Week #1: Heaven Sings What Earth Forgets
Blog Series Intention Recap
Holiness is not a distant concept—it is the defining characteristic of God and the central call for His people - both Israel and the Church. From the throne room of heaven to the burning bush, from the tabernacle to the trembling heart of a prophet, Scripture reveals that God’s holiness is not just something He has—it is who He is. This four-week series explores how holiness shapes heaven’s worship, how it demands reverence on earth, and how it transforms those who encounter it. As we listen to heaven’s song and trace God’s holiness through Scripture, we are invited to respond with awe, obedience, and lives that reflect His set-apart character.
This page is a post in the series “Holy, Holy Holy: Understanding Holiness According to Scripture.” Click here to see the rest of the posts.
Let’s jump into Week #1:
Holiness is heaven’s soundtrack… It defines who God is and demands our awe, shaping how we worship and live. Holiness is not one of God’s many attributes—it is the essence of who He is. In Revelation 4, heaven’s unceasing song centers on His holiness, reminding us that worship begins not with our needs but with His nature. When we see God as holy, our hearts respond with awe, our lives bend in surrender, and our worship realigns with heaven’s focus.
Why it Matters:
Holiness is central: The angels never stop saying “Holy, holy, holy”—it’s the core of God’s identity.
Holiness means otherness: God is set apart, pure, and unlike anything else.
Heaven’s worship is not casual: There’s thunder, lightning, and creatures who never stop.
Our response must match heaven’s: Reverence isn’t old-fashioned—it’s the right reaction.
Go Deeper:
Scripture Focus:
Revelation 4:1–11
Heaven’s View of Holiness
When the apostle John was caught up in the Spirit, he didn’t first see golden streets or pearly gates. He saw a throne.
He writes:
"Behold, a throne stood in heaven, with one seated on the throne" (Revelation 4:2, ESV).
Heaven begins with God at the center. Around that throne, worship erupts—not focused on what God gives, but on who God is.
The creatures don’t cry, “Love, love, love,” or “Power, power, power.” They cry:
“Holy, holy, holy, is the Lord God Almighty, who was and is and is to come!” (Revelation 4:8, ESV)
Holiness is heaven’s headline. It’s what angels sing. It’s what creation affirms. It’s what crowns are cast before.
What Is Holiness?
At its root, holiness means set apart. God is separate—not in distance, but in nature. He is not like us. He is not like His creation. He is in a category by Himself.
Holiness includes:
Moral perfection: He is without sin, impurity, or corruption.
Majestic glory: He radiates splendor, beauty, and brilliance.
Eternal constancy: He never changes, never weakens, never fails.
The triple repetition—“holy, holy, holy”—is a Hebrew way of expressing intensity. Like underlining something three times. He is not just holy. He is the holiest. No one else is close.
Holiness is not one of many attributes of God—it’s the banner over all of them. His love is holy. His justice is holy. His power is holy. Everything God does flows from this set-apart nature.
The God behind the Curtain
In the iconic movie The Wizard of Oz, the Wizard is exposed as a fraud when he tells Dorothy and her friends to “ignore the man behind the curtain,” revealing that his grand display of power was just an illusion. John has no such illusions or aspirations. He describes a scene filled with symbols and sounds meant to stop us in our tracks.
“From the throne came flashes of lightning, and rumblings and peals of thunder…” (Rev. 4:5, ESV)
This is not a quiet cathedral. This is more like Mount Sinai—fire, thunder, and trembling. The throne radiates power.
Before the throne is a sea of glass—still, clear, undisturbed. Around the throne are four living creatures—like lions, oxen, eagles, and men. They represent all creation. But they aren’t resting. They’re praising.
“Day and night they never cease…” (Rev. 4:8)
That’s the phrase that hits hardest. Never cease. Worship never stops in heaven. Why? Because holiness never stops being true.
Worship Starts with Holiness
Why does this matter? Because worship on earth often starts with us. Our needs. Our preferences. Our songs.
Heaven starts with God.
He is holy—so we bow down.
He is worthy—so we cast our crowns.
He is eternal—so we don’t rush through it.
When we lose sight of holiness, we begin to treat God casually. We bring Him down to our level. We approach Him like a friend or a therapist—or worse, a vending machine.
But God is not ordinary. He is not common. C.S. Lewis records a conversation between the Pevinsie Kids and Mr. Beaver about Aslan the Lion.
Is he—quite safe?” I shall feel rather nervous about meeting a lion” – Susan
“If there’s anyone who can appear before Aslan without their knees knocking, they’re either braver than most or else just silly.” – Mrs. Beaver
“Then he isn’t safe?” – Lucy
“Safe? . . . Who said anything about safe? Course he isn’t safe. But he’s good. He’s the King I tell you.” – Mr. Beaver
C.S. Lewis, The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe (New York, NY: Harper, 1950)
This conversation prepares us for today’s topic.
He is holy, holy, holy.
Holiness demands our reverence. Reverence isn’t outdated. It’s right. It’s the only correct response to the God of Revelation 4.
Four Ways Holiness Shapes Us
Holiness puts God at the center
The throne is not empty. It’s occupied. God is on it, and everything else revolves around Him.We are not the center of the story. God is. Holiness reminds us to reorient our lives around His glory—not our comfort.
Holiness invites worship, not apathy
The elders fall down. The creatures sing. No one stands still.Worship is more than singing. It’s responding to who God is. Reverence is not stiffness—it’s surrender.
Holiness reveals our need for mercy
If God is holy, we are not. The clearer our view of Him, the clearer our view of ourselves.That’s why we need the gospel. The holy God made a way for unholy people to approach Him—through Yeshua (Jesus).
Holiness sets the tone for how we live
If heaven never stops worshiping, why should we?Holiness isn’t just what we admire in God—it’s what He calls us to reflect. As Peter writes:
“As he who called you is holy, you also be holy in all your conduct” (1 Peter 1:15, ESV).
Rethinking Our View of God
Too often, we reduce God to what feels manageable. We want a God who is close, not a God who is consuming. But both are true.
The God of Revelation is near, but He is also other. He is not like us. That’s why worship must be marked by humility.
When we gather on Sundays or pray in private, we aren’t just chatting with a buddy. We are standing before the throne.
This vision reminds us: worship is not entertainment. It’s not background music. It’s the response of heaven—and it should be the heartbeat of earth.
How does this help me understand, “Holy, Holy Holy: Understanding Holiness According to Scripture?”
Let Heaven’s Cry Become Yours
How do we respond?
Start here:
Worship God as holy.
That doesn’t mean just playing slower music. It means:
Slowing down and recognizing who He is.
Letting the awe of His nature humble your heart.
Approaching Him with respect, not routine.
Living in a way that honors His name.
Take a moment today.
No music. No hurry.
Just say: “Holy, holy, holy is the Lord God Almighty.”
Let those words shape how you pray, speak, think, and live.
In a world full of noise, heaven is clear. In a church culture often focused on relevance, heaven points us back to reverence.
We don’t need to invent better worship. We need to align with what’s already happening around the throne.
Holiness is not a side topic. It’s the starting point. And in God’s presence, it’s never boring—it’s blazing.
