Biblical Modes of Worship (Part 5)

Heavenly Worship in Revelation

In its own complex way, the Bible presents several facets of worship. As we behold the breadth of Scripture and the story of God and his people, we can witness five modes of worship that facilitate the meeting of God and his people. Join us for the next few posts to unpack these following five modes of biblical worship.*

• Tabernacle / Temple Worship

• Davidic Worship

• Synagogue Worship

• New Testament Hymns

• Heavenly Worship in the book of Revelation

Worship leaders today can embrace characteristics of worship from these biblical modes and prayerfully implement them with their leadership teams and know they're not just relying on what seems current.

Bringing it All Together

There is something satisfying about a story that brings all the loose ends together, that integrates the disparate parts into a cohesive whole, a summation that when held up to the light we see it just a little differently. When we think about the biblical modes of worship, the heavenly worship found in the book of Revelation is a little bit like that. Throughout John's Apocalypse, we see glimpses of each of the above four biblical modes. And yet they're not simply reprised like the final number in a broadway musical, but they're presented in a way that we see their true intended purpose the whole time. "Oh, I see. The Temple was a meeting place of God and his people, but now we don't need one because heaven is the place where God dwells with his people and God is the Temple" (Rev 21:22). Heaven is the temple and the temple is heaven.

What Time is It? Present Future

Revelation contains scenes of heavenly worship happening in the future but also right now. And the heavenly worship that is happening right now, we join in with our own worship. Wait, what? Yes, that's right, the worship of the angels around God's throne, for example, is something that is happening right now. We know Isaiah and Ezekiel both had visions of this heavenly worship, hearing the song of the Angels and seeing the vast and glorious presence of God surrounded by the living creatures and six-winged cherubim and seraphim. So, we know when we sing the song of the Angels Isaiah heard, "Holy, holy, holy, Lord God almighty, the earth is full of your glory," we're singing a song that is sung around God's throne day and night, non-stop.

What Do We See and Hear?

In the heavenly worship of Revelation, Tabernacle / Temple images abound even though there is no Temple in the New Jerusalem (Rev 21:22). Elements such as golden lampstands, golden bowls of incense, a slain Lamb, robed elders, the same living creatures that Ezekiel sees, and the cherubim and seraphim who constantly sing God's praise in that heavenly song, "Holy, Holy, Holy, Lord God almighty...." Each of these poignant pictures is recapitulated from the Old Testament era and presented to us in heavenly worship. And they each work to facilitate the meeting of God and his people. They provide the setting, the players, and the choreography of liturgy and worship.

Davidic worship also abounds in Revelation. We also see countless angels and archangels and martyrs and saints all praising God. In one instance John sees "a great multitude that no one could number, from every nation, from all tribes and peoples and languages, standing before the throne and before the Lamb, clothed in white robes, with palm branches in their hands, and crying out with a loud voice, 'Salvation belongs to our God who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb!'” (Rev 7:9-10). This intense focus reminds us of the Davidic worhsip set up before the ark of God at the tent of Gibeon. Day and night, non-stop God is worshiped by all created things, and especially and most beautifully, those he has redeemed by the blood of his Son, the Lamb of God who takes away the sins of the world (John 1:29).

And what about that song that the multitude from every tribe and nation sings? It's a New Testament hymn! Revelation is full of them.

“Worthy are you, our Lord and God,

to receive glory and honor and power,

for you created all things,

and by your will they existed and were created" (Rev. 4:11).

And,

Worthy are you to take the scroll

and to open its seals,

for you were slain, and by your blood you ransomed people for God

from every tribe and language and people and nation,

and you have made them a kingdom and priests to our God,

and they shall reign on the earth” (Rev 5:9–10).

And,

"Worthy is the Lamb who was slain,

to receive power and wealth and wisdom and might

and honor and glory and blessing" (Rev. 5:12).

So, God is surrounded by worship that bears the content and continuity of God's people and salvation throughout history. And it shows forth something old yet new. Each of these hymns gives us an example in content, situated in a posture, and place that can inform deeply our worship leadership and the sung prayer of God's people whom we serve.

Conclusion

My prayer for you is that these biblical modes of worship can serve as catalysts, examples, and inspirations to help you keep the Church's attention and affection focused on Christ. I hope it also gives you encouragement that worship is something we will be doing a long time, for all eternity. And we have the privilege in the office of worship leader to prepare our people for what lies ahead. Much like Jesus said in the Sermon on the Mount, "where your treasure is, there your heart will be also" (Matt 6:XX).

In our worship leading, let us continually offer this invitation heard at the conclusion of John's Revelation:

The Spirit and the Bride say, “Come.” And let the one who hears say, “Come.” And let the one who is thirsty come; let the one who desires take the water of life without price" (Rev 22:17).