Worship: An Act of Defiance

Revelation as a Love Drama

• At the end of the book, the Apostle John would witness the return of Jesus Christ, the complete defeat of Satan, the coming of the new heaven and the new earth.

• John would also witness a new Jerusalem coming down out of heaven, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband.

• Despite all her limitations, the church was preserved until the end - as the beloved bribe of God.  
• To our surprise, Revelation is a love drama 
• At the end of this love story the imperfect girl was being chosen to enter into eternity with the royal groom.  

How Should We then Live?

• Knowing that one day, the bride and the groom will enter joyfully into eternity, how about here and now? How should we live?
• On one hand, the early Christians were persecuted because of their refusal of the emperor worship 
• One the other hand, from Jesus’ letter to the “Seven Churches” in Revelation 2-3, the situation at the churches did not look good  
• Imagine if you were John at Patmos, it seems like nothing can be done. 
• Between the most dazzling and beautiful ending and the present difficult moment, one needs to decide: how should we live at this moment 
• Living in such a tension,where do we find strength to fight back? 

• How can one become an overcomer, on the desolate island called Patmos?

Heavenly Worship - a front row experience 

• Before the seven seals, seven trumpets and the seven bowls come, the Lord gave John a glimpse about the heavenly worship -  a once-a-life time experience
• Through this experience, John would find strength and courage to face the upcoming persecution 
• A door standing open in heaven (4:1) 
• A throne stood in heaven, with one seated on the throne. (4:2) 
• Around the throne: twenty-four elders (4:4) 
• Around the throne: four living creatures (4:6) 
• A scroll sealed with seven seals (5:1) 
• A Lamb took the scroll from the One seated on the throne.
• Countless angels gathered around the throne worshiping (5:11-12) 
• every creature in the universe worshiping (5:13) 

Heavenly Worship - the Significance

• It was at this ceaseless and universal worship that John was given strength and courage to keep living faithfully and holding on to God’s truth.    
• This worship experience enabled John to become an overcomer, for the rest of his faith journey. 
• Between the ending which is too beautiful to imagine and the present depressing moment,  it is the ceaseless worship in front of the throne which gives the church courage to keep going.  
• It is the act of worship, which transforms the church to become overcomers 

Worship as an Act of Defiance

• For John and the early church, worship means refusing to bow down to Caesar worship. 
• Worship means not letting our life surrender to Satan. 
• Worship means drawing a clear line between us and the immoral world. 
• Worship means that we are joining the angels and declare that the lamb that was slain has overcome.