Scripture
In a loud voice they sang:
“Worthy is the Lamb, who was slain,
to receive power and wealth and wisdom and strength
and honor and glory and praise!”

Then I heard every creature in heaven and on earth and under the earth and on the sea, and all that is in them, singing:
“To him who sits on the throne and to the Lamb
be praise and honor and glory and power,
for ever and ever!” The four living creatures said, “Amen,” and the elders fell down and worshiped. Revelation 5:12-14

Observation
Some think Revelation is a book about the future. It isn’t.

Others think Revelation is a book about mega disasters. It isn’t.

Most think Revelation is too confusing and should be left alone. They are missing out.

Revelation is a musical and it is filled with more singing than a Rogers and Hammerstein show. When events become grim, angels, elders and mega crowds burst into song.

All this singing would all seem heartless unless we fall in love with the purpose of the book of Revelation. Revelation is not about the future or disasters; revelation is about Jesus.

And there is more. Revelation is a book of instruction of how to worship Jesus in the blackest times of history. Anyone can sing in the sunshine, but Revelation is about singing in the rain. It requires me to pry my fingers that clutch the things produced by this world free enough to be lifted up toward heaven toward he who is coming.

Application
This last book asks me the question: will my song become softer or louder as the world falls apart? The cast of “Revelation: The Musical” seem so focused on God, heaven, and his longterm purposes. Even bad news inspires them to worship him more. What sets them apart from my generation, is that this world had no interest to them. Their hearts were so set on God’s plan of bringing Jesus back to planet earth, that if God had to take things apart to put Jesus in the right place then they would rejoice.

Revelation is an album for robust, hearty all-weather, all-terrain worshippers who have a determination to sing louder the darker life becomes. It is time for the church to turn up the volume. For the message of this book is that understanding end times is simple. The world will be the worst it has ever been while the church of Jesus Christ will become the best it has ever been. It is time to show our colors and join the song that will never end.

Prayer
Father, I find the news more than distressing; I’m becoming indifferent to it because it is always worst than the last time I read it. I find I’m embracing this book of Revelation more and being encouraged to let go of what doesn’t last and to grasp tightly to what is eternal. The song of heaven described in this book surrounds me. Help me to tune into the worship that has already begun and to singing with unseen friends, glory to the Lamb who was slain. Amen.