| Next | Previous | Index | Tellout Home |
26. Creature Praise Songs
Revelation 5.13-14
"Then I heard every creature in heaven and earth and under the earth and sea, and all that is in them, saying: 'To him who sits on the throne and to the Lamb be praise, honor, glory, and power, forever and ever!' The four living creatures said, 'Amen,' and the elders fell and worshipped." (Revelation 5.13-14) ✞
Planet Songs
Every creature in heaven and earth" praises God, including the birds of the air as they sing out their morning chorus, the pastures' and forests' animals, the oceans' fish and creatures, and every plant, insect, and flower. All Planet Sounds in our solar system praise God. Mercury sings like a windswept desert. Venus rings like a tolling bell. Mars whispers and clangs in its redness. Jupiter whispers like a muffled xylophone. Saturn sounds like a plane taking off behind a curtain. Uranus whistles like a kettle in a storm. Neptune is like deep breathing. Pluto comes over like railway wagons in the distance on a rusty track. The moon and stars also join in this grand celebration's amazing songs! ✞
The Sun's Song
Astronomers have recorded the buzzing sounds emanating from the sun. It sings a song of praise to Almighty God in its fiery glory. An exciting documentary about the Sun on Oasis TV explained the Songs the Sun Sings! The sun gives off various notes, which combine into a song chorus. In a similar way, but with a different tune, planet earth also sings! Listen to the earth singing! ✞
Fish Songs
The creature's praise songs even extend to all that is "under the earth and on the sea." Every single creature everywhere and in all of nature joins together to glorify God. Whales click and dolphins whistle in praise. "Fish vocalizations can take a wide variety of forms, including pops, clicks, whistles, purrs, grunts, groans, growls, barks, hums, hoots, rattles, and even tinkles." Scientists have recorded toadfish vocalizations in Honduras, like trumpet sounds. The Midshipman fish growls and grunts at other fish. A male midshipman fish will also hum throughout the night, trying to induce a female to his nest. Revelation shows all creatures praising the Father, the Holy Spirit, and Jesus. They share this beautiful and unusual praise outburst. "To him who sits on the throne and to the Lamb." ✞
The Lamb's Praise Song
All creation and every creature worships and praises the Lamb with songs and say 'Amen.' The elders fall and worship. The Lamb praise songs reach throughout the universe's vastness and creation's entirety. God and the Lamb are joined together in these praise songs. "To him, who sits on the throne and to the Lamb." Nothing could better emphasize Jesus Christ's importance. In creation praise, Jesus is seated with God. The phrase "every heavenly and earthly creature" comprises every living thing, the elders, the angel myriads, and heavenly beings. It takes in the rocks and mountains, the seas, and the smallest atom in every tiny thing. ✞
The Dead Praise the Lamb
All creation, every creature, and even the dead praise the Lamb. Even the animals which are "under the earth" and the dead add their praise to God. Hades' dead honoring God is something new. "Hades" is the ancient Greek name for "the underworld god." It was considered the most fearful pagan deity, and Homer described it as "pitiless, loathsome and monstrous." "Hades" is also the name of the dark place that Christians consider the dead souls' final destination. In the Old Testament, the dead are separated altogether from God and live a shadowy existence. Psalm 6.5 explains, "Among the dead, no one proclaims your name. Who praises you from the grave?" Then Psalm 30.9 adds, "What profit is there in taking my life, in my descending into the Pit? Can the dust of the grave praise you? Can it declare your loyalty?" "The Pit" is often used as a title for "Sheol." ✞
God-consciousness
Psalm 88.10-12 also questions whether the dead have any God-consciousness, "Do you show your wonders to the dead? Do their spirits rise and praise you? Is your love declared in the grave, your faithfulness in destruction? Are your wonders known in the dark place or your righteous deeds in the land of oblivion?" The prophet in Isaiah 38.18 adds, "For the grave cannot praise you, death cannot sing your praise; those who go down to the pit cannot hope for your faithfulness." ✞
Heavenly Creatures Song
The heavenly creatures worship the Lamb and God, who both sit on the throne. The elders bow down, even those from beyond death. Here is a Revelation vision that sweeps everything else away. Not even the "land of the dead" under the earth is beyond the risen Christ's reign. Even from beyond death, they hear the heavenly creatures song to him. Here is an all-inclusive response of "every creature in heaven and on earth" that is nature's whole praising God. ✞
"Creature Praise Songs"
by Ron Meacock © 2021
| ^Top Page | Next | Previous |