Revelation 5:9-14

Tomlinson's Comments

The Heavenly Doxologies

Text (Revelation 5:9-14)

These elders sang a new song; new, because it is in praise of a new triumph of Christ, who has been found worthy to open the seals which are to uncover the events of the future.
Whereas, in the fourth chapter, we hear the angelic princes sing-of Redemption.
Music lovers will understand that an oratorio is a musical composition in which solos and choruses are sung in accompaniment to instruments. Here we see Cherubim and Seraphim and angelic princes, with their golden harps, together constituting a heavenly choir, chanting celestial music.
Note the arrangement and order of these musical numbers.

The oratorio begins with a quartet, the four living creatures, singing the seraph's song. Holy, holy, holy Lord God Almighty, which was, and is, and is to come. (Revelation 4:8)

This is followed by the massed singing and playing of the twenty-four princes.

Thou art worthy, O Lord, to receive glory and honor, and power, for Thou hast created all things, and for thy pleasure they are and were created. (Revelation 4:11)

Thus we see the first part of the oratorio is devoted to the subject of the creation. The created angelic intelligences, having never needed nor experienced redemption, could sing only in praise of their creator.
Following the singing of creation there is heard a solo voice of a strong angel;

Who is worthy to open the book, and to loose the seals thereof? (Revelation 5:2)

Then follows the gladsome response by one of the elders:

Weep not: behold the Lion of the Tribe of Judah, the Root of David, hath prevailed (or overcome) to open the book and to loose the seven seals thereof. (Revelation 5:5)

When the Lamb takes the book out of the hand of the Creator, the quartet and the choir of heavenly princes break forth in unison, singing the new song.

Thou art worthy to take the book, and to open the seals thereof: for thou wast slain, and didst purchase unto God with thy blood men of every kindred, and tongue, and people, and nation, and hast made them to be unto our God kings and priests: and they shall reign on the earth. (Revelation 5:9-10)

Then the entire angelic choir, consisting of ten thousand times ten thousand and thousand of thousands bursts forth in majestic chorus, which must have reverberated throughout the corridors of glory. They sang perfectly as one voice and with a loud voice:

Worthy is the Lamb that was slain to receive power and riches, and wisdom, and strength, and honor, and glory, and blessing.

Then comes the grand finale of this stirring oratorio as it comes to a swelling crescendo. In this concluding epilogue of this transcendently glorious oratorio the four living creatures, or seraphim and cherubim; the elders, or angelic princes; the myriads of angels, heavenly creatures a little higher creation than man (Hebrews 2:6-7); and every created thing which is in heaven and on earth, and under the earth, and such as are in the sea, and all that are in them join in mighty chorus in praising both Creator and Redeemer:

Blessing and honor, and glory, and power, be unto Him that sitteth upon the throne (the Creator) and unto the Lamb (the Redeemer), for ever and ever. (Revelation 5:13)

Then as the heavenly oratorio, like the sound of many waters, dies away, there is heard the sound of a great and grand Amen.-' It is chanted by the four living creatures, or the highest range of God's angelic intelligences, the cherubim and seraphim.
Then there seems to fall a great hush and breathless silence as the twenty-four heavenly princes fall down to worship Him who liveth forever and ever.
Truly we have been listening through the open door to the oratorio of the Choir Invisible!
This instrumented Heavenly choir has prepared us for the opening of the seals. How fitting this should be:
The prophets of old prophesied to the tune of instrumental music:

Thou shall meet a company of prophets coming down from the high place with a psaltery, and a tabret, and a pipe, and a harp before them; and they shall prophecy. (1 Samuel 10:5)

The hand of the Lord came upon Elisha when the minstrel played.

But now bring me a minstrel. And it came to pass, when the minstrel played, that the hand of the Lord came upon him. (2 Kings 3:15)

The sons of Asaph, Heman and Jeduthun prophesied with harp, psalteries and cymbals (1 Chronicles 25:3-6)

And Habakkuk closed his prophesies with instructions to the chief singer on my stringed instruments. (Habakkuk 3:19)

As the prophets of old spoke to the accompaniment of instrumental music so the opening of the seals was preceded by the massed choirs of heaven and earth singing this wondrously soul inspiring oratorio.

No wonder Christ in the model prayer taught them to pray, Thy will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. (Matthew 6:10) It is His Divine will that singing, and with instruments shall be done by choirs on both sides of the veilheaven and earth.