Revelation 19:1-10 – After this I heard what sounded like the roar of a great multitude in heaven shouting: “Hallelujah! Salvation and glory and power belong to our God, 2 for true and just are his judgments. He has condemned the great prostitute who corrupted the earth by her adulteries. He has avenged on her the blood of his servants.” 3 And again they shouted:
“Hallelujah! The smoke from her goes up for ever and ever.” 4 The twenty-four elders and the four living creatures fell down and worshiped God, who was seated on the throne. And they cried: “Amen, Hallelujah!” 5 Then a voice came from the throne, saying: “Praise our God, all you his servants, you who fear him, both great and small!” 6 Then I heard what sounded like a great multitude, like the roar of rushing waters and like loud peals of thunder, shouting:
“Hallelujah! For our Lord God Almighty reigns. 7 Let us rejoice and be glad and give him glory!
For the wedding of the Lamb has come, and his bride has made herself ready. 8 Fine linen, bright and clean, was given her to wear.” (Fine linen stands for the righteous acts of God’s holy people.) 9 Then the angel said to me, “Write this: Blessed are those who are invited to the wedding supper of the Lamb!” And he added, “These are the true words of God.” 10 At this I fell at his feet to worship him. But he said to me, “Don’t do that! I am a fellow servant with you and with your brothers and sisters who hold to the testimony of Jesus. Worship God! For it is the Spirit of prophecy who bears testimony to Jesus.”
“Then I heard what sounded like a great multitude, like the roar of rushing waters and like loud peals of thunder, shouting: “Hallelujah! For our Lord God Almighty reigns.” Again John speaks of an unidentified voice. The message of the voice describes God as “our Lord God Almighty” and so we know it is not God Himself that is speaking. It would seem to be a mighty angel speaking, see Revelation 18:2, though not necessarily the same angel.
The NIV excludes the word “voice of a” great multitude. Both the NKJV and the ESV include voice (in the original text). The word used for “voice” (included in the original text) is transliterated “phone” with an accent over the “e” and is pronounced foo-nay. It is a word that is most frequently translated as voice, but also as sound. It is used as a noise of a musical instrument, so as coming from something inanimate. Keeping in mind that a note from a musical instrument portrays the intent the musician intended to fit into the whole of a musical piece. So the voice is the instrument that carries a specific message to express that specific message to the hearer. The given description of the voice, or sound (musical) is that it is “like” a great multitude, “like” the roar of rushing waters and “like” loud peals of thunder. So it is like a great multitude and the before mentioned angels, the twenty-four elders and the four living creatures had united their voices to praise God and create a mighty roar of praise to God. The voice sings out a single specific message (as a single note from great song) from those who are in heaven and all are in one accord in giving glory and praise to God. Praise God!
Now all the redeemed of the Lord, the Bride of Christ, and the Church of Christ are in heaven and singing out praises to God. It is not clear if it is now their time to praise God, or if they have joined in with the previously noted united choir of heaven. However, it is clear that the Bride of Christ (that’s us Family) are there and singing praises to God in unison of purpose and in united in the awe of God. Praise God!
The first thing the voice rings out is “Hallelujah!” As we here on earth cannot think of God without wanting to praise Him, so much more so when we are in heaven, in His presence, and seeing His Word and His works play out. What comes from us takes no thought, we praise God!
“For our God Almighty reigns” is better translated “The Lord God Omnipotent has begun to reign.” It is not that the Lord has not always been supremely reigning, but we know that for His purposes He has allowed evil to be, and to reign, on earth. The enemy stole it from Adam, to whom God had given reign over the earth. In Matthew 6:9-13 Jesus teaches us how to pray. In V10 He includes “Your kingdom come,Your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven.” We clearly see that Jesus is indicating that the kingdom of God, and that His will, was not, and is now not, reigning on earth. Jesus says to pray for time that it will, but it had not, and is now not, doing so. It is not that God could not have stepped in and vanquished the evil at any time. God has ruled in heaven and has thrown out the devil from it. God is Almighty and could have taken back what Adam allowed the devil to steal. But God has His perfect plan and His perfectly appointed time for Him to take back full ownership and to vanquish the devil from earth, as He already has in heaven. So now is the time that Jesus is destroying the reign of the enemy and taking back earthly rule from the enemy. Thus, that the Lord “is beginning to reign” is not expressing that God has not always had the ability to take away the reign of the devil, but that then is the perfectly appointed time to do so. And when He does, His reign will continue forever. The enemy, after the thousand years of peace, will try again, and He will raise up an army against God, but God will not allow the devil to rule again. What this verse is describing is that God will begin to take back what is His and He will never again relinquish it. Our prayer that Jesus taught us to pray, that the kingdom of God and the will of God shall be done upon the earth as it has always been on earth shall at last come to be. Praise God!
Family, the time is soon coming for us to be called to our heavenly home that Jesus promised to us (John 14:1-3). Let us keep our eyes focused toward heaven, eagerly yearning, and straining forward for our calling home. Then we will be as Jesus is (1 John 3:2), by the power of His miraculous work that from it we received the miracle of our salvation. Thank you Jesus! Praise God!
Psalm 150:6 – Let everything that has breath praise the Lord. Praise the Lord!
Micah 7:7 – But as for me, I watch in hope for the Lord, I wait for God my Savior; my God will hear me.
Micah 6:8 – He has shown You, O man, what is good; And what does the Lord require of You but to do justly, to love mercy, And to walk humbly with Your God.