The angelic and universal chorus.
Now the song bursts out beyond the circles of the redeemed host. "The voice of many angels," even "ten thousand times ten thousand, and thousands of thousands," bears onwards the same burden of song, "Worthy is the Lamb," and the chorus is completed only when it is taken up by "every created thing which is in the heaven, and on the earth, and under the earth, and on the sea;" and the song ascribes "the blessing, and the honour, and the glory, and the dominion" unto "him that sitteth on the throne, and unto the Lamb," and that "forever and ever."
"The whole creation join in one
To bless the sacred Name
Of him that sits upon the throne,
And to adore the Lamb."
The vision is prophetic—it anticipates the final condition, the ultimate triumph of redemption, the ultimate acknowledgment of it. It is the song from the redeemed, and declares the widespread influence of redemption. It is creation's song. All creatures, "every created thing," praises the creating and redeeming Lord.
I. IT IS THE UNIVERSAL RECOGNITION OF THE BLESSINGS OF REDEMPTION.
1. The angelic host, forming a semi-chorus, exult in the gracious work of the Lamb—in which figure must be seen represented the total idea of redemption by "the Lamb of God." Angels, who desired to "look into" these things, have found in them matter for praise. High above the incidents of the human history rises the image of him to whom all is due.
2. The "great voice" of the many angels "and the living creatures and the elders" is exceeded by that of "every created thing" in heaven, earth, and sea, even "all things that are in them." This voice of the entire, the grand chorus, the holy seer heard. It was his to discern the beneficent effect of redemption, his to catch the re-echoing song of all things as they praised the holy Name. It stands as the counterpart to "God cursed the ground for man's sake." All is ordered and readjusted. The disturbance by sin gives place to the harmony of all creation "in him" in whom all things are "gathered together in one."
3. All is followed by the solemn "Amen," the reverent assent of the four living creatures—representatives of all creature life, not excluding the Church.
II. IT IS CREATION'S TESTIMONY TO THE GLORY OF GOD IS THE REDEMPTION OF MEN.
III. IT IS DECLARATIVE OF THE UNIVERSAL INTEREST IN THE HISTORY OF THE REDEEMED RACE. The angels, who rejoiced over one sinner repenting, rejoice now in the completed work of the universal redemption. They who saw "first the blade," and sang over it, now behold "the full corn in the ear," and offer their loudest praise to the Lord of the harvest. Herein is signified the unity of the entire creation. Subtle links bind all in one. Each part is helpful to the other. There is mutual harmony, and there are mutual dependence and relationship. The whole finds its termination in a new act of adoring worship: "The four and twenty elders fell down and worshipped." As is most meet, the praise of all is paid to him "of whom and to whom and for whom are all things."
The Church below may learn:
1. The certainty of the final triumph of the Lamb in his own conquering work of redemption.
2. The identification of the work of redemption with the purposes of creation.
3. The duty of praise to God for this his unspeakable gift.
4. The sympathy of the angelic and universal life in the spiritual career of the redeemed.—R.G.
HOMILIES BY D. THOMAS