There is a war that every generation of mankind has experienced. This war will continue to impact all of human history until this earth is no more. Multitudes have been taken captive by the enemy and the casualties from this war far exceed all of the World Wars combined. This war began in heaven but quickly spread to God’s creation on earth. The battle ground for this war takes place in the hearts and minds of every person, just like it began in the heart of Lucifer, one of God’s created angels. In Isaiah 14:12-14 we read, “How you are fallen from heaven, O Lucifer, son of the morning! How you are cut down to the ground, You who weakened the nations! For you have said in your heart: I will ascend into heaven, I will exalt my throne above the stars of God: I will also sit on the mount of the congregation on the farthest sides of the north: I will ascend above the heights of the clouds, I will be like the Most High.” And just like Lucifer said in his heart, so the man and the woman in Genesis 3 said in their hearts, that they too wanted to be like God (Genesis 3:5). This rebellion of Satan and of mankind is an act of war and rebellion against the Creator. This war is ultimately a worship war! The creation exists for the Creator. The Creator is God and we, as the creation, exist to worship Him. This issue must be resolved in our hearts so that we don’t become a captive or a casualty in this worship war.

Revelation 4 takes us back to the throne of heaven. This is the place where Lucifer in his heart first rebelled. Catch a glimpse of the main focal point of heaven in Revelation 4:2, “a throne set in heaven, and One sat on the throne.” There is only one true God and we are to worship Him. Later in this chapter, you read of the four living creatures, who are angels, and the twenty-four elders. You will notice their main activity is to worship God. The chapter concludes with these words from the twenty-four elders, “You are worthy, O Lord, to receive glory and honor and power: For You created all things, and by Your will they exist and were created.” Revelation takes us back to Genesis. God is the Creator. And we exist for the Creator. He alone is to be worshiped.

How can fallen and rebellious mankind go from being at war to being at peace with God? Revelation 5 summarizes the answer as the Lamb of God, Jesus Christ, is introduced in heaven. And the Lamb is also worshiped by the twenty-four elders, because the Lamb is also God. The Triune God is to be worshiped. “And they sang a new song as they fell before the Lamb 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 nation, and have made us kings and priests to our God; And we shall reign on the earth.” It is only through the blood of the cross and Christ’s subsequent resurrection that we can be redeemed and be at peace with God. By the grace of God, the redeemed are on the right side of the worship war and will even have the privilege of ruling and reigning with Christ on the earth.

The battle continues in the book of Revelation and there will come a time in the future when it looks like Satan might win as the first beast is worshiped by all who dwell on the earth (Revelation 13:12-14). But that rebellion and all other rebellions will be crushed by Jesus Christ (Revelation 19-20). If you want the key command in the book of Revelation, it is found twice in the last four chapters of the book. The command is simple: “Worship God” (Revelation 19:10; 22:9). God created us to worship Him and God has graciously redeemed us so that we can worship Him. For more details on how this worship war will play out, please join us on Sun-day nights as Pastor Leary continues our book study through the book of the Revelation of Jesus Christ.