Then I saw another angel flying in midair, and he had the eternal gospel to proclaim to those who live on the earth – to every nation, tribe, language and people. He said in a loud voice, “Fear God, and give him glory, because the hour of his judgement has come. Worship him who made the heavens, the earth, the sea and the springs of water.”
(verses 6-7)
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The call to salvation is a call to worship. It’s that simple. This angel with the eternal gospel, cries it out, proclaiming, “Worship him.”
This is, of course, what we were created for. “The chief end of man,” as the Westminster catechism so concisely puts it, “is to glorify God and enjoy him forever.” Worship.
The problem is that we can’t. Not in our own right. As sinful humans we are estranged from God. We are soiled and impure. We are under the curse of sin. The hour of judgement would be our undoing – it would spell the end.
Yet, the invitation is given. Worship. And the example has been played out throughout this vision. All of heaven worships. The four living creatures, awesome in their own right, worship him who sits on the throne. The twenty-four elders, given the right to reside in heaven’s throne room, humble themselves, falling down in worship.
We are invited to do the same. The invitation is extended to all – to those from every nation, tribe, language and people. The proclamation is made to everyone who lives upon the earth, to all without exception.
So, how? How can we enter in? How can we heed the angel’s call?How, in the hour of judgement, can we embrace the eternal gospel, avoiding wrath and extending adoration and honour and praise and glory to the Sovereign Lord, who was and is and is to come?
Only through the Lamb. Of course. The One who was slain from the foundation of the world, who by his blood has redeemed those from every language and people and nation, the One who has triumphed – of course, he alone is the door through which we enter, the way upon which we walk. The “eternal gospel” is his story, applied to our very lives, allowing us to enter in and draw near and approach the throne and worship the King.
So, let the proclamation ring out! “Worship.” Yes, we say, with grateful hearts. We will worship, for the Lamb has made it possible.
Praise his name.
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Sovereign Lord – Father, Son and Holy Spirit – I worship you with the whole of my being, all my heart, soul, mind, and strength. I humble myself before you. I present myself to you. Jesus, you have made all of this possible – I praise you and thank you. Amen and amen.
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Worship:
Take time right now to worship your Lord. There are songs of worship from heaven itself recorded in Revelation 4, 5, 7, 11, and 12. Take one and use it to frame your worship.
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Photo by Zac Durant on Unsplash
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