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Realizing the presence, promise, and power of the Kingdom of God.
ReVision

All Together Now

There's a new King, and He's ruling over a worldwide symphony of renewal.

The Goodness of Heaven (4)

Now when He had taken the scroll, the four living creatures and the twenty-four elders fell down before the Lamb, each having a harp, and golden bowls full of incense, which are the prayers of the saints. And they sang a new song, saying:
“You are worthy to take the scroll,
And to open its seals;
For You were slain,
And have redeemed us to God by Your blood
Out of every tribe and tongue and people and nation,
And have made us kings and priests to our God;
And we shall reign on the earth.” 
Revelation 5.8-10

Under new management
With the incarnation, death, resurrection, and ascension of Jesus Christ, and the subsequent outpouring of His Spirit, the world and everything in it came under new management. 

Not that it wasn’t always under this administration, but now that eternal regime is more personally and pointedly involved in renewing all aspects of the world order. The old regime has been sacked and sent away in chains (Matt. 12.22-29; Col. 2.13-15), and the old Proprietor has resumed hands-on control, and He is busily bringing order, beauty, goodness, freedom, harmony, uprightness, and life to all things.

The age of darkness, destruction, death, and decay is over. The light of eternal truth, hope, and joy has dawned, and it is everywhere putting the old regime to flight (1 Jn. 2.8). An administration of lies, deceit, disillusionment, disappointment, despair, and death – where the favored few, under the influence of evil spiritual forces, trampled the untold multitudes – is being replaced by a worldwide ecosystem of truth, grace, and peace, where all people and things can flourish in the fullness of life. A realm of righteousness, peace, and joy in the Holy Spirit is everywhere bringing newness to all things.

This new dispensation – economy or administration – was announced by the apostles, calling all those who know the salvation of the Lord to join hands in the work of revival, renewal, and restoration (cf. Heb. 2.3-9; Eph. 1.4-14; 1 Jn. 2.1-16). Its beginnings were first glimpsed in John’s vision in Revelation 5.8-10, where the response of the heavenly hosts teaches us just how powerful this new regime is to effect a symphony and chorus of glorious harmony involving faithful servants throughout all of heaven and earth.

Let’s take a closer look.

What’s going on here?
John has been granted a vision into matters eternal. Lifted by the Spirit into the very court of heaven, he is caught up in the majesty and mystery, the beauty and blessedness, and the safety and solidity which is the presence of the living God (Rev. 4). What can all this mean?

Suddenly, “a scroll written inside and on the back, sealed with seven seals” is produced. An angel cries in a voice filled with anticipation, “Who is worthy to open the scroll and to loose its seals?” (Rev. 5.1, 2) No one in heaven is competent for so great a task.

John, sensing this is something momentous, as if this scroll, this divine decree, portends some new mystery, begins to weep, “because no one was found worthy to open and read the scroll, or to look at it.”

But his tears are wiped away by the announcement that “a Lamb as though it had been slain”, a Lamb accompanied by the Spirit of the living God, is appointed a seat on God’s throne and given the wondrous scroll.

The constitution of the new world order is placed in the hands of the one Being Who is worthy and able to open the scroll, seal by seal, and begin the implementation of the Kingdom of God on earth, as it is in heaven. The Lamb of God, Who takes away the sins of the world, now prepares to unfold a new order of divine goodness and glory in and through all that God has made.

No wonder they’re rejoicing
No sooner is the Lamb vested with the authority to rule and administer all things in heaven and on earth, than all heaven erupts in a glorious symphony of harps, a boisterous chorus of praise, and a rich offering of sweet incense. The Church in glory, accompanied by all creation, sings a new song of praise to the Lamb, acknowledging His worthiness, celebrating His work of redemption, and accepting their place as co-regents of the new order with Him.

Just as suddenly, myriads of angels break out in joyful song, until at last “every creature which is in heaven and on the earth and under the earth and such as are in the sea, and all that are in them” are heard saying, “Blessing and honor and glory and power be to Him who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb, forever and ever!” (Rev. 5.13)

For with the enthronement of the Lamb, the Light of the world has come. The Bread of life is being distributed through the Spirit of God. The Head of the Church is directing His nation of kings and priests in a restoration project that is making all things new; and the uncountable, daily good works of the innumerable multitude of the people of God work as salt, light, and leaven to advance the rule of King Jesus on earth as it is in heaven.

The heavenly hosts show us the kind of worldwide harmony of God’s goodness that can arise in each of our souls, all our churches, every community and nation, through all aspects of social and cultural life as, all together now, the people of God on earth, set their minds on the heavenly realm (Col. 3.1-3) for guidance in bringing the goodness of God to light in the land of the living. 

For reflection
1.  What does Jesus mean by teaching us to pray that the Kingdom of God would come on earth as it is in heaven?

2.  How much a part of your own spiritual life does contemplating things in heaven play? How could you improve in this?

3.  Why do you suppose more Christians aren’t active in seeking the goodness of God? 

Next steps – Transformation: What will you do to begin seeing more of Christ’s Kingdom and goodness coming to light in your sphere of being and influence? 

T. M. Moore

The Spirit of God executes the will of King Jesus, as His Agent on earth, for the progress of His Kingdom. Learn more about the kingship of Jesus and our place in it by ordering a copy of the book, The Kingship of Jesus, from our online store (click here).

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Except as indicated, Scripture taken from the New King James Version. © Copyright 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

T.M. Moore

T. M. Moore is principal of The Fellowship of Ailbe, a spiritual fellowship in the Celtic Christian tradition. He and his wife, Susie, make their home in the Champlain Valley of Vermont.
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