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Commentary Index | Return to PrayerRequest.com | DownloadBob Utley You Can Understand the Bible - Revelation 19:1 - 19:5
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NASB (UPDATED) TEXT: Rev_19:1-5 a
1After these things I heard something like a loud voice of a great multitude in heaven, saying, "Hallelujah! Salvation and glory and power belong to our God; 2because His judgments are true and righteous; for He has judged the great harlot who was corrupting the earth with her immorality, and He has avenged the blood of His bond-servants on her." 3And a second time they said, "Hallelujah! Her smoke rises up forever and ever." 4And the twenty-four elders and the four living creatures fell down and worshiped God who sits on the throne saying, "Amen. Hallelujah!" 5And a voice came from the throne, saying,
Rev_19:1 "I heard something like a loud voice of a great multitude in heaven" This is an allusion to Jer_51:48. Chapters 17-18 draw heavily from Jeremiah 50-51 (the destruction of Babylon) for their imagery. This same phrase or concept is also found in Rev_11:15 (the Second Coming after the seventh trumpet) and Rev_19:6. There has been much discussion about who the multitude might be, but it is simply speculation as to whether it is the faithful angelic host, redeemed humanity, or both.
▣ "Hallelujah" This Hebrew term means "praise YHWH" (BDB 237 II and 219). This is the only occurrence of this term in the NT. It appears in this context four times: Rev_19:1; Rev_19:3-4; Rev_19:6. The OT background to this is found in the praise Psalms used in the liturgy of both the Passover and the Feast of Tabernacles (cf. Psa_104:35; Psa_105:45; Psa_106:48; Psa_111:1; Psa_112:1; Psa_113:1; Psa_116:19; Psa_117:2; 125:1, 21; Psa_146:1; Psa_146:10; Psa_147:1; Psa_148:1; Psa_148:14; Psa_149:1; Psa_149:9; Psa_150:1; Psa_150:6). A parallel phrase is found in Rev_19:5 b.
▣ "salvation" This characterizes God's desire for all mankind (cf. Rev_9:20-21; Rev_14:6-7; Rev_16:9; Rev_16:11; Rev_21:7; Rev_22:17; Eze_18:23; Eze_18:30-32; Joh_3:16; Joh_4:42; 1Ti_2:4; 1Ti_4:10; 2Pe_3:9; 1Jn_4:14). It can refer to the OT concept of physical deliverance, but probably relates to a total, eternal, cosmic salvation for believing individuals, and all physical creation (cf. Act_3:21; Rom_8:18-25; Col_1:19).
▣ "glory and power" Throughout the book heavenly choirs break into songs of praise to God. Often these praise songs are the key to interpreting the immediate context.
Rev_19:2 "because His judgments are true and righteous" This may be an allusion to Psa_19:9; Psa_119:138; Psa_119:142. God's judgments are appropriate and fair (seen in the three cycles of judgment). This would have been very encouraging to a group of Christians undergoing persecution (cf. Rev_19:11; Rev_15:3-4; Rev_16:7).
▣ "the great harlot" This fallen, anti-God world system goes by several names:
1. the great city
2. Babylon
3. the prostitute (cf. Rev_14:8; Rev_16:19-21; Rev_17:1 to Rev_18:24)
Rev_19:1-4 continue the context from Revelation 17, 18.
▣ "who was corrupting the earth with her immorality" This refers to materialism, idolatry, or immoral pagan fertility worship, or emperor worship (cf. Rev_2:14; Rev_2:20-21; Rev_9:21; Rev_14:8; Rev_17:2; Rev_17:4; Rev_18:3).
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▣ "He has avenged the blood of His bond-servants on Her" This may be an allusion to Deu_32:43 or 2Ki_9:7 (cf. Rom_12:19). God acts on behalf of the prayers of His saints (cf. Rev_6:9-11; Mat_7:7-8; Mat_21:22; Joh_21:22; Joh_14:13-14; Joh_15:7; Joh_15:16; Joh_16:23-24; Joh_16:26; Jas_4:2; 1Jn_3:22; 1Jn_5:14-16).
The anti-God world system has always been involved in the persecution and killing of God's people. God allows evil to reveal its true intentions (cf. Rev_13:5; Rev_13:7; Rev_13:15).
Rev_19:3 "Her smoke rises up forever and ever" This is an allusion to Isa_34:10 which describes universal judgment. We must remember that this literary genre (apocalyptic) uses symbols to communicate truth. The truth here seems to be one of two possible foci:
1. eternal punishment (cf. Rev_6:10; Mat_3:12; Mat_25:41; Luk_3:17; Mar_9:43; Mar_9:48)
2. complete destruction (cf. Isa_34:8-10). This same truth is found in Rev_14:11
Rev_19:4 "the twenty-four elders" See Special Topic at Rev_4:4.
▣ "Amen" This term is used in Rev_1:6-7; Rev_3:14; Rev_5:14 and Rev_7:12; Rev_19:4; Rev_22:20; and Rev_22:21. It is a form of the OT Hebrew word for "faith" (emeth, cf. Hab_2:4). Its original etymology was "to be firm" or "to be sure." It came to be applied in the OT to the trustworthiness of God. However, in the NT, its use is primarily liturgical in the sense of "I agree" or "I affirm." See hyperlink at Rev_1:6.
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Rev_19:5 "and a voice came from the throne saying" Because of the phrase "our God" (Rev_19:5 b), this must be an angel, not Deity. Jesus never calls God "our God" (Michael MaGill, NT Transline, p. 1011).