December 24, 2024 - Revelation 19

“After this I heard what seemed to be the loud voice of a great multitude in heaven, crying out, ‘Hallelujah!  Salvation and glory and power belong to our God, for his judgments are true and just; for he has judged the great prostitute who corrupted the earth with her immorality, and has avenged on her the blood of his servants’” (19:1-2 ).  I almost believe I don’t need to do anything with this chapter other than observe, “Told you so!”  I mean, over and over, we have read about God avenging his people by judgment against their (and his) enemies while saving them.  The multitude in heaven now gets to look down on these events and, not merely by faith but with sight, see all that has taken place.  And they shout, “Hallelujah!”  Two more times in this chapter we read:  “Once more they cried out, ‘Hallelujah! The smoke from her [the great prostitute] goes up forever and ever’” (19:3) & “Hallelujah! For the Lord our God the Almighty reigns” (19:6).  And the angel said to John, “Write this:  Blessed are those who are invited to the marriage supper of the Lamb.’ And he said to me, ‘These are the true words of God’” (19:9).  We are not yet quite at the scene but we are close, close enough that we can shout “Hallelujah!” over and over again!

Come, Thou Almighty King,

help us Thy name to sing;

help us to praise:

Father, all glorious,

O’er all victorious,

come, and reign over us,

Ancient of Days.

To Thee, great One in Three,

eternal praises be

hence, evermore.

His sov’reign majesty

may we in glory see,

and to eternity

love and adore!   --Old 18th century Italian hymn