Anticipating the Holy One, Part 2

So, it took me a little bit longer to get to this post!! We had a busy week and weekend and I have really wanted to be able to sit down and finish this! The house is quiet at the moment, so I'm attempting to sit down before the day gets going! If you didn't read Part 1, please go back and read it otherwise it's just not going to make as much sense!

Revelation 5:8-14, begins the song of the Holy One. Verse number 7 ended with Jesus taking the scroll from the right hand of God. How exciting that will be! Verse 8 begins describing exactly what happens as a result of Jesus taking the scroll from God's hand! Praise starts breaks out from everywhere! The cherubims and elders fall down 'before the Lamb' in worship and adoration. This act of worship is a reaction to the very fact that sin and Satan have finally been defeated! Jesus Christ is soon to begin his millennial kingdom. This anticipation that has been building since the beginning of time bursts into praise because the Son of God, the Holy One, is about to claim victory! All of the 24 elders (which are representatives of the glorified, raptured church) have harps. In the Old Testament harps were associated with worship and also linked with prophecy. They also held 'golden bowls of incense' which represent the prayers of the believers throughout the ages. All of the prayers that Christians have been praying for God's redemption are represented in these bowls. The harps and bowls together represent the soon to be fulfillment of God's prophecy. Verse 9 and 10 with the 'new song'. It is a song of redemption that exclaims that Christ is worthy to take the scrolls. Christ is worthy because of His sacrificial death and the blood that was shed for His children on the cross. He paid the price to redeem men from 'every tribe and tongue and people and nation'. All those who have been redeemed are a part of God's kingdom. The phrase 'priest to our God' signifies the complete access to God's presence that His children will have. Many cults have twisted this verse to mean that we will become 'like God'. That is never possible. It's a foreshadowing of that day when those who have been called will have total access and perfect communion with God. In verse number 11 another group of worshipers join in... an innumerable number ('ten thousands times ten thousands, thousands and thousands') of angels. Can you even imagine how loud their praises will be?? I have no doubt that it will be more exciting and louder than any little puny offering of praise that we may try here on earth to give. They began praising Him, saying with a loud voice, "Worthy is the Lamb who was slain to receive power and riches and wisdom, and strength and honor and glory and blessing!” Again, the focus is on Christ' death and the redemptive power of that death. He is worthy to receive power and recognition because of his 'power and riches'. Christ owns everything. He is worthy because of his strength and honor... He is worthy to receive all glory and blessing. He is worthy! At this moment in scripture, verse 13, we see that the great hymn continues an everyone, those 'in heaven and on the earth and under the earth and such as are in the sea, and all that are in them' joins in! This mighty chorus cries out, "Blessing and honor and glory and power be to Him who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb, forever and ever!”Lastly, we see the cherubims say, "Amen" which means let it be and the elders fall down and begin to worship Him.
Might I add here that there will be no end to Christ' worship in heaven. His worship and adoration will go on forever.. throughout all eternity. God's children will never tire of giving Him praise. Many believe that they will 'make it' to heaven.. but they can't even 'make it' to church to worship Him. A lifestyle reflective of that might want to examine their life... Something to think about...
Now the stage is set. Soon this mighty host will march out of heaven to execute judgement, gather the elect and return with Christ as He sets up His earthly kingdom. Praise Him!

That is some exciting stuff. I do want to be candid though and share with you something that I shared with my girls in Sunday School. I can remember times in my past when reading Revelation or hearing a sermon on Revelation scared the daylights out of me. Seriously, I avoided it at all cost. If I happened to be in a sermon where someone was preaching on the subject of 'end times' I would tune everything out. Why was this? I was lost. I didn't know Christ; He didn't know me. I definitely had every right though to be frightened, because every word in Revelation is true. Everything written in God's Holy Word is true. Christ will take over and God's wrath will be poured out on those who are not His. God will be just and right for every ounce of that wrath. Thankfully, God saved me... He called me to be His own. Passages of scripture like this are exciting to me... I long for the day to see Jesus! But it also compels me to share with you the truth. Where will you be on the day Christ takes the scroll from God the Father? The end is near... does it frighten you?
My prayer is that the Holy Spirit will draw you to God's Word and reveal to you where you stand with God. Reading 1 John is a good place to start.

I am waiting and watching for Him... Oh, what a day it will be!