SEVEN SCENES IN HEAVEN (5): SONG OF THE CREATURES & ELDERS (REVELATION 5:8-10)

(Message by Tanny Keng)

1. Revelation  

a) John wrote Revelation while a prisoner on the Island of Patmos, approximately 85-95 A.D. Its purpose is to give encouragement and hope for all Christians to continue watching for the return and triumph of the Lord Jesus Christ. It also is to warn of the Final Judgment that nonbelievers will endure on that Last Day.

b) John wrote that Revelation is special because,“Blessed is he who reads and those who hear the words of the prophecy, and heed the things which are written in it; for the time is near” (Revelation 1:3).

c) A brief view of the Book of Revelation. It gives you some basic understanding of the book of Revelation. 

2. The Book With Seven Seals

Revelation 5:8-10 
8 When He had taken the book, the four living creatures and the twenty-four elders fell down before the Lamb, each one holding a harp and golden bowls full of incense, which are the prayers of the saints. 9 And they *sang a new song, saying,

“Worthy are You to take the book and to break its seals; for You were slain, and purchased for God with Your blood men from every tribe and tongue and people and nation.

10 “You have made them to be a kingdom and priests to our God; and they will reign upon the earth.”

3. Song Of The Creatures And Elders

a) Fell down before the Lamb 

i) The four living creatures and the 24 elders fall down to worship the Lamb. He was worthy to die for the sins of the world, worthy to open the scroll, and is worthy to be worshipped. The Lamb is about to receive the same accolade as the Father, "Worthy art Thou" (Revelation 4:10-11, Revelation 5:8-9).

b) A harp and golden bowls 

i) The bowls of incense are explained. They represent "the prayers of the saints". The harps therefore must represent the songs of the saints. In Christian worship we do not use the symbols themselves, but what they represent. We do not use bowls of incense, rather we offer prayers. Likewise, we do not worship with harps or other musical instruments, rather we sing praises.

c) A new song 

i) This is a new song, an anthem not for one nation but for all the earth, for "every tribe and tongue and people and nation". This is a new song to mark a new way of salvation made possible by the Lamb of God. This song in heaven proclaims the same gospel that is written in the scroll and delivered by the seven spirits (the Holy Spirit) to all the earth.

d) Reign upon the earth 

i) In Revelation 20:6 this "reign upon the earth" is represented as a "reign with Christ". Here is an important question: Where is Christ during this reign? Many say "on earth" but the Book of Revelation says he is in Heaven (Revelation 3:21).

ii) There is no reason why we cannot reign "with Christ" while we are on earth and he is in Heaven. Though he is in heaven, he is able to be present with us and we with him (Revelation 3:20).

iii) Even where a vision scene may depict Christ as on earth, this only represents that abiding presence of Christ with us even though he has ascended into heaven. He is our ruling king and interceding priest in heaven. He was once on earth. Now he is forever in heaven, and so soon shall we be, after our reign on earth with him is finished.

iv) We say with Paul, "Christ lives in me, and the life that I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me" (Galatians 2:20-21). 

The End ...