Wednesday 10 September 2025
Then I heard every creature in heaven and on earth and under the earth and in the sea, and all that is in them, singing, “To the one seated on the throne and to the Lamb be blessing and honour and glory and might forever and ever!” (v. 13)
Background
This passage comes in the second section of Revelation 5, which depicts the worship of the lamb on the throne. While Revelation 4 depicted creation worshipping God, Revelation 5 shows that Jesus, symbolised as a lamb, is also worthy of worship.
As in Revelation 4, this passage emphasises the comprehensive call of worship. All of creation is involved; ‘myriads and myriads’ of angels, creatures (the ‘living creatures’) and humans (‘the elders’). Verse 13 makes a similar point in language which echoes Genesis 1; creatures ‘in heaven and on earth and under the earth and in the sea’ together worship God!
While creation includes huge diversity, all of creation unites in praising the lamb, slaughtered for the sake of the world’s salvation (verse 12). There are seven honours given to the lamb, each proclaiming his worth. Elsewhere in Revelation, seven is a significant number, and here it indicates completion or perfection.
The vision of creation gathered in worship to praise a slaughtered lamb – symbolising a suffering Messiah – would be shocking and deeply countercultural to ancient readers. In a context where powerful Roman emperors received worship, the early Christians proclaimed that Jesus, killed on a cross as a criminal, is now on the divine throne. As Paul notes the crucified Christ is "a stumbling block to the Jews and foolishness to the Greeks" and yet God’s way of saving the world (1 Corinthians 1:22-25). God is revealed in the weakness of a sacrificial servant rather than in the power of a Roman ruler.
The depiction of the throne in verse 13 indicates that God and Jesus together receive the praise of creation. Such a vision of worship is hugely significant. For the early Christians – and for Christians today – Jesus too is God, the one to whom we give praise and worship.
To Ponder:
- In what way does the image of Jesus as a ‘slaughtered lamb’ challenge assumptions about the nature of God?
- • How might the vision of praise to God and the lamb offered by the whole of creation change your understanding of worship?
Bible notes author: The Revd Dr Ed Mackenzie
Ed Mackenzie works at Cliff College as the Programme Lead for the BA in Theology and Mission, and lectures in New Testament Studies and Biblical Theology.