Revelation 7:9-10 9 After these things I looked, and behold, a great multitude which no one could number, of all nations, tribes, peoples, and tongues, standing before the throne and before the Lamb, clothed with white robes, with palm branches in their hands, 10 and crying out with a loud voice, saying, “Salvation belongs to our God who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb!”
Revelation 19:6-10 6 And I heard, as it were, the voice of a great multitude, as the sound of many waters and as the sound of mighty thunderings, saying, “Alleluia! For the[a] Lord God Omnipotent reigns! 7 Let us be glad and rejoice and give Him glory, for the marriage of the Lamb has come, and His wife has made herself ready.” 8 And to her it was granted to be arrayed in fine linen, clean and bright, for the fine linen is the righteous acts of the saints. 9 Then he said to me, “Write: ‘Blessed are those who are called to the marriage supper of the Lamb!’” And he said to me, “These are the true sayings of God.” 10 And I fell at his feet to worship him. But he said to me, “See that you do not do that! I am your fellow servant, and of your brethren who have the testimony of Jesus. Worship God! For the testimony of Jesus is the spirit of prophecy.”
SOAP – Rev. 7: 9-10
John shares a beautiful glimpse of heaven in which worship will be the primary activity. This is the hope for believers in Jesus Christ – an eternity spent with God the Father and God the Son. Believers will finally have our home with God. God draws us individually and reveals to us the path and the way to eternal life and salvation – Jesus Christ. Believers, then have the beautiful promises of fullness of joy in the Lord’s presence and eternal pleasure coming through the right hand of God, Jesus. We will have eternal life, joy, and pleasure in our Lord’s presence in Heaven.
In what ways have you anchored your heart to this world? In what circumstance have you lost sight of the hope and joy that is waiting for you in heaven? How often and easy it is to forget that this world is not our home. We are strangers here. The inclination is to try to navigate and avoid the heartache, sickness, struggle, betrayals, frustration, and exhaustion here on earth. Our inclination is to create an anchor to this world and fix our hearts to it. We try to find fullness of joy and pleasure on this earth in things and in people. Unfortunately, this earth never fully satisfies and will always seem to disappoint. Fullness of joy and eternal pleasure can only be found in the Lord’s presence, and believers will be in His presence in heaven.
Father God, the heavens declare Your glory and reveal Your handiwork. Lord, I long for the day that I can be in Your presence, free from the hurts and pain from this broken world. Lord, sometimes it is so difficult to imagine eternity with You. The joy, splendor, and glory of it all is unimaginable. Lord, remind me daily that Heaven does exist and that I will experience it all with You. Lord, break the chains that threaten to bind me to this earth. Remove the desire within me to create a “heaven” here on earth with my family, friends, and my possessions. Heal the disappointments that my journey on this earth has caused. Remind me of my destiny which is to be with You; full of life, full of joy, full of pleasure, and full of love. In Jesus’ name. Amen.