And when he took the book, the four living creatures fell down — Now is homage done to the Lamb by every creature. These, together with the elders, make the beginning; and afterward, Revelation 5:14, the conclusion. They are together surrounded with a multitude of angels, Revelation 5:11, and together sing the new song, as they had before praised God together, Revelation 4:8, &c. Having every one — The elders, not the living creatures. An harp — Which was one of the chief instruments used for thanksgiving in the temple service: a fit emblem of the melody of their hearts. And golden phials — Cups or censers. Full of incense, which are the prayers of the saints — Not of the elders themselves, but of the other saints still upon earth, whose prayers were thus emblematically represented in heaven.
Related Commentaries of Revelation 5:8
Revelation 5:8
8 And when he had taken the book, the four beasts and four and twenty elders fell down before the Lamb, having every one of them harps, and golden vials full of odours,a which are the prayers of saints.