Revelation Chapter 19

UNIVERSAL REJOICING (Rev 19:1-10)

Verses 1 and 2 as noted in Brother Shallieu’s Revelation study:

“And after these things I heard a great voice of much people in heaven, saying, Alleluia; Salvation, and glory, and honor, and power, unto the Lord our God: 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.”

Brother Shallieu differs from the previous view that the great multitude in heaven refers to the Church and the Great Company, and presents some valid points in support of his position.

According to Benjamin Wilson’s Emphatic Diaglott, the expression “much people” should be “a great crowd.” Although called “people” in the King James, those praising God are the holy angelic host, who have been witnessing events all down through the New Testament age.

The worshippers are not the saints, for the saints are mentioned in verse 2 as part of the subject matter of the proclamation of praise:

God “hath avenged the blood of his servants [the Church—Rev. 1:1] at her hand.”

If the “much people” were the saints, the account would read: God “hath avenged us of our blood.”

Also, the fact that this group in heaven is composed of a great number of beings would rule out Jesus and the Little Flock. In Revelation 18:20, which is directed to the saints, the words are “God hath avenged you on her.” If Jesus and the Church were the speakers at this juncture of the drama, the account would have been worded differently. Therefore, those praising God, in this particular context, are the angels in heaven where His Majesty resides.

Some might offer the interpretation that because of the large number involved, “much people” would refer to the Great Company speaking in the symbolic heavens down here on earth. As the vision is analyzed further in succeeding verses, it will become apparent that the Great Company is not being referred to.

In the opening two verses of Chapter 19, God’s truth and righteousness are made conspicuous in the act of retributive justice rendered against the great harlot, who debauched the world and persecuted the true Church. “Alleluia” comes from the Hebrew hallelujah, signifying “Praise you Jah [He who is],” which implies faithfulness in regard to God’s promises—even though their accomplishment seems to take a long time.

Many are so lopsided in their thinking that they do not see the propriety of capital punishment. Today the proven murderer is usually not executed; he gets life imprisonment, and if cooperative, he is released on good behavior in ten or so years. In fact, the convicted felon might even be released sooner if committed to a mental institution. Such is often the judgment of learned(?) and noble(?) men. The people in the streets who are victimized are not passing the laws, and the legislators are often unknown to the public. Lawyers and congressmen press for legislation eliminating capital punishment.

Those in this lenient frame of mind will not appreciate the exultation of “Alleluia[!] . . . [God] hath judged the great whore.” One who cannot appreciate such judgment in the natural realm would have difficulty viewing, in its true perspective, the justice to be inflicted upon Babylon. Out of balance in the other direction is a hypercritical class who insist on a hell of everlasting burnings. The Bible shows death to be simply extinction, NOT physical torture.”

VERSE 3 “Again they said, “Alleluia! Her smoke rises up forever and ever!”

AND A SECOND TIME THEY SAID HALLELUJAH!

Why? (It DOES help make a total of four or seven to help make the numerological symbolism complete. But that is not the likely answer.)

The FIRST hallelujah was for the past (as stated in Verse 2); the second is for the future because:

HER SMOKE RISES UP FOREVER AND EVER: Not only has God been praised for destroying the offender and, thus, for carrying out justice, but, as He had prophesied (“It shall not be quenched night or day; Its smoke shall ascend forever. From generation to generation, it shall lie waste; No one shall pass through it forever and ever.” Isa.34:10), He will never let the lesson be forgotten. All eternity will benefit from this horrible period of permitted injustices. The second Hallelujah is for the ETERNAL BENEFITS of the permission of evil.

We will see what Brother Shallieu’s has to say on Verse 3 in our next post.