at in this passage.

Revelation 4:4–6 ESV

4 Around the throne were twenty-four thrones, and seated on the thrones were twenty-four elders, clothed in white garments, with golden crowns on their heads. 5 From the throne came flashes of lightning, and rumblings and peals of thunder, and before the throne were burning seven torches of fire, which are the seven spirits of God, 6 and before the throne there was as it were a sea of glass, like crystal. And around the throne, on each side of the throne, are four living creatures, full of eyes in front and behind:

Around the throne, we find the 24 additional thrones and seated on the thrones were 24 elders. clothed in white garments.. and they have golden crowns on their heads.

And later in verse 6, we see the 4 living creatures. In every case these are worshipping the Lord.

Revelation 4 ESV

1 After this I looked, and behold, a door standing open in heaven! And the first voice, which 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 At once I was in the Spirit, and behold, a throne stood in heaven, with one seated on the throne. 3 And he who sat there had the appearance of jasper and carnelian, and around the throne was a rainbow that had the appearance of an emerald. 4 Around the throne were twenty-four thrones, and seated on the thrones were twenty-four elders, clothed in white garments, with golden crowns on their heads. 5 From the throne came flashes of lightning, and rumblings and peals of thunder, and before the throne were burning seven torches of fire, which are the seven spirits of God, 6 and before the throne there was as it were a sea of glass, like crystal. And around the throne, on each side of the throne, are four living creatures, full of eyes in front and behind: 7 the first living creature like a lion, the second living creature like an ox, the third living creature with the face of a man, and the fourth living creature like an eagle in flight. 8 And the four living creatures, each of them with six wings, are full of eyes all around and within, and day and night they never cease to say, “Holy, holy, holy, is the Lord God Almighty, who was and is and is to come!” 9 And whenever the living creatures give glory and honor and thanks to him who is seated on the throne, who lives forever and ever, 10 the twenty-four elders fall down before him who is seated on the throne and worship him who lives forever and ever. They cast their crowns before the throne, saying, 11 “Worthy are you, our Lord and God, to receive glory and honor and power, for you created all things, and by your will they existed and were created.”

rev 4

Throne is the center of heaven throne speaks of sovereignty, power, God is in control, seated on the throne of heaven, when the word is out of control, He is in control david jeremiah

jasp[er…diamond, many facets

sardis ruby

songs and praise of worship, a worship services in heaven 4, 9-11

cvhapter 5, Jesus is praised