Rev 5:8-14 | TNotes | STEP | 5:8 fell down before the Lamb: The crucified and risen Christ has divine authority to initiate the events of this age; he is fully worthy of worship. • The prayers of God’s people become a significant basis for the judgments and plagues (6:9-11 ; 8:2-5 ).

5:8 ^a fell down before the Lamb: The crucified and risen Christ has divine authority to initiate the events of this age; he is fully worthy of worship.

• The prayers of God’s people become a significant basis for the judgments and plagues (6:9-11 ^b; 8:2-5 ^c).
Summary for Rev 5:9-10: 5:9-10 ^d The whole created order joins in a new song of praise to the Lamb (cp. 14:1-5 ^e; Ps 149:1 ^f; Isa 42:10 ^g).

• The Lamb is worthy because, through his sacrifice, he won the right to break the seals of the scroll and enact God’s purposes in history.

• The song summarizes the implications of the Good News about Jesus (1 Pet 1:18-25 ^h).
5:10 ⁱ The description of God’s people as a Kingdom of priests who will enjoy ultimate victory and will reign with Christ reflects the images of Jesus as both King (Rom 1:3 ^j) and High Priest (Heb 6:20 ^k).
Summary for Rev 5:11-12: 5:11-12 ^l A huge angelic chorus numbering thousands and millions provides an antiphonal response; all heaven responds to creation’s confession of Christ’s sacrifice.
5:12 ^m This doxology ascribes to Jesus divine honors that are reserved for God alone (see 4:11 ⁿ; 5:13 ^o; 7:12 ^p).
5:13 ^q The second antiphonal response resounds from every creature, even those under the earth (the place of the dead) and in the sea (usually associated with evil), possibly implying a mandatory response even by those in rebellion against God (Isa 45:23-25 ^r; Rom 14:11 ^s; Phil 2:10-11 ^t).
5:14 ^u The dramatic introduction of the Lamb (5:1-14 ^v) closes with the living beings (4:6-9 ^w). Their Amen affirms the truth of what John had seen, as the twenty-four elders prostrate themselves in worship.