A new song (Revelation 5, Romans 3:22-26, Ezekiel 28:13-19)

"Sing to the Lord a New Song"
from our concert in Carnegie Hall 2013

We decided not to do the concert this year.  It was pretty exhausting.  But totally worthwhile.  It was so amazing.  Singing in Heaven's throne room must be WOW!!!

1 And I saw in the right hand of Him who sat on the throne a scroll written inside and on the back, sealed with seven seals. 2 Then I saw a strong angel proclaiming with a loud voice, “Who is worthy to open the scroll and to loose its seals?” 3 And no one in heaven or on the earth or under the earth was able to open the scroll, or to look at it.
It's interesting, I always think of those in Heaven as being perfect.  But, according to these verses they aren't all perfect.  We know that satan was a beautiful, favorite angel that fell from Heaven and became a serpent that tempted Adam and Eve. 

Fall of satan:
13 You were in Eden, the garden of God;
Every precious stone was your covering:
The sardius, topaz, and diamond,
Beryl, onyx, and jasper,
Sapphire, turquoise, and emerald with gold.
The workmanship of your timbrels and pipes
Was prepared for you on the day you were created.
14 “You were the anointed cherub who covers;
I established you;
You were on the holy mountain of God;
You walked back and forth in the midst of fiery stones.
15 You were perfect in your ways from the day you were created,
Till iniquity was found in you.
16 “By the abundance of your trading
You became filled with violence within,
And you sinned;
Therefore I cast you as a profane thing
Out of the mountain of God;
And I destroyed you, O covering cherub,
From the midst of the fiery stones.
17 ‘Your heart was lifted up because of your beauty;
You corrupted your wisdom for the sake of your splendor;
I cast you to the ground,
I laid you before kings,
That they might gaze at you.
18 “You defiled your sanctuaries
By the multitude of your iniquities,
By the iniquity of your trading;
Therefore I brought fire from your midst;
It devoured you,
And I turned you to ashes upon the earth
In the sight of all who saw you.
19 All who knew you among the peoples are astonished at you;
You have become a horror,
And shall be no more forever.”
(Ezekiel 28:13-19 NKJV)

satan's biggest mistake was his pride and arrogance.  Somehow he thought he was better than his creator.  Sounds familiar, like something we would believe at times.  Humans are blessed to have lots of people help us remember our true position in life : )  Yet pride and a desire for ultimate beauty is still what some crave.  

4 So I wept much, because no one was found worthy to open and read the scroll, or to look at it. 5 But one of the elders said to me, “Do not weep. Behold, the Lion of the tribe of Judah, the Root of David, has prevailed to open the scroll and to loose its seven seals.”
John was heartbroken.  He knew he wasn't worthy.  He called himself the disciple that "Jesus loved."  Jesus made everyone feel they were loved.  Now he's been given the task of writing the book of Revelation and he can't.  Because no one is worthy to open the scroll.  He must've felt so hopeless. If only he hadn't sinned.

For there is no difference; 23 for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, 24 being justified freely by His grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus, 25 whom God set forth as a propitiation by His blood, through faith, to demonstrate His righteousness, because in His forbearance God had passed over the sins that were previously committed, 26 to demonstrate at the present time His righteousness, that He might be just and the justifier of the one who has faith in Jesus.
(Romans 3:22-26 NKJV)

6 And I looked, and behold, in the midst of the throne and of the four living creatures, and in the midst of the elders, stood a Lamb as though it had been slain, having seven horns and seven eyes, which are the seven Spirits of God, (wisdom, understanding, counsel, might, knowledge, and the fear of God Isaiah 11:2) sent out into all the earth. 7 Then He came and took the scroll out of the right hand of Him who sat on the throne.

Ok, this is definitely apocalyptic literature.  Seven is the heavenly number.  Six is satan's. As I read this, I think about how the lamb was slain on the cross.  He is the final required sacrifice for man's salvation.  The scroll is the deed to earth.  Jesus sacrifice broke the hold on earth and set earth free to be God's again.  God hasn't taken ownership back yet.

A New Song

8 Now when He had taken the scroll, the four living creatures and the twenty- four elders fell down before the Lamb, each having a harp, and golden bowls full of incense, which are the prayers of the saints. 
Wow!  They keep our prayers in golden bowls in Heaven.  Very cool!  This must be part of the chain reaction when we pray and praise up to God's throne room.

9 And they sang a new song, saying:

“You are worthy to take the scroll,
And to open its seals;
For You were slain,
And have redeemed us to God by Your blood
Out of every tribe and tongue and people and nation,
10 And have made us kings and priests to our God;
And we shall reign on the earth.”
11 Then I looked, and I heard the voice of many angels around the throne, the living creatures, 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 who was slain
To receive power and riches and wisdom,
And strength and honor 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, I heard saying:
“Blessing and honor and glory and power
Be to Him who sits on the throne,
And to the Lamb, forever and ever!”
14 Then the four living creatures said, “Amen!” And the twenty- four elders fell down and worshiped Him who lives forever and ever.
(Revelation 5:1-14 NKJV)
Verses 9-14 sounds like the Church will be in Heaven during the tribulation.  There are a lot of beliefs about this.  It makes sense because all creatures alive and dead will be praising God.

This was on Godtube.  Girls weren't meant to be disposable people, used, and thrown away.  We are important to God.  Be safe and find family.  That's what God wants.  Nothing's easy but it's worth the effort.  I was very impressed by this:

Teenager's Message to Her Generation (link)


Dear Heavenly Father,
I lift up Israel, Turkey, Iraq, Jordan and Ukraine.  I pray You will pour out your blessings on these nations that they will not be harmed.  Thank You Father for those in Arabia and others who are willing to keep the middle east safe from harm.  I pray terrorism will be stopped.  Bless all on the side of good and not evil.  Thank You for hearing our prayers Father and saving them in bowls of incense.
In Jesus Name,
Amen