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Revelation 4:9
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9 And [kai] when [hotan] those beasts [zoon] give [didomi] glory [doxa] and [kai] honour [time] and [kai] thanks [eucharistia] to him that sat [kathemai] on [epi] the throne, [thronos] who [ho] liveth [zao] for [eis] ever [aion] and ever, [aion] KJV-Interlinear
9 And when the living creatures give glory and honor and thanks to Him who sits on the throne, to Him who lives forever and ever, NASB
There are still a few hold outs that believe that the four entities are four angels. But perhaps this verse will put those thoughts to rest.
We have already seen that the four entities symbolize the essence of life, the attributes of God, Gods plan, the power and speed, and grace, and holiness of God, and, just to add one more ingredient into this symbolism, the ultimate purpose of God, to make man His joint heir forever.
We are not referring to the face image of man, but the six wings, as far as the reference to man goes.
Anyway, the four are now said to give glory to God. This does not mean to be praising or giving praise in so many words, but the actual giving or bestowing glory onto God.
Neither angel, nor man, nor any created being can give anything to God.
Likwise, this glory is given or bestowed, and has been bestowed onto God forever, ‘for ever and ever.’ From eternity past to eternity future. No angel or man or any created being, existed before they were created. So no one can or could give something when they did not exist in eternity past. That should seem simple enough.
Now for the words.
Give, ‘didomai,’ to bestow, bring forth, commit, deliver, give, grant, offer, put, set. These indicate that the essence of life, the essence of truth, the essence of God in other words, is the ultimate source of Gods glory.
God is perfect, His plan is perfect, there is nothing imperfect with regard to God. And this is of course in reference to the one who sits, who occupies, who possesses the throne, Jesus Christ.
Glory, ‘doxa,’ dignity, honor, praise, worship, magnificence.
Honor, ‘time,’ respect, credit, reputation.
Thanks, ‘eucharistia,’ gratitude, grateful.
All of these are possessions of God, and due to Gods perfect character and plan, all of life is beholden, grateful, indebted to God. Were it not for God in all of His essence and glory, there would not be any plan, history, life, or destiny for any of us.
To Him that ‘sat,’ past tense. Christ has sat on the throne in heaven always. He has sat there and owned that throne since eternity past. There has never been a time when He did not sit on the throne. It is His and has always been His. There will never be a time when it will not be His.
This entire chapter is a picture of God and Christ, His essence, His character, His perfect right to rule and remove evil in all of its forms. And despite angelic and human history and the many attempts to remove Christ from His throne, all of those attempts will fail.
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