January 27 - Doxology (pt. 3)

January 27 - Doxology (pt. 3)

We're going to continue to look at the seven doxologies before tearing through the rest of the Revelation.

Revelation 7:9-12 - The Third Doxology

A heavenly victory cry which echoes Christ's triumphal entry into Jerusalem. There are palm branches amid a great multitude of people. It continually amazes me to see how God wants the readers of His scriptures to see the incredible interconnectedness of His Word.

The great multitude cries out: "Salvation belongs to our God, who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb."

Then, the angel join the chorus with great excitement. But, look at what Jesus says about them in Luke 15:10: "In the same way, I tell you, there is rejoicing in the presence of the angels of God over one who repents."

They have reason to be excited. All that they have waited for throughout the ages has come to pass. The redeemed are standing before the throne of God. The sing forth using the same words from the doxology sung to the Lamb in Revelation 5, but this time they are before the throne of God.

Revelation 11:16-18 - The Fourth Doxology

The elders are seated through all the activity of the Revelation, until they worship God, falling on their faces before the one who is worthy.

"We give thanks to you Lord God Almighty, who is and who was because you have taken your great power and have begun to reign."

There is no "who is to come" in this song. Why? Because the future is now. His kingdom is established. Rev. 11:15 says, "The kingdom of the world has become the kingdom of our Lord and olf his Christ, and he will reign forever and ever."

The next verses describe God's wrath. This familiar text is taken from the OT. Psalm 2:1-6 says

"Why do the nations rage and the people plot in vain? The kings of the earth take their stand the rulers gather together against the Lord and against his Anointed One. 'Let us break their chains,' they say 'and throw off their fetters.' The One enthroned in heaven laughs; the Lord scoffs at them. Then he rebukes them in his anger and terrifies them in his wrath saying, 'I have installed my King on Zion, my holy hill.'"

Revelation 11:18: "The nations were angry and your wrath has come. The time has come for judging the dead, and for rewarding your servants the prophets and your saints and those who reverence your name, both small and great - and for destroying those who destroy the earth."

God installed Jesus as King on Zion. His Messianic Kingdom was initiated at the beginning of creation and that rule has now begun.

Revelation 14:2-3 - The Fifth Doxology

"And I heard a sound from heaven like the roar of rushing waters and like a loud peal of thunder. The sound I heard was like that of harpists playing their harps. And the sang a new song before the throne and before the four living creatures and the elders. No one could learn the song except the 144,000 who had been redeemed from the earth."

This doxology is quite different. The song is being sung, John hears it. However, since he can't learn it, there is no way for him to retain the words to relay to his readers. A terrible massacre had just occurred in Revelation 13 and it was an appropriate time to offer some relief to John as he watched the spectacle in heaven.

"I waited patiently for the Lord; he turned to me and heard my cry. He lifted me out of the slimy pit, out of the mud and mire; he set my feet on a rock and gave me a firm place to stand. He put a new song in my mouth, a hymn of praise to our God." (Psalm 40:1-3)

Being delivered from the horrors of sin will always bring a new song to our hearts. Every time we see this phrase used in the Psalms and the Revelation, it is because of redemption. Note that the living creatures and the elders do not sing this song with the 144,000. These angelic beings can only stand and watch as we experience the joy of redemption.