Monday, 16 November 2020
Then the four living creatures said, “Amen!” And the twenty-four elders fell down and worshiped Him who lives forever and ever. Revelation 5:14
The words of this verse take us back to the previous chapter –
“Whenever the living creatures give glory and honor and thanks to Him who sits on the throne, who lives forever and ever, 10 the twenty-four elders fall down before Him who sits on the throne and worship Him who lives forever and ever, and cast their crowns before the throne.” Revelation 5:9, 10
Here it notes that “the four living creatures said ‘Amen.’” It is a note of confirmation concerning the doxologies of glory and honor just called out in the previous verses. With that noted, it then says, “And the twenty-four elders fell down and worshiped Him who lives forever and ever.”
This is fitting because it is these living creatures and the twenty-four elders who began this cycle of praise in verse 5:8 in reaction to the Lamb taking the scroll. First came their song, then that of the many angels, and then that of every creature. Now, the cycle completes, beginning with the response of the four living creatures.
The response by the twenty-four elders to that action is exactly as noted occurs at the various times when such glory and honor is given by these four living creatures. Though not stated, it can be assumed that this is also one of the times that they also cast their crowns before the throne. The Lamb has proven His infinite worth through the shedding of His blood, and the response is to acknowledge His preeminence in all things.
Life application: The heavenly scene has come full circle from where it started in chapter 4. The attention was focused to the One on the throne who lives forever and ever, and then to the Lion of the Tribe of Judah, the Root of David, and then to the Lamb who was slain. And now, after demonstrating that He is the qualified Redeemer who descended from David, and yet was David’s Source, the attention is redirected to Him as He sits on His rightful throne and to Him who is the Lamb. As these praises are proclaimed to both equally, the imagery is that of the God/Man.
The term “Him who lives forever and ever” is used seven times in Revelation and it shows us the eternality of the Lord. Here in the last verse of Chapter 5, it is repeated to remind us that everything we have experienced in this heavenly scene is given to show us the magnificence of Jesus. He is our Creator. He is the One who directed history toward the people of Israel and then to the tribe of Judah. From the tribe of Judah, redemptive history came more clearly into focus in the great king, David. And from David, the genealogy continued (as is recorded Matthew 1 and Luke 3) to the Christ – our Lord Jesus.
The gospels then tell us of His work, His death, and His resurrection. The establishment of His church is recorded in Acts and then the importance of His work is explained in the epistles. Here, in the book of Revelation, we have the ongoing unveiling of Him in His entire majestic splendor – showing us in apocalyptic form marvelous views of who He is. And now our attention is refocused on the throne from which He came – eternity itself.
Jesus stepped off of this throne and united with human flesh to do His amazing work and then He returned to it – there in heaven to “sit at the right hand of God” with “angels and authorities and powers having been made subject to Him” (1 Peter 3:22). He is our all in all. He is our Source of life and our eternal hope of life forevermore. He is JESUS!
Lord God Almighty! It all makes sense when we stand back and look at what is presented from a historical perspective. Yes, it all comes into focus! Through Jesus Christ, all things are from You, belong to You, have been accomplished by You, and they return to You. You are the entire focus of it all. May our eyes never be directed away from the splendor of Your glory! Amen.