Towards the throne: (4:8b-11):
This scene in heaven ends in worship directed toward God on His throne. From here on words to chapter-5, the worship increases in number. From 4-living creatures to 24-elders joining and then myriads of angels adding their voices (5:11) and finally all created beings in the universe filling in the mighty of chorus of praise to God. This mighty worship (oratorio of praise and worship) can be divided into 2-movements: the hymn of creation (chap.4) and hymn of redemption (chap.5).
The hymn of creation, the first movement may be divided into several elements. The 4-living creatures begin by focussing on God’s holiness “day and night they do not cease to say, ‘Holy, holy, holy is the Lord God.” The 3-fold repetition of Holy is also found in (Isa. 6:3). Next the 4-living creatures refer to God’s power. He is the Almighty, a title by which God identified Himself to Abraham (Gen.17:1). He is the most powerful being, devoid of any weakness, whose conquering power and overpowering strength none can oppose. He can effortlessly do what His holy will purposes to do (Isa.40:28). God’s power is seen in creation. He created and controls it. God judged Satan and the sinning angels by expelling from heaven, destroyed Sodom, Gomorrah and the cities of the plain, drowned Pharaoh’s army, destroyed most powerful kingdoms etc.
The praise of the 4-living creatures as they give glory and honour and thanks to Him who sits on the throne, triggers a response from the 24-elders. They “fall down before Him who sits on the throne, and will worship Him who lives forever and ever.” This is the first of six times the elders bow before God who sits on the throne. This is the reverential worship. Amazingly they cast their crowns before the throne. They are not concerned about their own reward or honour. All these things become insignificant and pale before the light of the glory of God. They also say “Worthy are You and Lord and our God to receive glory and honour and power; for You created all things and because of Your will they existed and were created.” The Greek word for “worthy” was used of the Roman emperor when he marched in a triumphal procession. The 24-elders are acknowledging that God has the right both to redeem and to judge His creation. The song depicts that “paradise lost becoming paradise regained.”
But sinful man worships and serves the creature rather than the Creator, and this is idolatry (Rom. 1:25). Furthermore, sinful man has polluted and destroyed God’s wonderful creation; and he is going to pay for it (Rev. 11:18). Creation is for God’s praise and pleasure, and man has no right to usurp that which rightfully belongs to God. Man plunged creation into sin, so that God’s good creation (Gen. 1:31) is today a groaning creation (Rom. 8:22); but because of Christ’s work on the cross, it will one day be delivered and become a glorious creation (Rom. 8:18-24).It is unfortunate that the church today often neglects to worship the God of creation. The real answer to the ecological problem is not financial or legal, but spiritual. It is only when man acknowledges the Creator and begins to use creation to God’s glory that the problems will be solved.