First Words

The first words of the company of the redeemed in heaven are recorded in Rev 7.10 [as opposed to the first words recorded in heaven in Rev 5.13, but this is all of God's creatures, not the redeemed]. Salvation comes from our God who sits on the throne and from the Lamb! The first word is salvation (in Greek "the salvation"). Place in the Greek language is important, so the first recorded words out of the mouth of the redeemed in heaven is "salvation." It seems to me that this puts the emphasis on God's greatest work in history, the redemption of his people. To whom does salvation belong? To us? To our ability? To our acute intelligence in recognizing our need for Christ? Not according to the song of the redeemed in heaven. Salvation belongs to God the king, and to the Lamb of God who takes away the sins of the world.