The Presence of the Future
The powerful imagery of the book of Revelation invites us not only to contemplate what lies ahead of us, but allow us to step into the presence of the future right now. The reality that John beholds and describes in Revelation 4 & 5, the great worship scene in heaven, encompasses past, present and future, and we are invited to join in.
In the service today Kendra Halovick Valentine invites us to join her as she opens the book of Revelation and helps us to see and hear and enter into what we find portrayed for us there. It is a vision of a future renewed reality that is not just for the future, but which transforms life right here, right now. This is what John does in the book of Revelation, and it is what the book of Revelation does for us. It helps us to see what is really real, and not to settle for anything less. Kendra shares with us glimpses through the book, and invites us to take a long and loving look ourselves, and allow it to transform our present. Unique among other types of apocolyptic literature, this book gives us a unique and powerful vision of reality - one that centers around a powerful worship scene in which he is invited to participate, and so are we. In fact, it is full of worship scenes. It is central to everything we find there. They are scenes that invite the future into the present and transform it.
This is what Kendra explores with us this morning. If you would like to listen to the sermon once again, or perhaps for the first time, you can access your sermon library by clicking here.
Revelation 4 & 5
(NRSV)
Around the throne, and on each side of the throne, are four living creatures, full of eyes in front and behind: 7 the first living creature like a lion, the second living creature like an ox, the third living creature with a face like a human face, and the fourth living creature like a flying eagle.8 And the four living creatures, each of them with six wings, are full of eyes all around and inside. Day and night without ceasing they sing,
“Holy, holy, holy,
the Lord God the Almighty,
who was and is and is to come.”
9 And whenever the living creatures give glory and honor and thanks to the one who is seated on the throne, who lives forever and ever, 10 the twenty-four elders fall before the one who is seated on the throne and worship the one who lives forever and ever; they cast their crowns before the throne, singing,
11
“You are worthy, 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.”
6 Then I saw between the throne and the four living creatures and among the elders a Lamb standing as if it had been slaughtered, having seven horns and seven eyes, which are the seven spirits of God sent out into all the earth. 7 He went and took the scroll from the right hand of the one who was seated on the throne. 8 When he had taken the scroll, the four living creatures and the twenty-four elders fell before the Lamb, each holding a harp and golden bowls full of incense, which are the prayers of the saints. 9 They sing a new song:
“You are worthy to take the scroll
and to open its seals,
for you were slaughtered and by your blood you ransomed for God
saints from[c] every tribe and language and people and nation;
10
you have made them to be a kingdom and priests serving[d] our God,
and they will reign on earth.”
11 Then I looked, and I heard the voice of many angels surrounding the throne and the living creatures and the elders; they numbered myriads of myriads and thousands of thousands,12 singing with full voice,
“Worthy is the Lamb that was slaughtered
to receive power and wealth and wisdom and might
and honor and glory and blessing!”
13 Then I heard every creature in heaven and on earth and under the earth and in the sea, and all that is in them, singing,
“To the one seated 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.