1. WORSHIP IN THE BOOK OF REVELATION Lesson 13 for September 24, 2011
2. โThen Job answered the Lord and said: โI know that You can do everything, And that no purpose of Yours can be withheld from You. You asked, โWho is this who hides counsel without knowledge?โ Therefore I have uttered what I did not understand, Things too wonderful for me, which I did not know. Listen, please, and let me speak; You said, โI will question you, and you shall answer Me.โ โI have heard of You by the hearing of the ear, But now my eye sees You. Therefore I abhor myself, And repent in dust and ashes.โโ Job, 42: 1-6 When Job saw part of the holiness, the greatness, the majesty and the power of the God of Creation, he reacted with fear, reverence, respect and a deep feeling of repentance that led him to humble before God.
3. How did Isaiah, Daniel and Paul react before the presence of God? โSo I said: โWoe is me, for I am undone! Because I am a man of unclean lips, and I dwell in the midst of a people of unclean lips; for my eyes have seen the King, the Lord of hosts.โโ (Isaiah, 6: 5) โTherefore I was left alone when I saw this great vision, and no strength remained in me; for my vigor was turned to frailty in me, and I retained no strengthโ (Daniel, 10: 8) โThat by revelation He made known to me the mysteryโฆ To me, who am less than the least of all the saints โฆโ (Ephesians, 3: 3, 8)
4. โAnd when I saw Him, I fell at His feet as dead. But He laid His right hand on me, saying to me, โDo not be afraid; I am the First and the Last. I am He who lives, and was dead, and behold, I am alive forevermore. Amen. And I have the keys of Hades and of Deathโ Revelation, 1: 17-18 How do you react before the presence of the Creator of Universe?
5. When we see a little glimpse of the Holy God, we feel insignificant and sinners, so we feel like worshipping Him and exalting Him. If we feel that desire of worshipping God even when we don't see Him, what do the being that are always in His presence feel? โThe seraphim around the throne are so filled with reverential awe as they behold the glory of God, that they do not for an instant look upon themselves with admiration. Their praise is for the Lord of hostsโ E.G.W. (Gospel workers, section 1, โThe sacredness of the Workโ, pg. 21)
6. WHO ARE THEY? WHAT DO THEY DO? WHAT DO THEY SAY OR SING? WHY? Rv. 4: 8-11 The 4 living creatures They give glory and honor continuously โHoly, holy, holy, Lord God Almighty, Who was and is and is to come!โ (V. 8) Because He is holy and eternal The 24 elders They fall down, worship Him and cast their crowns before the throne โYou are worthy, O Lord, to receive glory and honor and power; for You created all things, and by Your will they exist and were createdโ (V. 11) Because He is the Creator Rv. 5: 8-14 The 4 living creatures and the 24 elders The fall down before the Lamb and sing โYou are worthy to take the scroll and to open its seals, because you were slain, and with your blood you purchased for God persons from every tribe and language and people and nation. You have made them to be a kingdom and priests to serve our God, and they will reign on the earthโ (V. 9-10, NIV) Because of Redemption and its results The angels, the 4 living creatures and the 24 elders They are talking in loud voice. When they finish, the four living creatures say โAmenโ and the 24 elders fall down and worship โโWorthy is the Lamb who was slain to receive power and riches and wisdom, and strength and honor and glory and blessing!โ And every creature which is in heaven and on the earth and under the earth and such as are in the sea, and all that are in them, I heard saying: โBlessing and honor and glory and power be to Him who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb, forever and ever!โโ (V. 12-13) Voices in Heaven They were talking loudly โThe kingdoms of this world have become the kingdoms of our Lord and of His Christ, and He shall reign forever and ever!โ (V. 15) Because of the just judgement, the punishment of villains and the reward of the saints Rv. 11: 15-19 The 24 elders They fall on their faces and worship God โWe give You thanks, O Lord God Almighty, the One who is and who was and who is to come, because You have taken Your great power and reigned. The nations were angry, and Your wrath has come, and the time of the dead, that they should be judged, and that You should reward Your servants the prophets and the saints, and those who fear Your name, small and great, and should destroy those who destroy the earthโ (V. 17-18)
7. WHO ARE THEY? WHAT DO THEY SAY OR SING? WHY? WHAT DO THEY DO? Rv. 7: 9-12 The great multitude of saved people โSalvation belongs to our God who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb!โ (V. 10) Because of Redemption They stand before the throne and before the Lamb, clothed with white robes and with palm branches in their hands Angels, the 24 elders and the 4 living creatures โAmen! Blessing and glory and wisdom, thanksgiving and honor and power and might, be to our God forever and ever. Amenโ (V. 12) They fall down before the throne and worship God Rv. 15: 1-4 Those who have the victory over the beast and over his image โGreat and marvelous are Your works, Lord God Almighty! Just and true are Your ways, O King of the saints! Who shall not fear You, O Lord, and glorify Your name? For You alone are holy. For all nations shall come and worship before You, for Your judgments have been manifestedโ (V. 3-4) Because of the just judgement They sing the song of Moses and the Lamb Rv. 19: 1-5 The great multitude of saved people โAlleluia! Salvation and glory and honor and power belong to the Lord our God! For true and righteous are His judgments, because He has judged the great harlot who corrupted the earth with her fornication; and He has avenged on her the blood of His servants shed by herโ (V. 1-2) Because of the just judgement, the punishment of villains and the reward of the saints They were speaking The 24 elders and the 4 living creatures โAmen! Alleluia!โ (V. 4) They fall down and worship God A voice from the throne โPraise our God, all you His servants and those who fear Him, both small and great!โ (V. 5) It invites everyone to worship
8. During the whole Revelation, God is continuously worshipped in Heaven as Holy, Eternal, Creator, Redeemer and Judge, now and in the future.Only God is worthy to be worshipped. We can find two kinds of worship on Earth in the End Time in Revelation 13. On the one hand, those who worship the beast and his image (vv. 3-4, 8, 12, 15). Revelation, 13: 8 describes that group: โAll who dwell on the earth will worship him, whose names have not been written in the Book of Life of the Lamb slain from the foundation of the worldโ.
9. On the other, when a conflict about worship that involves violating the world's laws will come, there will be a group of people who are not willing to worship the beast and his image, nor receiving โthe mark or the name or the number of the beastโ on their right hand or on their foreheads(Revelation, 13: 17) John was shown those who worship God rightly and who have a different sign on their foreheads, victorious: โThen I looked, and behold, a Lamb standing on Mount Zion, and with Him one hundred and forty-four thousand, having His Fatherโs name written on their foreheadsโ (Revelation, 14: 1)
10. โThe Sabbath will be the great test of loyalty, for it is the point of truth especially controverted. When the final test shall be brought to bear upon men, then the line of distinction will be drawn between those who serve God and those who serve Him not. While the observance of the false sabbath (Sunday) in compliance with the law of the state, contrary to the fourth commandment, will be an avowal of allegiance to a power that is in opposition to God, the keeping of the true Sabbath, in obedience to Godโs law, is an evidence of loyalty to the Creator. While one class, by accepting the sign of submission to earthly powers, receive the mark of the beast, the other choosing the token of allegiance to divine authority, receive the seal of Godโ E.G.W. (The great Controversy, cp. 38, pg. 663)
11. We can find the final message that that group of believers proclaim to the world in Revelation, 14: 6-13. โThen I saw another angel flying in the midst of heaven, having the everlasting gospel to preach to those who dwell on the earthโto every nation, tribe, tongue, and peopleโ saying with a loud voice, โFear God and give glory to Him, for the hour of His judgment has come; and worship Him who made heaven and earth, the sea and springs of water.โโ (v. 6-7) โAnd another angel followed, saying, โBabylon is fallen, is fallen, that great city, because she has made all nations drink of the wine of the wrath of her fornication.โโ (v. 8) Don't be fooled with false doctrines and their false worship! Worship God, Redeemer, Judge and Creator! โThen a third angel followed them, saying with a loud voice, โIf anyone worships the beast and his image, and receives his mark on his forehead or on his hand, he himself shall also drink of the wine of the wrath of God, which is poured out full strength into the cup of His indignation. He shall be tormented with fire and brimstone in the presence of the holy angels and in the presence of the Lamb. And the smoke of their torment ascends forever and ever; and they have no rest day or night, who worship the beast and his image, and whoever receives the mark of his name.โโ (v. 9-11) Those who prefer to worship falsely will suffer the consequences: eternal death!
12. FINAL SUMMARY: WHAT IS WORSHIP? Worship is about falling at the feet of our Lord all the time. It is about our entire attitude and relationship to God. Worship is what we should be doing 24/7. It is about living a life of faith, of obedience, and of surrender to the Lord. Worship is about putting God first and foremost in all that we say, all that we do, and all that we think. Worship is how we treat others, how we treat those we love, and those who are hard to love. Worship is about obeying the commandments, it is about ministering to those in need. It is about dying to self and proclaiming the gospel.
