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As we open to Revelation 5: we have come to the greatest portion, of the greatest book, about the greatest place there could ever be anywhere: the Place of God’s Personal Presence called Heaven.

Today, Heaven’s worship, distilled before us in our Bibles, into words we each can understand: is the most challenging message we could ever hear to prepare us for serving God!

Worship is the offering given to God from my heart, quickened by His Spirit, unto a true awareness of my unworthiness, and His Almighty Immensity. That is how we sync with the constant atmosphere of Heaven.

God is the Center of Attention in Heaven

Heaven is filled with immense activity, constant travel, endlessly changing scenes, and enough sights and sounds to captivate even the most active observer. There is no boredom possible in Heaven; but neither is there any doubt about Who is the center of all attention.

Worship in Heaven is only offered to God Almighty, who is Majestic, Awesome, and completely in charge of everything.

When we cross the threshold into the spiritual world, His Throne towers as central to everything that goes on. But from that scene around the Seat of the Most High God, a message has been sent to us.

Today we begin a look at the recorded content of the worship of Heaven. If the Book of Revelation was a worship service, it would have 14 doxologies written into the program.

Lyrics of Worship God Wrote

When God writes the lyrics, what do the choirs of Heaven sing? That is the wonder we see as we open to Revelation 5:8-10. Our passage today captures the third of 14 different doxologies in Revelation. Please stand with me, and with all the fantastic imagery of the scenes we have seen of God’s Throne on your mind, follow along as we read these words:

Rev. 5:8-10 (NKJV)Now when He had taken the scroll, the four living creatures and the twenty-four elders fell down before the Lamb, each having a harp, and golden bowls full of incense, which are the prayers of the saints. 9 And they sang a new song, saying:
“You are worthy to take the scroll,
And to open its seals;
For You were slain,
And have redeemed us to God by Your blood
Out of every tribe and tongue and people and nation,
10 And have made us kings and priests to our God;
And we shall reign on the earth.”

Pray

The 14 Doxologies Recorded In Revelation

For a moment, just page with me through your Bibles and see the actual words of each of these doxologies in Revelation. Each of these doxologies is a specific, focused offering of worship. Each has a very special context; but all point their worship to the Ancient of Days, seated upon the Throne.

Reference    Those Offering Worship    Those Receiving Worship
4:8    4 Living Creatures    1.    God the Father
4:11 (3-fold)    24 Elders    2.    God the Father
5:9-10    24 Elders + 4 Living Creatures    3.    The Lamb (Christ)
5:12 (7-fold)    Many Angels    4.    The Lamb (Christ)
5:13 (4-fold)    Every Creature    5.    God the Father and the Lamb
7:10    Tribulation Martyrs    6.    God the Father and the Lamb
7:12 (7-fold)    Angels, 24 Elders, and 4 Living Creatures    7.    God the Father
11:16-18    24 Elders    8.    God the Father
15:3-4    Tribulation Saints    9.    God the Father and the Lamb
16:5-6    Angel    10.    God the Father
16:7    “The Altar”    11.    God the Father
19:1-3 (4-fold)    A Great Multitude    12.    God the Father
19:4    24 Elders + 4 Living Creatures    13.    God the Father
19:6-8    A Great Multitude    14.    God the Father

Now, move back in your Bibles to the third doxology, it is in Rev. 5:9. This doxology is recorded differently than the first two, which were chants; this doxology is a song.

The Words of the First Song in Heaven

Starting in Rev. 5:9-10 we see the very first song in Revelation. This is a song that God sent to us, wrote down for us, and gave to us His church. Once again look at these inspired words:

And they sang a new song, saying:

“You are worthy to take the scroll,
And to open its seals;
For You were slain,
And have redeemed us to God by Your blood
Out of every tribe and tongue and people and nation,
v. 10 And have made us kings and priests to our God;
And we shall reign on the earth.”

What do these lyrics, that God wrote, teach us who hear them in our hearts and minds?

Each of these seven phrases declares a facet of Christ’s character, work, and life as recorded in Scripture. What we have before us in clear, plain, understandable language are the exact facets of Christ that glorified saints in Heaven offer in worship.

How They Worship Jesus in Heaven

These are the first targets of the glorified saints worship in Heaven.

1.    They Worship Jesus as the Owner of the Universe: Jesus Christ the Lamb is the only rightful Heir of all things. Only He can take the scroll. “You are worthy to take the scroll. Jesus who is God the Son, Creator of all things, has the Name that is above all Names; and at the name of Jesus every knees shall bow.

2.    They Worship Jesus as the Judge of All: Jesus Christ is the Judge of all and thus has the right to open the seals which release the wrath of God. And to open its seals. The Father has given all judgment into the Hands of the Son. Someday all the nations will hide from His Face as He comes to right all wrongs.

3.    They Worship Jesus as the Lamb that was Slain for the world: Jesus is the Lamb that was slain for the sin of the world. For You were slain. Jesus is the Lamb of God, the once for all time sacrifice offered on the altar of the cross, to become the eternal payment for sin.

4.    They Worship Jesus as the Redeemer: Jesus is the One who alone could redeem us, and did so with His very own blood. And have redeemed us to God by Your blood. Jesus who was holy, harmless, and undefiled became sin. He who knew no sin was made sin so that He could purchase us. In Him we have redemption through His blood, even the complete forgiveness of all sins.

5.    They Worship Jesus as the Savior: Jesus said He came to seek and to save the lost. His Great Commission plan has succeeded, we see and hear those from every branch of humanity are around the Throne, safe in heaven. Out of every tribe and tongue and people and nation. Jesus was moved with compassion. He called out to all those who were weary of their sins, and heavy laden with their frustrations: and promised them rest.

6.    They Worship Jesus as the Great High Priest: Christ’s redemption brings us into the kingdom of God where we can come into His presence as His priests. v. 10 And have made us kings and priests to our God. Jesus is the new and living way. He has opened God’s presence to us. We are now able to come to Him bringing Him gifts of worship and adoration.

7.    They Worship Jesus as the King of Kings: Christ’s promise that we as His joint heirs reign with Him is accomplished. And we shall reign on the earth. ”The weak of this world are strong in their King. The poor of this world are rich in their King. The promised rule over a world and a universe that are His is given to us who are joint heir with Jesus.

There is even more that this first song opens for us. The introduction to the very
first song we ever hear the words for in Heaven, comes after the introduction of the name of the Lord Jesus Christ as the Lamb before the Throne, and:

Lamb is the Most Frequent Title for Christ in Heaven

In Rev. 5:6 we are introduced to Christ’s most frequent title in Revelation. Look back with me at that verse.

Rev. 5:6 (NKJV) And I looked, and behold, in the midst of the throne and of the four living creatures, and in the midst of the elders, stood a Lamb as though it had been slain, having seven horns and seven eyes, which are the seven Spirits of God sent out into all the earth.

Here in Revelation 5:6 is the first time of the 29x that Jesus is called the Lamb in Revelation. This title of Jesus Christ as the Lamb is first given in the New Testament in the Gospel by John 1:29, 36; and one other time in I Pet. 1:19. So three times in all of the New Testament up to this last book, and then 29x here.

The Lamb is also the single most used title of our Lord Jesus Christ in Revelation. He is called (in the NKJV): Christ 11x, Jesus 14x, Lord 22x; but He is called Lamb 29x. Here in the chapter where Jesus is first called the Lamb in Revelation, He is called that 4x in chap 5. That means Jesus is called the Lamb more in this single chapter than in all the other chapters of the Bible combined.

Just one other note about the names of Jesus can also be seen in this chapter. In Revelation 5:5 we find the only time that Jesus Christ is called the Lion. So He is first and only called the Lion in v. 5, and then in v. 6 he is called the Lamb, His most frequent title in Revelation. Jesus is a Lion and a Lamb. He is powerful and sacrificial. He suffered as a Lamb, and will conquer as a Lion.

Seven Lessons from the First Song of Heaven

What can we apply to our lives today from this first song?

1.    Surrender back all you have to Jesus as your Creator &Owner: Jesus Christ the Lamb is the only rightful Heir of all things. Only He can take the scroll. “You are worthy to take the scroll. He is our Creator & Owner. Our complete and constant surrender belongs to Him.

I Cor. 6:19-20 (NKJV) Or do you not know that your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit who is in you, whom you have from God, and you are not your own? 20 For you were bought at a price; therefore glorify God in your body and in your spirit, which are God’s.

All to Jesus I surrender (#366),
All to Him I freely give;
I will ever love and trust Him,
In His presence daily live.

I surrender all,
I surrender all.
All to Thee, my blessed Savior,
I surrender all.

All to Jesus I surrender,
Humbly at His feet I bow,
Worldly pleasures all forsaken;
Take me, Jesus, take me now.

All to Jesus I surrender,
Make me, Savior, wholly Thine;
Let me feel Thy Holy Spirit,
Truly know that Thou art mine.

All to Jesus I surrender,
Lord, I give myself to Thee;
Fill me with Thy love and power,
Let Thy blessing fall on me.

J.W. Van DeVenter (1896)

Surrender back all you have to
Jesus as your Creator & Owner

2.    Reflect upon Jesus as the Judge of your life: Jesus Christ is the Judge of all and thus has the right to open the seals, which release the wrath of God. And to open its seals;

II Cor. 5.10 (NKJV) For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, that each one may receive the things done in the body, according to what he has done, whether good or bad.

Reflect upon Jesus as the
Judge of your life

3.    Be grateful that Jesus is the Lamb that was Slain for your sins: Jesus is the Lamb that was slain for the sin of the world.For You were slain.

I John 1:7b (NKJV) But if we walk in the light as He is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus Christ His Son cleanses us from all sin.

There is a fountain filled with blood drawn from Emmanuel’s veins (#196);
And sinners plunged beneath that flood lose all their guilty stains.
Lose all their guilty stains, lose all their guilty stains;
And sinners plunged beneath that flood lose all their guilty stains.

The dying thief rejoiced to see that fountain in his day;
And there have I, though vile as he, washed all my sins away.
Washed all my sins away, washed all my sins away;
And there have I, though vile as he, washed all my sins away.

Dear dying Lamb, Thy precious blood shall never lose its power
Till all the ransomed church of God be saved, to sin no more.
Be saved, to sin no more, be saved, to sin no more;
Till all the ransomed church of God be saved, to sin no more.

E’er since, by faith, I saw the stream Thy flowing wounds supply,
Redeeming love has been my theme, and shall be till I die.
And shall be till I die, and shall be till I die;
Redeeming love has been my theme, and shall be till I die.

W. Cowper (1772)

Be grateful to Jesus, the Lamb
That was Slain for your sins

4.    Unleash Jesus as the powerful Redeemer of your life: Jesus is the One who alone could redeem us, and did so with His very own blood. And have redeemed us to God by Your blood.

Before the throne of God above I have a strong and perfect plea.
A great High Priest whose name is Love, Who ever lives and pleads for me.
My name is graven on His hands, My name is written on His heart.
I know that while in Heaven He stands, No tongue can bid me thence depart.

When Satan tempts me to despair, And tells me of the guilt within,
Upward I look and see Him there, Who made an end of all my sin.
Because the sinless Savior died, My sinful soul is counted free.
For God the just is satisfied, To look on Him and pardon me.

Behold Him there the risen Lamb, My perfect spotless righteousness,
The great unchangeable I AM, The King of glory and of grace,
One in Himself I cannot die. My soul is purchased by His blood,
My life is hid with Christ on high, With Christ my Savior and my God!

C. L. Smith (1863)

Unleash Jesus as the powerful Redeemer of your life

5.    Seek to show the same compassion for the lost as Jesus your Savior does: Jesus said He came to seek and to save the lost. His Great Commission plan has succeeded, we see and hear those from every branch of humanity are around the Throne, safe in heaven. Out of every tribe and tongue and people and nation,

Seek to show the same compassion
For the lost as Jesus your Savior does

6.    Follow Jesus as your Great High Priest: Christ’s redemption brings us into the kingdom of God where we can come into His presence as His priests. v. 10 And have made us kings and priests to our God;

Spirit of the living God, fall afresh on me (#247);
Spirit of the living God, fall afresh on me.
Melt me, mold me, fill me, use me.
Spirit of the living God, fall afresh on me.

Daniel Iverson (1926)

Follow Jesus as your Great High Priest

7.    Worship Jesus as Your King of Kings: Christ’s promise that we as His joint heirs reign with Him is accomplished. And we shall reign on the earth.”

Take my life, and let it be consecrated, Lord, to Thee (#379).
Take my moments and my days; let them flow in ceaseless praise.
Take my hands, and let them move at the impulse of Thy love.
Take my feet, and let them be swift and beautiful for Thee.

Take my voice, and let me sing always, only, for my King.
Take my lips, and let them be filled with messages from Thee.
Take my silver and my gold; not a mite would I withhold.
Take my intellect, and use every power as Thou shalt choose.

Take my will, and make it Thine; it shall be no longer mine.
Take my heart, it is Thine own; it shall be Thy royal throne.
Take my love, my Lord, I pour at Thy feet its treasure store.
Take myself, and I will be ever, only
, all for Thee.

F.R. Havergal (1874)

Worship Jesus as Your King of Kings

Revelation 5: we have come to the greatest portion, of the greatest book, about the greatest place there could ever be anywhere: the Place of God’s Personal Presence called Heaven.

Today, Heaven’s worship, distilled before us in our Bibles, into words we each can understand: is the most challenging message we could ever hear to prepare us for serving God!

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