In this section, which consists of the first ten verses of chapter 19, we have the word "Hallelujah" occurring four times. After the conclusion of the description of the fall of Babylon, John then heard a great voice as of a vast multitude in heaven saying; "Hallelujah; Salvation, and glory, and power, belong to our God; 2 for true and righteous are his judgments; for he hath judged the great harlot, her that corrupted the earth with her fornication, and he hath avenged the blood of his servants at her hand" (vss. 1,2).

The word, hallelujah, is of Hebrew origin and means, "0 praise ye Jah"--that is, Jehovah. Evidently this great multitude in heaven consists of men redeemed by the blood of the Lamb. Whenever we see the word, multitude, usually it refers to a vast number of men. I do not know of any occasion when it is ever used with reference to celestial beings--unless the facts of such usage is indicated by the context. (See Luke 2:13.) The assumption, therefore, is that these are redeemed men who will be praising God for His matchless salvation and for the righteousness of His judgments. In His bringing judgment upon and overthrowing Babylon the harlot, that corrupts the people of the world, they will rejoice with holy boldness.

A second time he hears the word, "Hallelujah." Following this second call to praise God, we see the four and twenty elders and the four living creatures--seraphim--falling down and worshiping God and saying, "Amen; Hallelujah." Thus these high celestial beings will be joining with the redeemed above in calling upon others to praise God for His great salvation.

When these celestial hosts join with men in praising God, there is a voice that comes from the throne saying: "Give praise to our God, all ye his servants, ye that fear him, the small and the great" (vs. 5).

A fourth time John hears "as it were the voice of a great multitude, and as the voice of many waters, and as the voice of mighty thunders, saying, Hallelujah: for the Lord our God, the Almighty, reigneth. 7 Let us rejoice and be exceeding glad, and let us give the glory unto him: for the marriage of the Lamb is come, and his wife hath made herself ready. 8 And it was given unto her that she should array herself in fine linen, bright and pure: for the fine linen is the righteous acts of the saints" (vss. 6-8).

". . . The Lord our God, the Almighty, reigneth." In this fact we ought all to rejoice and to give praise to God. The host of redeemed ones, moreover, rejoice and praise God because the time is at hand "for the marriage of the Lamb." The Lamb's wife has made herself ready. The wife of the Lamb is none other than the Church of the Lord Jesus Christ. "And it was given unto her that she should array herself in fine linen, bright and pure," which sets forth pictorially and graphically the righteous lives and acts of the saints. Of course, we are clothed in the righteousness of Christ, which is conferred upon those who accept Christ and trust Him. But, whereas we are saved by the grace of God through faith, we labor for the Master and will be rewarded according to our works. Thus the fine linen is symbolic of the righteous acts which we, as redeemed people, perform.

After these mighty acts of worship and praise to God the angel who was talking to John urged him saying, "Write, Blessed are they that are bidden to the marriage supper of the Lamb" (vs. 9). Who are these invited guests? There is some controversy as to who they are. Some think that they are the Old Testament saints; others, that they are the Tribulation saints. In view of the fact that we have so very little information regarding them, it is impossible to be dogmatic and assert that they consist of a certain group. Anyway, we know that there are certain ones who will be invited to attend the marriage of the Lamb when He, the Lamb, and His bride, the body of Christ, are united in the holy bonds of spiritual matrimony--for all eternity.

The words which the Lord has spoken are the true words of God. When this revelation was made known to John, he "fell down before his feet to worship him"--the angel. But this celestial being stopped him, saying that he himself was a fellow servant and that he, with the brethren, "held the testimony of Jesus." Then he exhorted John to "worship God; for the testimony of Jesus is the spirit of prophecy." Everything in the Old Testament centers around, in some way, the Lord Jesus Christ, the Hebrew Messiah and Redeemer of humanity.

In Revelation 19:11-21 we have a prophecy of our Lord's return at the end of the Tribulation. One would do well, however, before going on with this study, to turn back to Psalm 50:1-6 and read there of the second coming of our Lord. After leaving heaven on His way to the earth, He stops, looks back toward the heavens which He has just left and then toward the earth, to which He is coming, and issues a command to those who are able to carry out His instructions, telling them to gather His saints together unto Him, even those who have made a covenant with Him by way of sacrifice, in order that He, Christ, may judge His people--that is, that He might make the awards of the rewards to His saints. After this Christ resumes His journey and comes all the way to the earth, as King of Kings and Lord of Lords.

In verses 11-16 we have a vivid and graphic description of our Lord as He will appear when He returns in glory. Here He is represented as a rider, a warrior, mounted on a white horse. Anciently, warriors rode on white horses and led their armies into battle. Thus our Lord at His second coming is represented as a warrior. His being thus represented is common to the 0ld Testament. For instance, in Deuteronomy 32:39-43, our Lord is presented as a warrior who takes His sword, whets it, seizes His bow and arrows, and goes into war against His enemies and those of His people. In Psalm 45:3-5 He is likewise represented as a warrior who goes against His enemies in battle and stands the triumphant Conqueror over all foes. In Isaiah 9:6 Christ is represented as the Miracle One who is able to counsel, and the Mighty God, that is, God the Hero. This passage looks at Him as He will be when He comes back, enters the field of battle, and conquers the world. But the passage upon which the language of John in Revelation 19:11-16 is probably based is found in Isaiah 63:1-6. Here we see the description of our Lord as He will take the field of battle against the enemies of Israel and will bring deliverance to His sorely tried people.

Our Lord will have the name "Faithful and True." Moreover, His name is called "The Word of God." He will have on His head many diadems. There will accompany Him "the armies which are in heaven" who will be arrayed in fine linen, white and pure. These are none other than the saints of God, who come back with Christ when He returns to this earth.

And out of Christ's mouth will proceed "a sharp sword," not a literal one, but it is the weapon with which He will fight. He will speak the word of judgment and His commands will be carried out by the power of Omnipotence. He therefore is represented as having a sword which proceeds from His mouth. He will also smite the nations with this sword and will rule them with a rod of iron. He will tread the winepress of the fierceness of the wrath of God, the Almighty. Moreover, He has written upon His garment and upon Himself the title, KING OF KINGS, AND LORD OF LORDS.

Examine carefully Habakkuk, chapter 3, for a similar vivid and graphic description of Christ at His second coming. (Also examine Psalm 18:7-18.)

Invitation to the Birds of Heaven