Ascending Mount Zion

Then I looked, and there before me was the Lamb, standing on Mount Zion, and with him 144,000 who had his name and his Father's name written on their foreheads. And I heard a sound from heaven like the roar of rushing waters and like a loud peal of thunder. The sound I heard was like that of harpists playing their harps. And they sang a new song before the throne and before the four living creatures and the elders. No one could learn the song except the 144,000 who had been redeemed from the earth. These are those who did not defile themselves with women, for they kept themselves pure. They follow the Lamb wherever he goes. They were purchased from among men and offered as firstfruits to God and the Lamb. No lie was found in their mouths; they are blameless. (Revelation 14:1-5)

Zion is the place that the Lamb stands midst 'the ones who follow wherever He leads'. Zion is the place where the Lord dwells, the city of God, the holy mountain. For the LORD has chosen Zion; He has desired it for His habitation. He said, This is my resting place for ever and ever; here I will sit enthroned, for I have desired it- I will bless her with abundant provisions; her poor will I satisfy with bread. I will clothe her priests with salvation, and her saints shall ever sing for joy. There I will cause the horn of David to spring forth; I have prepared a lamp for Mine anointed. His enemies I will clothe with shame, but upon Himself His crown shall shine. (Psalm 132:13-18)

As we worship Jesus with gladness, we can come before him with joyful songs. We enter his gates with thanksgiving and his courts with praise (Psalm 100:2, 4). The Lord inhabits and is enthroned on our praises (Psalm 22:3). As we sing, give thanks and praise, Jesus is lifted up as our banner, His light shines for all to see and hearts are drawn. But I, when I am lifted up from the earth, will draw all men to myself (John 12:32).

When the Lord is enthroned on the praises of His people, He dwells in their midst. God's throne, His dwelling place, Zion, encircled by those singing a new song, it's here in this atmosphere of praise that the Lamb stands in the center of the throne high and lifted up.

Then I saw a Lamb, looking as if it had been slain, standing in the center of the throne, encircled by the four living creatures and the elders. And they sang a new song: You are worthy to take the scroll and to open its seals, because you were slain, and with your blood you purchased men for God from every tribe and language and people and nation. You have made them to be a kingdom and priests to serve our God, and they will reign on the earth. Then I looked and heard the voice of many angels, numbering thousands upon thousands, and ten thousand times ten thousand. They encircled the throne and the living creatures and the elders. In a loud voice they sang: Worthy is the Lamb, who was slain, to receive power and wealth and wisdom and strength and honor and glory and praise! Then I heard every creature in heaven and on earth and under the earth and on the sea, and all that is in them, singing: To him who sits on the throne and to the Lamb be praise and honor and glory and power, for ever and ever! The four living creatures said, Amen, and the elders fell down and worshiped. (Revelation 5:6, 9-13)

Look closely at the new song in the above passage. Not only is the new song sung around the throne of God with the Lamb standing in the center, the Lamb is also the focus of the song. The Lamb's sacrifice is the subject of the song. The sacrifice of the Lamb, the blood sacrifice of Christ for mankind is at the center of the new song. The new song of praise has a direct connection with the salvation of mankind. This message can be seen and heard when the new song is sung. When we praise and worship the Lord Jesus Christ, when the Lamb is at the center of our worship, when we magnify His blood sacrifice for our sins, we lift Him up for all to see. Jesus can then use our worship, our praise to draw others near to Him. Many will see and fear and put their trust in the LORD.

I waited patiently for the LORD; He turned to me and heard my cry. He lifted me out of the slimy pit, out of the mud and mire; He set my feet on a rock and gave me a firm place to stand. He put a new song in my mouth, a song of praise to our God; Many will see and fear and will trust in the LORD. (Psalm 40:1-3)

Those standing on Mount Zion with the Lamb, that follow the Lamb wherever He goes, those that have kept themselves pure, these are the only ones who can learn and sing a new song before the throne. Notice that they are placed on the Rock, lifted out of the mud and mire by God's own hand. It's also by God's hand that the new song is placed in their mouths. Waiting patiently, humbly for the Lamb to lead is the key to being lifted up by God's hand in this way. This expresses a desire to follow the Lamb to do His will, becoming obedient to death - even death on a cross!

Your attitude should be the same as that of Christ Jesus: Who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be grasped, but made himself nothing, taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness. And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself and became obedient to death- even death on a cross! Therefore God exalted him to the highest place and gave him the name that is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father. (Philippians 2:5-11)

What a wonderful picture of individual and corporate worship. As each single heart desires to follow hard after the Lamb in obedience, this allows the Lamb to gather His people and lead them corporately. Revelation 5 is a picture of what it looks like to have the Lord enthroned on the praises of His people. As each heart follows in obedience, the group ascends higher up Mount Zion until they are encircling the center of the throne together. The Lamb leads to the center of the throne; to springs of living water.

For the Lamb at the center of the throne will be their shepherd; he will lead them to springs of living water. (Revelation 7:17)

The springs of living water flow into the river of the water of life flowing from the throne of God and of the Lamb; to where the invitation to drink is extended by the Spirit and the bride. This invitation is extended to whoever is thirsty.

Then the angel showed me the river of the water of life, as clear as crystal, flowing from the throne of God and of the Lamb down the middle of the great street of the city. On each side of the river stood the tree of life, bearing twelve crops of fruit, yielding its fruit every month. And the leaves of the tree are for the healing of the nations. The Spirit and the bride say, Come! And let him who hears say, Come! Whoever is thirsty, let him come; and whoever wishes, let him take the free gift of the water of life. (Revelation 22:1-2, 17)

The Lamb at the center of the throne ties all these things together, worship, salvation, the river of life, Zion, the holy place where the Most High dwells. How appropriate that it would be the Lamb that leads, for Jesus the Lamb of God paid the price for us all. Jesus the Lamb of God is the reason that there is a free gift of the water of life.

It's the Lamb that holds the key to entering this place of worship encircling the throne. As we are completely surrendered to following His lead individually and corporately, the Lamb shows us how to keep in step with the Holy Spirit. The Lamb not only shows us when to pray, sing, praise, give thanks, He also puts His words in our mouths. As we learn how to follow and keep in step, the river flows, ankle deep, knee deep, waist deep and grows into a river that cannot be crossed (Ezekiel 47:4-5). We also ascend higher and higher up Mount Zion as we lift Jesus as our banner. We are lifted up together to stand in one accord with the Lamb encircling the throne, in the center of His will. It's from this place of one accord that the 'temple' is filled with the 'cloud' of the Lord's manifest presence.

The trumpeters and singers joined in unison, as with one voice, to give praise and thanks to the LORD. Accompanied by trumpets, cymbals and other instruments, they raised their voices in praise to the LORD and sang: He is good; his love endures forever. Then the temple of the LORD was filled with a cloud. (2 Chronicles 5:13)

This place of one accord allows the Lord to manifest, pour out His Spirit and move powerfully among His people. For we were all baptized by one Spirit into one body- ... -and we were all given the one Spirit to drink (1 Corinthians 12:13).

These all with one mind were continually devoting themselves to prayer, along with the women, and Mary the mother of Jesus, and with His brothers. - ... - When the day of Pentecost had come, they were all together in one place. And suddenly there came from heaven a noise like a violent rushing wind, and it filled the whole house where they were sitting. (Acts 1:14; 2:1-2)

It's from this place that the glory of Zion will be seen and the nations will come to the light of Christ (Isaiah 60:1-3). It's from this place of one accord with the Lamb that the testimony of Jesus in heaven is opened wide for many to see and fear and put their trust in the Lord.

I saw in heaven another great and marvelous sign: seven angels with the seven last plagues-last, because with them God's wrath is completed. And I saw what looked like a sea of glass mixed with fire and, standing beside the sea, those who had been victorious over the beast and his image and over the number of his name. They held harps given them by God and sang the song of Moses the servant of God and the song of the Lamb: Great and marvelous are your deeds, Lord God Almighty. Just and true are your ways, King of the ages. Who will not fear you, O Lord, and bring glory to your name? For you alone are holy. All nations will come and worship before you, for your righteous acts have been revealed. After these things I looked, and behold, the temple of the tabernacle of the testimony in heaven was opened wide. (Revelation 15:1-5)

The Song of the Lamb

Fear the Lord alone
Come bow before Him, fall at His feet in worship and praise --Revelation 4:10
Sing a new song, a song of the Lamb
A song of grace and redemption, a song of deliverance
A door opened for all to see --Isaiah 6:4
Many will see and fear and put their trust in the LORD. --Psalm 40:3
The King of the ages revealed.

Worship God! For the testimony of Jesus is the spirit of prophecy. --Revelation 19:10

The tent of the testimony opened wide
See the King
Do only what you see the Father doing --John 5:19
Hear the testimony of Jesus
Speak only what you are given, sing a new song --Psalm 40:3
A song of the Lamb, following wherever He leads --Revelation 14:4
That Jesus may be lifted up
A banner, the light of the world, for all to see --John 12:32, Isaiah 11:10
That the nations will be drawn unto Him and His way be known.

Who will not fear You, O Lord, and bring glory to Your name? For You alone are holy. --Revelation 15:4
Who will not come and bow down to worship before You, O Lord?
Let the nations be drawn singing for joy
Let the nations be glad. Let the peoples praise You, God; let all the peoples praise You! Then the earth will give her harvest [showing His favor] -God, our God, blesses us! God blesses us, that they may fear Him to the ends of the earth. --Psalm 67:5-7

Voice of the Gospel Christian Radio - Radio Stimme des Evangeliums

Donnerstag, 21. Juni 2012

You are worthy to take the scroll and to open its seals, because you were slain, and with your blood you purchased men for God from every tribe and la

Ascending Mount Zion

Keine Kommentare:

Kommentar veröffentlichen