When it comes to the worship of the
One and only true God, the mood and atmosphere before the throne is one of
praise and worship, it is a glorious company, for it is written, “For you have
not come to a mountain that can be touched and that is burning with fire; to
darkness, gloom and storm; to a trumpet blast or to such a voice speaking words
that those who heard it begged that no further word be spoken to them, because
they could not bear what was commanded: If even an animal touches the mountain,
it must be stoned. The sight was so terrifying that Moses said, “I am trembling
with fear” (Hebrews 12:18-21).
But rather, “You have come to Mount
Zion, to the heavenly Jerusalem, the city of the living God, and to innumerable
angels in joyful assembly, to the church of the first born, whose names are
written in heaven. You have come to God, the judge of all men, to the spirits
of righteous men made perfect, to Jesus the mediator of the new covenant, and
to sprinkled blood that speaks a better word than the blood of Abel” (Hebrews
12:22-24).
The meeting place before the throne
is on a sea of glass like crystal. This place is reserved only for those who
have the victory over the beast, over his image, over his mark and over the
number of his name. They stand on the sea of glass with harps and sing the song
of the Lord saying, “Great and wonderful are thy deeds, Lord God Almighty, just
and true are your ways, O king of the saints! Who shall not fear and glorify
thy name, O Lord? For you alone are holy. All nations shall come and worship
before you, for your righteous acts have been revealed” (Revelation
15:2-4).
Those who worship the beast are not
permitted to enter Mount Zion, the city of the living God. There should be no
ambiguity as to who the beast is, because the Prophet Daniel wrote quite
emphatically; “Those great beasts which are four, are four kings (kingdoms)
which arise out of the earth, but the saints of the Most-High shall receive the
kingdom, and possess the kingdom forever, even for ever and ever” (Daniel
7:17-18).
The beast therefore is a ruling
kingdom to whom the dragon (Satan) has given his power, his throne and great
authority, the mark and number of the beast pertain to economic and social
activities instituted by the beast which unless one becomes a part of, will not
be allowed to buy or sell. The image pertains to a symbol of worship which the
beast has substituted in place of the true symbol of worship, and whosoever has
laid aside God laws regarding worship and substitute it with the symbol the
beast has established, are not permitted before the throne of God, because by
observing the substitute rather than the reality, they are inadvertently
worshiping the dragon who gave his authority to the beast.
The rationale for all this was for
Israel to consider in their heart, that the Lord Himself is God in heaven above
and on the earth beneath; and that there is no other besides Him.
However, in order for God to
distinguish Himself as the One and only true God, and distinguish His people
from all others, He made a conditional covenant with them, so that if obeyed,
they shall be a special treasure to Him above all people, for all the earth is
His. They are to Him a kingdom of priests and a holy nation. Those who obey the
covenant are described as, “A chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation,
a people belonging to God, that they may declare the praises of Him who called
them out of darkness into His marvelous light. Once they were not a people, but
now they are the people of God; once they had not received mercy, but now they have
received mercy” (Exodus 19:5-6, Leviticus 19:30; 26:2;
1Peter 2:9).
Therefore, as a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation a people belonging to God to declare the praises of Him who called us out of darkness to His marvelous light there is a protocol or a rule of conduct as to when and how we should approach the throne of grace. So, here are seven integral components of true spiritual worship.
To be continued
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With brotherly love
Lucius Joseph
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