Daily Scripture Reading Revelation 7:9 - 8:9

Many Christians think that singing is worship. Many church services have a portion called worship time, which is singing time. When many Christians suggest having a time of worship, they mean having a time of singing.

That is not the Biblical definition of worship. Today’s passage is one of many examples where a worshipper falls on his face as part of worship. An important step in understanding worship is understanding what people are communicating when they fall on their face.

Beginning in the sixth chapter of Revelation, John recorded the opening of the seven seals that sealed the scroll. When the sixth seal was opened, there was an earthquake, the sun became black, and stars fell to the earth. Every man on earth tried to hide. Then angels held back the wind while 144,000 from the tribes of Israel were sealed.

Rev. 7:9 ¶ After these things I looked, and behold, a great multitude which no one could count, from every nation and all tribes and peoples and tongues, standing before the throne and before the Lamb, clothed in white robes, and palm branches were in their hands;

The words “nation, tribes, peoples, and tongues” indicate the multitude was a cross section of the entire earth.

Rev. 7:10 and they cry out with a loud voice, saying, ¶ “Salvation belongs to our God who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb.”

Rev. 7:11 And all the angels were standing around the throne and the elders and the four living creatures, and they fell on their faces before the throne and worshiped God,

This verse contains the phrases “fell on their faces” and “worshiped God”. They were on their faces when they worshiped. What do people communicate when they fall on their face? They communicate humility, submission, helplessness, and servitude.

Many Christians think that singing is worship. Many church services have a portion called worship time, which is singing. When many Christians suggest having a time of worship, they mean having a time of singing.

That is not the Biblical definition of worship, as we see in this verse. The worshippers around the throne fell on their faces as part of their worship. We will understand the Biblical definition of worship when we understand what people communicate when they fall on their faces.

Rev. 7:12 saying, ¶ “Amen, the blessing and the glory and the wisdom and the thanksgiving and the honor and the power and the strength, be to our God forever and ever. Amen.”

Think about what the worshippers ascribed to God: blessing, glory, wisdom, thanks, honor, power, and strength. The worshippers acknowledged that God was superior and they were inferior.

Rev. 7:13 ¶ Then one of the elders answered, saying to me, “These, clothed in the white robes, who are they, and from where have they come?”

Rev. 7:14 And I said to him, “My lord, you know.” And he said to me, “These are the ones who come out of the great tribulation, and they washed their robes and made them white in the blood of the Lamb.

Rev. 7:15 For this reason, they are before the throne of God; and they serve Him day and night in His sanctuary; and He who sits on the throne will dwell over them.

Don’t miss the word “serve”. The function of this great multitude from every nation, tribe, people, and language is to serve God. As Christians, we are servants of God here on earth. When we get to heaven, our purpose will be to serve God.

Rev. 7:16 THEY WILL HUNGER NO LONGER, NOR THIRST ANYMORE; NOR WILL THE SUN BEAT DOWN ON THEM, NOR ANY HEAT;

Rev. 7:17 for the Lamb at the center of the throne will shepherd them and will guide them to springs of the water of life. And God WILL WIPE EVERY TEAR FROM THEIR EYES.”

Verses 16-17 should encourage us that while life on earth is hard, frustrating, and painful, our existence in heaven will be very pleasant.

Rev. 8:1 ¶ When He opened the seventh seal, there was silence in heaven for about half an hour.

Rev. 8:2 Then I saw the seven angels who stand before God, and seven trumpets were given to them.

Rev. 8:3 ¶ And another angel came and stood at the altar, having a golden censer; and much incense was given to him, so that he might add it to the prayers of all the saints on the golden altar which was before the throne.

This verse repeats a concept we saw in Revelation 5:8 that the prayers of the saints are incense, meaning prayer is a pleasing aroma.

Rev. 8:4 And the smoke of the incense went up with the prayers of the saints, out of the angel’s hand, before God.

Rev. 8:5 Then the angel took the censer and filled it with the fire of the altar, and threw it to the earth; and there followed peals of thunder and sounds and flashes of lightning and an earthquake.

This verse tells us that when God acted, the result was an earthquake, meaning God can express Himself through acts of nature. That should prompt us to question if an earthquake is always an act of God. Scientists have physical explanations for why earthquakes happen, but perhaps an earthquake always happens when God gives the signal for an earthquake to happen.

Rev. 8:6 ¶ And the seven angels who had the seven trumpets prepared themselves to sound them.

Rev. 8:7 ¶ And the first sounded, and there came hail and fire, mixed with blood, and they were thrown to the earth; and a third of the earth was burned up, and a third of the trees were burned up, and all the green grass was burned up.

Picture all the continents. Now picture 1/3 of all land mass being destroyed. It is possible that God would use a nuclear war to accomplish this.

Rev. 8:8 ¶ And the second angel sounded, and something like a great mountain burning with fire was thrown into the sea; and a third of the sea became blood,

Rev. 8:9 and a third of the creatures which were in the sea—those which had life—died; and a third of the ships were destroyed.

There are approximately 100,000 vessels in the world. If this verse would happen today, it would destroy 33,333 ships. It is estimated that in recent years, there are less than 50 shipwrecks per year. The destruction as a result of the second trumpet will be catastrophic.

Many Christians believe singing is worship and worship is singing. However, that is not the Biblical definition of worship.

There are many times in the Bible where a worshipper fell on his face as part of his worship. Today’s passage is an example.

What were the angels, elders, and four living creatures communicating to God when they fell on their faces and worshipped?

What do humans communicate when they fall on their face?

What does falling on faces tell us about the Biblical definition of worship?

How well does your pastor and church understand the Biblical definition of worship?

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“Scripture quotations taken from the (LSB®) Legacy Standard Bible®, Copyright © 2021 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. All rights reserved. Managed in partnership with Three Sixteen Publishing Inc. LSBible.org and 316publishing.com.”