Charles Spurgeon Commentary Revelation 7:9-11

"After these things I saw, and behold, a great multitude, which no man could number, out of every nation and of [all] tribes and peoples and tongues, standing before the throne and before the Lamb, arrayed in white robes, and palms in their hands; and they cry with a great voice, saying, Salvation unto our God who sitteth on the throne, and unto the Lamb. And all the angels were standing round about the throne, and [about] the elders and the four living creatures; and they fell before the throne on their faces, and worshipped God," — Revelation 7:9-11 (ASV)

And palms in their hands; And cried with a loud voice, saying, Salvation to our God which sitteth upon the throne, and unto the Lamb. And all the angels stood round about the throne.

In the outer ring and about the elders that represent the church, who stand in the inner ring, nearest to Christ, and nearest akin to the Son of Man.

And palms in their hands; and cried with a loud voice, saying, Salvation to our God which sitteth upon the throne, and unto the Lamb.

And all the angels stood around the throne, and around the elders and the four beasts, and fell before the throne on their faces, and worshipped God. The angels form the outer ring.

The elders, who represent the Church of the redeemed, are closer to the throne of God than even the holy angels are. Nearest to God in heaven are those who have been redeemed from among men.

How high a dignity—how noble an estate—awaits us soon! But, all alike, both saved men and unfallen angels, fell before the throne on their faces, and worshipped God, —