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Worship is one of [the book's] strongest emphases. The first vision of the book brought the writer prostrate before the figure of the living Christ who appeared to him on Patmos. Through the long series of visions that followed there are repeated references to worship. . . . The implication of the book is that worship is a token of the genuineness of spiritual life now. The contrast between the saved and the lost in Revelation could be called a contrast in worship, since the latter worship the beast (Rev. [[13:4|bible.87.13.4]]+, [[8|bible.87.13.8]]+, [[12|bible.87.13.12]]+, [[15|bible.87.13.15]]+). Man is made to worship someone, and if he will not have the true God, he will inevitably turn to a false idol.1
Tenney notes the importance of worship in an ongoing celestial commentary of the events transpiring on earth below.2Title | Passage | Participants | Occasion |
Tersanctus: "Holy, holy, holy" | Rev. [[4:8|bible.87.4.8]]+ | Living Creatures | Constant worship |
"Worthy art Thou" in Creation | Rev. [[4:11|bible.87.4.11]]+ | Twenty-four Elders | Worship by Elders |
"Worthy art Thou" in Redemption | Rev. [[5:8-10|bible.87.5.8-87.5.10]]+ | Living Creatures and Elders | Lamb's assumption of rights |
"Worthy is the Lamb" | Rev. [[5:11-12|bible.87.5.11-87.5.12]]+ | Angels, Living Creatures, Elders | Lamb's assumption of rights |
"Unto him that sitteth" | Rev. [[5:13|bible.87.5.13]]+ | Every created thing | Lamb's assumption of rights |
"Salvation unto our God" | Rev. [[7:9-10|bible.87.7.9-87.7.10]]+ | Great multitude | Sealing of 144,000 |
"Amen. Blessing. . ." | Rev. [[7:11-12|bible.87.7.11-87.7.12]]+ | Angels | Sealing of 144,000 |
"The kingdom of the world" | Rev. [[11:15|bible.87.11.15]]+ | Great voices | Seventh angel |
"We give thee thanks" | Rev. [[16:18|bible.87.16.18]]+ | Elders | Seventh trumpet |
"Great and marvellous" | Rev. [[15:2-4|bible.87.15.2-87.15.4]]+ | Victors over Beast | Seven last plagues |
"Four Hallelujahs" | Rev. [[19:1-8|bible.87.19.1-87.19.8]]+ | Great multitude, Elders, Living Creatures, Great voices | Fall of Babylon, Marriage of Lamb |
Indeed, everything Satan does is a parody or "great imitation" of what God has already done. The mark of the beast (Rev. [[13:16-17|bible.87.13.16-87.13.17]]+) in the right hand or forehead is a mere copy of God sealing the saints in the forehead (Rev. [[7:3|bible.87.7.3]]+). The false trinity (the dragon, beast, and false prophet, Rev. [[16:13|bible.87.16.13]]+) is an obvious copy of the triune Godhead. The mortal wound that is healed (Rev. [[13:3|bible.87.13.3]]+, [[12|bible.87.13.12]]+) imitates the death and resurrection of the Lord. The dragon giving the beast his power; throne, and "great" authority (Rev. [[13:2|bible.87.13.2]]+) copies the relationship between God and Christ. The demand for the nations to worship the beast and dragon (Rev. [[13:8|bible.87.13.8]]+, [[14-15|bible.87.13.14-87.13.15]]+) follows the constant commands in Scripture to worship God.4
Here in the book of Revelation the attempt of the creature to occupy the role of the Creator comes to its vain conclusion (Isa. [[14:13-14|bible.23.14.13-23.14.14]]; Mtt. [[4:9|bible.61.4.9]]; Luke [[4:7|bible.63.4.7]]; Rev. [[13:4|bible.87.13.4]]+, [[8|bible.87.13.8]]+, [[12|bible.87.13.12]]+, [[15|bible.87.13.15]]+; [[14:11|bible.87.14.11]]+; [[16:2|bible.87.16.2]]+; [[19:20|bible.87.19.20]]+). Near the close of the book, the angel informs John and those who would read or hear this prophecy that it is God Who alone is to be worshiped (Rev. [[22:9|bible.87.22.9]]+).5Notes
1 Merrill C. Tenney, Interpreting Revelation (Peabody, MA: Hendrickson Publishers, 1957), 199-200.
2 Tenney, Interpreting Revelation, 36-37.
3 Tenney, Interpreting Revelation, 37.
4 Grant R. Osborne, Revelation (Grand Rapids, MI: Baker Academic, 2002), 34.
5 One might also wonder whether the judgments which are poured out upon the earth are an indication that those dwelling upon the earth have placed undue emphasis upon the earth, while neglecting its Creator. Perhaps this is an indication of the fully-developed fruit of unbridled environmentalism which includes an idolatrous worship of the earth.
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