stthomaschurch
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“Faith is not a once-done act, but a continuous gaze of the heart at the Triune God. It is lifting the mind to ‘behold the Lamb of God,’ and never ceasing that beholding for the rest of our lives.” - A.W. Tozer
“And between the throne and the four living creatures and among the elders I saw a Lamb standing, as though it had been slain.”
As believers on earth we will soon experience heaven. Our days are numbered and short. If one lives to 70 years old we would have only 3652 Sunday’s to worship, a mere 25,567 days in our total lifetime. Heaven is surely close to all of us. Many people have strange ideas of what to expect in heaven or see once they arrive there, yet the Holy Scriptures are very clear, showing us that there is ongoing worship in heaven even as you read this book now.
In, Revelation 5, we have one of the best views into the heavenly scene where all focus is solely on a Lamb. This Lamb is the very Son of God who was incarnated for mankind, and His wounds are still visible. Historically, in Church stained glass windows, there is a picture of an Agnus Dei Lamb holding a banner (symbolizing victory), and there is a wound with blood pouring out into a chalice.
This beautiful image of a Lamb slain symbolizes God’s victory and triumph over sin and death. It was through weakness and what appeared to be a defeat that God conquered. A wounded Lamb is a Victor! When we are weak, we are strong. The weakness of God is greater than man’s strength. By His wounds, we are healed.
Heaven’s focal point, therefore, is God displaying the wonder of the Gospel afresh and vividly through his atonement and sacrifice on the Cross. We will marvel and worship from generation to generation in endless eternity, lauding the Holy Trinity for His endless love and lowly condensation for men.
In early liturgies, this phrase is repeated three times during the Eucharist service: “O Lamb of God, that takes away the sin of the world, have mercy upon us.”
Jesus is the Focus of Heaven
God the Father has purposed that Jesus should be glorified in all things. All focus and attention are on the Son of God. The Scripture says, “Every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord.” Jesus created the earth and all the things we see. He will come and judge the earth also, at the very end.
As we state in the historic Nicene Creed, “We look for the resurrection of the dead, and the life of the world to come.” All matter is held together by the power of Jesus Christ, the Son of God. Without Him, literally, everything falls apart. Jesus’ name is above every other name. He is the King above all other kings. Jesus is the Supreme Teacher. He is the very Wisdom of God. He is the uncreated Word of God (the Logos).
Jesus of Nazareth is God in the Flesh. He was incarnated by the Holy Spirit in the womb of the Virgin Mary. By His life, we have life. He is the Eternal, unending Life. As an early creed of the Church proclaimed:
“He was manifested in the flesh,
vindicated by the Spirit,
seen by angels,
proclaimed among the nations,
believed on in the world,
taken up in glory."
The heavenly scene depicts Jesus in the center, on God’s right hand, with all attention focused on Him. Myriads of angels are worshipping. Seraphim and Cheribum are angels created by God who dwell near His presence more than others. Because of this, they have six wings; with two wings, they cover their eyes from God’s glory; with two other wings, they cover their feet; and with the last two, they fly.
It says in the Revelation account that they never cease to say: “Holy, holy, holy, is the Lord God Almighty, who was and is and is to come!” We also see the holy twelve Apostles, Patriarchs, and godly Saints all bowing down before the Lord.”
We read in Revelation 5:
“Then I saw a Lamb who appeared to have been slain, standing in the center of the throne, encircled by the four living creatures and the
elders. The Lamb had seven horns and seven eyes, which represent the seven Spirits of God sent out into all the earth. And He came and took the scroll from the right hand of the One seated on the throne.
When He had taken the scroll, the four living creatures and the twenty-four elders fell down before the Lamb. Each one had a harp, and they were holding golden bowls full of incense, which are the prayers of the saints. And they sang a new song:
‘Worthy are You to take the scroll and open its seals, because You were slain, and by Your blood You purchased for God those from every tribe and tongue and people and nation.
You have made them to be a kingdom and priests to serve our God, and they will reign upon the earth.’”
This standing Lamb is the center of heaven but also should be the center and focus of our worship gatherings and lives on earth.
Excerpt From
An Ancient Worship Movement by St. Thomas Church
“And between the throne and the four living creatures and among the elders I saw a Lamb standing, as though it had been slain.”
As believers on earth we will soon experience heaven. Our days are numbered and short. If one lives to 70 years old we would have only 3652 Sunday’s to worship, a mere 25,567 days in our total lifetime. Heaven is surely close to all of us. Many people have strange ideas of what to expect in heaven or see once they arrive there, yet the Holy Scriptures are very clear, showing us that there is ongoing worship in heaven even as you read this book now.
In, Revelation 5, we have one of the best views into the heavenly scene where all focus is solely on a Lamb. This Lamb is the very Son of God who was incarnated for mankind, and His wounds are still visible. Historically, in Church stained glass windows, there is a picture of an Agnus Dei Lamb holding a banner (symbolizing victory), and there is a wound with blood pouring out into a chalice.
This beautiful image of a Lamb slain symbolizes God’s victory and triumph over sin and death. It was through weakness and what appeared to be a defeat that God conquered. A wounded Lamb is a Victor! When we are weak, we are strong. The weakness of God is greater than man’s strength. By His wounds, we are healed.
Heaven’s focal point, therefore, is God displaying the wonder of the Gospel afresh and vividly through his atonement and sacrifice on the Cross. We will marvel and worship from generation to generation in endless eternity, lauding the Holy Trinity for His endless love and lowly condensation for men.
In early liturgies, this phrase is repeated three times during the Eucharist service: “O Lamb of God, that takes away the sin of the world, have mercy upon us.”
Jesus is the Focus of Heaven
God the Father has purposed that Jesus should be glorified in all things. All focus and attention are on the Son of God. The Scripture says, “Every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord.” Jesus created the earth and all the things we see. He will come and judge the earth also, at the very end.
As we state in the historic Nicene Creed, “We look for the resurrection of the dead, and the life of the world to come.” All matter is held together by the power of Jesus Christ, the Son of God. Without Him, literally, everything falls apart. Jesus’ name is above every other name. He is the King above all other kings. Jesus is the Supreme Teacher. He is the very Wisdom of God. He is the uncreated Word of God (the Logos).
Jesus of Nazareth is God in the Flesh. He was incarnated by the Holy Spirit in the womb of the Virgin Mary. By His life, we have life. He is the Eternal, unending Life. As an early creed of the Church proclaimed:
“He was manifested in the flesh,
vindicated by the Spirit,
seen by angels,
proclaimed among the nations,
believed on in the world,
taken up in glory."
The heavenly scene depicts Jesus in the center, on God’s right hand, with all attention focused on Him. Myriads of angels are worshipping. Seraphim and Cheribum are angels created by God who dwell near His presence more than others. Because of this, they have six wings; with two wings, they cover their eyes from God’s glory; with two other wings, they cover their feet; and with the last two, they fly.
It says in the Revelation account that they never cease to say: “Holy, holy, holy, is the Lord God Almighty, who was and is and is to come!” We also see the holy twelve Apostles, Patriarchs, and godly Saints all bowing down before the Lord.”
We read in Revelation 5:
“Then I saw a Lamb who appeared to have been slain, standing in the center of the throne, encircled by the four living creatures and the
elders. The Lamb had seven horns and seven eyes, which represent the seven Spirits of God sent out into all the earth. And He came and took the scroll from the right hand of the One seated on the throne.
When He had taken the scroll, the four living creatures and the twenty-four elders fell down before the Lamb. Each one had a harp, and they were holding golden bowls full of incense, which are the prayers of the saints. And they sang a new song:
‘Worthy are You to take the scroll and open its seals, because You were slain, and by Your blood You purchased for God those from every tribe and tongue and people and nation.
You have made them to be a kingdom and priests to serve our God, and they will reign upon the earth.’”
This standing Lamb is the center of heaven but also should be the center and focus of our worship gatherings and lives on earth.
Excerpt From
An Ancient Worship Movement by St. Thomas Church
