I have been considering events where worship is released in unique and amazing ways, the kind that merited a record in the Bible, where someone considered what happened worthy of writing about it. Here's the rub... much of what is ultimate worship the inspired writers of scripture cataloged doesn't look ANYTHING like what will happen in most of the churches in the USA tomorrow.
Since there will come a day when we will all gather on the glassy sea, in worship with a lot of falling down, casting of crowns and Glori's singing, perhaps we should consider ramping up what we call worship to look more like what will ultimately take place when we get there. It looks like in the Book of Revelation when we are truly worshiping in Spirit and in Truth it will contain:
- Shouting
- Singing
- Declaring
- Lightening
- Earthquakes
- Thunder
- A lot about VICTORY over Satan
- A great Roar
- A Storm from Heaven
- A Glassy Sea with FIRE all around
- A Mighty Chorus
- New Songs being sung
Revelation 4: Then
as I looked, I saw a door standing open in heaven, and the same voice I
had heard before spoke to me like a trumpet blast. The voice said, “Come up here, and I will show you what must happen after this.” 2 And instantly I was in the Spirit,[a] and I saw a throne in heaven and someone sitting on it. 3 The
one sitting on the throne was as brilliant as gemstones—like jasper and
carnelian. And the glow of an emerald circled his throne like a
rainbow. 4 Twenty-four
thrones surrounded him, and twenty-four elders sat on them. They were
all clothed in white and had gold crowns on their heads. 5 From
the throne came flashes of lightning and the rumble of thunder. And in
front of the throne were seven torches with burning flames. This is the
sevenfold Spirit[b] of God. 6 In front of the throne was a shiny sea of glass, sparkling like crystal.
In the center and around the throne were four living beings, each covered with eyes, front and back. 7 The
first of these living beings was like a lion; the second was like an
ox; the third had a human face; and the fourth was like an eagle in
flight. 8 Each
of these living beings had six wings, and their wings were covered all
over with eyes, inside and out. Day after day and night after night they
keep on saying,
“Holy, holy, holy is the Lord God, the Almighty—
the one who always was, who is, and who is still to come.”
the one who always was, who is, and who is still to come.”
9 Whenever
the living beings give glory and honor and thanks to the one sitting on
the throne (the one who lives forever and ever), 10 the
twenty-four elders fall down and worship the one sitting on the throne
(the one who lives forever and ever). And they lay their crowns before
the throne and say,
11 “You are worthy, O Lord our God,
to receive glory and honor and power.
For you created all things,
and they exist because you created what you pleased.”
to receive glory and honor and power.
For you created all things,
and they exist because you created what you pleased.”
Revelation 5:
8 And when he took the scroll, the four living beings and the twenty-four elders fell down before the Lamb. Each one had a harp, and they held gold bowls filled with incense, which are the prayers of God’s people. 9 And they sang a new song with these words:
“You are worthy to take the scroll
and break its seals and open it.
For you were slaughtered, and your blood has ransomed people for God
from every tribe and language and people and nation.
10 And you have caused them to become
a Kingdom of priests for our God.
And they will reign[d] on the earth.”
and break its seals and open it.
For you were slaughtered, and your blood has ransomed people for God
from every tribe and language and people and nation.
10 And you have caused them to become
a Kingdom of priests for our God.
And they will reign[d] on the earth.”
11 Then
I looked again, and I heard the voices of thousands and millions of
angels around the throne and of the living beings and the elders. 12 And they sang in a mighty chorus:
“Worthy is the Lamb who was slaughtered—
to receive power and riches
and wisdom and strength
and honor and glory and blessing.”
to receive power and riches
and wisdom and strength
and honor and glory and blessing.”
13 And then I heard every creature in 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 and ever.”
belong to the one sitting on the throne
and to the Lamb forever and ever.”
14 And the four living beings said, “Amen!” And the twenty-four elders fell down and worshiped the Lamb.
Revelation 7:
9 After
this I saw a vast crowd, too great to count, from every nation and
tribe and people and language, standing in front of the throne and
before the Lamb. They were clothed in white robes and held palm branches
in their hands. 10 And they were shouting with a great roar,
“Salvation comes from our God who sits on the throne
and from the Lamb!”
and from the Lamb!”
11 And
all the angels were standing around the throne and around the elders
and the four living beings. And they fell before the throne with their
faces to the ground and worshiped God. 12 They sang,
“Amen! Blessing and glory and wisdom
and thanksgiving and honor
and power and strength belong to our God
forever and ever! Amen.”
and thanksgiving and honor
and power and strength belong to our God
forever and ever! Amen.”
Revelation 11:
Then the seventh angel blew his trumpet, and there were loud voices shouting in heaven:
“The world has now become the Kingdom of our Lord and of his Christ,[c]
and he will reign forever and ever.”
and he will reign forever and ever.”
16 The twenty-four elders sitting on their thrones before God fell with their faces to the ground and worshiped him. 17 And they said,
“We give thanks to you, Lord God, the Almighty,
the one who is and who always was,
for now you have assumed your great power
and have begun to reign.
18 The nations were filled with wrath,
but now the time of your wrath has come.
It is time to judge the dead
and reward your servants the prophets,
as well as your holy people,
and all who fear your name,
from the least to the greatest.
It is time to destroy
all who have caused destruction on the earth.”
the one who is and who always was,
for now you have assumed your great power
and have begun to reign.
18 The nations were filled with wrath,
but now the time of your wrath has come.
It is time to judge the dead
and reward your servants the prophets,
as well as your holy people,
and all who fear your name,
from the least to the greatest.
It is time to destroy
all who have caused destruction on the earth.”
19 Then,
in heaven, the Temple of God was opened and the Ark of his covenant
could be seen inside the Temple. Lightning flashed, thunder crashed and
roared, and there was an earthquake and a terrible hailstorm.
Revelation 12:
10 Then I heard a loud voice shouting across the heavens,
“It has come at last—
salvation and power
and the Kingdom of our God,
and the authority of his Christ.[a]
For the accuser of our brothers and sisters[b]
has been thrown down to earth—
the one who accuses them
before our God day and night.
11 And they have defeated him by the blood of the Lamb
and by their testimony.
And they did not love their lives so much
that they were afraid to die.
12 Therefore, rejoice, O heavens!
And you who live in the heavens, rejoice!
But terror will come on the earth and the sea,
for the devil has come down to you in great anger,
knowing that he has little time.”
salvation and power
and the Kingdom of our God,
and the authority of his Christ.[a]
For the accuser of our brothers and sisters[b]
has been thrown down to earth—
the one who accuses them
before our God day and night.
11 And they have defeated him by the blood of the Lamb
and by their testimony.
And they did not love their lives so much
that they were afraid to die.
12 Therefore, rejoice, O heavens!
And you who live in the heavens, rejoice!
But terror will come on the earth and the sea,
for the devil has come down to you in great anger,
knowing that he has little time.”
Revelation 14:
I
heard a sound from heaven like the roar of mighty ocean waves or the
rolling of loud thunder. It was like the sound of many harpists playing
together.
3 This
great choir sang a wonderful new song in front of the throne of God and
before the four living beings and the twenty-four eldersRevelation 15:
2 I saw before me what seemed to be a glass sea mixed with fire. And on it stood all the people who had been victorious over the beast and his statue and the number representing his name. They were all holding harps that God had given them. 3 And they were singing the song of Moses, the servant of God, and the song of the Lamb:
“Great and marvelous are your works,
O Lord God, the Almighty.
Just and true are your ways,
O King of the nations.[a]
4 Who will not fear you, Lord,
and glorify your name?
For you alone are holy.
All nations will come and worship before you,
for your righteous deeds have been revealed.”
O Lord God, the Almighty.
Just and true are your ways,
O King of the nations.[a]
4 Who will not fear you, Lord,
and glorify your name?
For you alone are holy.
All nations will come and worship before you,
for your righteous deeds have been revealed.”
Revelation 19:
I heard what sounded like a vast crowd in heaven shouting,
“Praise the Lord![a]
Salvation and glory and power belong to our God.
2 His judgments are true and just.
He has punished the great prostitute
who corrupted the earth with her immorality.
He has avenged the murder of his servants.”
Salvation and glory and power belong to our God.
2 His judgments are true and just.
He has punished the great prostitute
who corrupted the earth with her immorality.
He has avenged the murder of his servants.”
3 And again their voices rang out:
“Praise the Lord!
The smoke from that city ascends forever and ever!”
The smoke from that city ascends forever and ever!”
4 Then
the twenty-four elders and the four living beings fell down and
worshiped God, who was sitting on the throne. They cried out, “Amen!
Praise the Lord!”
5 And from the throne came a voice that said,
“Praise our God,
all his servants,
all who fear him,
from the least to the greatest.”
all his servants,
all who fear him,
from the least to the greatest.”
6 Then I heard again what sounded like the shout of a vast crowd or the roar of mighty ocean waves or the crash of loud thunder:
“Praise the Lord!
For the Lord our God,[b] the Almighty, reigns.
7 Let us be glad and rejoice,
and let us give honor to him.
For the time has come for the wedding feast of the Lamb,
and his bride has prepared herself.
8 She has been given the finest of pure white linen to wear.”
For the fine linen represents the good deeds of God’s holy people.
For the Lord our God,[b] the Almighty, reigns.
7 Let us be glad and rejoice,
and let us give honor to him.
For the time has come for the wedding feast of the Lamb,
and his bride has prepared herself.
8 She has been given the finest of pure white linen to wear.”
For the fine linen represents the good deeds of God’s holy people.
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