In Worship And In Awe

Then I looked and heard the voice of many angels in a circle around the throne, as well as the living creatures and the elders. Their number was ten thousand times ten thousand —thousands times thousands— all of whom were singing in a loud voice:

“Worthy is the lamb who was slain to receive power and wealth and wisdom and might and honor and glory and praise!” -Revelation 5:11

I had an extraordinary experience in worship this morning!

Although I use the language of “feeling like I was in heaven” to describe it, I want to make it clear that what I experienced was on the order of a vision, not an actual translation where I was literally in Heaven.

I also want to make it clear that I’m not having visions every time I turn around. I can count on one hand, and subtract a few fingers, the amount of visions I’ve had that are on this order. I believe the purpose of the vision was to show me the preeminence and absolute lordship of Jesus Christ, and I share it with you with that in mind.

The glory of God was unusually strong during worship and there was a moment where it felt like I had been taken up and we had entered into union with all the saints and angels in Heaven. I was aware that I was in the midst of worship with those who were standing around me at church, but at the same time I was aware that I had entered into a spiritual place where I was with angels and saints. There was a moment when we were singing “Yeshua” that it literally sounded like the voices of Heaven had combined with our voices on Earth and that there were 10,000 x 10,000 angels and saints joining together with us singing Yeshua!

It was one of the most amazing things I’ve ever experienced other than being caught up with Him when I was baptized in the Holy Spirit. On that occasion I didn’t know whether I was in my body or I was still on Earth. This was different because I was aware of being in church and yet was brought into a vision of Heaven’s worship.

The sound was thunderous! I’ve never experienced anything like it in my life. There was a military precision in the singing where every single voice was in perfect unison! Like nothing you could ever hear on Earth. Absolute perfect pitch and perfect timing, and absolutely of one heart. As if there were 100,000 voices in perfect worship of Jesus. It literally sounded like the armies of Heaven had gathered together in worship!

There was a point where I was aware of the room, and yet it felt like I wasn’t in the room. It was as if there was a limitless expanse above me that went upward for infinity and this infinite space was completely filled with worship! It seemed like there was no separation between Heaven and Earth and I was in both places at one time.

The sound was completely unified and thunderous and I was in absolute awe at the presence of Jesus who was in the midst of it all. This was not the Jesus we read about in the Gospels. This was the Jesus of Revelation before whom John fell at His feet as though dead because of the greatness of encountering Him.

It felt to me like what it would be like at the great White Throne Judgment when Earth and sky flee away because there is no place for them before the presence of the Lord. There was absolutely no distraction. Every single eye was upon Him. Every single voice was in worship of Him. Every single heart was in reverence and awe of Him, and He alone was the focus of everything.

I have never experienced anything like this. I’m not sure if it was an auditory vision, or what it was that exactly happened, but I was brought into the reality of what worship is like in Heaven, and how Jesus alone is the sole object of every single heart, and how there is no one there who doesn’t worship Him with every fiber of their being!

I’m not sure how long the experience lasted. All I know is that we were in the middle of singing “Yeshua” and at some point the Heavens opened and everything changed and I was caught up in the glory of the LORD.

The wonder of Heaven compared to our normal experience of life on Earth is how singular the focus is on Jesus Christ in Heaven!

There was absolute allegiance. There was no one there for any other reason but Him. There was literally no room for anything or anyone else but Him. Everything was worshiping Jesus alone. There were 10,000 X 10,000 voices and every one of them was unrestrained.

This is as close as I have ever come to a vision of the White Throne Judgment where every knee will bow and every tongue will confess that Jesus Christ is Lord. His Majesty, Glory, Authority and Power was all that I could see.

Even though I’ve tried to write about it and capture what happened it’s impossible to even come close to the sense of awe of Him that I felt in that moment. No earthly words can truly describe what it means when we say Jesus Christ is Lord. This experience gave me a glimpse of it and all I can say is that I’m completely awestruck.

Afterward, I looked up the phrase where it talks about 10,000 x 10,000 before Him. It’s found in Revelation and Daniel and perfectly describes what I experienced.

“Then I looked and heard the voice of many angels in a circle around the throne, as well as the living creatures and the elders. Their number was ten thousand times ten thousand —thousands times thousands— all of whom were singing in a loud voice:

“Worthy is the lamb who was killedto receive power and wealth and wisdom and might and honor and glory and praise!” -Revelation 5:11

“As I looked, thrones were placed, and the Ancient of Days took his seat; his clothing was white as snow, and the hair of his head like pure wool; his throne was fiery flames; its wheels were burning fire. A stream of fire issued and came out from before him; a thousand thousands served him, and ten thousand times ten thousand stood before him; the court sat in judgment, and the books were opened. -Daniel 7:9

Then I saw a great white throne and him who was seated on it. From his presence earth and sky fled away, and no place was found for them. And I saw the dead, great and small, standing before the throne, and books were opened. -Revelation 20:11

Therefore, since we are receiving an unshakable kingdom, let us be filled with gratitude, and so worship God acceptably with reverence and awe. “For our God is a consuming fire.” -Hebrews 12:28