“Worship him who made the heavens, the earth, the sea and the springs of water." (Rev. 14:7b)
"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, 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!' 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! And the four living creatures said, 'Amen!' and the elders fell down and worshiped.” (Revelation5:11-14)
Revelation is a book about worship. As one commentary notes, the real issue is “Whom shall we worship?” It goes on to say, “At the heart of end-time conflict is a critical question: Who will mankind worship-Satan or God?”1
Open the eyes of my heart Lord, I want to see You... To see You high and lifted up, shining in the light of Your glory...” sings.
Throughout the book of revelation there is worship going on. God is seen high and lifted up, seated upon His throne in heaven in his temple, worthy of all worship.
The four living creatures are worshiping Him:
The twenty-four elders are worshiping Him:
All creation is worshiping Him:
In Revelation 11:19, after the seventh trumpet, “God's temple in heaven was opened, and the ark of his covenant was seen within his temple. There were flashes of lightning, rumblings, peals of thunder, and earthquake, and heavy hail.”
As a commentary notes, “The temple in Jerusalem was the center of ancient Israel's worship of God. God's presence was manifested there (2 Chronicles 5:13-14).” 2 In Revelation 11:1, John was given a measuring rod and told to measure the temple of God, the altar and those who worship there. The commentary also goes on to note that His throne is represented by the mercy seat above the Ark of the Covenant in the early temple.
“I choose to be holy, set apart for you my Master” sings in the background. So what do true worshipers look like?
In Ezekiel 43, after the temple was measured, the Spirit took Ezekiel up and brought him into the inner court as the glory of the Lord filled the house. The Lord spoke to Him out of the house, “Son of man, the place of my throne, and the place of the soles of my feet, where I will dwell in the midst of the children of Israel for ever, and my holy name, shall the house of Israel no more defile, neither they, nor their kings, by their whoredom, nor by the carcases of their kings in their high places” (Ezekiel 43:7).
And of the New Jerusalem, where the final temple is “the Lord God the Almighty and the Lamb” it says, “nothing unclean will ever enter it, nor anyone who does what is detestable or false, but only those who are written in the Lamb's book of life.” (Revelation 21:22,27).
Satan also desires worship.3 The book of Revelation is also filled with Satan worship. Revelation 13:4 says, “And they worshiped the dragon, for he had given his authority to the beast, and they worshiped the beast, saying, 'Who is like the beast, and who can fight against it?'”
There is no neutral territory. One chooses who they will worship, God or Satan.
Revelations 13:8 says about the beast, “all who dwell on earth will worship it, everyone whose name has not been written before the foundation of the world in the book of life of the Lamb who was slain.”
And in Revelation 13:15, a second beast caused any of those who would not worship the first beast to be slain.
In Revelation 14:9-11, a third angel declares, “If anyone worships the beast and its image and receives a mark on his forehead or on his hand, he also will drink the wine of God's wrath, poured full strength into the cup of his anger, and he will be tormented with fire and sulfur in the presence of the holy angels and in the presence of the Lamb. And the smoke of their torment goes up forever and ever, and they have no rest, day or night, these worshipers of the beast and its image, and whoever receives the mark of its name.”
In Revelation 14:12 it says something very similar to Revelation 13:10, “Here is a call for the endurance of the saints, those who keep the commandments of God and their faith in Jesus.” As commentary notes, there is a time saints are called to patiently endure the savagery of the beast while refusing to worship any idol (man or beast), holding fast to their convictions of the truth about Jesus.4 Endurance, or hupomone (Strongs #5281) used in both Revelation 13:10 and 14:12, means steadfastness and endurance in loyalty to faith and piety by even the greatest trials and sufferings.
The verse following, Revelation 14:13 says, “And I heard a voice from heaven saying, 'Write this: Blessed are the dead who die in the Lord from now on.' 'Blessed indeed,' says the Spirit, 'that they may rest from their labors, for their deeds follow them!'”
Rest, or ease / refreshing also implying freedom from self effort (anapauo, Strongs #373) in the midst of troubles, grief, sorrow or great difficulty (kopos, Strongs #2873) is being promised for those who choose to worship Jesus as Lord instead of Satan.
Their deeds follow after them. Revelation 19:7b-9 says, “'...For the marriage of the Lamb has come, and his Bride has made herself ready; it was granted her to clothe herself with fine linen, bright and pure' -for the fine linen is the righteous deeds of the saints. And the angel said to me, 'Write this: Blessed are those who are invited to the marriage supper of the Lamb.'”
As one source notes, 'blessed' implies something that God does for you versus something you do for God.5 In the parable of Matthew 22:2-14, a man came to the wedding dinner not dressed in wedding clothes and he was thrown into “the outer darkness; in that place there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.” The source notes about this parable, “If we try to get to heaven on our own, trusting in all the good things we've done, we will be like the person who didn't have a wedding garment.”6
“Change my heart oh God, make it ever new. Change my heart oh God, make me more like You” sings in the background. As we worship Jesus for who He is, our deeds follow our worship. We are clothed in His righteousness and we are 'dressed' in fine linen for the day of His return.
Hebrews 4:12-13 says that the Word of God (Jesus) is constantly active, piercing to the division of soul and of spirit, of joints and of marrow, discerning the thoughts and intentions of the heart. “And no creature is hidden from his sight, but all are naked and exposed to the eyes of him to whom we must give an account.”
What Jesus cares about is not my deeds but my worship. His activity in my life is to purify my heart worship and my 'deeds' naturally reflect and follow my heart. My job is to allow Him to purify my heart as I choose to worship Him. And, as he exposes sin and false worship in my life, to repent.
"Blessed are those who wash their robes so that they may have the right to the tree of life and that they may enter the city by the gates. Outside are the dogs and sorcerers and the sexually immoral and murderers and idolaters, and everyone who loves and practices falsehood." (Revelation 22:12-13)
Lord, teach me to “Worship God” (Revelation 22:9b) and not idols. Forgive me where I have worshiped anything less. Also forgive me if I have been resistant to your work in my life to purify my heart. Worshiping You is what my heart desires. I long to give you more.
"Let every breath, all that I am, never cease to worship You!... Nothing compares to the promise I have in You... All of my days I want to praise the wonders of Your mighty love."
"Behold, I am coming soon, bringing my recompense with me, to repay everyone for what he has done. I am the Alpha and the Omega, the first and the last, the beginning and the end" (Revelation 22:7).
1.http://www.ucg.org/booklets/RV/keys-understanding-revelation.asp
2. http://www.ucg.org/booklets/RV/keys-understanding-revelation.asp.
3.In Luke 4:5-8, Satan offered to give Jesus all his authority over the kingdom of the worlds if he would only worship him.
“And the devil took him up and showed him all the kingdoms of the world in a moment of time, and said to him, “To you I will give all this authority and their glory, for it has been delivered to me, and I give it to whom I will. If you, then, will worship me, it will all be yours.” And Jesus answered him, “It is written, ''You shall worship the Lord your God, And him only shall you serve.’”
4.MacDonald, W., & Farstad, A. (1997, c1995). Believer's Bible Commentary : Old and New Testaments (Re 14:12). Nashville: Thomas Nelson.
5.http://www.childrensermons.com/sermons/marriage.htm
6.http://www.childrensermons.com/sermons/marriage.htm
“King of endless worth, no one could express how much you deserve...
I'll bring you more than a song... You search much deeper within, you're looking into my heart...
I'm coming back to the heart of worship and it's all about You...” Sings in the background.
Revelation is a book about worship. As one commentary notes, the real issue is “Whom shall we worship?” It goes on to say, “At the heart of end-time conflict is a critical question: Who will mankind worship-Satan or God?”1
Open the eyes of my heart Lord, I want to see You... To see You high and lifted up, shining in the light of Your glory...” sings.
Throughout the book of revelation there is worship going on. God is seen high and lifted up, seated upon His throne in heaven in his temple, worthy of all worship.
The four living creatures are worshiping Him:
“And the four living creatures, each of them with six wings, are full of eyes 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!” (Revelation 4:8)
The twenty-four elders are worshiping Him:
“The twenty-four elders fall down before him who is seated on the throne and worship him who lives forever and ever. They cast down their crowns before the throne, saying, '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.'” (Revelation 4:10-11)
All creation is worshiping Him:
“After this I looked and behold, a great multitude that no one could number, from every nation, from all tribes and peoples and languages, standing before the throne and before the Lamb, clothed in white robes, with palm branches in their hands, and crying out with a loud voice, 'Salvation belongs to our God who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb!' And all the angels were standing around the throne and around the elders and the four living creatures, and they fell on their faces before the throne and worshiped God, saying, 'Amen! Blessing and glory and wisdom and thanksgiving and honor and power and might be to our God forever and ever! Amen.” (Revelation 7:9-12)
In Revelation 11:19, after the seventh trumpet, “God's temple in heaven was opened, and the ark of his covenant was seen within his temple. There were flashes of lightning, rumblings, peals of thunder, and earthquake, and heavy hail.”
As a commentary notes, “The temple in Jerusalem was the center of ancient Israel's worship of God. God's presence was manifested there (2 Chronicles 5:13-14).” 2 In Revelation 11:1, John was given a measuring rod and told to measure the temple of God, the altar and those who worship there. The commentary also goes on to note that His throne is represented by the mercy seat above the Ark of the Covenant in the early temple.
“I choose to be holy, set apart for you my Master” sings in the background. So what do true worshipers look like?
In Ezekiel 43, after the temple was measured, the Spirit took Ezekiel up and brought him into the inner court as the glory of the Lord filled the house. The Lord spoke to Him out of the house, “Son of man, the place of my throne, and the place of the soles of my feet, where I will dwell in the midst of the children of Israel for ever, and my holy name, shall the house of Israel no more defile, neither they, nor their kings, by their whoredom, nor by the carcases of their kings in their high places” (Ezekiel 43:7).
And of the New Jerusalem, where the final temple is “the Lord God the Almighty and the Lamb” it says, “nothing unclean will ever enter it, nor anyone who does what is detestable or false, but only those who are written in the Lamb's book of life.” (Revelation 21:22,27).
Satan also desires worship.3 The book of Revelation is also filled with Satan worship. Revelation 13:4 says, “And they worshiped the dragon, for he had given his authority to the beast, and they worshiped the beast, saying, 'Who is like the beast, and who can fight against it?'”
There is no neutral territory. One chooses who they will worship, God or Satan.
Revelations 13:8 says about the beast, “all who dwell on earth will worship it, everyone whose name has not been written before the foundation of the world in the book of life of the Lamb who was slain.”
And in Revelation 13:15, a second beast caused any of those who would not worship the first beast to be slain.
In Revelation 14:9-11, a third angel declares, “If anyone worships the beast and its image and receives a mark on his forehead or on his hand, he also will drink the wine of God's wrath, poured full strength into the cup of his anger, and he will be tormented with fire and sulfur in the presence of the holy angels and in the presence of the Lamb. And the smoke of their torment goes up forever and ever, and they have no rest, day or night, these worshipers of the beast and its image, and whoever receives the mark of its name.”
In Revelation 14:12 it says something very similar to Revelation 13:10, “Here is a call for the endurance of the saints, those who keep the commandments of God and their faith in Jesus.” As commentary notes, there is a time saints are called to patiently endure the savagery of the beast while refusing to worship any idol (man or beast), holding fast to their convictions of the truth about Jesus.4 Endurance, or hupomone (Strongs #5281) used in both Revelation 13:10 and 14:12, means steadfastness and endurance in loyalty to faith and piety by even the greatest trials and sufferings.
The verse following, Revelation 14:13 says, “And I heard a voice from heaven saying, 'Write this: Blessed are the dead who die in the Lord from now on.' 'Blessed indeed,' says the Spirit, 'that they may rest from their labors, for their deeds follow them!'”
Rest, or ease / refreshing also implying freedom from self effort (anapauo, Strongs #373) in the midst of troubles, grief, sorrow or great difficulty (kopos, Strongs #2873) is being promised for those who choose to worship Jesus as Lord instead of Satan.
Their deeds follow after them. Revelation 19:7b-9 says, “'...For the marriage of the Lamb has come, and his Bride has made herself ready; it was granted her to clothe herself with fine linen, bright and pure' -for the fine linen is the righteous deeds of the saints. And the angel said to me, 'Write this: Blessed are those who are invited to the marriage supper of the Lamb.'”
As one source notes, 'blessed' implies something that God does for you versus something you do for God.5 In the parable of Matthew 22:2-14, a man came to the wedding dinner not dressed in wedding clothes and he was thrown into “the outer darkness; in that place there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.” The source notes about this parable, “If we try to get to heaven on our own, trusting in all the good things we've done, we will be like the person who didn't have a wedding garment.”6
“Change my heart oh God, make it ever new. Change my heart oh God, make me more like You” sings in the background. As we worship Jesus for who He is, our deeds follow our worship. We are clothed in His righteousness and we are 'dressed' in fine linen for the day of His return.
Hebrews 4:12-13 says that the Word of God (Jesus) is constantly active, piercing to the division of soul and of spirit, of joints and of marrow, discerning the thoughts and intentions of the heart. “And no creature is hidden from his sight, but all are naked and exposed to the eyes of him to whom we must give an account.”
What Jesus cares about is not my deeds but my worship. His activity in my life is to purify my heart worship and my 'deeds' naturally reflect and follow my heart. My job is to allow Him to purify my heart as I choose to worship Him. And, as he exposes sin and false worship in my life, to repent.
"Blessed are those who wash their robes so that they may have the right to the tree of life and that they may enter the city by the gates. Outside are the dogs and sorcerers and the sexually immoral and murderers and idolaters, and everyone who loves and practices falsehood." (Revelation 22:12-13)
Lord, teach me to “Worship God” (Revelation 22:9b) and not idols. Forgive me where I have worshiped anything less. Also forgive me if I have been resistant to your work in my life to purify my heart. Worshiping You is what my heart desires. I long to give you more.
"Let every breath, all that I am, never cease to worship You!... Nothing compares to the promise I have in You... All of my days I want to praise the wonders of Your mighty love."
"Behold, I am coming soon, bringing my recompense with me, to repay everyone for what he has done. I am the Alpha and the Omega, the first and the last, the beginning and the end" (Revelation 22:7).
1.http://www.ucg.org/booklets/RV/keys-understanding-revelation.asp
2. http://www.ucg.org/booklets/RV/keys-understanding-revelation.asp.
3.In Luke 4:5-8, Satan offered to give Jesus all his authority over the kingdom of the worlds if he would only worship him.
“And the devil took him up and showed him all the kingdoms of the world in a moment of time, and said to him, “To you I will give all this authority and their glory, for it has been delivered to me, and I give it to whom I will. If you, then, will worship me, it will all be yours.” And Jesus answered him, “It is written, ''You shall worship the Lord your God, And him only shall you serve.’”
4.MacDonald, W., & Farstad, A. (1997, c1995). Believer's Bible Commentary : Old and New Testaments (Re 14:12). Nashville: Thomas Nelson.
5.http://www.childrensermons.com/sermons/marriage.htm
6.http://www.childrensermons.com/sermons/marriage.htm
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