Devine Scripture

Revelation 11:16

What does Revelation 11:16 mean?

A plain-English look at Revelation 11:16 in WEB alongside six other public-domain English translations, with cross-references and chapter context.

What Revelation 11:16 means

The twenty-four elders, seated before God on their thrones, fall on their faces and worship. Those who share in heavenly rule yield themselves in adoration, acknowledging that all authority derives from God. Their posture shows awe and submission; their thrones do not make them peers with God but grateful servants. In earlier scenes they represent the redeemed and the priestly-royal people. Here they lead the response to the seventh trumpet’s announcement, modeling the only fitting reaction to God’s unveiled kingship: humble, joyful worship that recognizes the end of delay and the beginning of consummated rule.

Parallel translations

WEB

World English Bible · 2000

And the four and twenty elders, who sit before God on their thrones, fell upon their faces and worshipped God,

KJV

King James Version · 1611

And the four and twenty elders, which sat before God on their seats, fell upon their faces, and worshipped God,

ASV

American Standard Version · 1901

And the four and twenty elders, who sit before God on their thrones, fell upon their faces and worshipped God,

BBE

Bible in Basic English · 1949

And the four and twenty rulers, who are seated before God on their high seats, went down on their faces and gave worship to God, saying,

YLT

Young's Literal Translation · 1862

and the twenty and four elders, who before God are sitting upon their thrones, did fall upon their faces, and did bow before God,

DRA

Douay-Rheims (Challoner) · 1752

And the four and twenty ancients who sit on their seats in the sight of God, fell on their faces and adored God, saying:

DBY

Darby Bible · 1890

And the twenty-four elders, who sit on their thrones beforeGod, fell upon their faces, and worshippedGod,

Context

The heavenly proclamation of God’s and Christ’s reign elicits immediate worship from the elders. This verse sets up their thanksgiving song in the next lines, where they will name God’s identity and works in history. Their worship frames the meaning of the seventh trumpet: it is about God taking His power openly, not merely secretly ruling. The content that follows will interpret this reign in terms of judgment, reward, and the destruction of those who destroy the earth, moving from praise to theological explanation.

v.15And the seventh angel sounded; and there followed great voices in heaven, and they said, The kingdom of the world is becomethe kingdomof our Lord, and of his Christ: and he shall reign for ever and ever.

v.16This passage

v.17saying, We give thee thanks, O Lord God, the Almighty, who art and who wast; because thou hast taken thy great power, and didst reign.

Cross references

Related passages from across Scripture, drawn from the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge.

  • Revelation 4:10

    the four and twenty elders shall fall down before him that sitteth on the throne, and shall worship him that liveth for ever and ever, and shall cast their crowns before the throne, saying,

  • Revelation 7:11

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

  • Revelation 5:5

    and one of the elders saith unto me, Weep not; behold, the Lion that is of the tribe of Judah, the Root of David, hath overcome to open the book and the seven seals thereof.

  • Revelation 19:4

    And the four and twenty elders and the four living creatures fell down and worshipped God that sitteth on the throne, saying, Amen; Hallelujah.

  • Revelation 5:14

    And the four living creatures said, Amen. And the elders fell down and worshipped.

  • Revelation 4:4

    And round about the throne were four and twenty thrones: and upon the thrones I saw four and twenty elders sitting, arrayed in white garments; and on their heads crowns of gold.

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