THE ESSENCE OF WORSHIP - THE LIVING CREATURES BOW BEFORE THE CREATOR

We began our study on the ESSENCE OF WORSHIP in Genesis with the first recorded Act of Worship in the Bible. God accepted the worship of Abel, but not his brother Cain (see TPWC's blog post dated 7 May 2011); God could see the conditions of their HEARTS. In fact, the pattern has been the same throughout the rest of the Bible. God instructs and encourages mankind to fall before Him in worship. Some people do; most do not. Now we come to the last book of the Bible - The Book of Revelation makes clear, sadly, that when time is coming to its end, humanity still will nothave learned its lesson. For the book records prophecy not only of TRUE WORSHIP from right HEARTS, but also of false idolatrous worship. Tragically, those who ignored His pleading, who preferred false worship because they did not have faith in God will become the objects of His final and immeasurable WRATH!
THE THRONE ROOM
The apostle John was among the most privileged persons ever to live. God invited this choice servant to see a glimpse of His GLORY. As theRevelation opens, John records the vision he is given of the glorified Christ (Revelation 1:9-17) and of His letters to the seven churches (Revelation 1:18-3:22). After recording these letters, at last John is invited to see and to begin recording "the things which will take place after this."
"After these things I looked, and behold, a door standing open in heaven. And the first voice which I heard was like a trumpet speaking with me, saying, “Come up here, and I will show you things which must take place after this.” Immediately I was in the Spirit; and behold, a throne set in heaven, and One sat on the throne. And He who sat there was like a jasper and a sardius stone in appearance; and there was a rainbow around the throne, in appearance like an emerald. Around the throne were twenty-four thrones, and on the thrones I saw twenty-four elders sitting, clothed in white robes; and they had crowns of gold on their heads. And from the throne proceeded lightnings, thunderings, and voices.[c] Seven lamps of fire were burning before the throne, which are the[d] seven Spirits of God. Before the throne there was[e] a sea of glass, like crystal. And in the midst of the throne, and around the throne, were four living creatures full of eyes in front and in back. The first living creature was like a lion, the second living creature like a calf, the third living creature had a face like a man, and the fourth living creature was like a flying eagle. (Revelation 4:2-7)


www.illustratedrevelations.com



Notice that John himself did not open the door; God opened the door for him. No man can possibly force himself into the THRONE ROOM of God! In the THRONE ROOM the Lord spoke to John in a voice that the apostle could only liken to a trumpet, for he could not think of any other earthly sound that would compare to the authoritative voice of God. When John writes that he "was in the spirit," he is indicating that he was transported to heaven by the Holy Spirit. This is the only way in which anyone can ever get into heaven: to be taken there to see a vision, as was the case with John, or whether he comes for eternal residence.

Once in the THRONE ROOM of God, John's natural and immediate response was obedience - that is, obedience to the command that he begin to write down what he saw. The word "THRONE" is in fact one of the key words in the Book of Revelation. John mentions it in nearlyevery chapter. Its importance to the Revelation is evidenced by the fact that of the sixty-two references to the word "THRONE" in the New Testament, forty-seven are in the final book. The idea of a THRONE conveyed ultimate power and authority.

Yet the majesty of God far surpassed even such a grand picture. John found tha the could not adequately describe in human terms the ONE seated on the THRONE. How long must John have marveled at the sight of the One upon the THRONE! How could any one of us have pulled our eyes away from that GLORY? But the apostle had been commanded to make a record of His vision, and so eventually he drew his gaze to another wondorus sight.

HEAVENLY BEINGS WORSHIP HIM
Revelation 4:8-11 ....'And the four beasts had each of them six wings about him; and they were full of eyes within: and they rest not day and night, saying, holy, holy, holy, LORD God Almighty, which was, and is, and is to come. And when those beasts give glory and honour and thanks to him that sat on the throne, who liveth for ever and ever, the four and twenty elders fall down before him that sat on the throne, and worship him that liveth for ever and ever, and cast their crowns before the throne, saying, thou art worthy, O Lord, to receive glory and honour and power: for thou hast created all things, and for thy pleasure they are and were created.'
These beasts are heavenly beings, and how do they worship? They do not rest day or night in worshiping God. The twenty four elders not only fall upon the ground in humility and reverence, but they also throw all of their crowns at the foot of the throne.
In both the above scriptures we see the angels singing "HOLY HOLY HOLY ...."
(an extract from - The Fear of the Lord by John Bevere)
We have sung these exact words in out churches in hymns, worship choruses ... yet often our worship ring void of the passion found in these angels. As worship leader you would sometime see people yawning or glancing about as they sing the words. How different is the atmosphere in GOD'S THRONE ROOM!
These mighty, awesome angels are not bored or restless; they are not merely singing nice songs. They do not say, "God, I have been singing this song before Your throne for millions of years; do You think a replacement could be brought in? I would like to go explore the other parts of heaven." No way! They would not desire to be anywhere else but crying out and singing praises before the throne of God.
These spectacular angels are not merely singing a song. They are responding to what they see. Every moment, through vieled eyes they glimpse another facet and great dimension of God's glory being revealed. Overwhelmed, they shout, "Holy, holy, holy!"
Some points to note about heavenly worship:
(extract from : Exploring the Mysteries of Worship by Lamar Boschman)
1) Perfect Worship - In heaven worship occurs perfectly and continually.
2) Centre of Worship - The first thing Apostle John saw was a throne. In heaven there is no worship artist, worship leader or even a Christian leader of any kind. There is simply a throne and a LAMB!
3) Heavens's Songs - No single worship style is favoured over another in heaven. there is no debate over the worshipers' preference. Only One sits on the throne, and what He wants will be done. There is a perpetual song that is sung often in heaven. It is called the new song (Revelation 14:3)
4) Heaven's Musical Instruments - There is no mention of percussion or wind instruments used in worship in heaven. However, in connection with worship, strings instruments were played. (Revelation 5:8-9; 14:2-3)
5) Heaven's Order of Worship - John also described the position of the worshipers as they worshiped. It was almost like they were in a round stadium, only larger and more glorious. (Revelations 4:4-6)
6) Heaven's Modes of Worship - The expressions of worship in heaven are extreme. There is constant action of obeisance to Him who sits on the throne. (Revelation 4:10)
7) The Worship in Heaven is also loud and long (Revelations 5:11-12 & 7:9-11)


Blessing, Glory, Honour and Power to our Lord forever and ever Amen!