2. Revelation 7:11-12 All the angels stood around the throne and the elders and the four living creatures, and fell on their faces before the throne and worshiped God, 12 saying: “Amen! Blessing and glory and wisdom, Thanksgiving and honor and power and might, Be to our God forever and ever. Amen.”

4. Seven-fold Praise to God AMEN! Blessing Glory Wisdom Thanksgiving Honor Power Might

5. Revelation 4:9-11 Whenever the living creatures give glory and honor and thanks to Him who sits on the throne, who lives forever and ever, 10 the twenty-four elders fall down before Him who sits on the throne and worship Him who lives forever and ever, and cast their crowns before the throne, saying:

6. Revelation 4:9-11 11 “You are worthy, O Lord, To receive glory and honor and power; For You created all things, And by Your will they exist and were created.”

7. The Power of Three “Him who is and who was and who is to come” (1:4) “To Him who loved us and washed us …and has made us kings and priests..” (1:6) “I am He who lives, and was dead, and behold, I am alive forevermore” (1:18)

8. Seven Spirits of God What does this refer to? (Revelation 1:4) Grace to you and peace from Him who is and who was and who is to come, and from the seven Spirits who are before His throne

9. Isaiah 11:2 The Spirit of the L ORD shall rest upon Him, The Spirit of wisdom and understanding, The Spirit of counsel and might, The Spirit of knowledge and of the fear of the L ORD. Are these the seven Spirits of God? The concept is not fully explained in the Scriptures, so this remain speculation.

10. Bullinger and “the” Bullinger believed that each word should contain the definite article. 1. the Blessing 2. the Glory 3. the Wisdom 4. the Thanksgiving 5. the Honor 6. the Power 7. the Might Creates a deeper level of understanding!

11. What were they to be thankful for? Maybe not exactly what we might think!

12. Revelation 11:17-18 “We give You thanks, O Lord God Almighty, The One who is and who was and who is to come, Because You have taken Your great power and reigned.

13. Revelation 11:17-18 18 The nations were angry, and Your wrath has come, And the time of the dead, that they should be judged, And that You should reward Your servants the prophets and the saints, And those who fear Your name, small and great, And should destroy those who destroy the earth.”

14. God’s Traits to be Thankful for Power Reign Wrath Judgment Reward Destruction

15. Colossians 3:12,15 Therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, put on tender mercies, kindness, humility, meekness, longsuffering; 15 And let the peace of God rule in your hearts, to which also you were called in one body; and be thankful.

16. Conclusion In spite of horrible conditions, the early Christians were expected to be a thankful people. One of the seven areas of praise to God was to include thanksgiving. We must thank God for His justice and wrath as well as His patience and longsuffering.