Revelation 5, Pt 3

Revelation 5:11-14

11 Then I looked, and I heard around the throne and the living creatures and the elders the voice of many angels, numbering myriads of myriads and thousands of thousands, 

Seems like increasing circles of worshippers...4, 24, now numberless...angels...

-see Daniel 7:9,10

-see also Hebrews 1:6

ANGELS 

1. Angels don’t sing of their own redemption, but of the Lamb slain for the redemption of men...they learn of this from the church...Ephesians 3:10

2. Angels rejoice and worship at God’s saving work 

(Luk 15:7, Luk 15:10). 

3. Angels are God’s messengers and servants to the saints

(Psa 104:4; Heb 1:7)(Heb 1:14). 

We have seen angels in Revelation (eg, the 4 living creatures), but not of this number and magnitude...

Now the voice of many angels enters into the worship that John witnesses...

What number is this...or is it sufficient to indicate a number that cannot be counted? “Myriads and myriads and thousands of thousands...”

ESVSB says, “hundreds of millions” or others: a number beyond counting...

AND HERE IS WHAT THE INCREASED ANGELIC WORSHIPERS SAID:

12 saying with a loud voice, (it is assumed they are singing?)

“Worthy is the Lamb who was slain (as in v9) to receive power and wealth and wisdom and might and honor and glory and blessing!”

Who was slain: the crucified One, Christ...

He is worthy to receive this tribute because ALL OF THESE HAVE THEIR SOURCE IN HIM AND ARE FOR THE ULTIMATE PURPOSE OF BRINGING WORSHIP AND GLORY TO HIM...and that is accomplished by HIS SACRIFICIAL DEATH FOR SINNERS...

Romans 11:33-36

33 Oh, the depth of the riches and wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable are his judgments and how inscrutable his ways!

34 “For who has known the mind of the Lord,

or who has been his counselor?”

35 “Or who has given a gift to him

that he might be repaid?”

36 For from him and through him and to him are all things. To him be glory forever. Amen.

To receive

-power

-wealth

-wisdom

-might

-honor

-glory

-blessing

What does it mean to “receive”? That is, to be given praise for...of course, this again demonstrates His DEITY, He who is worthy to receive worship...

NOTE: there are 7 things that the Lamb is pronounced worthy to receive (ESVSB: a 7-fold tribute)...is this indicative of His PERFECT WORTHINESS? ie, there is nothing unworthy about Him...He is infinite in His worthiness...

The ONE who is worthy of infinite worship due to His infinite worthiness...

13 And I heard every creature in heaven and on earth and under the earth and in the sea, and all that is in them, saying,

“To him who sits on the throne and to the Lamb

be blessing and honor and glory and might forever and ever!”

ALL CREATION, the ENTIRE UNIVERSE...EVERY CREATURE that can offer worship now does...but this time it is both to THE ONE WHO SITS ON THE THRONE and TO THE LAMB...the Father and the Son...and there is a 4-fold worship given (ESVSB: 4-fold doxology)...

See the deity of the Lamb with the Father in WORSHIP and His ETERNALITY

Philippians 2:9-11

9 Therefore God has highly exalted him and bestowed on him the name that is above every name, 10 so that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, 11 and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.

14 And the four living creatures said, “Amen!” and the elders fell down and worshiped.

AS the 4 living creatures started the worship in ch 4:8 with Holy, Holy, Holy, so they bring it to a close with their AMEN in Rev 5:14...Let it be...this is TRUE...

And back from the numberless angels and all creatures in the universe the focus comes to the 4, who say, AMEN. And the 24 fall down again and worship.