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The text for this lesson is Revelation 19:1–10

Key Point

  • The saints in heaven praise God for His power and glory and wisdom. God, who is all powerful, loving, and wise, will answer our prayers as He has promised.
  • Law: The prince of this world seeks to corrupt me by sin, suffering, and death and causes me to doubt God’s love and ability to answer my prayers.
  • Gospel: God alone is the King who has all good gifts in His control and the power to grant my petitions. He will answer my prayers for the sake of Jesus, the Lamb who was slain in payment for my sins, so I can live joyously in heaven with Him forever.

Context

    God gave a special revelation to John in order to show him the things that must soon take place. An angel caught John up into heaven and gave him a glimpse of the joy to come in heaven. The purpose for the Book of Revelation is to give comfort to the Christian congregations who suffer under the hand of sin and persecution. Jesus is portrayed as the Lamb sitting upon His throne, receiving the prayers and praises of all the angels, saints, and elders in heaven. He alone is the Savior of all, the one who defeated the beast, brings the new heaven and new earth, and will come again.

    Commentary

    The voice of the multitude in heaven is the voice of all the people who have believed that Jesus is their Lord and Savior, from the beginning of the world until its end. It’s the voice of victory. The Lamb has been slain for the sins of the world, but He is not dead. He lives and has ascended into heaven to prepare a place for all believers. He sits triumphantly upon His throne, worshiped by saints and angels.

    John records for us the hymns sung by the saints in heaven. Singing is a divine activity. Song did not originate in this world. The words of these songs come straight from heaven, revealed by God Himself. The angels sing. The saints in heaven sing. And the song echoes in Christian churches throughout the world. The content of these hymns of praise and victory gives us insight into what’s important to God and to the Church Triumphant.

    Hallelujah is the Hebrew word that means “praise the Lord.” Praise is the theme of these songs, and each of them expounds upon the reason for this praise.

    The first song praises the salvation, glory, and power that belong to God because of His judgments. He has pronounced condemnation upon the devil and his evil angels who corrupted the earth. He has pronounced liberty to His servants, avenging their blood that was spilled. This two-fold judgment condemns those who do not believe in the Lamb to eternal death, but proclaims forgiveness and eternal life to those who believe and are baptized (John 16:8).

    The second song builds on the first, eliciting a response from the elders and the beasts confirming what they just sang. The voice from the throne calls for more praise and fear from the congregation of the saints. And they respond.

    The third song praises God for His mighty reign. He is the all-powerful King. His kingdom is everlasting. He prepares as His Bride the Church universal, all those who believe in Jesus as their Lord and Savior. What reassurance this gives: God who has all power loves us so much that He sent Jesus to redeem us and answers all our prayers!

    The wedding in the text is a picture of the future event when Christ comes again to inaugurate the new heaven and the new earth. It’s the final day that initiates eternity. It’s the day when all the souls of the saints are reunited with their bodies in the long-awaited reunion in heaven. The invitation has been sent through the prophets, evangelists, and preachers to the world (Luke 14:23) . The banquet begins!

    The Bride, all those who believe in Him, is clothed in the bright, pure linen robe of her Bridegroom, washed in the blood of the Lamb. Christ’s justification is combined with the sanctification of His saints on the Last Day. His life and works are attributed to them (Matthew 25:34–39).

    The Lamb, His Word, and salvation are all worthy of the praise of the Church Triumphant and the Church Militant. It is the underlying component in all hymns of praise. The Church on earth continues to echo heavenly praises as long as this world remains. Soon, we will be caught up in this heavenly chorus!

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