## Eternal Worship

## Revelation 4:1-11

Tonight I want to conclude our series of messages on worship. We are familiar with the hymn, "There is a Fountain Filled with Blood". One of the lines says this, "When this poor lisping, stammering tongue lies silent in the grave, then in a nobler, sweeter song I'll sing Thy power to save!" That speaks of the topic for this evening's lesson, 'Eternal Worship'.

God created us for worship. The Scripture clearly says in Ps.150:6, "Let everything that has breath praise the LORD. Praise the LORD!" However, our praise will not stop when our breath is gone. Even when the breath that fills our lungs has elapsed, even when the tongue that forms the words lies silent, even when our vocal chords and the rest of our bodies are decaying in the grave, we'll still sing! Even beyond the life of our bodies, our eternal souls will resound His praise!

Tonight I want us to consider, not the worship we give to God now, but rather of worship we give Him then, on the other side of the grave.

Our worship services today have basically three elements: praise, prayer and preaching. In heaven there will be no prayer because we will be in the presence of God. There will be no need to intercede or lay petitions before Him. Some of you will be delighted to know that there will be no preaching either. I will be unemployed in heaven. We will have perfect knowledge with no need to be taught. Paul said in 1 Cor.13:12 "...but then I shall know just as I also am known." Our primary occupation in heaven will be eternal praise for our gracious God and King.

I. A View of Eternal Worship.

A. The Door in Heaven (v.1).

1. The book of Revelation was written by the Apostle John as revealed to him by the Spirit of God.

a. In chapter one, John meets Jesus again, long after the resurrection and ascension.

b. We can logically divide the book in this way.

c. Chapter 1 is "the things which you have seen." Chapters 2-3 are "the things which are." Chapters 4-22 are "the things which will take place after this."

d. Therefore our text is what John spiritually saw far in the future.

2. Though he was still in his body on the isle of Patmos, spiritually John says he saw a door standing open in heaven. (Doors are very important in the book of Revelation)

a. To the church in Philadelphia, Jesus said:

(Rev 3:8) "I know thy works: behold, I have set before thee an open door, and no man can shut it: for thou hast a little strength, and hast kept my word, and hast not denied my name."

b. To the church at Laodicia:

(Rev 3:20) "Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with me."

3. As John looked at this open door, the "first voice" which sounded "like a trumpet" called to him, "Come up hither and I will shew thee things which be hereafter."

4. John was about to see worship in eternity future.

B. The Throne in Heaven (vv.2-3).

1. As John was taken "in the Spirit," he went through the "door."

2. The first thing he noticed was "a throne set in heaven" and then he saw "the One" who "sat on the throne."

a. "Throne" is also a key word in this book of prophecy.

b. It occurs 46 times throughout the book.

c. The "throne" represents God's sovereignty, His rule, His control.

3. John begins to describe God's presence on His throne, He says first He was "like a jasper."

a. "Jasper" was a precious stone that we similar to a beautiful multi-faceted diamond.

b. In 21:11, it is described as being "like a jasper stone, clear as crystal."

c. The jasper represents the dazzling glory of God.

4. Next, John says God's appearance was like "a sardine stone."

a. Like a ruby, it was dark red in color.

b. This is representative of the redemptive plan of God (blood of Christ).

5. Then John says "there was a rainbow round about the throne, in sight like unto an emerald."

a. This was not like the rainbows that we see after a rainstorm.

b. This rainbow encircled the throne.

c. It reminds us of God's unending promises to His children.

C. The Elders in Heaven (v.4).

1. The "twenty-four elders" are represent- ative of the saints…the believers.

2. They are "clothed in white robes."

(Rev 3:5) "He that overcometh, the same shall be clothed in white raiment; and I will not blot out his name out of the book of life, but I will confess his name before my Father, and before his angels."

3. They had crowns of gold on their heads.

a. There are two Greek words for "crowns" mentioned in Revelation.

b. One is the crown of a ruler and the other the crown of the victor, like the winners in the Greek games.

c. This is the victor's crown.

(1 Cor 9:25) "And every man that striveth for the mastery is temperate in all things. Now they do it to obtain a corruptible crown; but we an incorruptible."

(2 Tim 4:8) "Henceforth there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, shall give me at that day: and not to me only, but unto all them also that love his appearing."

d. In 5:9, they sing of being, "redeemed", and only believers are redeemed!

D. The Worship in Heaven (vv.5-11).

1. John continues to describe what he experienced.

"And out of the throne proceeded lightnings and thunderings and voices: and there were seven lamps of fire burning before the throne, which are the seven Spirits of God."

2. This is not unlike what Israel saw when God's presence was with Moses on Sinai.

3. The "seven lamps" represent the presence of Holy Spirit.

4. In v.6 John sees "a sea of glass like unto crystal:" and "four beasts" around the throne.

5. These 'beasts' or 'living creatures' continually give praise to God, saying "Holy, holy, holy, Lord God Almighty, which was, and is, and is to come." V8

6. When the "living creatures" worship God on the throne then the "twenty-four elders fall down before Him... and worship Him... and cast their crowns before the throne."

7. Note: Rev. 5:9-14

II. The Reality of Eternal Worship.

A. This World's Version of Reality

1. We are constantly bombarded by the reality of today. Television, radio, newspapers, advertisers all battle to focus our minds exclusively on the here and now.

2. Our culture teaches us that to be happy we must have money, success, and power.

3. We follow these dictates. We work. We earn. We spend. We borrow. We indebt ourselves in order to buy things that never have and never will make us truly happy.

4. All the while, feeling empty inside.

B. Christians are not immune.

1. Dedicated believers also are taken in by the present reality.

2. We see Christian homes and families torn apart.

3. We see conflict and carnal behavior demonstrated in our churches.

4. We see Christians caught up in the same sins as those who are without Christ.

5. We wonder, "Where is God in all this?"

C. Good News!!

1. In worship, we see things as they really are, not as they appear to be.

2. In worship we see God's sovereignty as He is still on His throne.

3. In worship we see that Jesus is all we need.

4. In worship we see hope and remember it will not always be this way.

5. This present reality is passing, but the eternal reality we glimpse in Rev.4 is sure.

III. The Choice is Ours

A. We must choose what reality we will live in:

1. Temporary or eternal? Material or spiritual?

2. Are we living in light of today or eternity?

(Rom 12:2) "And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God."

3. That's what worship does.

4. It renews us.

5. Through worship God touches our minds and our hearts.

6. He focuses us on what is real!

B. What choice will we make?

1. Where we place our focus…our priorities?

2. How we will choose to live day in and day out?

3. Will we choose to worship Him?