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Revelation 14
6 I saw an angel flying in mid heaven, having an eternal Good News to proclaim to those who dwell on the earth, and to every nation, tribe, language, and people. 7 He said with a loud voice, "Fear the Lord, and give him glory; for the hour of his judgment has come. Worship him who made the heaven, the earth, the sea, and the springs of waters!"
give him glory
I want to first clarify the true meaning of the word glory. Here is Strong's definition, starting with the base word and then the secondary word from which it is translated.
Dokeo: to think; by implication, to seem truthfully or uncertainly: – be accounted, pleasure, be of reputation, seem good, suppose, think, trow.
Doxa: glory (as very apparent), dignity, glorious), honor, praise, worship.
To give someone glory then is to think and speak of their reputation positively, to view them as truthful, a source of pleasure, be accounted worthy of admiration, see them as good, honorable, worthy.
We actually give glory often, but without using that word. It is clearly seen at sports events, in Hollywood, at political rallies and wildly popular talent shows, usually far more than to God.
...To him who loves us, and washed us from our sins by his blood; and he made us to be a Kingdom, priests to his God and Father; to him be the glory and the dominion forever and ever. Amen. (Revelation 1:5-6)
When the living creatures give glory, honor, and thanks to him who sits on the throne, to him who lives forever and ever, the twenty-four elders fall down before him who sits on the throne, and worship him who lives forever and ever, and throw their crowns before the throne, saying, "Worthy are you, our Lord and God, the Holy One, to receive the glory, the honor, and the power, for you created all things, and because of your desire they existed, and were created!" (Revelation 4:9-11)
I heard every created thing which is in heaven, on the earth, under the earth, on the sea, and everything in them, saying, "To him who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb be the blessing, the honor, the glory, and the dominion, forever and ever! Amen!" (Revelation 5:13)
Who wouldn't fear you, Lord, and glorify your name? For you only are holy. For all the nations will come and worship before you. For your righteous acts have been revealed. (Revelation 15:4)
After these things I heard something like a loud voice of a great multitude in heaven, saying, "Hallelujah! Salvation, power, and glory belong to our God:
A voice came forth from the throne, saying, "Give praise to our God, all you his servants, you who fear him, the small and the great!"
Let us rejoice and be exceedingly glad, and let us give the glory to him. For the marriage of the Lamb has come, and his wife has made herself ready. (Revelation 19:1,5,7)
He carried me away in the Spirit to a great and high mountain, and showed me the holy city, Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, having the glory of God. Her light was like a most precious stone, as if it was a jasper stone, clear as crystal; having a great and high wall; having twelve gates, and at the gates twelve angels; and names written on them, which are the names of the twelve tribes of the children of Israel. (Revelation 21:10-12)
People were scorched with great heat, and people blasphemed the name of God who has the power over these plagues. They didn't repent and give him glory. (Revelation 16:9)
There are a number of passages that indicate that giving glory is not a nice suggestion but a necessary activity. This is important because giving glory results in a reaction back on the one giving the glory. To withhold giving glory to the true Creator God is to invite darkness to invade our thinking.
Give glory to Yahweh your God, before he cause darkness, and before your feet stumble on the dark mountains, and, while you look for light, he turn it into the shadow of death, and make it gross darkness. (Jeremiah 13:16)
Jesus therefore said to them, "Yet a little while the light is with you. Walk while you have the light, that darkness doesn't overtake you. He who walks in the darkness doesn't know where he is going. While you have the light, believe in the light, that you may become children of light." Jesus said these things, and he departed and hid himself from them. (John 12:35-36 WEB)
Now, you priests, this commandment is for you. If you will not listen, and if you will not lay it to heart, to give glory to my name," says Yahweh of Armies, "then will I send the curse on you, and I will curse your blessings. Indeed, I have cursed them already, because you do not lay it to heart. (Malachi 2:1-2)
Jesus answered, "Weren't the ten cleansed? But where are the nine? Were there none found who returned to give glory to God, except this stranger?" (Luke 17:17-18)
For the invisible things of him since the creation of the world are clearly seen, being perceived through the things that are made, even his everlasting power and divinity; that they may be without excuse. Because, knowing God, they didn't glorify him as God, neither gave thanks, but became vain in their reasoning, and their senseless heart was darkened. (Romans 1:20-21)
When we keep awareness of the original purpose for which God created us, it is easier to see what giving glory to Him means and why it is central for our role in this war. Humans were specifically created to be reflectors of God, meaning our main purpose is to reflect His glory, but even more to magnify it, amplify it, make it more obvious. This makes perfect sense in the context of dark misapprehensions about God.
We are designed to give God glory, so this angel is calling us back to our original purpose and design, to again reflect the true glory of God's amazing and consistent character of pure love, light, truth and eternal joy. This is how evil and darkness are overcome and the kingdom of love triumphs. So this first angel presents how to win this war against darkness if we take his message seriously.
You who fear Yahweh, praise him! All you descendants of Jacob, glorify him! Stand in awe of him, all you descendants of Israel! (Psalms 22:23)
Surely his salvation is near those who fear him, that glory may dwell in our land. Mercy and truth meet together. Righteousness and peace have kissed each other. Truth springs out of the earth. Righteousness has looked down from heaven. Yes, Yahweh will give that which is good. Our land will yield its increase. (Psalms 85:9-12)
I will praise you, Lord my God, with my whole heart. I will glorify your name forevermore. (Psalms 86:12)
Declare his glory among the nations, his marvelous works among all the peoples. For great is Yahweh, and greatly to be praised! He is to be feared above all gods. (Psalms 96:3-4)
While we are called to return to our original design and purpose of reflecting and magnifying God's glory to recover His damaged reputation back to honor again, it is impossible to do this without first receiving into our own hearts the glory of God's power of love that ever flows from His throne. Thus we must posture ourselves in correct orientation to the origin of this glory in order to be able to give/reflect glory for His reputation. The glory comes from Him as well as belonging to Him.
Sing, you heavens, for Yahweh has done it! Shout, you lower parts of the earth! Break out into singing, you mountains, O forest, all of your trees, for Yahweh has redeemed Jacob, and will glorify himself in Israel. (Isaiah 44:23)
When they came to the nations, where they went, they profaned my holy name; in that men said of them, These are the people of Yahweh, and are gone forth out of his land. But I had regard for my holy name, which the house of Israel had profaned among the nations, where they went. Therefore tell the house of Israel, Thus says the Lord Yahweh: I don't do this for your sake, house of Israel, but for my holy name, which you have profaned among the nations, where you went. I will sanctify my great name, which has been profaned among the nations, which you have profaned in the midst of them; and the nations shall know that I am Yahweh, says the Lord Yahweh, when I shall be sanctified in you before their eyes.
Then shall you remember your evil ways, and your doings that were not good; and you shall loathe yourselves in your own sight for your iniquities and for your abominations. Nor for your sake do I this, says the Lord Yahweh, be it known to you: be ashamed and confounded for your ways, house of Israel. Thus says the Lord Yahweh: In the day that I cleanse you from all your iniquities, I will cause the cities to be inhabited, and the waste places shall be built. (Ezekiel 36:20-23, 31-33)
I believe it is now time to personalize these truths, to identify as the house of Israel that profanes the reputation of God, and to consent to let God salvage it in the way He needs to do it.
"Glory to God in the highest, on earth peace, good will toward men." (Luke 2:14)
As he went, they spread their cloaks in the way. As he was now getting near, at the descent of the Mount of Olives, the whole multitude of the disciples began to rejoice and praise God with a loud voice for all the mighty works which they had seen, saying, "Blessed is the King who comes in the name of the Lord! Peace in heaven, and glory in the highest!" Some of the Pharisees from the multitude said to him, "Teacher, rebuke your disciples!" He answered them, "I tell you that if these were silent, the stones would cry out." When he drew near, he saw the city and wept over it, (Luke 19:36-41)
Yet, looking to the promise of God, he didn't waver through unbelief, but grew strong through faith, giving glory to God, (Romans 4:20)
Or don't you know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit which is in you, which you have from God? You are not your own, for you were bought with a price. Therefore glorify God in your body and in your spirit, which are God's. (1 Corinthians 6:19-20)
having predestined us for adoption as children through Jesus Christ to himself, according to the good pleasure of his desire, to the praise of the glory of his grace, by which he freely bestowed favor on us in the Beloved, (Ephesians 1:5-6)
who will pay the penalty: eternal destruction from the face of the Lord and from the glory of his might, when he comes to be glorified in his saints, and to be admired among all those who have believed (because our testimony to you was believed) in that day. To this end we also pray always for you, that our God may count you worthy of your calling, and fulfill every desire of goodness and work of faith, with power; that the name of our Lord Jesus may be glorified in you, and you in him, according to the grace of our God and the Lord Jesus Christ. (2 Thessalonians 1:9-12)
But if one of you suffers for being a Christian, let him not be ashamed; but let him glorify God in this matter. (1 Peter 4:16)
When we have a better appreciation of the larger perspective of this cosmic war we are involved in, we will see that God's reputation is at the the very heart of it and is what has been blasphemed. It is for this very reason that the Son of God necessarily became a Christ for His Father, to exonerate His reputation, to give glory to His name by exposing the real truth about His character. This was not merely for humans to see more clearly, but for the entire watching universe who have also been caught up in the confusion caused by the accusations and insinuations of Satan. This is why some passages note particularly that glory needs to go to both the Father and the Son, for His Son alone is the agency through which the Father's heart and disposition are communicated. Thus glory given to the Son simultaneously needs to be given to the Father, for as Jesus said,
"...He who has seen me has seen the Father. How do you say, 'Show us the Father?' (John 14:9)
I and the Father are one. (John 10:30)
Jesus, the Lamb of God, came to restore the original glory of God's reputation that was severely damaged by the cherub closest to His throne originally. Lucifer coveted the glory and worship that swirled all around him going to God, and this became the root of his great rebellion. Michael, the angelic form assumed by the Son of God, resisted Lucifer's slander, insinuations and discontent that undermined God's reputation and credibility. It was Michael that declared war against the dragon Lucifer turned Satan in heaven, ending with Satan being cast out with all his followers to the earth. Yet it was not enough to have Satan with his dark, sinister, infectious lies to be displaced from the seat of God's glory, for so long as there remains any doubt or lingering unresolved issues in regards to God's integrity, the universe cannot be safe. So God sent His own Son to take on another created form, that of a human reflector so that in the very place where Satan set up his headquarters of rebellion against God, the light of truth would be released to challenge every last vestige of darkness until it is fully dispelled. This was the primary purpose of the Lamb of God, for until the integrity of God's reputation is fully recovered, it will be impossible to neutralize the subtle power of the evil insinuations undermining the authority of His government. The reputation of God's integrity must be seen clearly through His Christ who is the only entity in the universe that has what it takes to restore the government of heaven to a secure footing.
who, existing in the form of God, didn't consider equality with God a thing to be grasped, but emptied himself, taking the form of a servant, being made in the likeness of men. And being found in human form, he humbled himself, becoming obedient to death, yes, the death of the cross. Therefore God also highly exalted him, and gave to him the name which is above every name; that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of those in heaven, those on earth, and those under the earth, and that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father. (Philippians 2:6-11)
"Now my soul is troubled. What shall I say? 'Father, save me from this time?' But for this cause I came to this time. Father, glorify your name!" Then there came a voice out of the sky, saying, "I have both glorified it, and will glorify it again." (John 12:27-28)
For some thought, because Judas had the money box, that Jesus said to him, "Buy what things we need for the feast," or that he should give something to the poor. Therefore, having received that morsel, he went out immediately. It was night. When he had gone out, Jesus said, "Now the Son of Man has been glorified, and God has been glorified in him. If God has been glorified in him, God will also glorify him in himself, and he will glorify him immediately. (John 13:29-32)
Jesus said these things, and lifting up his eyes to heaven, he said, "Father, the time has come. Glorify your Son, that your Son may also glorify you; even as you gave him authority over all flesh, he will give eternal life to all whom you have given him. This is eternal life, that they should know you, the only true God, and him whom you sent, Jesus Christ. I glorified you on the earth. I have accomplished the work which you have given me to do. Now, Father, glorify me with your own self with the glory which I had with you before the world existed. (John 17:1-5)
Even so, let your light shine before men; that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father who is in heaven. (Matthew 5:16)
We must learn from the disastrous example of Lucifer to avoid any contamination of lust to embezzle any of the glory swirling around or through us that belongs to our loving heavenly Father.
I want to explore one more venue relating to the glory of God, that is, how the definition of sin is directly linked to this issue of giving God glory.
Because by the works of the law, no flesh will be justified in his sight. For through the law comes the knowledge of sin. But now apart from the law, a righteousness of God has been revealed, being testified by the law and the prophets; even the righteousness of God through faith in Jesus Christ to all and on all those who believe. For there is no distinction, for all have sinned, and fall short of the glory of God; being justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus; whom God set forth to be an atoning sacrifice, through faith in his blood, for a demonstration of his righteousness through the passing over of prior sins, in God's forbearance; to demonstrate his righteousness at this present time; that he might himself be just, and the justifier of him who has faith in Jesus. (Romans 3:20-26)
What does it actually mean to fall short of the glory of God? If we use the context of our original design as God-reflectors, a lot of things begin to make much more sense.
If I am designed to reflect the glory of God, but I am falling short of doing that, maybe the falling short part might include some of these things:
I fall short of eternally reflecting the true love of heaven because of death
I fall short of reflecting selfless, unconditional love because of inherited selfishness
I fall short of reflecting only His light of love because views that mix truth with lies
Worship and glory are inextricably intertwined with each other in this message proclaimed in our time with a loud voice. To give glory involves worship, and to worship is to glorify.
When we allow the Lamb's revelation of God's heart and will to become infused into our hearts, our spirit is elevated as we consent to allow His Spirit to dwell in us. Then our reflection of His reflection of God's heart transforms our character into the same likeness as Christ's character. This is how our reflection is restored to synchronize with that of the true reflection of His Son.
Now to him who is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that works in us, to him be the glory in the assembly and in Christ Jesus to all generations forever and ever. Amen. (Ephesians 3:20-21)
To give glory to God is the essence of the New Song. That is what the New Song is all about – giving God all the glory, praise, admiration, our deepest affections, respect and to honor His reputation that has been so damaged and perverted by the myriads of lies and slander from the enemy and by all of us.
Beholding the Lamb is the very essence of life-receiving worship that results in glory to God.
Beholding the beast receives and reflects an authoritarian, controlling god identity/image.
To give glory to God then is in clear contrast to wondering after the beast which ultimately gives worship and glory to the dragon. This is what is accelerating in our world today, and its subtle power to rivet our imagination is overwhelming. We need this reminder to give glory to God above all.
When we allow ideas about God as being at all like the beast and dragon versions of Him to dominate our imagination, our characters become formed into an image of the beast in our own lives as well as collectively. This darkened image is a counterfeit, an exploitation of our original design as imagers of God's heart. By reflecting the serpent's version of God, we defame God's reputation as we reflect attributes and dispositions opposite that of the Lamb, and in so doing we bear false witness that these attributes define what God is like. Yet in doing this we are denying our identity and purpose to reflect the Lamb's reflection of God as authentic, displacing our true identity with the beast/dragon version of God, and end up believing that is our identity as well.
The Lamb invites us to come and reason together, something the beast never does.
The beast and image demands worship at threat of social stigma, financial embargo and even death.
Independent thinking, open communication, relationship and honest discussion with Jesus, God and the Holy Spirit, are opposite to the blind obedience and top down authoritarian tactics of the beast.
To give Him glory is to realign ourselves into proper orientation with the great circuit of flowing love power for which we are designed. Everything and everyone was created for the glory of God, and as we allow ourselves to be brought into alignment with our true purpose for our existence, our heart and lives may be filled with increasing joy, peace and deep levels of satisfaction that are presently unimaginable to our feeble perceptions and crippled imagination. This is God's desire, for us to reconnect to the joy the rest of the universe shared at the conclusion of the creation of our planet.
Where were you when I laid the foundations of the earth? Declare, if you have understanding. Who determined the measures of it, if you know? Or who stretched the line on it? Whereupon were the foundations of it fastened? Or who laid its cornerstone, when the morning stars sang together, and all the sons of God shouted for joy? (Job 38:4-7)
He said in a clear resounding voice, "Be in awe of God, and glorify him by living his methods of love, because the hour has come for everyone to make a judgment about God and worship the Designer, Creator and Builder who made the heavens, the earth, the sea and springs of water, which all operate upon his law of love." (The Remedy)
Next time we will move deep into the next instruction here that is directly linked to God's glory, His reputation and the deeper meaning of what this judgment of God is really about.
