"Whenever the living creatures give glory, honor and thanks to him who sits on the throne and who lives for ever and ever, the twenty-four elders fall down before him who sits on the throne and worship him who lives for ever and ever. They lay their crowns before the throne and say: ‘You are worthy, our Lord and God, to receive glory and honor and power, for you created all things, and by your will they were created and have their being.’”
- Revelation 5:9-11 -

Once through that portal, everything is transformed! John is taken ‘in the Spirit’ (v 2) into the heavenly throne room and glimpses the glory of God and the ceaseless worship of the ‘Lord God Almighty’ (v . Suddenly, the boastful claims of the Roman Caesars to possess absolute power are exposed for the blasphemy they were and the history of the world is seen to be in the hands of the one who is alone worthy to ‘receive glory and honor and power’ (v 11). The book of Revelation gives an absolute priority to worship as the means by which we can transcend the brokenness and despair of the world and be renewed in holiness, love, and hope. The little churches described in the previous chapters are reminded that no matter how much they suffer, God reigns sovereign in heaven and ‘the point of the universe is not power but worship’.

The question is: do we actually understand just how radical and subversive it is to practice regular acts of worship and praise? In Western cultures which have lost ways of accessing transcendence and so have become depressingly one-dimensional, to fold hands in prayer is itself a revolutionary act.

Apply: What changes might be needed in public worship for it to be a portal between earth and heaven?

Prayer: Living and loving God, when I feel overwhelmed, remind me that you are my fortress and I’m safe in your care.

(Summary from the Encounter with God)