Albert Barnes Commentary Revelation 19

And after these things. The things particularly that were exhibited in the previous chapter. (See Barnes on Revelation 18:1).

I heard a voice of much people in heaven. The voice of the worshippers before the throne.

Saying, Alleluia. The Greek method of writing Hallelujah. This word—allhlouia—occurs in the New Testament only in this chapter, Revelation 19:1, 3, 4, 6.

The Hebrew phrase—Hallelujah—occurs often in the Old Testament. It means properly Praise Jehovah, or Praise the Lord.

The occasion on which it is introduced here is very appropriate. It is uttered by the inhabitants of heaven, in the immediate presence of God himself, and in view of the final overthrow of the enemies of the church and the triumph of the gospel. In such circumstances it was fitting that heaven should render praise, and that a song of thanksgiving should be uttered in which all holy beings could unite.

Salvation. That is, the salvation is to be ascribed to God. (See Barnes on Revelation 7:10).

And glory, and honour. .

And power. (See Barnes on Revelation 5:13).

Unto the Lord our God. That is, all that there is of honour, glory, power, in the redemption of the world belongs to God, and should be ascribed to him. This is expressive of the true feelings of piety always; this will constitute the song of heaven.

(Compare Revelation 7:10, 12 regarding "Salvation".)

For true and righteous are his judgments. That is, the calamities that come upon the power here referred to are deserved.

For he has judged the great whore. The power represented by the harlot (see Barnes on Revelation 17:1).

Which did corrupt the earth with her fornication (see Barnes on Revelation 14:8; Revelation 17:2; Revelation 17:4; Revelation 17:5; and Revelation 18:3. Compare Barnes on Revelation 9:21).

And has avenged the blood of his servants (see Barnes on Revelation 18:20 and Revelation 18:24).

At her hand. Shed by her hand.

And again they said, Alleluia.

The event was so glorious and so important; the final destruction of the great enemy of the church was so significant in its bearing on the welfare of the world as to call forth repeated expressions of praise.

And her smoke rose up for ever and ever.

This is an image of final ruin; the image is probably derived from the description in Genesis of the smoke that ascended from the cities of the plain, Genesis 19:28. On the joy expressed here in her destruction, compare Revelation 18:20.

And the four and twenty elders and the four beasts.

As representatives of the church, and as interested in its welfare, they are now introduced as rejoicing in its final triumph, and in the destruction of its last foe.

Fell down. Prostrated themselves—the usual posture of worship.

And worshipped God that sat on the throne (Revelation 4:2–3, 10). That is, they now adored him for what he had done in delivering the church from all its persecutions, and causing it to triumph in the world.

Saying, Amen.

The word here is expressive of approbation of what God had done; or of their solemn assent to all that had occurred in the destruction of the great enemy of the church.

Alleluia.

The repetition of this word so many times shows the intenseness of the joy of heaven in view of the final triumph of the church.

And a voice came out of the throne. A voice seemed to come from the very midst of the throne. It is not said by whom this voice was uttered. It cannot be assumed, however, that it was uttered by God himself, for the command which it gave was this: Praise our God, etc. For the same reason, it seems hardly probable that it was the voice of the Messiah, unless it is assumed that he here identifies himself with the redeemed church and speaks of God as his God and hers.

It would seem, rather, that it was a responsive voice that came from those nearest the throne, calling on all to unite in praising God in view of what was done. The meaning then will be that all heaven was interested in the triumph of the church, and that one portion of the dwellers there called on the others to unite in offering thanksgiving.

Praise our God. The God that we worship.

All you his servants. All in heaven and earth; all have occasion for thankfulness.

And you that fear him—that is, those who reverence and obey him. The fear of the Lord is a common expression in the Scriptures to denote true piety. Both small and great. This includes all of every class and condition: the poor and the rich, the young and the old; those of humble, and those of exalted rank. Compare to Psalm 148:7-13.