January 24 - Who is Worthy? (pt. 3)

January 24 - Who is Worthy? (pt. 3)
Revelation 5:1-14

In Rev. 4:9, we see that whenever the living creatures give glory to him who sits on the throne, the twenty-four elders fall down and worship him, laying their crowns before him.

Now, in Rev. 5:8, we find that the moment the Lamb takes the scroll into His hand, the four living creatures and the twenty-four elders fall down before Him. There is a little more description at this point. Each had a harp and each held a golden bowl filled with incense, the prayers of the saints.

If you've ever wondered what happens to your prayers when you pray, imagine that as God deals with them, they are collected and become the fragrant incense of offering to God. In the Tabernacle, there was an altar set just before the Holy of Holies. It was there for the burning of incnese. Only the high priest could tend to this altar.

"May my prayer be set before you like incense; may the lifting up of my hands be like the evening sacrifice." (Psalm 141:2)

Even though it is sometimes tough to pray, our prayers fill these bowls and are brought forth in worship. This image changes my attitude regarding prayer and the things about which I pray. Sometimes I get caught up in pleas and the brokenness of my life. But, my prayers are gathered as worship to God. This makes me want to lift up prayers that adore and glorify His name!

The words of Revelation 4 and 5 build a glorious picture for you to imagine of the throne room of God. We begin with the surroundings: a being (God) with the appearance of flames (jasper and carnelian), an emerald rainbow encircles the throne, twenty-four thrones surround this throne on which sit twenty-four elders. Flashes of lightning, rumblings and peals of thunder come from the throne while seven lamps blaze around it and a sea of glass spans the foreground of the picture.

Then we see the beings more clearly: four creatures, twenty-four elders with crowns, harps and bowls filled with incense.

Finally, the Lamb comes forth to take the scroll. First the creatures and elders fall before it singing a new song of worship. Then, thousands of angels take up the song, encircling the throne, the creatures and the elders.

At this point, every creature on heaven and on earth, under the earth and on the sea begin singing. This is you, me, the birds of the sky, our pets, the dolphins in the sea, every living creature joining together in a song that resounds throughout creation.

The creatures said "Amen" and the elders fell down and worshiped.

Before anything else occurs, there is worship. We worship Him who sits on the throne and the Lamb who was slain.