The Liturgy of Heaven
The following are passages from the book of Revelation that appear to be
liturgical in nature. They are either prayers to God, or praise of
God, spoken or sung by beings in heaven. It was sometimes a little
difficult to know what to include, so I used a few rules of thumb, such as
including whatever was spoken by the 24 ancients and the four living creatures.
There are some things here that perhaps don't belong, and on the other
hand I may have left out a few things I shouldn't have.
The words spoken in the following are often reminiscent of those of the Mass;
for example, the "Holy, holy, holy" of Rev. 4:8. Also, note the reference
to the Eucharist in Rev. 19:9: "Blessed are they that are called to the marriage
supper of the Lamb".
The spoken words are in bold, and the liturgical actions are in italics.
Chapter 4
Behold there was a throne set in heaven, and upon the throne one sitting.
And he that sat, was to the sight like the jasper and the sardine stone;
and there was a rainbow round about the throne, in sight like unto an emerald.
And round about the throne were four and twenty seats; and upon the seats,
four and twenty ancients sitting, clothed in white garments, and on their
heads were crowns of gold.
And from the throne proceeded lightnings, and voices, and thunders; and there
were seven lamps burning before the throne, which are the seven spirits of
God.
And in the sight of the throne was, as it were, a sea of glass like to crystal;
and in the midst of the throne, and round about the throne, were four living
creatures, full of eyes before and behind. And the first living creature
was like a lion: and the second living creature like a calf: and the third
living creature, having the face, as it were, of a man: and the fourth living
creature was like an eagle flying. And the four living creatures had each
of them six wings; and round about and within they are full of eyes. And
they rested not day and night, saying: Holy, holy, holy, Lord God Almighty,
who was, and who is, and who is to come.
And when those living creatures gave glory, and honour, and benediction
to him that sitteth on the throne, who liveth for ever and ever, the
four and twenty ancients fell down before him that sitteth on the throne,
and adored him that liveth for ever and ever, and cast their crowns before
the throne, saying: Thou art worthy, O Lord our God, to receive glory,
and honour, and power: because thou hast created all things; and for thy
will they were, and have been created.
Chapter 5
In the midst of the throne and of the four living creatures, and in the midst
of the ancients, a Lamb standing as it were slain, having seven horns
and seven eyes: which are the seven Spirits of God, sent forth into all the
earth. And he came and took the book out of the right hand of him that sat
on the throne.
And when he had opened the book, the four living creatures, and the four
and twenty ancients fell down before the Lamb, having every one of them harps,
and golden vials full of odours, which are the prayers of saints: and
they sung a new canticle, saying: Thou art worthy, O Lord, to take
the book, and to open the seals thereof; because thou wast slain, and hast
redeemed us to God, in thy blood, out of every tribe, and tongue, and people,
and nation. And hast made us to our God a kingdom and priests, and
we shall reign on the earth.
And I beheld, and I heard the voice of many angels round about the throne,
and the living creatures, and the ancients; and the number of them was thousands
of thousands, saying with a loud voice: The Lamb that was slain is worthy
to receive power, and divinity, and wisdom, and strength, and honour, and
glory, and benediction.
And 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: I heard all saying:
To him that sitteth on the throne, and to the Lamb, benediction, and honour,
and glory, and power, for ever and ever.
And the four living creatures said: Amen. And the four and twenty
ancients fell down on their faces, and adored him that liveth for ever and
ever.
Chapter 6
I saw under the altar the souls of them that were slain for the word of God,
and for the testimony which they held. And they cried with a loud voice,
saying: How long, O Lord (holy and true) dost thou not judge and revenge
our blood on them that dwell on the earth?
And white robes were given to every one of them one; and it was said to them,
that they should rest for a little time, till their fellow servants, and
their brethren, who are to be slain, even as they, should be filled up.
Chapter 7
After this I saw a great multitude, which no man could number, of all nations,
and tribes, and peoples, and tongues, standing before the throne, and in
sight of the Lamb, clothed with white robes, and palms in their hands: and
they cried with a loud voice, saying: Salvation to our God, who sitteth
upon the throne, and to the Lamb.
And all the angels stood round about the throne, and the ancients, and the
four living creatures; and they fell down before the throne upon their
faces, and adored God, saying: Amen. Benediction, and glory, and wisdom,
and thanksgiving, honour, and power, and strength to our God for ever and
ever. Amen.
[...]
These are they who are come out of great tribulation, and have washed their
robes, and have made them white in the blood of the Lamb. Therefore they
are before the throne of God, and they serve him day and night in his temple:
and he, that sitteth on the throne, shall dwell over them.
Chapter 8
And when he had opened the seventh seal, there was silence in heaven,
as it were for half an hour. And I saw seven angels standing in the
presence of God; and there were given to them seven trumpets. And another
angel came, and stood before the altar, having a golden censer; and
there was given to him much incense, that he should offer of the prayers
of all saints upon the golden altar, which is before the throne of God. And
the smoke of the incense of the prayers of the saints ascended up before
God from the hand of the angel.
Chapter 11
There were great voices in heaven, saying: The kingdom of this world is
become our Lord's and his Christ's, and he shall reign for ever and ever.
Amen.
And the four and twenty ancients, who sit on their seats in the sight of
God, fell on their faces and adored God, saying: We give thee thanks,
O Lord God Almighty, who art, and who wast, and who art to come: because
thou hast taken to thee thy great power, and thou hast reigned. And
the nations were angry, and thy wrath is come, and the time of the dead,
that they should be judged, and that thou shouldest render reward to thy
servants the prophets and the saints, and to them that fear thy name, little
and great, and shouldest destroy them who have corrupted the earth.
And the temple of God was opened in heaven: and the ark of his testament
was seen in his temple, and there were lightnings, and voices, and an earthquake,
and great hail.
Chapter 12
I heard a loud voice in heaven, saying: Now is come salvation, and strength,
and the kingdom of our God, and the power of his Christ: because the accuser
of our brethren is cast forth, who accused them before our God day and night.
And they overcame him by the blood of the Lamb, and by the word of the testimony,
and they loved not their lives unto death. Therefore rejoice, O heavens,
and you that dwell therein. Woe to the earth, and to the sea, because the
devil is come down unto you, having great wrath, knowing that he hath but
a short time.
Chapter 14
A lamb stood upon mount Sion, and with him an hundred forty-four
thousand, having his name, and the name of his Father, written on their foreheads.
And I heard a voice from heaven, as the noise of many waters, and as the
voice of great thunder; and the voice which I heard, was as the voice of
harpers, harping on their harps. And they sung as it were
a new canticle, before the throne, and before the four living creatures,
and the ancients; and no man could say the canticle, but those hundred forty-four
thousand, who were purchased from the earth. These are they who were not
defiled with women: for they are virgins. These follow the Lamb whithersoever
he goeth. These were purchased from among men, the firstfruits to God and
to the Lamb: and in their mouth there was found no lie; for they are without
spot before the throne of God.
Chapter 15
I saw as it were a sea of glass mingled with fire, and them that had overcome
the beast, and his image, and the number of his name, standing on the sea
of glass, having the harps of God: and singing the canticle of Moses,
the servant of God, and the canticle of the Lamb, saying: Great and
wonderful are thy works, O Lord God Almighty; just and true are thy ways,
O King of ages. Who shall not fear thee, O Lord, and magnify thy name? For
thou only art holy: for all nations shall come, and shall adore in thy sight,
because thy judgments are manifest.
And after these things I looked; and behold, the temple of the tabernacle
of the testimony in heaven was opened: and the seven angels came out of the
temple, having the seven plagues, clothed with clean and white linen, and
girt about the breasts with golden girdles. And one of the four living creatures
gave to the seven angels seven golden vials, full of the wrath of God, who
liveth for ever and ever. And the temple was filled with smoke from the majesty
of God, and from his power; and no man was able to enter into the temple,
till the seven plagues of the seven angels were fulfilled.
Chapter 16
I heard the angel of the waters saying: Thou art just, O Lord, who art,
and who wast, the Holy One, because thou hast judged these things: for they
have shed the blood of saints and prophets, and thou hast given them blood
to drink; for they are worthy. And I heard another, from the altar, saying:
Yea, O Lord God Almighty, true and just are thy judgments.
Chapter 19
After these things I heard as it were the voice of much people in heaven,
saying: Alleluia. Salvation, and glory, and power is to our God. For true
and just are his judgments, who hath judged the great harlot which corrupted
the earth with her fornication, and hath revenged the blood of his servants,
at her hands. And again they said: Alleluia. And her smoke ascendeth
for ever and ever. And the four and twenty ancients, and the four
living creatures fell down and adored God that sitteth upon the throne,
saying: Amen; Alleluia.
And a voice came out from the throne, saying: Give praise to our God,
all ye his servants; and you that fear him, little and great.
And I heard as it were the voice of a great multitude, and as the voice of
many waters, and as the voice of great thunders, saying, Alleluia: for
the Lord our God the Almighty hath reigned. Let us be glad and rejoice,
and give glory to him; for the marriage of the Lamb is come, and his wife
hath prepared herself. And it is granted to her that she should clothe herself
with fine linen, glittering and white. For the fine linen are the justifications
of saints.
And he said to me: Write: Blessed are they that are called to the marriage
supper of the Lamb. And he saith to me: These words of God are true.
Chapter 21
I heard a great voice from the throne, saying: Behold the tabernacle of
God with men, and he will dwell with them. And they shall be his people;
and God himself with them shall be their God. And God shall wipe away all
tears from their eyes: and death shall be no more, nor mourning, nor crying,
nor sorrow shall be any more, for the former things are passed away.
And he that sat on the throne, said: Behold, I make all things new.
And he said to me: Write, for these words are most faithful and true.
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