The Revelation, a book of sevens, contains numerous doxologies, an expression of praise to God. It comes from the Greek doxologia, meaning appearance or glory, and word. It is especially, or most frequently, a short hymn or chant. It was a form of congregational worship, a familiar liturgy in the synagogues.
We find it quite frequently in the New Testament writings of the apostles, especially Paul. The praises are often in or at the end of an epistle and vary in length and in “intensity.” They are also found in the Old Testament, often written by David.
Not surprising, there are seven doxologies in the Book of The Revelation.
1. In the first doxology, the Apostle John and, by implication, the seven churches praise the Lord: who is, who was, who is to come, and glory, dominion, and eternity.
To him who loves us and has freed us from our sins by his blood 6 and made us a kingdom, priests to his God and Father, to him be glory and dominion for ever and ever. Amen. Rev. 1:5b-6
2. The four living creatures sing holy, holy, holy and give glory, honor, and thanks, to the one on the throne, for eternity.
And the four living creatures, each of them with six wings, are full of eyes all round and within, and day and night they never cease to sing, “Holy, holy, holy, is the Lord God Almighty, who was and is and is to come!” Rev. 4:8
And whenever the living creatures give glory and honor and thanks to him who is seated on the throne, who lives for ever and ever, Rev. 4:9
3. The twenty-four elders are witness to the voice of many angels that say the Lamb is worthy to receive power, wealth, wisdom, might, honor, glory, and blessing.
“Worthy art thou, our Lord and God, to receive glory and honor and power, for thou didst create all things, and by thy will they existed and were created.” saying with a loud voice, “Worthy is the Lamb who was slain, to receive power and wealth and wisdom and might and honor and glory and blessing!” Rev. 5:11-12
4. Every creature, in all of creation, chants to Him on the throne and to the Lamb: power, wealth, wisdom, blessing, honor, glory, and might forever and ever.
. . . saying with a loud voice, “Worthy is the Lamb who was slain, to receive power and wealth and wisdom and might and honor and glory and blessing!” Rev. 5:12
And I heard every creature in heaven and on earth and under the earth and in the sea, and all therein, saying, “To him who sits upon the throne and to the Lamb be blessing and honor and glory and might for ever and ever!” Rev. 5:13
5. The 144,000 martyrs have become part of a greater multitude standing before the throne crying salvation is from our God and the Lamb: blessing, glory, wisdom, thanksgiving, honor, power and might, forever.
. . . saying,“Amen! Blessing and glory and wisdom and thanksgiving and honor and power and might be to our God for ever and ever! Amen.” Rev. 7:12
6. Then the angels, elders and the four living creatures answer the great multitude with praise to our God: blessing, glory, wisdom, thanksgiving, honor, power, might, forever and ever.
. . . saying, “Amen! Blessing and glory and wisdom and thanksgiving and honor and power and might be to our God for ever and ever! Amen.” Rev. 7:12
7. In the last doxology of The Revelation, an even greater multitude declare the judgment of God on the false Church, true and just: Hallelujah, salvation, glory, and power.
After this I heard what seemed to be the loud voice of a great multitude in heaven, crying, “Hallelujah! Salvation and glory and power belong to our God, 2 for his judgments are true and just; he has judged the great harlot who corrupted the earth with her fornication, and he has avenged on her the blood of his servants.” Rev. 19:1-2
We will take a look at each of these praises over the next seven weeks.