Revelation 4:1 After this I looked, and, behold, a door was opened in heaven: and the first voice which I heard was as it were of a trumpet talking with me; which said, Come up hither, and I will shew thee things which must be hereafter. 2: And immediately I was in the spirit: and, behold, a throne was set in heaven, and one sat on the throne. 3: And he that sat was to look upon like a jasper and a sardine stone: and there was a rainbow round about the throne, in sight like unto an emerald. 4: And round about the throne were four and twenty seats: and upon the seats I saw four and twenty elders sitting, clothed in white raiment; and they had on their heads crowns of gold. 5: And out of the throne proceeded lightnings and thunderings and voices: and there were seven lamps of fire burning before the throne, which are the seven Spirits of God. 6: And before the throne there was a sea of glass like unto crystal: and in the midst of the throne, and round about the throne, were four beasts full of eyes before and behind. 7: And the first beast was like a lion, and the second beast like a calf, and the third beast had a face as a man, and the fourth beast was like a flying eagle. 8: And the four beasts had each of them six wings about him; and they were full of eyes within: and they rest not day and night, saying, Holy, holy, holy, Lord God Almighty, which was, and is, and is to come. 9: And when those beasts give glory and honour and thanks to him that sat on the throne, who liveth for ever and ever, 10: The four and twenty elders fall down before him that sat on the throne, and worship him that liveth for ever and ever, and cast their crowns before the throne, saying, 11: Thou art worthy, O Lord, to receive glory and honour and power: for thou hast created all things, and for thy pleasure they are and were created.

Introduction

Revelation 4:1 After this I looked, and, behold, a door was opened in heaven: and the first voice which I heard was as it were of a trumpet talking with me; which said, Come up hither, and I will shew thee things which must be hereafter.

John is called to Heaven and was granted at least three great privileges. First, the privilege of vision of Jesus Christ. Second, he was given the privilege to see what must take place on earth in heaven’s perspective. Third, he was given the privilege to see a glimpse of Heaven and its activities. And thankfully John was given permission to record what he heard and saw in Heaven.

The reality is that we don’t know much about Heaven. There will be many surprises in Heaven. Who will be there? What will be there? Another question we ask is, “What we will do when get there?” That is a good question! Fortunately for us, in the book of Revelation, we are given an opportunity to look into Heaven so that we can see some of the things that are going on there.

There may be many things that I don’t know about Heaven, but one thing I know, Heaven is a glorious place. There will be no sickness, no sorrow, no sin there. There will be no darkness, no disappointment, no death there. There will be no corruption, no care, no crying there. There will be no trials, no temptations, no tears there. We are familiar with the hymn, “Amazing Grace”. One of the stanzas goes like this, 

When we’ve been there ten thousand years,

Bright shining as the sun,

We’ve no less days to sing God’s praise

Than when we’d first begun.

This speaks of what we are going to do in Heaven when we get there and what is it? Eternal worship! Unending worship! Uninterrupted worship! So, as we conclude this series of messages on worship, I submit to you that worship will be our main activity in Heaven. God created us for worship. 

The Scripture clearly says in ...

Revelation 4:11 Thou art worthy, O Lord, to receive glory and honour and power: for thou hast created all things, and for thy pleasure they are and were created.

We were designed to worship God. It’s what we were made to do.

Psalm 150:6 Let every thing that hath breath praise the LORD. Praise ye the LORD.

God gave us breath to sing His praise and even when our breath is gone, we will still sing His praise! 

When this poor lisping, stammering tongue

Lies silent in the grave,

Then in a nobler, sweeter song

I'll sing Thy power to save!

Even when we are long dead and gone from this earth, we will go on singing His praise and singing His power to save.

Now, when I say that we will have unending worship in Heaven, I do not mean unending worship service. Remember worship is not only when we gather on Sundays and sing and hear sermons. Worship is also the lives we live to the glory of God. Eternal worship consists of glorifying God and enjoying Him. True worship is found in heart affections. We will recognize God as precious and valuable. We will regard God with the supreme love and adoration.

The book of Revelation gives us a glimpse, just a glimpse of what is going on in that place called Heaven. Let’s start with our text.

Revelation 4:6 And before the throne there was a sea of glass like unto crystal: and in the midst of the throne, and round about the throne, were four beasts full of eyes before and behind. 7: And the first beast was like a lion, and the second beast like a calf, and the third beast had a face as a man, and the fourth beast was like a flying eagle. 8: And the four beasts had each of them six wings about him; and they were full of eyes within: and they rest not day and night, saying, Holy, holy, holy, Lord God Almighty, which was, and is, and is to come. 9: And when those beasts give glory and honour and thanks to him that sat on the throne, who liveth for ever and ever, 10: The four and twenty elders fall down before him that sat on the throne, and worship him that liveth for ever and ever, and cast their crowns before the throne, saying, 11: Thou art worthy, O Lord, to receive glory and honour and power: for thou hast created all things, and for thy pleasure they are and were created.

Here is what we will be doing in Heaven! We will be worshiping.

Revelation 5:6 And I beheld, and, lo, in the midst of the throne and of the four beasts, and in the midst of the elders, stood a Lamb as it had been slain, having seven horns and seven eyes, which are the seven Spirits of God sent forth into all the earth. 7: And he came and took the book out of the right hand of him that sat upon the throne. 8: And when he had taken the book, the four beasts and four and twenty elders fell down before the Lamb, having every one of them harps, and golden vials full of odours, which are the prayers of saints. 9: And they sung a new song, saying, Thou art worthy to take the book, and to open the seals thereof: for thou wast slain, and hast redeemed us to God by thy blood out of every kindred, and tongue, and people, and nation; 10: And hast made us unto our God kings and priests: and we shall reign on the earth. 11: And I beheld, and I heard the voice of many angels round about the throne and the beasts and the elders: and the number of them was ten thousand times ten thousand, and thousands of thousands; 12: Saying with a loud voice, Worthy is the Lamb that was slain to receive power, and riches, and wisdom, and strength, and honour, and glory, and blessing. 13: And every creature which is in heaven, and on the earth, and under the earth, and such as are in the sea, and all that are in them, heard I saying, Blessing, and honour, and glory, and power, be unto him that sitteth upon the throne, and unto the Lamb for ever and ever. 14: And the four beasts said, Amen. And the four and twenty elders fell down and worshipped him that liveth for ever and ever.

Revelation 7:9 After this I beheld, and, lo, a great multitude, which no man could number, of all nations, and kindreds, and people, and tongues, stood before the throne, and before the Lamb, clothed with white robes, and palms in their hands; 10: And cried with a loud voice, saying, Salvation to our God which sitteth upon the throne, and unto the Lamb. 11: And all the angels stood round about the throne, and about the elders and the four beasts, and fell before the throne on their faces, and worshipped God, 12: Saying, Amen: Blessing, and glory, and wisdom, and thanksgiving, and honour, and power, and might, be unto our God for ever and ever. Amen.

Revelation 11:15 And the seventh angel sounded; and there were great voices in heaven, saying, The kingdoms of this world are become the kingdoms of our Lord, and of his Christ; and he shall reign for ever and ever. 16: And the four and twenty elders, which sat before God on their seats, fell upon their faces, and worshipped God, 17: Saying, We give thee thanks, O Lord God Almighty, which art, and wast, and art to come; because thou hast taken to thee thy great power, and hast reigned.

Revelation 19:1 And after these things I heard a great voice of much people in heaven, saying, Alleluia; Salvation, and glory, and honour, and power, unto the Lord our God: 2: For true and righteous are his judgments: for he hath judged the great whore, which did corrupt the earth with her fornication, and hath avenged the blood of his servants at her hand. 3: And again they said, Alleluia. And her smoke rose up for ever and ever. 4: And the four and twenty elders and the four beasts fell down and worshipped God that sat on the throne, saying, Amen; Alleluia. 5: And a voice came out of the throne, saying, Praise our God, all ye his servants, and ye that fear him, both small and great. 6: And I heard as it were the voice of a great multitude, and as the voice of many waters, and as the voice of mighty thunderings, saying, Alleluia: for the Lord God omnipotent reigneth. 7: Let us be glad and rejoice, and give honour to him: for the marriage of the Lamb is come, and his wife hath made herself ready.

This morning I am going to show why worship will be the main activity in Heaven under three headings. Worship will be our main activity in Heaven because of the Presence of God, the Perfection of God, and the Providence of God.

I — The Presence of God

Worship will be our primary activity in Heaven because in Heaven we will be in the immediate presence of God. Isn't this the promise of our Lord in...

John 14:1 Let not your heart be troubled: ye believe in God, believe also in me. 2: In my Father's house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. 3: And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also.

In this present life, we only see Jesus Christ by faith with our spiritual eyes. But oh, when we get to heaven, we shall be with Him and shall see Him face to face. And when we see Jesus face to face, we cannot not help but worship Him. They that see God cannot help it but praise Him. Worship is the result of a vision of God. 

A glorious sight of God will result in worship and praise. No need for "Praise and Worship Team." It will be a spontaneous worship. Worship is response to a sight of great God.

Psalm 16:11 Thou wilt shew me the path of life: in thy presence is fulness of joy; at thy right hand there are pleasures for evermore.

Face to face with Christ, my Savior,

Face to face—what will it be,

When with rapture I behold Him,

Jesus Christ who died for me?

Face to face I shall behold Him,

Far beyond the starry sky;

Face to face in all His glory,

I shall see Him by and by!

Only faintly now, I see Him,

With the darkling veil between,

But a blessed day is coming,

When His glory shall be seen.

What rejoicing in His presence,

When are banished grief and pain;

When the crooked ways are straightened,

And the dark things shall be plain.

Face to face! O blissful moment!

Face to face—to see and know;

Face to face with my Redeemer,

Jesus Christ who loves me so.

II — The Perfection of God

Worship will be our primary activity in Heaven not only because in Heaven we will be in the immediate presence of God, but also because we will know the perfection of God. We will know Him as we have never known Him before.

1 Corinthians 13:12 For now we see through a glass, darkly; but then face to face: now I know in part; but then shall I know even as also I am known.

Here we see but as in a glass darkly, now we see a glimpse of the glory of God, but in heaven we shall Him face to face. We shall see the perfection and the full glory of God. 

In this present life, we know God and Christ in part, we know Him imperfectly, but oh, in Heaven we shall know God, and Christ, and all truths in a perfect manner, even as we are known of God.

Our knowledge of God and Christ shall be clear and distinct. We shall have a clear view of the perfections of God's character. We occasionally hear people say, "Nobody's perfect." Though many times, we use that as an excuse for our mistakes or even our disobedience, it is a reality that we cannot deny. Nobody’s perfect. I know I am not. If you don't believe me, ask my wife and my children. They know I am not perfect. But there is One who is perfect.

Matthew 5:48 Be ye therefore perfect, even as your Father which is in heaven is perfect.

Behold your God! The God of the Bible is a God who is perfect. Your Father which is in Heaven is perfect. And yet with our sinful eyes we still don't have a clear view of God's greatness and perfection. But as someone has said, "We don't yet see things clearly. We are squinting in a fog, peering through a mist. But it won't be long before the weather clears, and the sun shines bright! We shall see it all then, see it all as clearly as God sees us, knowing Him directly just as He knows us!" 

There is coming a day when we shall see a Him as He is, and what a day that will be?

What a day that will be 

When my Jesus I shall see 

When I look upon His face 

The one who saved my by His grace 

When He takes me by the hand 

And leads me to the promised land 

What a day, glorious day that will be!

III — The Providence of God

Worship will be our chief activity in Heaven not only because in Heaven we will be in the immediate presence of God, and not only shall we know the perfection of God but also, we shall see and understand the providence of God. The work of providence is the way God governs and sustains the world and our individual lives. His providence includes His way and His will. In Heaven we will see and understand the providence of God is good and wise.

In this present life, there are many things we do not understand. In our pilgrimage we experience trials, heartaches, tears, pain, and disappointments. And often we find ourselves complaining and asking "why?" and we are left with no answer. Here in this present life, there are many things we do understand and we are tempted to question the wisdom and goodness of the providence of God, but oh, in Heaven we will know how God has been good to us while we are on earth. We will see clearly His work in creation, providence and redemption. We will have a clear knowledge of His provision, protection and providence. We will have a perfect knowledge and understanding of the greatness of the benefits that He has bestowed us. And every time we remember these things, we cannot help it but bow our heads and worship Him.

Deuteronomy 32:1 Give ear, O ye heavens, and I will speak; and hear, O earth, the words of my mouth. 2: My doctrine shall drop as the rain, my speech shall distil as the dew, as the small rain upon the tender herb, and as the showers upon the grass: 3: Because I will publish the name of the LORD: ascribe ye greatness unto our God. 4: He is the Rock, his work is perfect: for all his ways are judgment: a God of truth and without iniquity, just and right is he.

These truths about the God's providence, will no longer be accepted just by faith, but we will really and truly know and understand when we finally get to Heaven.

Trials dark on every hand,

And we cannot understand

All the ways that God could lead us

To that blesse'd promised land;

But He guides us with His eye,

And we'll follow till we die,

For we'll understand it better by and by.

By and by, when the morning comes,

When the saints of God are gathered home,

We'll tell the story how we've overcome,

For we'll understand it better by and by.

Revelation 15:4 Who shall not fear thee, O Lord, and glorify thy name? for thou only art holy: for all nations shall come and worship before thee; for thy judgments are made manifest.

When God's holiness and His righteous acts and deeds are revealed, who will not fear, O Lord, and glorify your name? what nations will come and not worship Him.

Closing Thoughts

We read in Isaiah 65:17-18 these word, "For, behold, I create new heavens and a new earth: and the former shall not be remembered, nor come into mind. But be ye glad and rejoice for ever in that which I create: for, behold, I create Jerusalem a rejoicing, and her people a joy."

The Bible tells us Heaven will be a place of joy and pleasures and delight. Heaven will not be a boring place. It will be an exciting place. The things going on there are exciting, but what makes them so exciting is the fact that those of us who have been saved by the grace of God will be part of it someday! 

I just want to remind those who are born again believers this morning, in this lesson, we have looked into our future! We have an exciting future! We have an amazing future. If you have not been born again, then repent and believe the Gospel; entrust your life and salvation to Jesus Christ so you too can be a part of this amazing future!

Let me leave you with these two exhortations:

1. Begin Now

If praising God and worshipping God is the main activity in Heaven, therefore let us all begin now. This is end of our existence — to worship God and this will be our employment for eternity. 

Revelation 4:11 Thou art worthy, O Lord, to receive glory and honour and power: for thou hast created all things, and for thy pleasure they are and were created.

We should begin now that work which we were created for and which awaits us in Heaven. For this life is given us to prepare for our future life. 

2. Bring Others to Christ

Call others to worship Him

Psalm 103:20 Bless the LORD, ye his angels, that excel in strength, that do his commandments, hearkening unto the voice of his word. 21: Bless ye the LORD, all ye his hosts; ye ministers of his, that do his pleasure. 22: Bless the LORD, all his works in all places of his dominion: bless the LORD, O my soul.

A true worshipper is not content that he worships alone. A true worshipper calls others to worship with him. This is the ultimate goal of our witnessing. This is a radical motive — not only that they would go to Heaven, but they would be worshippers.

AMEN!