Today, let's break down a familiar verse from Revelation 4:8 - Holy, holy, holy is the Lord God Almighty, who was, who is, who is to come.
This is a verse of pure praise. These words glorify God for who He is - the eternal, holy, Triune God. Look at the triplets in these words:
Holy, Holy, Holy - Three holies
Is the Lord God Almighty - Three names of God
Who was, who is, who is to come - Three fold description of God's eternal nature
Then in verse 11 comes the acknowledgment of the One who gave the 24 Elders their crowns: You are worthy, our Lord and God, to receive glory and honor and power, for You created all things, and by Your will they were created and have their being.
How will you respond in heaven to the God who is the Creator of everything? With praise and thanksgiving! As God's Holy people, made so by belief in the life, death and resurrection of Jesus, we will come with praise in the presence of the holy God.
Some day we who believe will be included in this heavenly praise service. Now, as we worship each Sunday, our Divine Service is a warm-up for what is to come. Our God is present now - in His Word of forgiveness, in the bread and wine of the Supper, in the water of Baptism. Forgiven for the sake of the Son of God, empowered by the Holy Spirit, we can come into the presence of the Father and cry out: Holy, holy, holy is the Lord God Almighty, who was, who is, who is to come. To that there is nothing left to say but AMEN!
