What is the meaning of Revelation 4:11? Worthy are You John has just watched the twenty-four elders cast their crowns before God’s throne (Revelation 4:10), and their first words explain why: “Worthy are You.” Worthiness speaks of intrinsic value—nothing is lacking in God’s character, and nothing can be added. • Psalm 96:4 declares, “For great is the LORD, and greatly to be praised; He is to be feared above all gods.” • In Revelation 5:12 angels cry, “Worthy is the Lamb who was slain,” joining heaven’s agreement that Father and Son share the same perfect worth. Our response? Humble, joyful worship that recognizes we bring nothing He does not already possess. our Lord and God The elders address Him personally: “our Lord and God.” • “Lord” affirms His sovereign rule (Isaiah 45:5). • “God” affirms His deity and uniqueness (Deuteronomy 6:4). • The word “our” makes it relational. Thomas used identical language when he saw the risen Jesus: “My Lord and my God!” (John 20:28). Heaven’s worship is intimate; the One on the throne is not a distant power but the covenant-keeping God who calls us His own (1 Peter 2:9-10). to receive glory and honor and power Three distinct yet overlapping responses are offered: • Glory – public recognition of God’s brilliance and perfection (1 Chronicles 29:11). • Honor – reverent esteem that places Him above all else (Romans 11:36). • Power – acknowledgment that all authority rightly belongs to Him (Psalm 62:11). Revelation shows these themes recurring (5:13; 7:12), reminding us that worship is not a one-time act but a continual ascription of what God already possesses intrinsically. for You created all things Worship is grounded in objective reality: God is Creator. • Genesis 1:1 states the foundation, and John echoes it in John 1:3, “Through Him all things were made.” • Colossians 1:16 adds that “all things were created through Him and for Him.” Creation is neither accidental nor autonomous; it is the deliberate work of a personal God, giving Him rightful claim over every atom and every life. by Your will they exist and were created Creation did not merely begin with God’s will; its ongoing existence depends on that same will. • Hebrews 1:3 says the Son is “sustaining all things by His powerful word.” • Acts 17:28 affirms, “In Him we live and move and have our being.” God’s will is both the initiating cause (“were created”) and the preserving force (“they exist”). Nothing is random; everything stands or falls according to His purposeful plan (Psalm 33:11). summary Revelation 4:11 paints a breathtaking picture of heavenly worship: God is personally addressed as our Lord and God, proclaimed inherently worthy, and ascribed glory, honor, and power because He is both Creator and Sustainer. Recognizing His worthiness and creative authority leads us to heartfelt, ongoing worship, aligning our lives with the will of the One who made us and keeps us moment by moment. |
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