A special blog post for Bible Month

All creation worships - Revelation 4 & 5

Then I heard every creature in heaven and on earth and under the earth and on the sea, and all that is in them, saying:

 “To him who sits on the throne and to the Lamb

 be praise and honour and glory and power,

 for ever and ever!” (5:13)

In these chapters worship is not something that is only done by humans, all of creation is involved in praising God. This might remind of us of Psalms like Psalm 148 where all of creation is similarly called to worship God. Passages like these remind us of two things – firstly, our place within the whole community of creation, and secondly, the worth of the whole of creation to the Creator.

Question: Are you surprised to discover that the four creatures (4:6-8) include humanity alongside representatives of all living things? What implications might this have for how you worship? [1]

Making all things new - Revelation 21:1-5

Then I saw “a new heaven and a new earth,”for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away... And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, “Look! God’s dwelling place is now among the people, and he will dwell with them...‘He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death’ or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away.” He who was seated on the throne said, “I am making everything new!”

The Greek word used for new in Revelation 21 is kainos. This does not usually mean brand new (that would be neos), instead it suggests a renewing or remaking of the old. [2] ‘Kainos is believing that God wants us to partner with him in restoring creation, so that what we do to renew creation now matters.’ [3]

Question: If heaven is about a creation in harmony, the renewal of all things, if that is heaven’s direction, what does it mean to pray, live and work with that vision before us now? [4]

Water and salvation - Revelation 22:1-2

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.

In John’s Gospel (7:37-38) Jesus says “Let anyone who is thirsty come to me and drink. Whoever believes in me, as Scripture has said, rivers of living water will flow from within them.” This promise and imagery are echoed in the passage from Revelation. Jerusalem becomes the source of the river of life which flows through the streets and out into the natural world. The tree of life, its leaves and fruit, will be a source of healing. This is a picture of harmony between God, people and creation. [5]

These passages from the last chapters of Revelation are full of hope for a restored creation.

Question: How can you share this optimism and hope, without it sounding like wishful thinking? [6]

Further reading

Apocalypse Now? The Book of Revelation and the Environmental Crisis – Simon Woodman - JRI Briefing Paper No. 21 (Available as a downloadable PDF from the JRI website)

Notes

[1] Question taken from p57, Resound Worship, Doxecology Study Guide (2020)

[2] p164, M.J. & M.R. Hodson, A Christian Guide to Environmental Issues (BRF, 2021)

[3] p52, Resound Worship, Doxecology Study Guide (2020)

[4] Question taken from Colin Matthews p182 The BRF Book of 365 Bible Reflections (BRF, 2021)

[5] p77, M.J. & M.R. Hodson, A Christian Guide to Environmental Issues (BRF, 2021)

[6] Question taken from the Bible Month Daily Reading Guide for Revelation