Revelation Song #4 – Throne Room Praises

Revelation Song #4 – Throne Room Praises. 

“The revelation of Jesus Christ…” (Rev. 1:1). John the Divine left no doubt about the purpose of his Book of Revelation. His very first words in his prologue were that his vision was an unveiling of Jesus. His baffling and otherworldly writings in this book were not primarily about future events, or the destiny of human life on planet earth, or all those mysterious activities in the heavenly sphere. John was writing first and foremost about the Person of Christ, and he intended everything in the book to point back to Him. Revelation was a lifting of the veil on the full identity and activity of Christ. It is a revelation of Jesus, from God, concerning Christ Himself. The Godhead is both the primary source of John’s vision and its main subject. Everything in this extended vision that came to John straight from heaven is to be understood through the prism of Christ. Regardless of how dramatic, puzzling or profound its contents, everything in John’s vision is intended to help us discover more of Christ and deepen our knowledge of and love for Him. All these events in Revelation that seem to pique the reader’s curiosity are nonetheless streams that are meant to lead us back to the River of Life. Perhaps it would do us all well if we continue to remind ourselves of Paul’s declaration as we read John’s vision… “I decided to know nothing among you except Jesus Christ and Him crucified.” (1 Corinthians 2:2). So then, we can’t let ourselves get too sidetracked, too stuck in the weeds, with these fancy special effects in John’s vision… the beasts and the dragons and the angels, the numbers and colors and gemstones, the symbols and metaphors and poetic imagery… After all is said and done in Revelation, St. John has composed an essentially Christ-centered book.

Gold Mine: Another way of looking at the book of Revelation is to strap on your miner’s helmet and search for Biblical gold. In John’s vision are many gold mines that have Jesus Christ as the source… Mines like His appearance in His glorified presence, the Logos of God, the seven titles of Christ, the words to the seven churches, the seven Beatitudes, and the many songs of worship that come straight to us from heaven! And there is more! Mining all the gold in Revelation will make us wealthy with His treasure for all of eternal life. But all those fancy special effects in John’s vision are only fool’s gold if they distract us from Jesus.

Rev. 7:9-12. “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. And they were shouting with a great roar, heartily singing,

‘Salvation comes from our God who sits on the throne and from the Lamb!’

And all the angels were standing around the throne and around the elders and the four living creatures. And they fell before the throne with their faces to the ground and worshiped God. They sang,

‘Amen! Blessing and glory and wisdom

and thanksgiving and honor

and power and strength belong to our God

forever and ever! Amen!‘ ”

A vast multitude of people from around the world gather to stand at the throne for universal worship of Yahweh and His Son the Lamb. Worship is the common denominator. Worship finally achieves what we have all been yearning for here on earth… racial reconciliation. When we are able to experience racial harmony and international peace on this side of the pearly gates, we are truly experiencing a fulfilling slice of heaven on earth. Regarding our ongoing racial strife, shouldn’t we all keep praying and working for God’s will to be done on earth as it is in heaven?

Each of these redeemed people wear a white robe that is pure because it has been washed in the blood of persecution. Each also is waving a palm branch, the symbol of victory and triumphant joy. The gathering multitude has all endured the fiery trial of suffering for Jesus, and they in one voice seek to worship at the throne of the Lord God and before the Lamb.

And then another vast multitude, another crowd too huge to count, this time of exuberant angels surrounding the throne in a gigantic circle. They prostrate themselves before the throne and touch the ground with their foreheads. The angels are face down before God, singing together the highest of praises to the Lamb on the throne. This angelic chorus sings out their sevenfold doxology, revealing the extravagant words of praise that invite all Christians everywhere to join in if they want to participate in heavenly worship. It is an honor and a joy to sing these words in church and thus spiritually stand around the throne in heaven with the angels.