Day 83

“After these things I looked, and behold, a door standing open in heaven, and the first voice which I had heard, like the sound of a trumpet speaking with me, said, “Come up here, and I will show you what must take place after these things.” Rev 4:1 NASB.

The scene of Revelation 4 and 5 is one of the most dramatic in the Bible. Apparently, scholars say it is even more glorious in the original language than it is in translation. Read it and receive an unbelievable thrill as you envision what worship in heaven must be like. The scene starts slowly but then crescendos and crescendos until the entire universe becomes a single vast, antiphonal choir ringing out the praises of the Lamb and the One sitting on the throne (Rev 5:11-14). The scene then concludes as the four living creatures utter “Amen” followed by thunderous silence.

A danger readers face when going through a passage like Revelation 4 and 5 is the tendency to make too much of every detail and thereby miss its primary purpose. That purpose is to set forth the greatness of the heavenly throne room, the greatness of God and, therefore, the surpassing greatness of the Lamb that was slain. The throne room of God lays all earthly claims to power and glory in the dust. When one has had a glimpse of the open gates of heaven, it makes no sense any more to be afraid of earthly powers or even specific human beings. The passage invites us to place all sources of earthly intimidation in the shadows of God’s transcending power and glory, and to acknowledge Him as the one true object of worship. When we truly know Him, we will know what true worship is all about.

There is only one possible response in light of the heavenly throne room: repent, bow down and acknowledge the only One who is truly worthy of my worship.