Charles Ellicott Commentary Revelation 4:9-10

"And when the living creatures shall give glory and honor and thanks to him that sitteth on the throne, to him that liveth for ever and ever, 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 4:9-10 (ASV)

And when those beasts . . .—Better, And whenever the living beings will give (the future is used) glory and honor and thanks to Him who sits upon the throne, to Him who lives to the ages of ages, the twenty-four elders will (as is their custom) fall down before Him who sits on the throne, and worship Him who lives to the ages of ages, and will (as is their custom) cast their crowns before the throne, saying... It is not to Him who sat upon the throne, but to Him who sits there, as He lives to the ages of ages, that this homage is paid.

The future tense (shall give glory, and so on) implies the eternal repetition of the act. The connection between the praise given by creation, and the consequent homage of the twenty-four elders, expresses a truth.

The Church of Christ does not always hear the voice of praise from created things. Often the creation groans and travails; but her chorus of praise rises when she perceives that every thing that has breath praises the Lord.

The converse of this thought—the earth brings forth her fruit when the people praise God—is hinted in Psalm 67:5-6. “The earth ceases her travail when the sons of God are made manifest” (Romans 8:19–21).

Crowns.—The crowns are not royal crowns, but the crowns of conquerors. These are laid down before the throne by those who overcame, not in their own might, but through the blood of the Lamb (Revelation 12:11).