(19.2)         For true and righteous are his judgments: for he hath judged the great whore, which did corrupt the earth with her fornication, and hath avenged the blood of his servants at her hand. 

1. This verse shows the Lord Jesus Christ to be what I maintained He was early on in our study of the Revelation. That is, He is portrayed in this book to be the Righteous Judge. He judges the great whore and avenges the blood of His servants who died at her hand. 

2. This verse implies rather than declares the deity of Christ. Remember that Jehovah said vengeance was His and that He would recompense. Christ being the One Who gains vengeance shows Him to actually be the great God Jehovah. 

(19.3)         And again they said, Alleluia. And her smoke rose up for ever and ever. 

1. Here we have the second hallelujah. This hallelujah might be called the hallelujah of righteous retribution. When the damned are judged and punished, those in heaven really will understand and appreciate, from God’s perspective, the grand scope and plan of God to deal with sin. Then they will shout hallelujah. We ought to do the same now, rather than wait until then. 

2. From time to time, you might be tempted to question the righteousness and the justice of God’s activities. Nevertheless, when we take note of the fact that those in heaven, who have a heavenly perspective, shout hallelujah . . . then perhaps we can reconsider our doubts and acknowledge that God really does know best. 

3. “Her smoke rose up for ever and ever” indicates the length of Babylon’s judgment. People and ungodly religions seem to try to say that eternal torment either does not exist or that it is not really eternal. This verse, however, shows that the Great Whore will be punished forever and ever. But what does this mean? Can a city that is destroyed, or an economic and political system that is destroyed, send up the smoke of punishment forever and ever? No. But the smoke of the punishment of those damned souls who perpetrated those foul deeds will, for their punishment, first in Hell, and then in the lake of fire, will be forever. Cities are not eternal, except for the city of New Jerusalem. However, souls that are created in the image and likeness of God are eternal. Therefore, when those same sinful souls are punished their smoke will rise up for ever and ever, which is what is meant in this verse. 

(19.4)         And the four and twenty elders and the four beasts fell down and worshipped God that sat on the throne, saying, Amen; Alleluia.  

1. This hallelujah is often called the hallelujah of realization. The twenty-four elders and the four beasts are the ones who shout out this hallelujah. But why are the twenty-four elders and the four beasts distinguished from the “much people” of verses 1-3? I would suggest that those who shout hallelujah in verses 1-3 are more likely the tribulation saints who suffered first hand from the antichrist and the false prophet, who had to endure the institutional oppression of Babylon. Thus, they would shout hallelujah in response to their heart’s cries for retribution being fulfilled. The twenty-four elders, representing church age Christianity, would also rejoice, but for somewhat different reasons. 

2. This is the last time we read about the twenty-four elders in the Word of God. This is because future references made by John use the phrase “bride of Christ.” Since these twenty-four elders are representatives of Church age believers, and since Church age believers comprise the bride of Christ, they will not be separately distinguished by John again. 

(19.5)         And a voice came out of the throne, saying, Praise our God, all ye his servants, and ye that fear him, both small and great.  

1. Here we seem to have the reason for the third hallelujah, or the hallelujah of realization. There is a realization of the greatness of God. But whose is the voice that will be heard? “And a voice came out of the throne.” Is this likely the voice of angel? I rather think that a voice coming from the throne is more likely God the Father’s or the Lord Jesus Christ’s than an angel’s. Since the Lord Jesus Christ’s mission is to glorify God, which results in praising Him, I am inclined to think that this is a general call by the Lord Jesus Christ that is extended to all the servants of God, saints as well as angels, exalted as well as lowly, to do what we should all always do . . . praise our God, all ye that fear Him. 

2. Whosoever is the servant of God will, at that time, praise Jehovah. Thus, the angels in heaven will praise Him, both those of lofty position and those of menial station. Old Testament saints will praise Him, both those who were notable and those who are unknown to us. The only two criteria that seem important at this point are that you are a servant of God and that you are one who fears God. 

3. By the way, the word translated “praise,” the word ainew, is an imperative verb in the present tense. “The present tense indicates progressive action at the present time.”[1] Thus, the voice from the throne is directing all creatures in heaven to begin praising God and to do so without interruption without stopping! My suggestion, therefore, is that if you plan to spend eternity in heaven, and if you think you are going to spend eternity in heaven, that you start practicing what you will be doing throughout eternity, which is praising God. 

4. May I help you get ready for praising God when you get to heaven, if you get to heaven? Consider the verses that the ushers are handing out to you now. My suggestion is that you read the verses I picked out, become familiar with them, and commit yourself to doing what they recommend: 

Psalm 22.23: “Ye that fear the LORD, praise him; all ye the seed of Jacob, glorify him; and fear him, all ye the seed of Israel.”

Psalm 28.7: “The LORD is my strength and my shield; my heart trusted in him, and I am helped: therefore my heart greatly rejoiceth; and with my song will I praise him.”

Psalm 42.5: “Why art thou cast down, O my soul? and why art thou disquieted in me? hope thou in God: for I shall yet praise him for the help of his countenance. “

Psalm 42.11: “Why art thou cast down, O my soul? and why art thou disquieted within me? hope thou in God: for I shall yet praise him, who is the health of my countenance, and my God.”

Psalm 43.5: “Why art thou cast down, O my soul? and why art thou disquieted within me? hope in God: for I shall yet praise him, who is the health of my countenance, and my God.”

Psalm 69.34: “Let the heaven and earth praise him, the seas, and every thing that moveth therein.”

Psalm 104.35: “Let the sinners be consumed out of the earth, and let the wicked be no more. Bless thou the LORD, O my soul. Praise ye the LORD.”

Psalm 105.45: “That they might observe his statutes, and keep his laws. Praise ye the LORD.”

Psalm 106.1: “Praise ye the LORD. O give thanks unto the LORD; for he is good: for his mercy endureth for ever.”

Psalm 106.48: “Blessed be the LORD God of Israel from everlasting to everlasting: and let all the people say, Amen. Praise ye the LORD.”

Psalm 107.32: “Let them exalt him also in the congregation of the people, and praise him in the assembly of the elders.”

Psalm 109.30: “I will greatly praise the LORD with my mouth; yea, I will praise him among the multitude.”

Psalm 111.1: “Praise ye the LORD. I will praise the LORD with my whole heart, in the assembly of the upright, and [in] the congregation. “

Psalm 112.1: “Praise ye the LORD. Blessed is the man that feareth the LORD, that delighteth greatly in his commandments.”

Psalm 113.1: “Praise ye the LORD. Praise, O ye servants of the LORD, praise the name of the LORD.”

Psalm 116.19: “In the courts of the LORD’s house, in the midst of thee, O Jerusalem. Praise ye the LORD.”

Psalm 117.1: “O praise the LORD, all ye nations: praise him, all ye people.”

Psalm 135.1: “Praise ye the LORD. Praise ye the name of the LORD; praise him, O ye servants of the LORD.”

Psalm 148.1: “Praise ye the LORD. Praise ye the LORD from the heavens: praise him in the heights.”

Psalm 148.3: “Praise ye him, sun and moon: praise him, all ye stars of light.”

Psalm 148.4: “Praise him, ye heavens of heavens, and ye waters that be above the heavens.”

Psalm 150.1: “Praise ye the LORD. Praise God in his sanctuary: praise him in the firmament of his power.”

Psalm 150.2: “Praise him for his mighty acts: praise him according to his excellent greatness.”

Psalm 150.3: “Praise him with the sound of the trumpet: praise him with the psaltery and harp.”

Psalm 150.4: “Praise him with the timbrel and dance: praise him with stringed instruments and organs.”

Psalm 150.5: “Praise him upon the loud cymbals: praise him upon the high sounding cymbals.”

Psalm 150.6: “Let every thing that hath breath praise the LORD. Praise ye the LORD.”

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