LIFE IN JESUS-MINISTRIES: WORSHIPING AT THE THRONE

WORSHIPING AT THE THRONE
Derek Prince

HIS GLORY REIGNS
B. Childress
Oct 23 2009 08:00 AM

Some time ago, I said to Ruth "We do not read Revelation often enough. It is a hard book to understand, but that does
not mean that we should not read it." So we read it through once, but we did not get anything out of it. We read it
through a second time - but again, nothing. I said, "Never mind; it is the Word of God; we will read it." The third time,
something clicked. After that, whenever Ruth would ask what we should read, she knew what I would say - Revelation 4
and 5.

Revelation 4 is about the throne room of heaven; this is the place from which the universe is run. The one key word in
this chapter is the word throne. In eleven verses the word occurs fourteen times. Within this throne room there is one
supremely characteristic activity: worship.

And the four beasts had each of them six wings about him; and they were full of eyes within: and they rest not

day and

night, saying, Holy, holy, holy, Lord God Almighty, which was, and is, and is to come. And when those

beasts give glory

and honour and thanks to him that sat on the throne, who liveth for ever and ever, The four and

twenty elders fall down

before him that sat on the throne, and worship him that liveth for ever and ever, and cast

their crowns before the

throne, saying Thou art worthy, O Lord, to receive glory and honour and power: for thou

hast created all things, and for

thy pleasure they are and were created.

" (Revelation 4:8-11)

That is the pattern of worship in heaven; they fall down before the One who sits on the throne. I remember singing an
old hymn in church: "All hail the power of Jesus' name! Let angels prostrate fall; bring forth the royal diadem, and
crown Him...Lord of all." I remember looking at churchgoers standing stiffly in their pews and singing, "Let angels
prostrate fall." Most would say, "Well, that may be fine for angels, but do not ask me to do anything so undignified!" But
that is how it is done in heaven. I know I am perfectly content to worship the way they worship there.

In Revelation, we have a scene of the One who sits on the throne with a scroll, which is the unfolding disclosure of the
book of Revelation. A strong angel says with a loud voice, "...Who is worthy to open the book, and loose the seals
thereof?" (Revelation 5:2). No one is strong enough; no one can do it in all of heaven. John, the writer of Revelation,
begins to weep because he wants to know what is in the scroll. Then, one of the elders says to him, "...Weep not:
behold the Lion of the tribe of Juda, the Root of David, hath prevailed to open the book, and to loose the seven seals
thereof." (Revelation 5:5)

John turns around, expecting to see this Lion, but only sees a Lamb, who looks as if it has been slain. John says,

And I beheld, and, lo, in the midst of the throne and of the four beasts, and in the midst of the elders, stood a

Lamb as

it had been slain, having seven horns and seven eyes, which are the seven Spirits of God sent forth into

all the earth.

And he came and took the book out of the right hand of him that sat upon the throne.

" (Revelation

5:6-7)

What follows is an inspiring description of the entire heavenly realm engaging in worship:

And when he had taken the book, the four beasts and four and twenty elders fell down before the Lamb, having

every

one of them harps, and golden vials full of odours, which are the prayers of saints. 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: And hast made us

unto our God kings and priests:

and we shall reign on the earth.

" (Revelation 5:8-10)

Notice what the elders do. They fall down. And notice how our prayers come before the presence of the Lord - in
golden bowls full of incense. What does incense represent? Worship! This is the first circle of worship, the four living
creatures and the twenty-four elders who fall down and praise God for His mighty act of redemption through Jesus.
Then, John continues:

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 thousand of thousands;

" (Revelation 5:11)

Incidentally, this is the way the Chinese language still indicates millions - ten thousand times ten thousand is a hundred
million. And then there are millions more. When you consider that one angel, in one night, could destroy 185,000
Assyrian soldiers (see II Kings 19:35), you wonder what we should ever have to worry about.

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. And every creature which is in heaven, and on 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.

" (Revelation 5:12-13)

Every creature to the farthest bounds of the universe involved in one thing: worshiping Him. And then:

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

and

ever.

" (Revelation 5:14)

They fall down and worship Him who lives forever and ever. What an inspiring picture. The center of the universe is the
throne, and it extends in ever widening circles to the utmost bounds of the universe. Everyone and everything, doing
only one thing: worshiping. And who is at the center? The Lamb. What a glorious day that will be. Amen.

Source:

ENTERING THE PRESENCE OF GOD, by Derek Prince, Copyright 2007, Whitaker House.

2010 - HIS GLORY REIGNS

LIFE IN JESUS-MINISTRIES