Tag Archives: Redemptive Plan

Beloved, let us lift our hearts and minds to the exalted Christ, the One who reigns supreme and calls all creation to worship Him. The Scriptures declare His divine authority, sovereignty, and ultimate victory, drawing us to recognize and honor His glory. In this reflection, we explore the profound attributes and the universal call to worship the exalted Christ.

Prophetic Foretelling

The prophets spoke of the coming Messiah, high and lifted up. Isaiah proclaimed, “Behold, My Servant will prosper, He will be high and lifted up and greatly exalted” (Isaiah 52:13). Daniel saw in visions of the night, “And to Him was given dominion, glory, and a kingdom, that all peoples, nations, and languages should serve Him. His dominion is an everlasting dominion, which shall not pass away, and His kingdom one that shall not be destroyed” (Daniel 7:14). These sacred words call us to bow before the One who holds all power and authority. Isaiah also declared, “For to us a Child is born, to us a Son is given; and the government shall be upon His shoulder, and His name shall be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace” (Isaiah 9:6). This prophecy invites us to worship the Prince of Peace, who reigns eternally.

Teachings and Declarations of Jesus

When the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, He spoke of His future exaltation and the glory to come. To His faithful disciples, He promised, “When the Son of Man sits on His glorious throne, you who have followed Me will also sit on twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel” (Matthew 19:28). As the days drew near for His departure, He assured them, “They will see the Son of Man coming on the clouds of heaven with power and great glory” (Matthew 24:30). After He had spoken to them, “He was taken up into heaven and He sat at the right hand of God” (Mark 16:19). The angel announced His birth, “You will conceive and give birth to a son, and you are to call Him Jesus” (Luke 1:31), and at His circumcision, “He was named Jesus, the name the angel had given Him before He was conceived” (Luke 2:21). These declarations affirm His exaltation and call believers to anticipate and prepare for His glorious return, worshiping Him as the reigning King.

Apostolic Testimony

The apostles, filled with the Holy Spirit, bore witness to Christ’s exaltation. Peter, standing with the eleven, declared, “Exalted to the right hand of God, He has received from the Father the promised Holy Spirit and has poured out what you now see and hear” (Acts 2:33). Paul, in his letter to the Romans, emphasized, “Christ Jesus who died—more than that, who was raised to life—is at the right hand of God and is also interceding for us” (Romans 8:34). Furthermore, Peter proclaimed, “Salvation is found in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to mankind by which we must be saved” (Acts 4:12). These testimonies call us to fall in adoration before Him who intercedes on our behalf and whose name alone brings salvation.

Pauline Epistles

Paul speaks of the exaltation of Christ and the universal call to worship. To the Ephesians, he wrote, “He exerted in Christ when He raised Him from the dead and seated Him at His right hand in the heavenly realms” (Ephesians 1:20). In Philippians, he exclaims, “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 acknowledge that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father” (Philippians 2:9-11). These words stir our souls to worship Him whose name is above all names. Paul also writes, “May the name of our Lord Jesus be glorified in you, and you in Him, according to the grace of our God and the Lord Jesus Christ” (2 Thessalonians 1:12).

The Epistle to the Hebrews

Hebrews eloquently describes Christ’s exaltation and calls believers to worship. “The Son is the radiance of God’s glory and the exact representation of His being, sustaining all things by His powerful word. After He had provided purification for sins, He sat down at the right hand of the Majesty in heaven” (Hebrews 1:3). Later, it encourages believers to “fix our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith. For the joy set before Him, He endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God” (Hebrews 12:2). These passages invite us to worship Christ for His sacrificial love and His exalted position.

Letters of Peter and the Revelation

Peter testifies to Christ’s exaltation, declaring, “Who has gone into heaven and is at God’s right hand—with angels, authorities, and powers in submission to Him” (1 Peter 3:22). In the Revelation given to John, we hear the triumphant voice: “To the one who is victorious, I will give the right to sit with Me on My throne, just as I was victorious and sat down with My Father on His throne” (Revelation 3:21). In a vision, John saw “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 honor and glory and power, for ever and ever!’” (Revelation 5:13). These declarations emphasize that Christ’s exaltation calls for universal worship, recognizing His ultimate authority and eternal reign. John also saw Christ with many crowns on His head, bearing the name “King of Kings and Lord of Lords” (Revelation 19:12, 19:16).

Universal Call to Worship

From the dawn of creation, the call to worship Christ has echoed through the ages. “May His name endure forever; may it continue as long as the sun. Then all nations will be blessed through Him, and they will call Him blessed” (Psalm 72:17). The Song of Solomon praises, “Your name is like perfume poured out. No wonder the young women love you!” (Song of Solomon 1:3). In every tongue and tribe, let the name of Jesus be magnified, as Peter declared, “Repent and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins” (Acts 2:38). The apostles testified, “By faith in the name of Jesus, this man whom you see and know was made strong. It is Jesus’ name and the faith that comes through Him that has completely healed him, as you can all see” (Acts 3:16). Even the enemies of the gospel recognized the power of His name: “But to stop this thing from spreading any further among the people, we must warn them to speak no longer to anyone in this name” (Acts 4:17). And in Ephesus, “The name of the Lord Jesus was held in high honor” (Acts 19:17).

Paul urged the Corinthians, “I appeal to you, brothers and sisters, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that all of you agree with one another in what you say and that there be no divisions among you, but that you be perfectly united in mind and thought” (1 Corinthians 1:10). He wrote to the Ephesians that Christ’s name is “far above all rule and authority, power and dominion, and every name that is invoked, not only in the present age but also in the one to come” (Ephesians 1:21). James also acknowledged, “Is it not they who blaspheme the honorable name by which you were called?” (James 2:7).

Conclusion: Worshiping Christ

Beloved, let us lift our hearts and voices in worship to the exalted Christ. His divine authority and eternal reign call all of creation to bow before Him. From prophetic declarations to apostolic testimonies, Scripture affirms Christ’s supreme position and the universal call to acknowledge His sovereignty. His exaltation assures us of His ultimate victory and the fulfillment of God’s redemptive plan. Therefore, let us join the heavenly hosts and all creation in worshiping the exalted Christ, for His name is above every name, and His kingdom will never end. To Him be glory and honor, now and forevermore. Amen.

The Worthy Lamb

July 3, 2024 warren

Revelation 5:1-5 (AMP): “I saw in the right hand of Him who was seated on the throne a scroll written on the inside and on the back, closed and sealed with seven seals. And I saw a strong angel announcing with a loud voice, ‘Who is worthy [having the authority and virtue] to open the scroll and [to] break its seals?’ And no one in heaven or on earth or under the earth [in Hades, the realm of the dead] was able to open the scroll or look into it. And I began to weep greatly because no one was found worthy to open the scroll or look into it. Then one of the [twenty-four] elders said to me, ‘Stop weeping! Look closely, the Lion of the tribe of Judah, the Root of David, has overcome and conquered! He can open the scroll and [break] its seven seals.'”

In this vision, a divine silence fills the heavenly throne room as the One seated on the throne holds out a scroll, sealed with seven seals. The scroll, a testament of God’s will and judgment, rests securely in His right hand. An air of solemn expectancy permeates the scene, a moment of cosmic significance.

A strong angel, magnificent and awe-inspiring, steps forward, his voice like thunder as he challenges all of creation: “Who is worthy to open the scroll and break its seals?” (Revelation 5:2). The angel’s proclamation echoes through the heavens, reverberating in the hearts of all beings. Yet, no one in heaven, on earth, or under the earth is found worthy to approach the scroll, let alone open it.

John, the seer, overwhelmed by despair, begins to weep bitterly. His tears symbolize the weight of human hopelessness and the longing for divine intervention. The scroll, holding the destiny of the world, remains sealed, and the tension in the heavens mounts.

Then, in a moment of profound revelation, one of the twenty-four elders, wise and venerable, speaks to John with reassuring authority: “Stop weeping! Look closely, the Lion of the tribe of Judah, the Root of David, has overcome and conquered! He can open the scroll and break its seven seals” (Revelation 5:5). The elder’s words bring a sudden shift from sorrow to hope.

John’s gaze follows the elder’s direction, and there, amidst the throne and the four living creatures, stands the Lamb. He appears as though slain, bearing the marks of sacrifice, yet he is alive, embodying the paradox of divine victory through suffering. The Lamb, Jesus Christ, is the Lion of Judah and the Root of David, fulfilling the ancient prophecies.

As the Lamb steps forward, the atmosphere shifts from tension to reverence. All of heaven recognizes His worthiness, not through force, but through His sacrificial love and redemptive power. He takes the scroll from the right hand of the One seated on the throne, and a new song rises in the heavens: “Worthy are You to take the scroll and to break its seals, for You were slain, and with Your blood, You purchased people for God from every tribe and language and people and nation” (Revelation 5:9).

The Lamb’s act of taking the scroll signifies the beginning of the fulfillment of God’s redemptive plan. His worthiness is affirmed by the chorus of countless angels, elders, and living creatures, all proclaiming His glory and honor. The vision of Revelation 5 heralds the ultimate triumph of divine justice and mercy, as the Lamb prepares to open the seals and unveil the mysteries of God’s sovereign will.

#Visions

The Fourth Seal: Death

July 3, 2024 warren

Revelation 6:7-8 (AMP) states: “When He (the Lamb) broke open the fourth seal, I heard the voice of the fourth living creature call out, ‘Come.’ So I looked, and behold, an ashen (pale greenish gray) horse [like a corpse, representing death and pestilence]; and its rider’s name was Death; and Hades (the realm of the dead) was following with him. They were given authority and power over a fourth part of the earth, to kill with the sword and with famine and with plague (pestilence, disease) and by the wild beasts of the earth.”

In this vision, the Lamb of God, full of grace and authority, breaks open the fourth seal. The atmosphere grows tense as the fourth living creature, with a voice resonating like a deep call, commands, “Come!” (Revelation 6:7).

From the depths of the celestial realm emerges an ashen horse, its pale greenish-gray hue chillingly reminiscent of a corpse, symbolizing death and pestilence. The rider, grim and foreboding, is named Death, and closely following him is Hades, the realm of the dead, representing the inevitable fate that follows in Death’s wake (Revelation 6:8).

As the rider descends to the earth, a shadow of dread and despair spreads across the land. Death, with his skeletal visage, wields the power to bring about unprecedented destruction. The authority given to him encompasses killing with the sword, famine, plague, and even the wild beasts of the earth, affecting a fourth of the earth’s population (Ezekiel 14:21).

The vision unfolds scenes of widespread calamity. War ravages nations, leaving behind a trail of destruction and countless lives lost. Famine grips the land, and people struggle to find food, their bodies weakened and emaciated. Pestilence spreads like wildfire, bringing disease and suffering to every corner. Even the wild beasts, driven by hunger and desperation, turn against humanity, adding to the chaos and terror (Deuteronomy 32:24).

As Death rides forth, Hades follows closely, collecting the souls of the perished. The sight is harrowing, with multitudes succumbing to the various forms of devastation unleashed upon the earth. The impact is felt universally, sparing no one from the touch of this relentless rider (Job 18:13-14).

In the midst of this overwhelming sorrow, the vision also serves as a sobering reminder of the consequences of sin and the fragility of human life. It calls believers to reflect on the seriousness of God’s judgments and the urgency of repentance and faith in His redemptive plan (Isaiah 24:6).

As the vision fades, the message is stark and clear: the rider on the ashen horse signifies a period of unparalleled death and destruction, urging humanity to seek refuge in God’s mercy and grace amidst the looming judgments (Matthew 24:21-22).