THE ESSENCE OF WORSHIP - TRUE WORSHIP BOWS BEFORE THE LAMB

Last week we shared the awesome grandeur worship in the Throne Room witnessed by the apostle John where he revealed wondrous heavenly beings and honoured elders of the redeeemed bowing down in worship to Almighty God. (Revelation 4). After this event, six terrible judgements will be loosed upon the world, and then follow a pause before the seventh and final judegment. During that pause, John beheld "a great multiude, which no man could number," standing before the Throne and worshiping God with grateful hearts.

[A] great multitude which no one could number ... [was] standing before the throne and before the Lamb ... and crying out with a loud voice, saying. "Salvation belongs to our God who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb!" (Revelation 7:9-17)
What a magnificient scene! But who are these people that will be privileged to come into the Throne Room of God? Why will they honour Him and how will their honour of Him find exression in their worship? God has recorded their example in His Word for our instruction. What can we learn?

A PICTURE OF WORSHIP

Revelation 7:9 tells us that the multitude comes from "all nations, tribes, people  and tongues."  indicating that the multitude includes the Jews and Gentiles. John further reveal that the multitude are "clothed with white robes with palm branches in their hands."  Clothed in white - symbolic of their victory in righteouness and  with palm branches - imply joyous celebration. Palm branches likewise figured significantly in Jesus' triumphanl entry into Jerusalem. (John 12:13) 
Who is the Lamb? His coming was prophesied by Isaiah (Isaiah 53:6-7). His arrival was announced by John the Baptist (John 1:29) And John the apostle records in the Revelation that "in the midst of the throne ... stood a Lamb as though it had been slain" (Revelation 5:6), at whose appearing the living creatures and elders will sing:
"You were slain, and have redeemed us to God by Your blood out of every tribe and tongue and people and nation, and have made us kings and priests to our God; and we shall reign on the earth. (Revelation 5:9-10)
Then "with a loud voice": an innumerable host of angels will join in the song:
"Worthy is the Lamb who was slain to receive power and riches and wisdom and strength and honour and glory and blessings!" (Revelation 5:12)
The LAMB IS JESUS! for what John records was prophesied in Philippians 2:10-11 that "At the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of those in heaven, and those on earth, and of those under the earth; and that every tongue should confess that Jesus is LORD."

A PICTURE OF THE WORSHIPERS
We have established that the multitude will include Jews and Gentiles. The identity of the multitude is revealed to John in a conversation:
"Then one of the elders answered to me,'Who are these arrayed in white robes, and where did they come from?' And I said to him,'Sir, you know.' So he said to me, 'These are the ones who come out of the great tribulation, and washed their robes and made white in the blood of the Lamb.' " (Revelation 7:13-14)
It is significant, therefore, that when the Tribulation saints give credit to the Lamb for their salvation, all heaven will join in their worship. The living creatures and elders and angels will have seen how these believers were martyred under the reign of the antichrist, being "slain for the word of God, and for the testimony which they held" (Revelation 6:9). Their testimony is all the more remarkable in light of the fact that God's Spirit will not be in the earth during the Tribulation. Through special witnesses given by God (see Revelation 7:1-8), these  saints will come to a knowledge of truth and despite great satanic delusion in the world. And then they will keep to their faith without the benefit of the indwelling of the Holy Spirit. So all of heaven will join their victory celebration, saying:
"Amen! Blessing and glory and wisdom, thanksgiving and honour and power and might, be to our God forever and ever. Amen. (Revelation 7:12)
Even the angels will fall down and worship. They will never experience the joy of salvation, but they love God and cannot help joining the redeemed as they all worship their mutual Creator. The elders, also, will fall down and worship, for they know personally God's grace in salvation. And we, also, when we read of the Tribulation saints and their miraculous deliverance, should we wondrously encouraged at the saving grace and power of the Lamb. For these saints will be won the same way we are, through being washed by the blood of the Lamb!