September 4 Heaven's Worship

Heaven’s Worship
 
Revelation 4:4-5 Surrounding the throne were twenty-four other thrones, and seated on them were twenty-four elders. They were dressed in white and had crowns of gold on their heads. 5 From the throne came flashes of lightning, rumblings and peals of thunder. Before the throne, seven lamps were blazing. These are the seven spirits of God.
 
ONE month ago we began Revelation 4. Recall that chapters 4-8 are one vision revealing heaven’s majesty and God’s holiness. Prior to this, the Father’s words through the Son to the apostle John have spoken of the church on earth. Now John has been called to spiritually, “Come up here.” (verse 1b) to see the future through God’s power.
    When you are in the midst of a severe thunder storm and  bolts of lightning flash from the clouds to earth, do you consider God’s holiness and power? This is a consistent image throughout Scripture. One is God’s appearance to the Hebrews in Exodus 19:16 On the morning of the third day there was thunder and lightning, with a thick cloud over the mountain, and a very loud trumpet blast. Everyone in the camp trembled. And see in Psalms 77:18 Your thunder was heard in the whirlwind, your lightning lit up the world; the earth trembled and quaked. Seven times, too, God declares his power and purity to Job with such words as Job 36:32-33 He fills his hands with lightning and commands it to strike its mark. 33 His thunder announces the coming storm; even the cattle make known its approach.
    The Bible also tells us that when the Hebrews, the palmist and Job came face-to-face with God’s holiness, they could only respond in humble, contrite worship. Worship is heaven’s response to God. Worship is the purpose of the twenty-four elders. Crowned and dressed in perfection, these elders are heavenly creatures created to worship God. We may consider their number illustrates the full gospel message to the nations.  First was Israel’s 12 tribes and then the 12 apostles.
    The number seven points to the Holy Spirit. The seven lamps that are the seven spirits is another name for the Holy Spirit. This, too, is a common reference throughout Scripture. The 66 books of the Bible written over some 20 centuries  form one book defining God and his purposes. When God declares his majesty to such prophets as Isaiah, Ezekiel and Zechariah, he uses the images of lightning, light, lampstands, fire and heavenly beings worshiping him. He does so here to John. And now we also know God’s holy power.
    How do you respond to God’s holiness? When you see and hear of storms do you consider our Lord is the Creator of those storms? Do you understand his authority to build up and break down? Are you aware your life is in his hands? Have you considered his gracious blessing to reveal himself to you? Do you remember, too, he calms the storms?
    Mark 4:41 They were terrified and asked each other, “Who is this? Even the wind and the waves obey him!”  
    Indeed, he is our Holy God. Rejoice he calls you to his holy presence through Jesus Christ. Worship him.
 
Prayer: Holy, holy, holy, you are Lord God, creator of heave and earth, Savior of my soul. I praise and worship you, Father, Son and Holy Spirit. Amen.