The Meaning of Revelation 7:11 Explained

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,

YLT: And all the messengers stood around the throne, and the elders and the four living creatures, and they fell upon their face, and bowed before God,

Darby: And all the angels stood around the throne, and the elders, and the four living creatures, and fell before the throne upon their faces, and worshipped God,

ASV: And all the angels were standing round about the throne, and about the elders and the four living creatures; and they fell before the throne on their faces, and worshipped God,

KJV Reverse Interlinear

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, 

What does Revelation 7:11 Mean?

Study Notes

angels (See Scofield " Hebrews 1:4 ") .
beasts living creatures.
living creatures
The "living creatures" are identical with the Cherubim. The subject is somewhat obscure, but from the position of the Cherubim at the gate of Eden, upon the cover of the ark of the covenant, and in Revelation 4, it is clearly gathered that they have to do with vindication of the holiness of God as against the presumptuous pride of sinful man who, despite his sin, would "put forth his hand, and take also of the tree of life" Genesis 3:22-24 . Upon the ark of the covenant, of one substance with the mercy-seat, they saw the sprinkled blood which, in type, spake of the perfect maintenance of the divine righteousness by the sacrifice of Christ Exodus 25:17-20 . (See Scofield " Romans 3:24 ") . See Scofield " Romans 3:25 ". See Scofield " Romans 3:26 ". The living creatures (or Cherubim) appear to be actual beings of the angelic order. Cf. See Scofield " Isaiah 6:2 ". The Cherubim or living creatures are not identical with the Seraphim. Isaiah 6:2-7 . They appear to have to do with the holiness of God as outraged by sin; the Seraphim with uncleanness in the people of God. The passage in Ezekiel is highly figurative, but the effect was the revelation to the prophet of the Shekinah glory of the Lord. Such revelations are connected invariably with new blessing and service. Cf.; Exodus 3:2-10 ; Isaiah 6:1-10 ; Daniel 10:5-14 ; Revelation 1:12-19 .

Verse Meaning

Other angels, beside the four living beasts and the24elders, gathered around the throne. The angelic host assembled joined these Tribulation saints in prostrating themselves before God in worship (cf. Luke 15:8-10).

Context Summary

Revelation 7:11-17 - The Joyous Service Of The White-Robed Throng
No nation has a monopoly of saints. No tribe is unrepresented. No language is so rude that its children may not learn the speech of heaven. The theology of heaven attributes salvation to God as its source through Jesus as its medium. Palm branches symbolize victory and the white robes, transfiguring purity. "His raiment became white and dazzling," Luke 9:29, r.v. Thus it was spoken of the transfigured Christ. Notice that sevenfold doxology! The visions of the saved shall awaken new joy in the angelic hosts, but how much more in the heart of Christ!
When we stand face to face with an inexplicable mystery, how comforting it is to be able to say in perfect faith, Thou knowest! Tribulation, whether it stands for our private afflictions or for some great crisis of martyrdom, is left behind forever. It should never be forgotten, however, that we are not saved by our sufferings but by His. The blessedness of heaven consists in the unveiled presence of God, in unbroken service, and in safety because God will spread His tabernacle over us. This exquisite description of the future life consists largely of negatives, because the positive defies human speech. No scorching trial, no fear, no want, no finality, because the Lamb will conduct our eternal progress deeper and deeper into heaven. [source]

Chapter Summary: Revelation 7

1  An angel seals the servants of God in their foreheads
4  The number of those who were sealed of the tribes of Israel: 144,000
9  Of all the other nations an innumerable multitude, which stand before the throne
14  Their robes were washed in the blood of the Lamb

Greek Commentary for Revelation 7:11

Were standing [ιστηκεισαν]
Past perfect active of ιστημι — histēmi intransitive and used like an imperfect as in John 19:25. [source]
Round about [κυκλωι]
Preposition (in a circle) with genitive as in Revelation 4:6; Revelation 5:11. The angels here rejoice in the salvation of men (Luke 15:7, Luke 15:10; 1 Peter 1:12).Upon their faces (επι τα προσωπα αυτων — epi ta prosōpa autōn). In reverential worship of God as in Revelation 11:16. For this worship (fell and worshipped) see also Revelation 4:10; Revelation 5:14; Revelation 11:16; Revelation 19:4, Revelation 19:10; Revelation 22:8. The dative τωι τεωι — tōi theōi (God) with προσκυνεω — proskuneō (to worship) is the usual construction for that meaning. When it means merely to do homage the accusative case is usual in this book (Charles). But in the Fourth Gospel the reverse order is true as to the cases with προσκυνεω — proskuneō (Abbott, Joh. Vocab. pp. 138-142). [source]
Upon their faces [επι τα προσωπα αυτων]
In reverential worship of God as in Revelation 11:16. For this worship (fell and worshipped) see also Revelation 4:10; Revelation 5:14; Revelation 11:16; Revelation 19:4, Revelation 19:10; Revelation 22:8. The dative τωι τεωι — tōi theōi (God) with προσκυνεω — proskuneō (to worship) is the usual construction for that meaning. When it means merely to do homage the accusative case is usual in this book (Charles). But in the Fourth Gospel the reverse order is true as to the cases with προσκυνεω — proskuneō (Abbott, Joh. Vocab. pp. 138-142). [source]
Stood [ἑστήκεσαν]
Rev., more correctly, were standing. The tense is the pluperfect, used in this verb as an imperfect. [source]

Reverse Greek Commentary Search for Revelation 7:11

Revelation 11:16 The four and twenty elders [οι εικοσι τεσσαρες πρεσβυτεροι]
They follow the living creatures (Revelation 11:15, if correctly interpreted) in their adoration, as in Revelation 4:9. Though seated on thrones of their own (Revelation 4:4), yet they fall upon their faces in every act of worship to God and Christ (Revelation 4:10; Revelation 5:8, Revelation 5:14; Revelation 19:4). Here επι τα προσωπα αυτων — epi ta prosōpa autōn (upon their faces) is added as in Revelation 7:11 about the angels. The elders here again represent the redeemed, as the four living creatures the forces of nature, in the great thanksgiving here (ευχαριστουμεν — eucharistoumen present active indicative of ευχαριστεω — eucharisteō). [source]
Revelation 19:4 Fell down and worshipped God [επεσαν και προσεκυνησαν τωι τεωι]
Precisely as in Revelation 7:11, which see. The twenty-four elders and the four living creatures take up the antiphonal chorus of the angels. [source]
Revelation 4:6 Like crystal [ομοια κρυσταλλωι]
Associative-instrumental case after ομοια — homoia Old word, from κρυος — kruos (ice and sometimes used for ice), in N.T. only here and Revelation 22:1, not semi-opaque, but clear like rock-crystal.In the midst of the throne (εν μεσωι του τρονου — en mesōi tou thronou). As one looks from the front, really before.Round about the throne Merely an adverb in the locative case (Romans 15:19), as a preposition in N.T. only here, Revelation 5:11; Revelation 7:11. This seems to mean that on each of the four sides of the throne was one of the four living creatures either stationary or moving rapidly round (Ezekiel 1:12.).Four living creatures (τεσσερα ζωα — tessera zōa). Not τηρια — thēria (beasts), but living creatures. Certainly kin to the ζωα — zōa of Ezek 1; Ezekiel 2:1-10 which are cherubim (Ezekiel 10:2, Ezekiel 10:20), though here the details vary as to faces and wings with a significance of John‘s own, probably representing creation in contrast with the redeemed (the elders).Full of eyes Present active participle of γεμω — gemō to be full of, with the genitive, signifying here unlimited intelligence (Beckwith), the ceaseless vigilance of nature (Swete). [source]
Revelation 4:6 Round about the throne [κυκλωι του τρονου]
Merely an adverb in the locative case (Romans 15:19), as a preposition in N.T. only here, Revelation 5:11; Revelation 7:11. This seems to mean that on each of the four sides of the throne was one of the four living creatures either stationary or moving rapidly round (Ezekiel 1:12.).Four living creatures (τεσσερα ζωα — tessera zōa). Not τηρια — thēria (beasts), but living creatures. Certainly kin to the ζωα — zōa of Ezek 1; Ezekiel 2:1-10 which are cherubim (Ezekiel 10:2, Ezekiel 10:20), though here the details vary as to faces and wings with a significance of John‘s own, probably representing creation in contrast with the redeemed (the elders).Full of eyes Present active participle of γεμω — gemō to be full of, with the genitive, signifying here unlimited intelligence (Beckwith), the ceaseless vigilance of nature (Swete). [source]

What do the individual words in Revelation 7:11 mean?

And all the angels stood around the throne the elders the four living creatures they fell before upon the faces of them worshiped - God
Καὶ πάντες οἱ ἄγγελοι εἱστήκεισαν κύκλῳ τοῦ θρόνου τῶν πρεσβυτέρων τῶν τεσσάρων ζῴων ἔπεσαν ἐνώπιον ἐπὶ τὰ πρόσωπα αὐτῶν προσεκύνησαν τῷ Θεῷ

ἄγγελοι  angels 
Parse: Noun, Nominative Masculine Plural
Root: ἄγγελος  
Sense: a messenger, envoy, one who is sent, an angel, a messenger from God.
εἱστήκεισαν  stood 
Parse: Verb, Pluperfect Indicative Active, 3rd Person Plural
Root: ἵστημι  
Sense: to cause or make to stand, to place, put, set.
κύκλῳ  around 
Parse: Preposition
Root: κύκλῳ  
Sense: in a circle, around, round about, on all sides.
θρόνου  throne 
Parse: Noun, Genitive Masculine Singular
Root: θρόνος  
Sense: a throne seat.
πρεσβυτέρων  elders 
Parse: Adjective, Genitive Masculine Plural
Root: πρεσβύτερος  
Sense: elder, of age,.
τεσσάρων  four 
Parse: Adjective, Genitive Neuter Plural
Root: τέσσαρες  
Sense: four.
ζῴων  living  creatures 
Parse: Noun, Genitive Neuter Plural
Root: ζῷον  
Sense: a living being.
ἔπεσαν  they  fell 
Parse: Verb, Aorist Indicative Active, 3rd Person Plural
Root: πίπτω 
Sense: to descend from a higher place to a lower.
ἐνώπιον  before 
Parse: Preposition
Root: ἐνώπιον  
Sense: in the presence of, before.
ἐπὶ  upon 
Parse: Preposition
Root: ἐπί  
Sense: upon, on, at, by, before.
πρόσωπα  faces 
Parse: Noun, Accusative Neuter Plural
Root: πρόσωπον  
Sense: the face.
αὐτῶν  of  them 
Parse: Personal / Possessive Pronoun, Genitive Masculine 3rd Person Plural
Root: αὐτός  
Sense: himself, herself, themselves, itself.
προσεκύνησαν  worshiped 
Parse: Verb, Aorist Indicative Active, 3rd Person Plural
Root: προσκυνέω  
Sense: to kiss the hand to (towards) one, in token of reverence.
τῷ  - 
Parse: Article, Dative Masculine Singular
Root:  
Sense: this, that, these, etc.
Θεῷ  God 
Parse: Noun, Dative Masculine Singular
Root: θεός  
Sense: a god or goddess, a general name of deities or divinities.