“You are worthy to take the scroll, and to open its seals; for You were slain, and have redeemed us to God by Your blood out of every tribe, and tongue, and people and nation…” Revelation 5:9
In the visions of heaven that the Scriptures give us, both in the Old Testament, and the New, during the blessed, and constant movement of those of the creation who are worshipping the Creator, there are certain things which are forever occurring, and revealed to us. In Isaiah’s vision of heaven, that which was foremost put before him, and revealed in such a manner that, not only were the “posts of the door shaken by the voice of him who cried out, and the house was filled with smoke,” but Isaiah’s convictions and conscience, his heart and soul, were shaken, and moved, to the point that he could do no other than to declare: “Woe is me, for I am undone. Because I am a man of unclean lips; and I dwell in the midst of a people of unclean lips; for my eyes have seen the King, the Lord of hosts.” (6:5,6) The vision of God the Father upon His throne, high and lifted up, and His manifest glory filling the temple, overwhelmed Isaiah. But this was not all, for beyond the magnitude of the sight, came with it the central declared message of heaven concerning the Lord upon His throne. It was that which the seraphim cried out one to another while flying: “Holy, holy, holy is the Lord of hosts; the whole earth is full of His glory.” There comes with the revelation of the sovereignty and almighty power and authority of God, the essential, and powerful truth of His uniqueness as Creator and Sustainer of all creation, His holiness. Separate from the entirety of His creation, yet wholly involved in its existence, wherein is revealed His glory, is the unveiling of the fact that He IS the Savior of the world. How do we know this? We see it when a seraphim flies to Isaiah with a live coal in his hand, and then touched the lips of Isaiah’s soiled, or unclean lips. The purpose of this vision is to reveal to Isaiah that only by being holy in his perspective and living can he hope to enter fully into all that God had created and called him to be and do. Once cleansed, Isaiah heard the voice of God specifically addressed to him. It was concerning his mission, a mission to reveal “hope” to a lost world where judgement reigned because of the rejection of the word of God by the people. It was a mission of hope to the individual who would hear the gospel and be saved, even though the majority would refuse to hear and believe. God would preserve a remnant which would not bow to the false deities of that day. The great message, constantly proclaimed in heaven, of God’s holiness would continue. Also, God had found His man in Isaiah who was willing to be sent, and proclaim the message of God, and the hope to all who would truly repent and believe.
In the book of Revelation, we see also the great centerpiece of worship, the holiness of God being proclaimed day and night: “Holy, holy, holy, Lord God Almighty, Who was and is and is to come.” (4:8) The God of Isaiah and the God of John are the same, there having been no change throughout the centuries. The revelation of true worship has remained the same also, for the holiness of God is eternal, central and all pervading, His glory filling all of creation. We see God seated upon His throne in heaven, but then, we see something, or Someone else, no less God, but the perfect Man, the One who is called the “Slain Lamb Of God,” which John would declare to be, the One “…who takes away the sin of the world.” A new song accompanies the appearance of this Lamb. Like that of the Father, it speaks of God’s worthiness.
Dear Father, Teach us to worship. In Jesus’ name, Amen.