Revelation 7:11 kjv
And all the angels stood round about the throne, and about the elders and the four beasts, and fell before the throne on their faces, and worshipped God,
Revelation 7:11 nkjv
All the angels stood around the throne and the elders and the four living creatures, and fell on their faces before the throne and worshiped God,
Revelation 7:11 niv
All the angels were standing around the throne and around the elders and the four living creatures. They fell down on their faces before the throne and worshiped God,
Revelation 7:11 esv
And all the angels were standing around the throne and around the elders and the four living creatures, and they fell on their faces before the throne and worshiped God,
Revelation 7:11 nlt
And all the angels were standing around the throne and around the elders and the four living beings. And they fell before the throne with their faces to the ground and worshiped God.
Revelation 7 verses
Meaning
This verse describes a profound scene of worship in the heavenly realm. Following the adoration offered by the great multitude of redeemed humanity, the angelic host, alongside the twenty-four elders and the four living creatures, collectively demonstrate ultimate reverence and submission to God by prostrating themselves before His throne and offering Him worship. It portrays a unified heavenly chorus of adoration for God's sovereign plan and His salvation.
Cross References
Verse | Text | Reference |
---|---|---|
Rev 4:4 | And around the throne were twenty-four thrones, and on the thrones I saw twenty-four elders seated... | The elders seated around the throne. |
Rev 4:6 | ...in the midst of the throne and around the throne, were four living creatures... | The living creatures' position near the throne. |
Rev 4:10 | The twenty-four elders fall down before Him who sits on the throne and worship Him who lives forever... | Elders worship by prostration and crown casting. |
Rev 5:8 | ...the four living creatures and the twenty-four elders fell down before the Lamb... | Living creatures and elders worship the Lamb. |
Rev 5:11-12 | Then I looked, and I heard the voice of many angels around the throne... saying with a loud voice, "Worthy... | Angels surrounding the throne with praises. |
Rev 5:14 | And the four living creatures kept saying, "Amen!" And the elders fell down and worshiped. | Affirmation and worship by the heavenly beings. |
Rev 11:16 | And the twenty-four elders who sat before God on their thrones fell on their faces and worshiped God... | Elders again prostrate in worship. |
Rev 19:4 | And the twenty-four elders and the four living creatures fell down and worshiped God who sits on the throne | Consistent worship pattern of elders and beasts. |
Ps 103:20 | Bless the LORD, you His angels, mighty in strength, who perform His word... | Angels are God's mighty servants and worshipers. |
Heb 1:6 | And when He again brings the firstborn into the world, He says, "And let all God's angels worship Him." | Command for all angels to worship Jesus. |
Phil 2:10 | So that at the name of Jesus every knee will bow, of those who are in heaven and on earth and under the earth | Universal reverence to Christ in heaven and earth. |
Gen 17:3 | Then Abram fell on his face, and God spoke to him, saying... | Example of prostration as humility before God. |
Num 16:22 | But they fell on their faces and said, "O God, God of the spirits of all flesh, shall one man sin, and You... | Moses and Aaron prostrating in prayer. |
Matt 26:39 | And He went a little beyond them, and fell on His face and prayed, saying, "My Father, if it is possible..." | Jesus' deep reverence and submission to the Father. |
Isa 45:23 | I have sworn by Myself... To Me every knee will bow, every tongue will swear allegiance. | Prophecy of universal homage to God. |
Deut 6:13 | You shall fear the LORD your God; and you shall serve Him, and swear by His name. | Command to worship and serve God alone. |
Matt 4:10 | Then Jesus said to him, "Go, Satan! For it is written, 'You shall worship the Lord your God, and serve Him... | Jesus affirms God alone is to be worshipped. |
Ps 95:6 | Come, let us worship and bow down; Let us kneel before the LORD our Maker. | Invitation to physical acts of worship. |
Rev 7:9 | After these things I looked, and behold, a great multitude... standing before the throne and before the Lamb | Preceding verse showing redeemed humanity worshiping. |
Rev 7:10 | And they cried out with a loud voice, saying, "Salvation to our God who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb." | The immediate context of human worship. |
Neh 8:6 | Then Ezra blessed the LORD, the great God. And all the people answered, "Amen, Amen!" while lifting up their hands; then they kneeled and bowed low and worshiped the LORD with their faces to the ground. | People bowed their heads and worshipped the LORD. |
Dan 8:17 | So he came near to where I was standing, and when he came, I was frightened and fell on my face; but he said to me | Example of falling on one's face in reverence or awe. |
Ezek 1:28 | ...I fell on my face and heard a voice speaking. | The prophet's reaction to divine glory. |
Exod 34:8 | And Moses quickly bowed to the ground and worshiped. | Moses' worshipful posture before God. |
Context
Revelation 7 serves as an interlude between the opening of the sixth and seventh seals, pausing the sequence of judgments to offer a broader divine perspective. The chapter presents two distinct but related groups receiving divine protection and blessing. First, the 144,000 sealed from the tribes of Israel, representing God's secure remnant during a period of tribulation. Immediately following this, the apostle John sees a vision of a "great multitude" (Rev 7:9) from every nation, standing before God's throne, celebrating their salvation and rendering worship (Rev 7:9-10). Revelation 7:11 directly follows this jubilation of the redeemed, describing how the heavenly hosts—the angels, elders, and living creatures—respond by joining and amplifying the chorus of adoration already directed to God. This arrangement underscores the cosmic breadth of salvation and worship, showing that not only redeemed humanity but all of creation acknowledges God's supreme authority and redemptive plan.
Word analysis
- And (Καὶ - Kai): A conjunction that smoothly links the preceding human worship with this angelic response, signifying continuity and universal participation in adoration.
- all (πάντες - Pantes): Denotes completeness and totality. Every single angel is included, emphasizing their collective, undivided participation in this act of worship.
- the angels (οἱ ἄγγελοι - hoi angeloi): Refers to the myriad spiritual beings, heavenly servants, and divine messengers who constantly attend God and serve His purposes.
- stood (εἱστήκεισαν - heistēkeisan): The perfect indicative of ἵστημι (histēmi). Implies a state of sustained standing, denoting a posture of solemn respect, reverence, and readiness around the throne.
- round about (κυκλόθεν - kyklothen): Signifies surrounding, creating an encompassing circle. It illustrates the angels' intimate proximity to, and full encirclement of, the divine presence.
- the throne (τοῦ θρόνου - tou thronou): Represents the seat of God's sovereign authority, power, and glory. It is the absolute center of heavenly activity and the singular focal point of all true worship.
- and about (καὶ περὶ - kai peri): Further emphasizes the encompassing nature of their position, indicating they encircle not just the throne directly, but also those immediately around it.
- the elders (τῶν πρεσβυτέρων - tōn presbyterōn): The twenty-four venerable figures consistently depicted around the throne in Revelation, commonly understood as representing the redeemed people of God—the Church, perhaps drawing from both Old and New Testaments, embodying priestly and royal roles.
- and the four beasts (καὶ τῶν τεσσάρων ζῴων - kai tōn tessarōn zōōn): Also known as "living creatures." These are symbolic, winged beings full of eyes, positioned near the throne, often interpreted as representing the totality of creation, certain attributes of God, or His providential governance over the living world.
- and fell (καὶ ἔπεσαν - kai epesan): Aorist indicative of πίπτω (piptō). Denotes a decisive, complete action of prostration. It signifies an immediate, voluntary, and deep act of humility and adoration.
- before (ἐνώπιον - enōpion): Means "in the presence of" or "face to face with." It underscores the direct, conscious act of worship performed in the very sight of divine majesty.
- the throne (τοῦ θρόνου - tou thronou): Its repetition in the verse emphasizes that all aspects of this worship are focused on the ultimate seat of divine authority and glory.
- on their faces (ἐπὶ τὰ πρόσωπα αὐτῶν - epi ta prosōpa autōn): A profoundly significant phrase describing the most abject posture of reverence and humility. It signifies utter submission, self-abasement, and complete surrender to God's absolute holiness and supreme authority.
- and worshipped (καὶ προσεκύνησαν - kai prosekynēsan): Aorist indicative of προσκυνέω (proskyneō). This key verb signifies the act of rendering homage, bowing down, showing reverence, or adoring God. It is the full expression of spiritual devotion.
- God (τῷ Θεῷ - tō Theō): The ultimate object of this profound and universal worship. It affirms that the Triune God—the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit—alone is supremely worthy of such adoration and glory.
Words-group analysis:
- "And all the angels stood round about the throne, and about the elders and the four beasts": This phrase details the strategic positioning of the various heavenly entities. It describes a nested arrangement, where the vast host of angels encompasses the inner circle of the twenty-four elders (representing redeemed humanity) and the four living creatures (representing creation), all radiating outward from the central focal point of God's throne. This vividly portrays a comprehensive, ordered, and unified assembly in profound reverence.
- "and fell before the throne on their faces, and worshipped God": This group of words describes the synchronized and ultimate act of worship. "Fell before the throne on their faces" signifies a complete, voluntary act of physical prostration, demonstrating absolute submission and acknowledging God's unassailable majesty. It is the deepest form of homage. This act culminates in the direct and sole object of their reverence: "worshipped God," reinforcing His singular right to receive such unreserved devotion from all of creation.
Commentary
Revelation 7:11 offers a profound glimpse into heavenly worship, immediately succeeding the adoration by the great multitude of redeemed humanity. This verse underscores the cosmic harmony and unity in the glorification of God. The presence of "all the angels," along with the elders and living creatures, meticulously positioned "round about the throne," paints a grand scene of comprehensive celestial adoration. The act of "falling on their faces" is a powerful symbolic gesture across Scripture, denoting the highest form of humility, submission, and recognition of overwhelming divine holiness. It signifies that even the highest created beings recognize their creatureliness before the Almighty. Their unified "worship God" is the ultimate response to God's redemptive work, echoing the praise of humanity and affirming His supreme sovereignty as the object of all worship. This scene provides assurance that God's plan extends to gather all creation in ultimate, heartfelt praise.
Bonus section
The detailed description of spatial relationship – "round about the throne, and about the elders and the four beasts" – in this verse indicates an organized heavenly court and reinforces the centrality of God's throne. It counters any potential ancient ideas of competing divine powers by showcasing a hierarchy where all beings, regardless of their closeness to the throne, defer to the single sovereign God. The repeated instances of "falling on their faces" throughout Revelation, especially by prominent heavenly figures, establish this posture as the exemplary act of supreme worship and recognition of God's unparalleled authority, an example for believers to emulate in spirit.