Tuesday 31 July 2012

Background

Much of the book of Revelation is setin heaven but it is a book which is nonetheless very much engagedwith what is happening on earth. Its intended readership, afterall, is not citizens of heaven but of earth.

Today's passage portrays all of heavenand earth in exuberant worship of the Lamb who was slain. The sceneis superlative: it includes myriads of myriads and thousands ofthousands. The technical term for such a number which defiesdescription is, according to my children, a 'gazillion'. So agazillion angels sing in worship to the Lamb that was slain.

However, those on earth are not to beoutdone. Every creature in heaven is joined by every creature onearth, under the earth and in the sea. In addition, is thatenigmatic little phrase, "and all that is in them" (v. 13).

I can't quite work out whether that isa reference to all that is in the creatures (ie  with alltheir being they praise the Lamb). Alternatively, it might be areference to all that is in the heavens, the earth, and the sea.The latter suggests that it is not just creatures who are in praiseof the Lamb but also the very creation itself. Jesus himselfsuggested that rocks would cry out (Luke19:40).

Methodist Holy Communion liturgyutilises the refrain, blessing and honour and glory and power(verse 13), in the great Prayer of Thanksgiving. This is not byaccident for as we come to share in bread and wine we both rememberand worship the Lamb who was slain.

I love the recurring exclamation marksat the end of verses 12-14. I also love the idea presented here ofheaven and earth joined together in worship. This is worship whichis so emphatic and full throated that the four creatures next tothe very throne of God - who cry without ceasing, holy, holy, holy- are reduced in verse 14 simply to an emphatic "Amen!" Surely I amnot alone in longing for worship that I lead or am part of to havesome elements of John's vision of heaven and earth combined?

To Ponder

• Can you recall a moment in which you were part of or led an actof worship which captured something of John's vision of heaven andearth in exuberant praise? What was it like?

• If we believe in a God who is self sufficient and thus has noinherent need of creation, then what do you think is the purpose ofworship in the context of heaven?

• In verses 12-13 what might it mean for creatures 'to bless'their creator?

• John's vision in chapter 5 is a largely utopian one. Sufferingand injustice, war and disease are not so much airbrushed out ofthe picture as completely ignored. What does it mean for you tooffer praise when you live in the world as it is now and not as itis envisioned by John?