Worship in Heaven – Part 3, Glory

David W Palmer

(Isaiah 6:1–4 NKJV) “In the year that King Uzziah died, I saw the Lord sitting on a throne, high and lifted up, and the train of His robe filled the temple. {2} Above it stood seraphim; each one had six wings: with two he covered his face, with two he covered his feet, and with two he flew. {3} And one cried to another and said: ‘Holy, holy, holy is the LORD of hosts; The whole earth is full of His glory!’ {4} And the posts of the door were shaken by the voice of him who cried out, and the house was filled with smoke.”

In their worship, not only did the seraphim focus on God’s holiness, but they also declared his glory: “The whole earth is full of His glory!”

When they said “glory,” what were they expressing? Were they talking about God’s ingenuity and artistic originality in creation (the signature left by a master artist on his work for all to identify him … if they search for it)? Was it because the irresistible weight of his magnificent presence was overwhelming them? Perhaps what took their breath away was a more complete revelation of his inexhaustible love, his unbreakable commitment to help, and his unstoppable plan. Or maybe it was simply the absolute awesomeness of his unlimited, invincible person that caused their spontaneous—albeit repetitive—outbursts of prophetic expression and praise. Whatever eye-opening disclosure overflowed in their powerful declarations, we see from it that God’s glory fills the earth. What’s more, we also see that we too can receive increasing revelation of what this means, and that we can see it in our worship.

Both Moses and the Old Testament prophet Habakkuk had a similar revelation in their close, personal encounters with God:

(Numbers 14:21 NKJV) “But truly, as I live, all the earth shall be filled with the glory of the Lord.”

(Habakkuk 2:14 NKJV) “For the earth will be filled with the knowledge of the glory of the LORD, as the waters cover the sea.”

What is God’s glory like?

(Exodus 24:17 NKJV) “The sight of the glory of the LORD was like a consuming fire on the top of the mountain in the eyes of the children of Israel.”

(Ezekiel 1:26–28 NKJV) “… a throne, in appearance like a sapphire stone; on the likeness of the throne was a likeness with the appearance of a man high above it. {27} Also from the appearance of His waist and upward I saw, as it were, the color of amber with the appearance of fire all around within it; and from the appearance of His waist and downward I saw, as it were, the appearance of fire with brightness all around. {28} Like the appearance of a rainbow in a cloud on a rainy day, so was the appearance of the brightness all around it. This was the appearance of the likeness of the glory of the Lord …”

From these and other Scripture passages, we see that the appearance of God’s glory was described as cloud, fire, brightness, rainbow, rain, amber flames, lightning, and the thunder of voices.

Isaiah was prophesying of our time when he declared his revelation about God’s glory:

“Behold, the darkness shall cover the earth, And deep darkness the people; But the LORD will arise over you, And His glory will be seen upon you.” (Isaiah 60:2 NKJV)

Upon whom? Who is the “you” that God’s glory will be seen on? Answer: His true worshippers who hunger for intimate knowledge of their loving Father—our glorious creator God. Is that you?

This whole realm of revelation, heavenly vistas, insight, and disclosure awaits you in your own place of worship. Worship opens us to heaven, and heaven to us—to God’s throne, and to all of his splendor. It unlocks for us all of the majesty, unveiling, fulfillment, and joy that is accessible to us right now. All we need is a soft worshipping heart, a deep hunger for God, and the time to put it all together in personal and corporate worship. Why not worship Him now? Heaven’s waiting. Can you hear the Holy Spirit’s whisper, “Come up hither (here)”?

(Revelation 4:1–3, 5–6, 8 NKJV) “After these things I looked, and behold, a door standing open in heaven. And the first voice which I heard was like a trumpet speaking with me, saying, ‘Come up here, and I will show you things which must take place after this.’ {2} Immediately I was in the Spirit; and behold, a throne set in heaven, and One sat on the throne. {3} And He who sat there was like a jasper and a sardius stone in appearance; and there was a rainbow around the throne, in appearance like an emerald. ... {5} And from the throne proceeded lightnings, thunderings, and voices … {6} Before the throne there was a sea of glass, like crystal. And in the midst of the throne, and around the throne, were four living creatures full of eyes in front and in back. ... {8} The four living creatures, each having six wings, were full of eyes around and within. And they do not rest day or night, saying: ‘Holy, holy, holy, Lord God Almighty, Who was and is and is to come!’”

Remember: “We don’t have time; we make time.”