The four beasts, representing creation, and the twenty-four elders,
representing the church of the Old and New Testament, fall down before the
Lamb. No wonder, would we too not worship and honor Him! Serve and
fear Him! In Him all things are found! What folly to go before Him and not
worship Him.
A new hymn is being sung. What reason is there not to sing a new song in
heaven at this very moment? At the sight of the great deeds of God, for us,
too, there is a reason to sing. Psalm 33:3 says: “Sing unto him a new song;
play skilfully with a loud noise.” Psalm 40:3 says, “And he hath put a new
song in my mouth, even praise unto our God: many shall see it, and fear,
and shall trust in the LORD.” Psalm 96:1 says, “O sing unto the LORD a
new song: sing unto the LORD, all the earth.”
We hear glorious praise in heaven. What glorious tones resound therein,
“Thou art worthy to take the book, and to open the seals thereof: for thou
wast slain.” Christ’s way of suffering and dying, His way of self-denial and
cross-bearing makes Him worthy to unfold God's plan. Would we not then
take up our cross and follow Him in that way of self-denial? “Thou hast
redeemed us to God by thy blood.” Our salvation has a high price, the
highest there is, that of Christ's suffering and death. “Out of every kindred,
and tongue, and people, and nation.” The redeemed come from all over the
world! What a miracle, no one, in all the world was worthy to see into and
unfold God's plan, but now a church that comes from all the world joins in
praise to Christ. “And hast made us unto our God kings and priests: and we
shall reign on the earth.” The triumphant church is the glorified church, but
is looking forward to an even greater moment of glorification. That will be
restored in full, what was lost in paradise. That will be established what
could not yet be established under Israel. After all, Old Testament Israel
never achieved what we read in Exodus 19:6: “And ye shall be unto me a
kingdom of priests, and an holy nation.” But through and in Christ, the
Lamb standing as slain, this is achieved. What a call to follow Him and
abide in Him. What a glorious prospect!