And when he had taken the book, the four beasts and four and twenty elders fell down before the Lamb, having every one of them harps, and golden vials full of odours, which are the prayers of saints. And they sung a new song, saying, Thou art worthy to take the book, and to open the seals thereof: for thou wast slain, and hast redeemed us to God by thy blood out of every kindred, and tongue, and people, and nation; And hast made us unto our God kings and priests: and we shall reign on the earth. And I beheld, and I heard the voice of many angels round about the throne and the beasts and the elders: and the number of them was ten thousand times ten thousand, and thousands of thousands; Saying with a loud voice, Worthy is the Lamb that was slain to receive power, and riches, and wisdom, and strength, and honour, and glory, and blessing. And every creature which is in heaven, and on the earth, and under the earth, and such as are in the sea, and all that are in them, heard I saying, Blessing, and honour, and glory, and power, be unto him that sitteth upon the throne, and unto the Lamb for ever and ever.

John Sees The Singers

The Elder’s Song. In the Elder’s song, we experience the spectrum of Christian devotion, service and worship.

First there is praise and prayer are united as the elders sing their new song, They take up their harps and they pour out their golden vials of perfume. This is praise and prayer combined in their praise to the Savior. And if the worship service in the throne room of heaven specifically tells us that the elders, offer praise and prayer to the Lord, then that should inspire us to make sure our own worship here does the same.

Every worship service should combine prayer and praise. The elders, who represent us, sing, “You are worthy to take the book, and to open the seals for you were slain and you have redeemed us to God by thy shed blood.  Jesus is worthy of our offerings of praise and prayer, because his dying for us purchased our redemption.

A Song of Worship. Now think with me for a moment about this song, sung by the elders. It is first of all, a song of worship. The word worship means to ascribe worth. And in the song, they proclaim Jesus as worthy.

A Song of Good News. The song they sing is a Gospel song! “Thou wast slain, and hast redeemed us by Thy blood.” It contains the good news of Jesus dying in our place and shedding His blood. Modern Christianity may not like to talk about the blood, but in heaven they fill their song with the good news, because they know there is Power In the Blood.

A Song of Missions. The song they sing is a song about God’s grace to all the world. The elders sing that they have been redeemed “out of every kindred, and tongue, and people, and nation.” So this is also a song about fulfilling the Great Commission, by going into all the world and preaching the Gospel to every creature.

Perhaps John that back to his own book when he wrote in John 3: 16-17 16 For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. 17 For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved. Now that is something to sing about.

And that is something to send missionaries out into this world that God loves so that they can hear that good news and one day sing their own song of praise in glory.

I like the way the great commission is stated in Mark 16:15, it is direct and it is compelling by the force of its command 15  And he said unto them, Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature.

Go everywhere and preach to everyone. And then one day, they all will be singing in heaven because God’s children went, and the Lord’s church sent, and kindred, peoples, tongues and nations heard and believed.

Finally, It is a Song of Thanksgiving. It is also hymn of thanksgiving for who we are in Christ “a kingdom of priests.” Revelation 5:10 And hast made us unto our God kings and priests: and we shall reign on the earth.

Through Jesus Christ our Lord, we have been made a kingdom of priests and in that new role we will rule with Him for all eternity. How can you thank Him for that except to join in this heavenly choir of the redeemed and sing, in your perfect redeemed voice before the throne.
The Worship Service of the Ages. Throne Room Praise and Worship Concert.

Now to get the full picture of this scene before us, at least as full as we can from our earthly perspective, lets back up to chapter 4 again and look at the songs that are being sung and how they are being sung.

The 1st Song Rev 4:8-9 Four Living Creatures Sing of God’s Holiness

And the four beasts had each of them six wings about him; and they were full of eyes within: and they rest not day and night, saying, Holy, holy, holy, Lord God Almighty, which was, and is, and is to come. And when those beasts give glory and honour and thanks to him that sat on the throne, who liveth for ever and ever.

And then the concert builds and strengthens for new we have the …

2nd Song Rev 4:10-11 Now the 24 Elders Sing of God’s Power

The four and twenty elders fall down before him that sat on the throne, and worship him that liveth for ever and ever, and cast their crowns before the throne, saying, Thou art worthy, O Lord, to receive glory and honour and power: for thou hast created all things, and for thy pleasure they are and were created.

Then the praise rises louder and more powerful again for now in the…

3rd Song Rev 5:8-10 the 4 Living Creatures and the 24 Elders Join to Sing. Worhipping the Lamb who has Redeemed them.  

And when he had taken the book, the four beasts and four and twenty elders fell down before the Lamb, having every one of them harps, and golden vials full of odours, which are the prayers of saints.  And they sung a new song, saying, Thou art worthy to take the book, and to open the seals thereof: for thou wast slain, and hast redeemed us to God by thy blood out of every kindred, and tongue, and people, and nation;   And hast made us unto our God kings and priests: and we shall reign on the earth.

But the concert is not finished, oh no, for now comes the sound of the…

4th Song in Revelation 5:11-12. Many angel, the living creatures and the elders. sing “Worthy is the Lamb that was slain.”

And I beheld, and I heard the voice of many angels round about the throne and the beasts and the elders: and the number of them was ten thousand times ten thousand, and thousands of thousands; saying with a loud voice, Worthy is the Lamb that was slain to receive power, and riches, and wisdom, and strength, and honour, and glory, and blessing.

When John says he heard many angels, he looks up and somehow by the power of the Holy Spirit he knows how many are praising the Lamb and he gives us the number, 10,000 x 10,000 and thousands of thousands. That means that now in this praise service for the Lord Jesus Christ, the voices of over 100 million angels join in worship, because the Lamb is worthy.

And you may think well what can top that? 100 million angels and all the host of heaven should lift us in praise higher than we have ever been lifted, higher than we can imagine, but no, it is not high enough for our Lord. For then in the..

5th Song Revelation 5:13 All Creatures of Heaven and Earth sing

Blessing, Honor, Glory and Power to God and the Lamb. And every creature which is in heaven, and on the earth, and under the earth, and such as are in the sea, and all that are in them, heard I saying, Blessing, and honour, and glory, and power, be unto him that sitteth upon the throne, and unto the Lamb for ever and ever.

Now all of heaven and all of earth joins together to worship God the Father and Jesus, God the Son. They cry out, “Blessing and honor and glory and power to the Father and to the Son.”

​PRAISE YE THE LORD.

Maybe the writer of the 150th Psalms in the inspiration of the Holy Spirit caught a glimpse of this heavenly scene and the wrote this Psalms of Ascending Praise.

Psalms 150 1 Praise ye the LORD.
Praise God in his sanctuary:
praise him in the firmament of his power.
2 Praise him for his mighty acts:
praise him according to his excellent greatness.
3 Praise him with the sound of the trumpet:
praise him with the psaltery and harp.
4 Praise him with the timbrel and dance:
praise him with stringed instruments and organs.
5 Praise him upon the loud cymbals:
praise him upon the high sounding cymbals.
6 Let every thing that hath breath praise the LORD.
Praise ye the LORD.