| Geneva Study Bible {16} And the four beasts said, Amen. And the four and twenty elders fell down and worshipped him that liveth for ever and ever. (16) A confirmation of the praise given before, from the consent of the nobles, expressed in word and signs, as once or twice before this. People's New Testament 5:14 And the four beasts said, Amen. They, then, though they may be in sympathy with, are different from the animated creation. Four orders join in these honors to the Lamb: (1) The Living Creatures, the Cherubim; (2) the Twenty-four Elders; (3) the Angels; (4) all Animate Creation. Scofield Reference Notes Margin beasts living creatures. See Scofield Note: "Ezek 1:5". Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Bible Commentary 14. said-So A, Vulgate, and Syriac read. But B and Coptic read, "(I heard) saying." Amen-So A reads. But B reads, "the (accustomed) Amen." As in Re 4:11, the four and twenty elders asserted God's worthiness to receive the glory, as having created all things, so here the four living creatures ratify by their "Amen" the whole creation's ascription of the glory to Him. four and twenty-omitted in the oldest manuscripts: Vulgate supports it. him that liveth for ever and ever-omitted in all the manuscripts: inserted by commentators from Re 4:9. But there, where the thanksgiving is expressed, the words are appropriate; but here less so, as their worship is that of silent prostration. "Worshipped" (namely, God and the Lamb). So in Re 11:1, "worship" is used absolutely. Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary 5:8-14 It is matter of joy to all the world, to see that God deals with men in grace and mercy through the Redeemer. He governs the world, not merely as a Creator, but as our Saviour. The harps were instruments of praise; the vials were full of odours, or incense, which signify the prayers of the saints: prayer and praise should always go together. Christ has redeemed his people from the bondage of sin, guilt, and Satan. He has not only purchased liberty for them, but the highest honour and preferment; he made them kings and priests; kings, to rule over their own spirits, and to overcome the world, and the evil one; and he makes them priests; giving them access to himself, and liberty to offer up spiritual sacrifices. What words can more fully declare that Christ is, and ought to be worshipped, equally with the Father, by all creatures, to all eternity! Happy those who shall adore and praise in heaven, and who shall for ever bless the Lamb, who delivered and set them apart for himself by his blood. How worthy art thou, O God, Father, Son, and Holy Ghost, of our highest praises! All creatures should proclaim thy greatness, and adore thy majesty. | 
