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The Worship that Never Ends
Worship God! Summer 2026
Tonight we continue our discipleship class: “Worship God!” We’ll look at the book of Revelation.
In A.W. Tozer’s book, The Knowledge of the Holy (1961), he has a chapter called, “Why We Must Think Rightly About God.” He opens with this:
What comes into our minds when we think about God is the most important thing about us…. Worship is pure or base as the worshiper entertains high or low thoughts of God.
A.W. Tozer, The Knowledge of the Holy[1]
True worship and exalted thoughts about God go together. As our view of God is exalted and true, our worship will orient itself rightly. As our view of God is distorted and low, our worship sinks. Our worship rises and falls as our view of God rises and falls. But this is no small issue—because we become like what we worship (Ps 115).
That’s where Revelation helps us. It forces us to elevate our view of God. It commands us to do this! We are commanded to “Worship God!” (Rev 22:9). And it models for us the worship of God.
Allen Ross writes that the whole book of Revelation is about worship:
The theme of the whole prophecy is the distinction between true worship of God and false or idolatrous worship.
Allen Ross, Recalling the Hope of Glory[2]
Tonight we want the book of Revelation to teach us about worship.
We’ll look at the “doxologies” of Revelation. A doxology is from doxa (“glory”) and logos (“word”). It means a “word ascribing glory to God.”
We’ll look at a number of them. The goal is to let them affect our view of God—and thus our worship of God.
Pray.
In our opening doxologies, we learn about Jesus Christ and we learn about ourselves:
To him who loves us and has freed us from our sins by his blood 6 and made us a kingdom, priests to his God and Father, to him be glory and dominion forever and ever. Amen. (Rev 1:5b–6)
The elements of the doxology: “To him who…to him be glory.”
And already, he is presented as divine. Notice 1:8:
“I am the Alpha and the Omega,” says the Lord God, “who is and who was and who is to come, the Almighty.” (Rev 1:8)
This is rich theology. Christ is “Alpha,” the first letter of the Greek alphabet and so “the beginning,” and “Omega,” the last letter of the Greek alphabet and so “the end.”
Speaks of Christ being eternal. But also sovereign over all history—he will be the one to “open the scrolls” of history (Rev 5) and control the unfolding of history.
And he is “the Lord God,” as well as, “the Almighty.”
No one is above him, and he is fully God, fully divine, equal to the Father. Not the same person of the Trinity as the Father, for there are two persons. But he is equal in power and glory with the Father.
But we also see something important ourselves.
We are the King-priests: “made us a kingdom, priests to our God.”
As priests, we are called to be worshippers! Rulers and worshippers! That will be a theme in Revelation—our place as co-rulers with Christ, and our place as priest-worshippers.
Next we move to Rev. 4–5, the great vision of God’s throne. In chapters 4–5 there are five hymns that have a clear progression.
First hymn: The first in Rev. 4:8. Here the emphasis is on WHO GOD IS:
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!” (Rev 4:8)
Old Testament images are all over these verses. The “four living creatures” are like Ezekiel 1:5. Daniel 7 also has “four great beasts” and a vision of a throne. The winged seraphim in the heavenly temple of Isaiah 6 are always saying, “Holy, holy, holy is the LORD of hosts” (Isa 6:3).
These “four living creatures” of Revelation have similarities and differences. Similarities in 4:6, “around the throne…full of eyes in front and behind.” Also in 4:8, “six wings” (like Isaiah 6’s seraphim!). Differences in 4:7, “first…like a lion,” “second…like an ox,” “third…face of a man,” “fourth…like an eagle in flight.”
Whether they are literal or real is impossible to tell. Greg Beale (NIGTC) argues that they represent the worship of all creation, representing all animals and humanity and beings of all kinds.
The fact the four creatures seem to be a combination of Old Testament images is why it is so difficult to tell.
The four living creatures are unified in their doxology, which they “never cease to say”—Rev. 4:8.
Only God is “holy” in triplicate. A Hebrew way of saying, “The Most.” He is “the Most Holy One.” Utterly holy. Holy in a way that nothing else is.
Speaks of his being “Apart from” all things. “Morally perfect.” “Perfectly righteous and UNABLE to be unrighteous.”
Second hymn: Rev. 4:11. Then “the twenty-four elders” offer their worship—bowing down to him, casting their crowns before him, and saying. Here the emphasis is on WHAT GOD HAS DONE (CREATION):
“Worthy are you, our Lord and God, to receive glory and honor and power, for you created all things, and by your will they existed and were created.” (Rev 4:11)
I think these “twenty-four elders” somehow represent the whole people of God, both believing Israel and the church. Like in Revelation 21 when the “twelve gates” of “new Jerusalem” are the names of the twelve tribes of Israel and the twelve foundation stones have “the twelve names of the twelve apostles of the Lamb” (21:10–14). Others think they are angels of some kind (Ladd). Others are uncertain (Beale).
What they proclaim is NOT uncertain, however! They are worshipping God as Creator and Lord of his Creation.
Why is he “worthy to receive glory”? Because he is the Creator, “the Lord who made heaven and earth” (2 Chr 2:12; Ps 115:15; 121:2; 124:8; Rev 14:7).
Third hymn: Rev. 5:8–10. As the scene progresses, “the Lamb” comes into view. But then enters “the Lamb,” “worthy” because he was “slain” and by his “blood…ransomed people for God.” The chorus now is “the four living creatures AND the twenty-four elders,” each having “a harp” and now “singing a new song.” Again the emphasis is on WHAT GOD HAS DONE, but the work of God in view is REDEMPTION:
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. 9 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, 10 and you have made them a kingdom and priests to our God, and they shall reign on the earth.” (Rev 5:8–10)
“Worthy” as in Rev. 1, his blood and making us “a kingdom” and “priests.” But now, the impact is a GLOBAL IMPACT—”every tribe and….”
Fourth hymn: Rev. 5:11–12. Then the chorus expands again, now it’s “the voice of many angels, numbering myriads of myriads, and thousands of thousands (millions!)” (Rev 5:11). Now the emphasis is on THE RESPONSE TO GOD.
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, 12 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!” (Rev 5:11–12)
These millions of angels ascribe glory and worth to “the Lamb.” He is worthy to receive these things.
There are different ways to measure the “worth” of a person. But one measurement is “What would be appropriate to give to this person?” Appropriate to give them a present? A million dollars? An army? A nation? What about what’s said here, of “the Lamb who was slain”? He is worthy “to receive power and wealth…”
Every good and appropriate thing that could be given, he is worthy to receive.
Fifth hymn: Rev. 5:13–14. But this series of doxologies culminates with an even more dramatic moment of worship.
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!” 14 And the four living creatures said, “Amen!” and the elders fell down and worshiped. (Rev 5:13-14)
It is dramatic because of WHO is being worshipped: “him who sits on the throne” AND “the Lamb” being exalted together as equals.
And not only that, but it’s dramatic because of WHO is worshipping! It’s “every creature”!
It’s the inspiration for the hymn we sing, “All Creatures of Our God and King! Lift up your voice and with us, sing! Hallelujah!”
The “four living creatures” add their “Amen!” Yes, indeed! This is one of 9 times in Revelation where “Amen!” is found (1:6, 7; 3:14; 7:12; 19:4; 22:20, 21). The last word of the whole book, in fact, is “Amen.” BDAG says it is a “strong affirmation of what is stated” (53), “an expression of faith” like “Let it be so! Truly! Amen!”
That’s what the four living creatures are saying, “Yes! Let it be so! Let the One on the throne and the Lamb receive all glory!”
How should a scene like this affect us?
The largest worship gathering I was ever a part of was Urbana 93, a huge missions conference at University of IL at Urbana. International, massive. But “every creature”? Nothing like that.
We fast-forward now to chapter 14.
When we turn to chapter 14, we see the battle for worship that is going on all the time. We see true and false worship.
First is the true worship in Rev. 14:2–3. Here we LEARN BY EXAMPLE:
And I heard a voice from heaven like the roar of many waters and like the sound of loud thunder. The voice I heard was like the sound of harpists playing on their harps, 3 and they were singing a new song before the throne and before the four living creatures and before the elders. No one could learn that song except the 144,000 who had been redeemed from the earth. (Rev 14:2–3)
“Harpists playing on their harps”: Instruments! This tells us that instrumental worship is to be part of the people of God forever (as opposed to those who would say it ceases with the Old Testament temple).
“A new song”: There are always more songs to write to capture the glory of God.
Then three angels speak, two of them speaking directly of worship. Here TRUE WORSHIP IS COMMANDED:
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 14:7)
God’s “judgment” now begins to be featured in our doxologies. His “justice” also.
He is glorious—as Creator and Redeemer. Now, glorious—as Judge.
His judgments will prove him to be:
Third angel in Rev. 14. Here FALSE WORSHIP IS FORBIDDEN:
And another angel, a third, followed them, saying with a loud voice, “If anyone worships the beast and its image and receives a mark on his forehead or on his hand, 10 he also will drink the wine of God’s wrath, poured full strength into the cup of his anger, and he will be tormented with fire and sulfur in the presence of the holy angels and in the presence of the Lamb. (Rev 14:9–10)
Now we see what a big deal true vs. false worship is. This angel speaks the judgment on false worship. Worshiping wrongly can lead to “the wine of God’s wrath” being “tormented with fire and sulfur.”
Application: Worship is serious business. We sometimes treat it as if it’s a consumer issue, always looking for the Goldilox solution:
But Revelation 14 reminds us that WHO we are worshipping is the biggest worship issue of all!!!
In Revelation 19 we get another It ends with an announcement about a Wedding and then the revealing of the Bridegroom in a stunning display. But the announcement of the Wedding is important as the last word of doxology by the worshippers of God.
After this I heard what seemed to be the loud voice of a great multitude in heaven, crying out, “Hallelujah! Salvation and glory and power belong to our God, 2 for his judgments are true and just; for he has judged the great prostitute who corrupted the earth with her immorality, and has avenged on her the blood of his servants.”
3 Once more they cried out, “Hallelujah! The smoke from her goes up forever and ever.”
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!”
5 And from the throne came a voice saying, “Praise our God, all you his servants, you who fear him, small and great.”
6 Then I heard what seemed to be the voice of a great multitude, like the roar of many waters and like the sound of mighty peals of thunder, crying out, “Hallelujah! For the Lord our God the Almighty reigns. 7 Let us rejoice and exult and give him the glory, for the marriage of the Lamb has come, and his Bride has made herself ready; 8 it was granted her to clothe herself with fine linen, bright and pure”— for the fine linen is the righteous deeds of the saints. (Rev 19:1–8)
Four times is repeated, “Hallelujah!” Transliterated from the Hebrew phrase that means, “Praise Yahweh!” “Praise the LORD” as so many times throughout the Psalms (146:1; 147:1; 148:1; 149:1; 150:1).
What causes such an eruption of praise? “The marriage of the Lamb has come, and his Bride has made herself ready” (Rev 19:7). Another view of God’s people redeemed.
Fitting that in this marriage announcement is also an announcement of the destruction of “the great prostitute.”
Robert Mounce:
The prostitute is Babylon the Great, that great system of godlessness that leads people away from the worship of God and to their own destruction.
Robert Mounce, The Book of Revelation[3]
Our day of temptation has ended, and we are forever with the Lord without any distraction or divided heart.
We will be “clothed in fine linen—bright and pure.” Symbolic of our hearts and minds— “bright and pure.”
What do we do with such a scene?
We end with The End. The last chapter of Revelation. Which is the last chapter of our Bibles.
Chapters 20–22 are the culmination of…everything. The entire Genesis to Revelation story finishes here, with this vision of Eden glorified—not Eden revisited. We don’t want that! But Eden glorified and renewed. Yes!
Creation has become the new creation. God’s people are forever with him and never touched by sin and temptation. No chance of another Fall happening.
We see here the worship that will never end, the fellowship that will never end, the glory that will never end, the happiness that will never end.
Rev. 22:1–5:
Then the angel showed me the river of the water of life, bright as crystal, flowing from the throne of God and of the Lamb 2 through the middle of the street of the city; also, on either side of the river, the tree of life with its twelve kinds of fruit, yielding its fruit each month. The leaves of the tree were for the healing of the nations. 3 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. 4 They will see his face, and his name will be on their foreheads. 5 And night will be no more. They will need no light of lamp or sun, for the Lord God will be their light, and they will reign forever and ever. (Rev 22:1–5)
Do you see those echoes of the Garden of Eden? Ezekiel’s river of life (Ezek 47)?
Look at how we are described: “worship…see his face…night will be no more…no light of lamp or sun…reign forever and ever.”
Like in Rev. 1 where Christ was glorified because he made us “a kingdom, priests to our God,” so here we are priests as we “worship him” and a kingdom as we “reign forever and ever” with him.
We worship now! But we worship now as a foretaste of our eternal destiny to be “a kingdom, priests to our God.”
Always before him.
I quoted A.W. Tozer at the beginning:
What comes into our minds when we think about God is the most important thing about us.
A.W. Tozer, The Knowledge of the Holy[4]
May it be that the doxologies of Revelation, the worship of the redeemed, fills “our minds” with exalted thoughts of who God is. What he’s done. What he deserves.
Being Christian is beginning an endless discovery of the glory of our God. We have hardly begun!!
We have reached the end of our discipleship class on worship:
Tonight we’ve seen that worship is feasting on the glory of God. May our minds and hearts be filled with Doxologies!
I’ll close with Rev. 5:13–14:
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!” 14 And the four living creatures said, “Amen!” and the elders fell down and worshiped. (Rev 5:13–14)
May we join them in giving glory to him who sits on the throne and the Lamb!
Amen.
Prayer and worship in song.
[1] (HarperCollins, 1961), 1.
[2] Ross, Recalling the Hope of Glory (Kregel, 2006), 485.
[3] NICNT, Rev. ed. (Eerdmans), 311.
[4] P. 1.
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