Then They All Fall Down! Revelation 4-5

What an 'other-worldly' scene depicted by John in Revelation 4 & 5!  I note that:

“Whenever the living beings give glory and honor and thanks to the one sitting on the throne (the one who lives forever and ever), the twenty-four elders fall down and worship the one sitting on the throne (the one who lives forever and ever). . . . ..” (Revelation 4:9–10, NLT).

And again ...

   “And when he took the scroll, the four living beings and the twenty-four elders fell down before the Lamb. Each one had a harp, and they held gold bowls filled with incense, which are the prayers of God’s people. And they sang a new song with these words: “You are worthy to take the scroll and break its seals and open it. For you were slaughtered, and your blood has ransomed people for God from every tribe and language and people and nation.” (Revelation 5:8–9, NLT)

The 24 elders fall in worship when the supremacy of God is lifted in praise. They also fall when the Lamb of God enters and takes the scroll.  What is that scroll? I think the scroll is the unfolding and opening of God timetable. "In a broader sense, the scroll contains God’s purposes for history, but its seven seals prevent the full disclosure and enactment of its contents."[1] The Church sings praises to the redemption of the Son among all peoples.

There is, I think, a relationship between the unfolding of history and the salvation of the elect.  Could it not be that our sovereign God has ordained all the events of this world, both small and great to show His majesty and power and to redeem His people?  What the people of God recognize now will be eventually recognized by all. "Eventually, every knee “in heaven, on earth, and under the earth” will bow and “every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father” (Phil. 2:11)." [2]

Lord you deserve my worship.  You are the sovereign, creator -- God of all gods.  You rule and majesty and glory.  Your Church knows this.  We also know that all the events of this life are ultimately ordained to save Your elect and bring all people to recognize the righteous rule of Your Son, my Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ.  All events ... contribute the the redemption of Your Church and the submission of all peoples everywhere.  

"He has fully paid for all my sins with his precious blood,

and has set me free from the tyranny of the devil.
He also watches over me in such a way
that not a hair can fall from my head
without the will of my Father in heaven:
in fact, all things must work together for my salvation." [3]

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1. Crossway Bibles. (2008). The ESV Study Bible (2470). Wheaton, IL: Crossway Bibles.

2. Ibid, (2471).

3. Heidelberg Catechism