Three Thanksgivings in Heaven

While we celebrate Thanksgiving on earth below, what’s going on in heaven?

We could answer this question in part by examining the three instances of the word “thanks” in the book of Revelation (Rev 4:9; 7:12; 11:17). This brief study can be one of the many ways whereby we are blessed to read and heed “the revelation of Jesus Christ” (Rev 1:1–3; 22:7).

To get a sense of the book of Revelation as a whole, we remember that Christ had John “write the things which you have seen, and the things which are” (Rev 1:19a), a message from Jesus Christ for the seven churches then (Rev 1–3). He also wrote prophecy, the bulk of this book, about “the things which will take place” (Rev 1:19b), the future judgment of the world (Rev 4–19), kingdom of Christ (Rev 20), and new creation (Rev 21–22). It is a record of John’s four visions, each introduced by the phrase “in the Spirit” (Rev 1:10; 4:2; 17:3; 21:10). Like any part of Scripture, Revelation is timeless truth for us today, how to give thanks included.

So, as we consider the three instances of the word “thanks” in Revelation, we could better ask, What will go on in heaven? These thanks are in the future. Nonetheless, this study is meant to encourage us to give thanks to God in the present, whether now or at any time of the year.

First, we give thanks to God for His creation (Rev 4:9). 

At the outset of his second vision, John saw the preliminaries to judgment in the heavenly throne room (Rev 4–5). He saw the Throne, the twenty-four elders, the Spirit, and the four living creatures (Rev 4:1–6). The four creatures are described for their appearance and words (Rev 4:7–8), and these words include the four creatures giving “thanks” to God (Rev 4:9).

But here’s a question—if the words in Rev 4:8 ascribe holiness to God and acknowledge His eternality, how can these words be later described as giving thanks?

Perhaps a clue lies in the response of the twenty-four elders in Rev 4:11. They likewise ascribe “glory and honor” to God, but “thanks” gives way to “power” and its expression in God’s creation. This being the case, perhaps the “thanks” was for God’s creation and all its gifts therein.

We, too, can certainly thank God for His wonderful creation, our existence included! In the context of Revelation, we can thank God that He will reclaim this world, rid it of evil, and renew it to perfection. 

Second, we give thanks to God for His salvation (Rev 7:12).

After six of seven seals are broken (Rev 6), John saw an “interlude” in which four angels halted the world’s judgment in order to allow for the salvation of 144,000 Jews (Rev 7:1–8; cf. 14:1–5). Then he saw a great, global multitude of the redeemed loudly ascribe, “Salvation to our God who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb” (Rev 7:9–10).

In response, all the angels prostrated themselves to give a doxology of seven items to God, “thanksgiving” being in the middle (Rev 7:11–12), our second instance of thanksgiving.

As the multitude acknowledged God’s salvation, and as the angels worshiped God for the same (cf. Luke 15:7, 10; 1 Pet 1:10–12), so also we can do both. Thanks be to God for our wonderful salvation!

Third, we give thanks to God for His subjugation (Rev 11:17).

In the middle of Revelation’s seven future years of judgment (cf. Rev 11:2–3), John heard “loud voices in heaven,” perhaps all the voices in heaven at this time (Rev 11:15). Anticipating how further judgment would lead to the inauguration of the kingdom of Christ, these voices announced, “The kingdom of the world has become the kingdom of our Lord and of His Christ; and He will reign forever and ever” (Rev 11:15).

In response, the twenty-four elders “worshiped God, saying, ‘We give You thanks, O Lord God, the Almighty, who are and who were, because You have taken Your great power and have begun to reign’” (Rev 11:16–17). This third instance of thanksgiving is clearly to God for His subjugation of the world, which includes His reward to the saints (Rev 11:18).

We, too, can give thanks to God for His future subjugation of the world. Retribution will come to His enemies, and reward will come to us as saints. Thy kingdom come, we pray, and we thank God that it is coming!

Conclusion

We certainly give thanks for all of our earthly blessings and all things that we have in Christ, creation and salvation. As we look to the future, we can join the heavenly chorus to thank God for His coming subjugation of the world. Thanks be to God for all that He has made, all that we have in Christ, and all the glory that will be!

—

David Huffstutler is the senior pastor of First Baptist Church in Troy, MI. He blogs here, where this article also appeared. It is published here by permission.

Photo by Jovan Vasiljević on Unsplash