Dr. Couch, who or what are the creatures in Revelation 5:13? Are they
angels, fallen angels, the unregenerate, or the saved? And, is the scene
post-rapture?
ANSWER:
This entire section (5:8-14) is post-rapture. Verses 8-10 contain the
“prayers of the saints” who have been gathered into heaven from “every
tribe, and tongue and people and nation” (v. 9). These gathered in
heaven constitute “a” kingdom not the millennial kingdom that takes
place on earth in the future. This “kingdom” mentioned here in verse 10
is clearly the church which, when on earth, functioned as a priesthood
to the Lord (1:6).
In what dispensation were people so
universally gathered from around the world as referred to in verses
8-10? This is clearly the dispensation of the church saints, and in this
passage, they (the church) are now in heaven praising the Lord! The
church is never again seen on earth in Revelation from chapter 6 on.
Poor Reformed Covenant guys just cannot answer that!
In 5:11-12 there is the chorus of the angelic
hosts praising God and honoring Christ who is the Lamb, who saved from
all the nations the great company of human beings, the saints who are
mentioned. This scene has certain finality to it. The church has been
gathered and is now residing in heaven, “rescued” just before the
tribulation begins on earth in chapter 6.
Now coming to verses 13-14 and the words “every created thing”: The Greek word ktisma
is a singular neuter noun with the neuter relative pronoun “o”
following. Since the church in heaven is mentioned in verses 8-10, and
the angels are mentioned in verses 11-12, what is now happening in
verses 13-14?
I believe verses 13-14 constitute hyperbole, a
poetic expression, a metaphor, an anthropomorphism of nature, as if
nature is alive and praising God just like people and angels! Some
commentators disagree but the neuter stands out so strongly in the Greek
text, this is what I come to.
I trust this helps, and, thanks for asking!
Dr. Mal Couch
