“I saw another angel, (…) he said with a loud voice, ‘Fear God and give him glory, for the hour of his judgment has come; and worship him who made heaven and earth, the sea and the fountains of water’” (Rev 14:6-7).
In chapter 14 of the Revelation of John, the angel announces the hour of judgement and exhorts us to fear, honour and worship our heavenly Father. Indeed, man’s first and noblest duty is to honour and worship God. That is what we were created for. If we fail to do so, we fail in our deepest purpose.
Adoration of the Father cannot be a forced act, as the Roman emperors claimed to demand for themselves, threatening death to those who refused. But it is the decisive act that makes the difference between those who can receive the fullness of grace and light and those who are even in danger of succumbing to all kinds of false gods.
True worship of the Triune God enables us to join the multitude that follows the Lamb wherever He goes (Rev 14:4). With them, our Father can carry out His plan of salvation on earth. In the midst of the apocalyptic plagues that threaten humanity, they do not bow down to the beast and his image, but hold fast to the commandments of God and to faith in Jesus. Thus they are the victors over the beast.
They carry the zithers of God and praise the Lord:
“Great and wonderful are thy deeds,
O Lord God the Almighty!
Just and true are thy ways,
O King of the ages! Who shall not fear and glorify thy name, O Lord?
For thou alone art holy.
All nations shall come and worship thee,
for thy judgments have been revealed” (Rev 15:3-4).
They give honour and worship to our Father!