WORSHIP IN THE BOOK OF REVELATION

Lesson 13 for September 24, 2011

“Then Job answered the Lord and said:
“I know that You can do everything,
And that no purpose of Yours can be withheld
from You.
You asked, ‘Who is this who hides counsel without
knowledge?’
Therefore I have uttered what I did not
understand,
Things too wonderful for me, which I did not
know.
Listen, please, and let me speak;
You said, ‘I will question you, and you shall
answer Me.’
“I have heard of You by the hearing of the ear,
But now my eye sees You.
Therefore I abhor myself,
And repent in dust and ashes.”” Job, 42: 1-6

When Job saw part of the holiness, the greatness, the majesty and the
power of the God of Creation, he reacted with fear, reverence, respect
and a deep feeling of repentance that led him to humble before God.
How did Isaiah, Daniel and Paul react before the presence of God?

“So I said: “Woe is me, for I am undone!

Because I am a man of unclean lips, and I
dwell in the midst of a people of unclean
lips; for my eyes have seen the King, the
Lord of hosts.”” (Isaiah, 6: 5)

“Therefore I was left

alone when I saw this
great vision, and no
strength remained in
me; for my vigor was
turned to frailty in
me, and I retained no
strength” (Daniel, 10: 8)

“That by revelation He made known to me

the mystery… To me, who am less than the
least of all the saints …” (Ephesians, 3: 3, 8)
“And when I saw Him, I fell at His feet as dead. But
He laid His right hand on me, saying to me, “Do not
be afraid; I am the First and the Last. I am He who
lives, and was dead, and behold, I am alive
forevermore. Amen. And I have the keys of Hades
and of Death” Revelation, 1: 17-18

How do you react before

the presence of the
Creator of Universe?
When we see a little glimpse of the
Holy God, we feel insignificant and
sinners, so we feel like worshipping
Him and exalting Him.
If we feel that desire of worshipping
God even when we don't see Him,
what do the being that are always
in His presence feel?

“The seraphim around the throne

are so filled with reverential awe
as they behold the glory of God,
that they do not for an instant
look upon themselves with
admiration. Their praise is for the
Lord of hosts”

E.G.W. (Gospel workers, section 1, “The sacredness of the Work”, pg. 21)
 WHO ARE
WHAT DO THEY DO? WHAT DO THEY SAY OR SING? WHY?
THEY?
Because He is
The 4 living They give glory and “Holy, holy, holy, Lord God Almighty, Who was and is and is
holy and
creatures honor continuously to come!” (V. 8)
Rv. 4: eternal
8-11 They fall down, worship “You are worthy, O Lord, to receive glory and honor and
The 24 Because He is
Him and cast their crowns power; for You created all things, and by Your will they exist
elders before the throne the Creator
and were created” (V. 11)
“You are worthy to take the scroll and to open its seals,
The 4 living
because you were slain, and with your blood you purchased
creatures The fall down before
for God persons from every tribe and language and people
and the 24 the Lamb and sing
and nation. You have made them to be a kingdom and priests
elders
to serve our God, and they will reign on the earth” (V. 9-10, NIV)
Because of
Rv. 5: They are talking in ““Worthy is the Lamb who was slain to receive power and
8-14 Redemption
The angels, loud voice. When riches and wisdom, and strength and honor and glory and and its results
the 4 living they finish, the four blessing!” And every creature which is in heaven and on the
creatures living creatures say earth and under the earth and such as are in the sea, and all
and the 24 “Amen” and the 24 that are in them, I heard saying: “Blessing and honor and
elders elders fall down and glory and power be to Him who sits on the throne, and to the
worship Lamb, forever and ever!”” (V. 12-13)
Voices in They were talking “The kingdoms of this world have become the kingdoms of our
Heaven loudly Lord and of His Christ, and He shall reign forever and ever!” (V. 15) Because of the
just
“We give You thanks, O Lord God Almighty, the One who is and judgement,
Rv. who was and who is to come, because You have taken Your great the
11: They fall on their power and reigned. The nations were angry, and Your wrath has
15-19 The 24 punishment of
faces and worship come, and the time of the dead, that they should be judged, and villains and
elders that You should reward Your servants the prophets and the saints,
God the reward of
and those who fear Your name, small and great, and should
the saints
destroy those who destroy the earth” (V. 17-18)
 WHO ARE THEY? WHAT DO THEY DO? WHAT DO THEY SAY OR SING? WHY?

They stand before the

The great throne and before the
“Salvation belongs to our God who sits on the
multitude of Lamb, clothed with white
robes and with palm throne, and to the Lamb!” (V. 10)
saved people
Rv. 7: branches in their hands Because of
9-12 Redemption
Angels, the 24 They fall down before “Amen! Blessing and glory and wisdom,
elders and the 4 the throne and worship thanksgiving and honor and power and might,
living creatures God be to our God forever and ever. Amen” (V. 12)

“Great and marvelous are Your works, Lord

God Almighty! Just and true are Your ways, O
Those who have
Rv. King of the saints! Who shall not fear You, O
the victory over They sing the song of Because of the just
15: 1- Lord, and glorify Your name? For You alone are
4 the beast and Moses and the Lamb judgement
holy. For all nations shall come and worship
over his image
before You, for Your judgments have been
manifested” (V. 3-4)
“Alleluia! Salvation and glory and honor and
power belong to the Lord our God! For true and
The great
righteous are His judgments, because He has Because of the just
multitude of They were speaking
judged the great harlot who corrupted the earth
saved people judgement, the
with her fornication; and He has avenged on her
punishment of
Rv. the blood of His servants shed by her” (V. 1-2)
villains and the
19: 1-
5 The 24 elders reward of the saints
They fall down and
and the 4 living “Amen! Alleluia!” (V. 4)
worship God
creatures

A voice from It invites everyone to “Praise our God, all you His servants and those who fear Him, both
the throne worship small and great!” (V. 5)
During the whole Revelation, God is continuously worshipped in Heaven as Holy,
Eternal, Creator, Redeemer and Judge, now and in the future.
Only God is worthy to be worshipped.
On the one hand, those who worship the beast and We can find two
his image (vv. 3-4, 8, 12, 15). Revelation, 13: 8 kinds of worship
describes that group: “All who dwell on the earth on Earth in the
will worship him, whose names have not been End Time in
written in the Book of Life of the Lamb slain from Revelation 13.
the foundation of the world”.
On the other, when a conflict about
worship that involves violating the world's
laws will come, there will be a group of
people who are not willing to worship the
beast and his image, nor receiving “the
mark or the name or the number of the
beast” on their right hand or on their
foreheads (Revelation, 13: 17)

John was shown those who

worship God rightly and who have
a different sign on their foreheads,
victorious: “Then I looked, and
behold, a Lamb standing on Mount
Zion, and with Him one hundred
and forty-four thousand, having
His Father’s name written on their
foreheads” (Revelation, 14: 1)
“The Sabbath will be the great test of loyalty, for it is the point of truth especially
controverted. When the final test shall be brought to bear upon men, then the line of
distinction will be drawn between those who serve God and those who serve Him not. While
the observance of the false sabbath (Sunday) in compliance with the law of the state,
contrary to the fourth commandment, will be an avowal of allegiance to a power that is in
opposition to God, the keeping of the true Sabbath,

in obedience to God’s law, is an evidence of loyalty to the Creator.

While one class, by accepting the sign of submission to earthly
powers, receive the mark of the beast, the other choosing the token of
allegiance to divine authority, receive the seal of God”

E.G.W. (The great Controversy, cp. 38, pg. 663)

 We can find the final message that that group of believers proclaim to the
world in Revelation, 14: 6-13.
“Then I saw another angel flying in the “And another angel followed,
midst of heaven, having the everlasting saying, “Babylon is fallen, is
gospel to preach to those who dwell on fallen, that great city,
the earth—to every nation, tribe, because she has made all
tongue, and people— saying with a loud nations drink of the wine of
voice, “Fear God and give glory to Him, the wrath of her fornication.””
for the hour of His judgment has come; (v. 8)

and worship Him who made heaven and Don't be fooled with false doctrines
earth, the sea and springs of water.”” (v. and their false worship!
6-7)
Worship God, Redeemer, Judge and Creator!

“Then a third angel followed them, saying with a loud voice, “If anyone
worships the beast and his image, and receives his mark on his forehead or
on his hand, he himself shall also drink of the wine of the wrath of God,
which is poured out full strength into the cup of His indignation. He shall be
tormented with fire and brimstone in the presence of the holy angels and in
the presence of the Lamb. And the smoke of their torment ascends forever
and ever; and they have no rest day or night, who worship the beast and
his image, and whoever receives the mark of his name.”” (v. 9-11)
Those who prefer to worship falsely will suffer the consequences: eternal death!
 FINAL SUMMARY: WHAT IS WORSHIP?
Worship is about falling at the feet of our Lord all the time.
It is about our entire attitude and relationship to God.
Worship is what we should be doing 24/7.
It is about living a life of faith, of obedience, and of surrender
to the Lord.
Worship is about putting God first and foremost in all that we
say, all that we do, and all that we think.
Worship is how we treat others, how
we treat those we love, and those
who are hard to love.
Worship is about obeying the
commandments, it is about
ministering to those in need.
It is about dying to self and
proclaiming the gospel.