All worship Him

Revelation 5:11 Then I looked, and I heard the voice of many angels around the throne and the living creatures and the elders; and the number of them was myriads of myriads, and thousands of thousands,

living creatures

See commentary on Revelation 4:6.

elders

In favor of the view that the elders are the redeemed, they are distinguished from angels both here and in Revelation 7:11+. See commentary on Revelation 4:4.

ten thousand times ten thousand

μυριάδες μυριάδων [myriades myriadōn], myriads of myriads, a countless multitude. A similar phrase describes the demonic horsemen, δισμυριάδες μυριάδων [dismyriades myriadōn], two myriads of myriads. Assuming demons are fallen angels, and only one-third of the angels fell (Rev. 12:4+), then the total number of the elect angels is truly staggering, essentially innumerable (Job 25:3; Ps. 68:17; Dan. 7:10; Mat. 26:53; Luke 2:13-14; Heb. 12:22).

Revelation 5:12 saying with a loud voice, “Worthy is the Lamb that was slain to receive power and riches and wisdom and might and honor and glory and blessing.”

the Lamb who was slain

See commentary on Revelation 5:6.

power . . . honor . . . glory

The same three which were earlier given to the Father in worship (Rev. 4:10-11+) are now given to the Lamb. Yet, Scripture records that God will not give His glory to another (Isa. 42:8; 48:11). Jesus taught, “that all should honor the Son just as they honor the Father. He who does not honor the Son does not honor the Father who sent Him” [emphasis added] (John 5:23). Thus He prayed, “And now, O Father, glorify Me together with Yourself, with the glory which I had with You before the world was” (John 17:5). What greater statement of divinity could Jesus have made than this? “Therefore, it is proper to worship the Son, even as it is proper to worship the Father, for here it has been shown that Father and Son receive the same worship.”90 Indeed, Jesus frequently received worship at His First Coming (Mat. 2:2; 14:33; 15:25; 28:9; 28:17; Mark 5:6; Luke 24:52; John 9:38; 20:28). Once again, we see that Jesus is God. See commentary on Revelation 1:17.

This scene contrasts markedly with the crucifixion, an event in which all humanity rebelled against its Creator and thought to kill Him so that it could go its own irresponsible, independent way. Here, at last, Jesus Christ receives His due: full acclaim and acknowledgment by every created thing.91

Revelation 5:13 And every created thing which is in heaven and on the earth and under the earth and on the sea, and all things in them, I heard saying, “To Him who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb, be blessing and honor and glory and dominion forever and ever.”

every creature

All that is creaturely worships the Creator. This alone establishes that Jesus is not a created being—for worship of any creature, no matter how high, is blasphemous idolatry (Rev. 22:8-9+).

Therefore God also has highly exalted Him and given Him the name which is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of those in heaven, and of those on earth, and of those under the earth, and that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father. (Php 2:9-11+)

in heaven and on the earth and under the earth and such as are in the sea

All of the created order—no matter their location—pay homage to the Father and the Son (Ps. 148:7-10; Php. 2:10). The fourfold division of the phrase denotes the universal creation, similar to how the heavens and the earth are used (Gen. 1:1), or under the earth may refer to those in Hades: both demons in the bottomless pit (Luke 8:31; Rev. 9:1-2+;Rev. 9:11+; Rev. 11:7+; Rev. 17:8+) and the unsaved dead who await final judgment (Rev. 20:13+). See Four: the Entire World, the Earth. Whether visible (the material realm) or invisible (the spiritual realm), all is dependent for existence every moment upon the favor and will of God. It is in this sense that Jesus is the “Beginning” and “Firstborn” over creation (Col. 1:15; 3:14).

He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation. For by Him all things were created that are in heaven and that are on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or principalities or powers. All things were created through Him and for Him. And He is before all things, and in Him all things consist. (Col. 1:15-17)

to Him who sits on the throne and to the Lamb

Both the Father and the Lamb receive equal worship. An astounding indication of the Deity of Christ and the Trinity! Only in the eternal state will we be able to fully apprehend the glory of the Father and the Son (John 17:24).

I urge you in the sight of God who gives life to all things, and before Christ Jesus who witnessed the good confession before Pontius Pilate, that you keep this commandment without spot, blameless until our Lord Jesus Christ’s appearing, which He will manifest in His own time, He who is the blessed and only Potentate, the King of kings and Lord of lords, who alone has immortality, dwelling in unapproachable light, whom no man has seen or can see, to whom be honor and everlasting power. Amen. (1Ti 6:13-16) [emphasis added]

See commentary on Revelation 5:12. See Worship of God.

Revelation 5:14 And the four living creatures kept saying, “Amen.” And the elders fell down and worshiped.

living creatures

See commentary on Revelation 4:6.

twenty-four elders

See commentary on Revelation 4:4. The NU and MT texts omit twenty-four.

Him who lives forever and ever

Omitted from the NU and MT texts. See commentary on Revelation 1:8, Revelation 1:11, and Revelation 1:18.