The thanksgiving song of the twenty-four elders recalls the words of Old Testament Scripture, specifically Psalm 2:1 and Psalm 46:7. The term “nations” refers to the peoples around the world who live in rebellion against the Lord God Almighty. In their rebellion they “rage” against God and his commands, raise as it were their fists against him in defiance of his sovereignty.
18 The nations raged, but your wrath came, and the time for the dead to be judged, and for rewarding your servants, the prophets and saints, and those who fear your name, both small and great, and for destroying the destroyers of the earth.”