Revelation 4:11

Worthy. God is “worthy” to receive praise from His creatures, because He has given them life and all else they possess. He has made them what they are.

O Lord. Textual evidence attests (cf. p. 10) the reading “our Lord and God.” Those who hold the view that the 24 elders are human beings point out that the use of the title kurios, “Lord,” by the elders and not by the four beasts may be significant, for kurios is the Greek counterpart of the Heb. Yahweh, the divine name by which God revealed Himself to His people (see Ex. 6:2, 3). Such a title, they assert, is particularly fitting for the praises of men. See Vol. I, pp. 171, 172.

For thy pleasure. Or, “by thy will.” It pleased God to bring the universe into existence and to give life to its creatures. He saw that it was good to do so. There was nothing desirable from His point of view in being alone in an empty universe. It pleased Him that the universe should be peopled with intelligent beings, capable of appreciating and reflecting His infinite love and perfect character. This was His purpose in creating them.

Are and were created. Textual evidence favors (cf. p. 10) the reading, “they were, and they were created.” By the expression “they were” John doubtless refers to the existence of the universe after God had brought it into being. God created and now sustains all things (see on Col. 1:17).