“And when he had taken the book, the four beasts and four and twenty elders fell down before the Lamb, having every one of them harps, and golden vials full of odours, which are the prayers of saints.”
When he had taken the scroll, the four living creatures and the twenty-four elders fell down before the Lamb, each holding a harp and golden bowls full of incense, which are the prayers of the saints — the collective worship pivots to include the Lamb, establishing his co-regency with the Father. Harps (kitharai) and incense recall temple worship; the bowls of incense represent saints' prayers (Psalm 141:2), indicating that the unfolding of eschatological judgment is responsive to the intercession of the persecuted faithful.
Church Fathers on Revelation 5:8
“Twenty-four elders and four living creatures, having harps and phials, and singing a new song.” The proclamation of the Old Testament associated with the New, points out the Christian people singing a new song, that is, bearing their confession publicly. It is a new thing that the Son of God should become man. It is a new thing to ascend into the heavens with a body. It is a new thing to give remission of sins to men. It is a new thing for men to be sealed with the Holy…
Nicene & Post-Nicene / Ante-Nicene Fathers translations · public domain
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