Hi Gallenwalsh,
You have to understand that what is being said in Revelation is symbolic and represents something else. Like for example if you said someone's head was in the clouds, you don't mean that literally or if you said someone was pig headed, you don't mean they literally have a pig's head. So these symbols in Revelation stand for something else. If you will look at this passage in Rev. 5, it says whom it is speaking of.
Rev 5:8 Now when He had taken the scroll,
the four living creatures and the twenty-four elders fell down before the Lamb, each having a harp, and golden bowls full of incense, which are the prayers of the saints.
That gives you a big clue right there, "the four living creatures and the twenty-four elders" which is repersentive of a certain group, had these symbolic things, "harp" and "incense, which are the prayers of
the saints." This group has the "prayers" of the saints, that is their's. They were prayed up to God, as incense, but they are the saints prayers.
Rev 5:9 And they sang a new song, saying:
"You are worthy to take the scroll,
And to open its seals;
For You were slain,
And have redeemed us to God by Your blood
Out of every tribe and tongue and people and nation,
Rev 5:10 And have
made us kings and priests to our God;
And we shall reign on the earth."
So there it tells you who that group is; "the four living creatures and the twenty-four elders... they sang a new song, saying... For You... have redeemed us... And have made us kings and priests to our God; And we shall reign on the earth."
Rev 11:15 Then the seventh angel sounded: And there were loud voices in heaven, saying, "The kingdoms of this world have become the kingdoms of our Lord and of His Christ, and He shall reign forever and ever!"
v. 16 And
the twenty-four elders who sat before God on their thrones fell on their faces and worshiped God,
Rev 20:4-5 And I saw
thrones, and they sat on them, and judgment was committed to them. Then I saw the souls of those who had been beheaded for their witness to Jesus and for the word of God, who had not worshiped the beast or his image, and had not received his mark on their foreheads or on their hands. And they lived and reigned with Christ for a thousand years. This is the first resurrection.
v. 6 Blessed and holy is he who has part in the first resurrection. Over such the second death has no power, but
they shall be priests of God and of Christ, and shall reign with Him a thousand years.
Hope that is of some help.
mercy, peace and love
Kat
p.s. that's cute John