All Things New

9 And they sung a new song, saying, Thou art worthy to take the book, and to open
the seals thereof: for thou wast slain, and hast redeemed us to God by thy blood
out of every kindred, and tongue, and people, and nation;

I just love music; especially country music, as long as the lyrics tell a believable
story, and the music soothes my spirit. Because of that, I enjoy the Academy
of Country Music Awards Show at the end of the year that honors various
artists who have excelled during the year. Since I don’t get to listen to as
much music as I’d like because of my writing and work schedule, this show
allows me the opportunity to hear some of the new songs that I may have
missed during the year. Anticipation of the new music is part of the fun of
the awards show for me, but the reality of hearing the new songs for the first
time is the real treat.

For millennia, the church and the redeemed of all ages have awaited this new
song because the lyrics contain the future, and the most believable message of
redemption ever told. Although we don’t know the name, we know the words
of the song and the message it proclaims–Jesus is worthy to open the sealed
book and release its contents because He was the One killed to pay the sin
debt for every man, woman, boy and every little girl in the world!

10 And hast made us unto our God kings and priests: and we shall reign on the
earth.

The fact that the redeemed of all ages will reign with Christ during His earthly
reign is a fact that cannot be denied and is anticipated later in Revelation 20:4.
You talk about a praise service! Tears come to my eyes almost every time I read
of the exaltation of the Lamb given in the next two verses.

11 And I beheld, and I heard the voice of many angels round about the throne
and the beasts and the elders : and the number of them was ten thousand times
ten thousand, and thousands of thousands;

One of the activities my wife and I enjoy once a year at Christmas time is to
go to the Myerson Symphony Center in Dallas. We both love the Christmas
season (I begin decorating on Halloween) and especially the wonderful music
that glorifies and adores the Christ child for whom the season is named.
Handel’s Hallelujah Chorus carries me to the very pinnacle of praise and
adoration as it proclaims the angel’s message of the reign of the King of Kings
and Lord of Lords! And who can forget the timeless stanzas of The First Noel
in its poignant portrayal of the birth of the Saviour of the world? Music and
the voices of the choir combine in a crescendo of praise to honor the Lord of
glory!

John says he looks and sees not only the preachers and creatures singing
but also a whole host of angels, numbering in the tens of thousands, now
surrounding them and the throne–And they’re not there just to watch and
listen–They’re singing as well! Let’s listen…

12 Saying with a loud voice, Worthy is the Lamb that was slain to receive power,
and riches, and wisdom, and strength, and honour, and glory, and blessing.

With a loud voice they sing. The word loud here would better be translated
great because of the shear number and intensity of those involved in this
chorus of praise. We’ve heard choirs of 100-200 persons within the confines
of a great concert hall or auditorium that would almost seem deafening when
amplified, but I can’t even imagine the already amplified voices of powerful
angels numbering perhaps a million in a combined chorus of praise! However,
the magnitude of the voices engaged in this celestial praise service is not
what’s important. It’s the message–Worthy is the Lamb that was slain. Jesus,
the sacrificial Lamb of God, was slain so that He might receive power, riches,
wisdom, strength, honor, glory and blessing. Simply stated, as the One who
conquered death and redeemed us to God, Christ is also the rightful heir over
all creation. This marvelous symphony of praise is directed toward the One
who is worthy of every form of praise for He is the One “by whom all things
were created”(Revelation 4:11).

13 And every creature which is in heaven , and on the earth, and under the earth,
and such as are in the sea, and all that are in them, heard I saying, Blessing, and
honour, and glory, and power, be unto him that sitteth upon the throne, and unto
the Lamb for ever and ever.

To this mighty chorus of praise in heaven, John hears the added praise of
every creation on, in, and under the earth, as well as in the sea–that pretty
much includes all of God ’s creation! Now look at what they’re singing–
Blessing…to praise or celebrate; honour…to value or reverence; glory…
which is the highest opinion or estimate that is possible; and power…which
recognizes His dominion over all creation. These magnificent praises are
given to the One who was sitting upon the throne, and to Jesus, the Lamb
forevermore!

14 And the four beasts said, Amen. And the four and twenty elders fell down and
worshipped him that liveth for ever and ever.

As a fitting climax to this worshipful scene, the four creatures say Amen which
means so it will be. They, and the twenty-four priestly elders, fall down to
worship the One who lives forever. Can you not sense the magnitude of what
John has just witnessed?! Does it not leave you breathless to have encountered
the majesty of the eternal God in heaven ?! Does it not leave you in awe to have
just witnessed the essence of true worship directed toward the Father and Son
by every created being?!

All too often our worship becomes something most of us do mechanically
on Sundays. We go to church, offer our pious platitudes, sit with humble
expressions of gratitude, sing the great hymns of the faith, and listen to some
of the most dynamic preaching and teaching of our times–but do we really
worship? Do we sit in awe before an awesome God who controls the destiny
of all creation and has provided a means whereby sinful man can come to the
refreshing waters of the well of life? Do we really love the One who purchased
our salvation with His precious blood, or do we simply give intellectual assent
to the fact of His existence in our world?

My prayer, before we begin the awesome judgments of the next chapter, is that
each one of us will begin or renew a love affair with the Saviour–that we begin
to offer up fresh and anew a genuine and sincere sacrifice of praise to the One
who is worthy! To such an enormous authority and power is granted, by virtue
of who He is (the Creator ), and who we are (His creations), the right to bring to a
close the redemptive drama of the ages and usher in a brave new world rightfully
ruled by the King of Kings and Lord of Lords!