Heavenly Worship (Revelation 4 and 5)
Much as when we read the first book of the Bible. one must keep the purpose of the text in mind. People love to comb through the words of Revelation to find code or details about the “end times.” However, we need to remember that this book is intended (even primarily so) for readers throughout the centuries of church history, not just the few that will be living at the end. So, rather than read clues into the text, we need to take it at face value. (Face value in this case being apocalyptic, therefore rather hidden at times!)
Chapters 4 and 5 are some of my favorites, which is not unusual I imagine. This is where we see that the book of Revelation is in some ways like the Psalms of the New Testament. The hymns we see in these two chapters are not the only ones. There are about 16 different songs or hymns recorded in the book. And, while these chapters are very clearly a worship service around the throne of God, the service continues throughout the book and the revelation is delivered from this setting. The service will open the scroll, which in turn will reveal the trumpets, which in turn will reveal the bowls. It all flows out from this worship setting.
In chapter four we have a description of the perpetual worship that goes on around the Throne of God. The whole description is vague, partially due to the difficulty of describing what is seen, but also due to symbolism and disguised elements that comment on things for John’s readers. For instance, God’s throne is not likely to be built literally out of the semiprecious stones that John describes here. That is an approximation, or a grasping at descriptions. But also, some elements of the worship here in Revelation are similar to the type of worship that was practiced in Rome with the Emperor as focus. John undermines the imperial cult by ascribing the glory to where it truly resides, with the real God of the universe.
The heavenly worship in its unceasing repetition may seem drab or tiring to us as readers. But the pinnacle comes in chapter five when the fulfillment of creation briefly seems in jeopardy. Is no one worthy to bring about God’s predetermined reckoning and redemption of history and creation? No. The Lion of Judah—the Messiah—is worthy. But John sees a slain Lamb instead. The biblical theme of the sacrificial King is beautifully shown in this heavenly service.
And then we see a new song sung. Heaven will not be a monotone drone of a mantric, brainless worship. (Not that what we saw in chapter 4 really is such a thing!) In Christ, God is making all things new, and eternity will be an unfathomably new existence as God intended it to be.
Chapters 4 and 5 are some of my favorites, which is not unusual I imagine. This is where we see that the book of Revelation is in some ways like the Psalms of the New Testament. The hymns we see in these two chapters are not the only ones. There are about 16 different songs or hymns recorded in the book. And, while these chapters are very clearly a worship service around the throne of God, the service continues throughout the book and the revelation is delivered from this setting. The service will open the scroll, which in turn will reveal the trumpets, which in turn will reveal the bowls. It all flows out from this worship setting.
In chapter four we have a description of the perpetual worship that goes on around the Throne of God. The whole description is vague, partially due to the difficulty of describing what is seen, but also due to symbolism and disguised elements that comment on things for John’s readers. For instance, God’s throne is not likely to be built literally out of the semiprecious stones that John describes here. That is an approximation, or a grasping at descriptions. But also, some elements of the worship here in Revelation are similar to the type of worship that was practiced in Rome with the Emperor as focus. John undermines the imperial cult by ascribing the glory to where it truly resides, with the real God of the universe.
The heavenly worship in its unceasing repetition may seem drab or tiring to us as readers. But the pinnacle comes in chapter five when the fulfillment of creation briefly seems in jeopardy. Is no one worthy to bring about God’s predetermined reckoning and redemption of history and creation? No. The Lion of Judah—the Messiah—is worthy. But John sees a slain Lamb instead. The biblical theme of the sacrificial King is beautifully shown in this heavenly service.
And then we see a new song sung. Heaven will not be a monotone drone of a mantric, brainless worship. (Not that what we saw in chapter 4 really is such a thing!) In Christ, God is making all things new, and eternity will be an unfathomably new existence as God intended it to be.
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