Worship in Eternity

THEOLOGY > Future > The Believer in Eternity > Worship in Eternity

WORSHIP IN ETERNITY

No longer will there be anything accursed,
but the throne of God and of the Lamb will be in it,
and
His servants will worship Him.
Rev. 22:3

Often the question is asked: What will the believer do in eternity? In the above verse is a definitive answer: “His servants will worship Him” (Rev. 22:3). Simply and succinctly the answer is given with two words—“worship Him”—and yet the answer is profound and mysterious. Intellectual we understand the meaning of the words, but we have no comprehension of the experience of eternal worship of Him who is Sovereign. Speculation can be made regarding the content of the worship, but apart from general and limited observations, we have no knowledge, and cannot even be assured that our truncated speculation is valid.

But it can be affirmed that in the Apocalypse of John worship appears throughout the book. In the preeminent Biblical book dealing with eschatology, worship is dominant. And at the conclusion of the book it is stated that in the new earth, in eternity, “His servants will worship Him.” Perhaps it is best to allow the total instruction to come from the Scriptures, especially the book of Revelation, for it is a book of worship:

And around the throne, on each side of the throne, are four living creatures, full of eyes in front and behind: the first living creature like a lion, the second living creature like an ox, the third living creature with the face of a man, and the fourth living creature like an eagle in flight. And the four living creatures, each of them with six wings, are full of eyes all around and within, and day and night they never cease to say,

“Holy, holy, holy, is the Lord God Almighty,
who was and is and is to come!”

And whenever the living creatures give glory and honor and thanks to Him who is seated on the throne, who lives forever and ever, the twenty-four elders fall down before Him who is seated on the throne and worship Him who lives forever and ever. They cast their crowns before the throne, saying,

“Worthy are You, our Lord and God,
to receive glory and honor and power,
for You created all things,
and by Your will they exist and were created.”
Rev. 4:6-11

And when He had taken the scroll, the four living creatures and the twenty-four elders fell down before the Lamb, each holding a harp, and golden bowls full of incense, which are the prayers of the saints. And they sang a new song, saying,

“Worthy are You to take the scroll and to open its seals,
for You were slain, and by Your blood You ransomed people for God
from every tribe and language and people and nation,
and You have made them a kingdom and priests to our God,
and they shall reign on the earth.”

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,

“Worthy is the Lamb who was slain,
to receive power and wealth
and wisdom and might
and honor and glory and blessing”

And I heard every creature in heaven and on earth and under the earth and in the sea, and all that is in them, saying,

“To Him who sits on the throne
and to the Lamb
be blessing and honor
and glory and might forever and ever!”

And the four living creatures said, “Amen” and the elders fell down and worshiped (Rev. 5:8-14).

And all the angels were standing around the throne and around the elders and the four living creatures, and they fell on their faces before the throne and worshiped God, saying,

“Amen! Blessing and glory and wisdom
and thanksgiving and honor and power and might
be to our God forever and ever! Amen.”
Rev. 7:11-12

And the twenty-four elders who sit on their thrones before God fell on their faces and worshiped God, saying,

“We give thanks to You, Lord God Almighty, who is and who was,
for You have taken Your great power and begun to reign.
The nations raged,
but Your wrath came,
and the time for the dead to be judged,
and for rewarding Your servants, the prophets and saints,
and those who fear Your name, both small and great,
and for destroying the destroyers of the earth.”
Rev. 11:16-18

Then I saw another angel flying directly overhead, with an eternal gospel to proclaim to those who dwell on earth, to every nation and tribe and language and people. And he said with a loud voice,

“Fear God and give Him glory,
because the hour of His judgment has come,
and worship Him who made heaven and earth,
the sea and the springs of water.”
Rev. 14:6-7

And I saw what appeared to be a sea of glass mingled with fire—and also those who had conquered the beast and its image and the number of its name, standing beside the sea of glass with harps of God in their hands. And they sing the song of Moses, the servant of God, and the song of the Lamb, saying,

“Great and amazing are Your deeds, O Lord God the Almighty!
Just and true are Your ways, King of the nations!
Who will not fear, O Lord, and glorify Your name?
For You alone are holy.
All nations will come and worship You,
for Your righteous acts have been revealed.”
Rev. 15:2-4

And the twenty-four elders and the four living creatures fell down and worshiped God who was seated on the throne, saying, “Amen. Hallelujah!” And from the throne came a voice saying,

“Praise our God, all you his servants,
you who fear Him, small and great.”
Rev. 19:4-5

I, John, am the one who heard and saw these things. And when I heard and saw them, I fell down to worship at the feet of the angel who showed them to me, but he said to me,

“You must not do that!
I am a fellow servant with you and your brothers the prophets,
and with those who keep the words of this book.
Worship God.”
Rev. 22:8-9

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