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Growing as a Corporate Worshiper- Worship in Revelation

What do you think the number one activity is in heaven? You guess it, worship! I hope you like worship, because that is what we are going to be doing for eternity! A.W. Tozer says, "I can safely say, on the authority of all that is revealed in the Word of God, that any man or woman on this earth who is bored and turned off by worship is not ready for heaven." So what is worship in heaven going to be like? Let's take a look at the scripture and see what it has to say.

It's going to be loud...I mean really loud!

Revelation 5:11-12 says, "Then I looked, and I heard around the throne and the living creatures and the elders the voice of many angels, numbering myriads of myriads and thousands of thousands saying with a loud voice..."

Revelation 11:15, "Then the seventh angel blew his trumpet, and there were loud voices in heaven saying..."

Revelation 19:1, "After this I heard what seemed to be the loud voice of a great multitude in heaven, crying out..."

Does this mean that there won't be quiet, contemplative worship in heaven? Absolutely not. I believe that heaven will include plenty of opportunities for quiet reflection. "After all Revelation 8 opens with silence and prayer. However, when heaven worships, the volume generally goes way up. For some of us, that may take some getting used to."

"Every church that features contemporary music faces controversy over volume levels. Such churches field complaints that the music is too loud. I encourage compassion toward anyone who may be sensitive to loud sounds, but some people take their complaining way too far. They're rude to the ushers and the sound team. The stomp out of church angry and write nasty letters. Recently I saw a disgruntled man and his wife create an ugly scene at church by standing with their fingers planted firmly in their ears, scowls on their faces, during the entire worship set. I can't help but wonder how those folks will fare amidst the deafeningly loud sounds of thunder, earthquakes, and trumpets that await them in heaven's worship."

The Bible also has many references to loud worship on earth as well. "During Jesus triumphal entry into Jerusalem, 'the whole multitude of His disciples began to rejoice and praise God with a loud voice for all the mighty works they had seen' (Luke 19:37). Therefore, loud celebratory praise has a rightful place in worship."

Worship in heaven is also repetitive. That may be a surprise to some people. Revelation 4:8 says that the four creatures around God's throne "Day and night never cease to say, 'Holy, holy, holy, is the Lord God Almighty, who was and is and is to come!'" Words that extol God are worth repeating.

So what do we take away from this? We have to be teachable. Some of the things we've always thought about worship might need to be reconsidered. Maybe loud sounds or repetitive lyrics are not a problem for you. Maybe it is just a particular kind of music. This could apply to both people who only like contemporary music, or to people who only like traditional music. If you are in either of those places, let me say this to you. "God intended corporate worship to be a beautiful expression of Christian unity. It must break God's heart when we allow worship to become a source of strife and division." Let us not be caught up in a style, but let us worship God, because after all, He is worthy of our worship.

There may be instruments in heaven that we've never seen. "When King David introduced new instruments into corporate worship (1 Chronicles 23:5), the Bible makes no mention of anyone complaining about these newfangled innovations. Or if anyone did object, the writers of Scripture didn't think it was worth mentioning. In the same way, let's not be too quick to dismiss worship styles, old or new, that are different from what we're used to. Instead of judging a different approach by whether you like it or not, evaluate it on the basis of whether or not it contradicts Scripture. If a certain practice does nothing for you, respect and appreciate the possibility that it may enhance worship for others."

Jesus is going to prepare a place for us in heaven. We learn that in the gospel of John. But "Christ is not simply preparing a place for us; He is preparing us for that place. Part of our preparation for heaven involves us growing as worshipers. Therefore, every church service here on earth is preparation for the real thing - a rehearsal for the glorious praise gatherings we'll experience in paradise. So next Sunday morning as you head out the door, remember that you're not just going to church, you're going to worship practice."

Enjoy the Journey