In Revelation 5 it is all about Christ. “And I beheld, and, lo, in the midst of
the throne and of the four beasts, and in the midst of the elders, stood a
Lamb as it had been slain.” The center of heaven is the heavenly throne
room. The center of the heavenly throne room is the throne on which God
sits. But in the midst of that throne is God’s Son, the Lamb! So, the Lamb
of God rules heaven and earth. We heard the song from the mouth of the
four beasts and the twenty-four elders. But they are not the only ones in the
heavenly throne room. We read in verse 11, “And I beheld, and I heard the
voice of many angels round about the throne and the beasts and the elders:
and the number of them was ten thousand times ten thousand, and
thousands of thousands.” It is impossible to count the number of angels,
like sand of the sea they fill the heavenly throne room. Then we read that
the singing and worship takes on greater forms as the angels join in. They
too worship the Lamb who has been slain. They do so with seven words
indicating the fullness of His Glory: “Worthy is the Lamb that was slain to
receive power, and riches, and wisdom, and strength, and honour, and
glory, and blessing.” Words fail to describe the glory that the Lamb
receives. What a path of suffering, even into death. But that way of bearing
the cross led to this glory. He who gave His life for love, reigns over
heaven and earth. But then the singing takes on even greater proportions.
Creation joins in this song worshipping the Lamb standing as slaughtered.
“Blessing, and honour, and glory, and power, be unto him that sitteth upon
the throne, and unto the Lamb for ever and ever.” To Christ all honor and
glory! This hymn ends with the amen of the four beasts representing all
creation. The twenty-four elders fall down anew, as in verse 8, and worship
Him who lives forever. That is heaven, eternal worship of the Savior, the
Mediator, the Lamb of God. But we, whose eyes have been opened by the
work of the Spirit, begin that worship already here. Very particularly at and
around the Lord's Supper.