And when He had taken the scroll, the four living creatures and the twenty-four elders fell down before the Lamb, having each a harp and golden bowls full of incense, which are the worship of the saints (Revelation 5:8).
The Lamb, the Lion of the Tribe of Judah, is worthy to take the scroll from the Father’s hands (Revelation 5:7). The elders’ title of Jesus as the Lion of the Tribe of Judah indicates that God is now dealing with Israel. When the first seal is broken, the Tribulation Period begins. This event corresponds with the signing of the peace covenant between the man of lawlessness and Israel (Daniel 9:27).
In response to the Lamb taking the scroll, the elders fall before Him and sing a new song. In this song, they worship Christ, giving Him credit for who He is and what He has done by describing what He has done for the now-resurrected Church. He is the only one in heaven, upon the earth, and under the earth, who is worthy to open the scroll. He was slain as a sacrifice and has purchased us for God by His blood (Revelation 5:9). He made the Church kings and priests to God, and they reign with Him over the earth (Revelation 5:10). This song also reveals that of all the created beings in the heavens and on the earth, only the elders know who is worthy.
In response to the elders’ song of the Lamb’s worthiness, the spirit beings around the throne join the elders’ voices in worship of the Lamb (Revelation 5:11–12). Hearing this proclamation in the heaven, those who are on the earth—angels, under the earth—the fallen angels in the abyss and the unpersuaded humans in the lowest Sheol, and in the sea—both unfallen and fallen angels among the nations- respond with worship to the Lamb and the One sitting on the throne (Revelation 5:13).
To close out the song and worship from every creature, the Cherubim agree with these statements, and the elders worship the Father on the throne, who lives into the ages of the ages (Revelation 5:14).
This is another passage Christians should understand so they are not tossed around by the proclamations of men who want to cause fear about the Tribulation Period and supposed prophetic events that are occurring today. Christ gave the Church the book of Revelation so she can be happy, for she will reside, fully resurrected, in heaven with Christ before this time of trouble on the earth begins.
