"Worthy is the lamb who was slaughtered — to receive power and riches and wisdom and strength and honor and glory and blessing.”

 

And then I heard every creation heaven and on earth and under the earth and in the sea. They sang: “Blessing and honor and glory and power belong to the one sitting on the throne and to the Lamb forever Andover.”  And the four living beings said, “Amen!” And the twenty-four elders fell down and worshiped the Lamb.”  Revelation 11:11-14

 

This is a heavenly praise gathering, a worship service par excellence. May we never forget the marvelous scene depicted for us in these verses. How we need to understand the ultimate objective of God for all of His creation.

 

The great multitude involved. Imagine the joy that must have filled the apostle John when he saw and heard this marvelous display of worship and praise to God the Father and the Lamb of God! The number of angels indicated here is not to be taken as an exact mathematical calculation. Rather, this multitude of angels is innumerable - too many to count.

 

The message which all creation proclaims. The ascription of praise to the Lamb Who was slain contains seven characteristics-power, riches, wisdom, strength, honor, glory, and blessing-indicating the fullness of worship that He deserves. Everything you can think of in terms of adoration should be given to Him. Four of these seven characteristics are repeated in verse 13 and ascribed to the One Who sits on the throne as well as to the Lamb.

 

The manner in which the living creatures and the twenty-four elders respond. The four living creatures who serve as worship leaders in heaven are also the “Amen corner” of heaven. They keep saying the word that speaks of agreement and affirmation of all that is being sung and said. The twenty-four elders (the church in heaven) respond as they did previously (Revelation 4:10) - they “fell down and worshiped” Him who lives forever and ever.

 

Can there be any doubt as to the grand and ultimate objective for the believer? Is not the worship and praise of Almighty God our primary goal? We will one day participate in that heavenly scene, but even now we can enjoy the privilege of exalting Him. As Paul exhorts us, whatever we do, let us do it to the glory of God (1 Corinthians 10:31).

 

PRAY. PREPARE. PROTECT. PROCLAIM. PERSIST. PERSEVERE. PRAY AGAIN. PASS IT ON. POWER UP. POSITION PROPERLY. PAY ATTENTION. PRAY WITHOUT CEASING.