Revelation 19

Revelation 19:1-21 . THE CHURCH'S THANKSGIVING IN HEAVEN FOR THE JUDGMENT ON THE HARLOT. THE MARRIAGE OF THE LAMB: THE SUPPER: THE BRIDE'S PREPARATION: JOHN IS FORBIDDEN TO WORSHIP THE ANGEL: THE LORD AND HIS HOSTS COME FORTH FOR WAR: THE BEAST AND THE FALSE PROPHET CAST INTO THE LAKE OF FIRE: THE KINGS AND THEIR FOLLOWERS SLAIN BY THE SWORD OUT OF CHRIST'S MOUTH.

1. As in the case of the opening of the prophecy, Revelation 4:8 , 5:9 , &c.; so now, at one of the great closing events seen in vision. the judgment on the harlot (described in Revelation 18:1-24 ), there is a song of praise in heaven to God: compare Revelation 7:10 , &c., toward the close of the seals, and Revelation 11:15-18 , at the close of the trumpets: Revelation 15:3 , at the saints' victory over the beast.
And--so ANDREAS. But A, B, C, Vulgate, Syriac, and Coptic omit.
a great voice--A, B, C, Vulgate, Coptic, and ANDREAS read, "as it were a great voice." What a contrast to the lamentations Revelation 18:1-24 ! Compare Jeremiah 51:48 . The great manifestation of God's power in destroying Babylon calls forth a great voice of praise in heaven.
people--Greek, "multitude."
Alleluia--Hebrew, "Praise ye JAH," or JEHOVAH: here first used in Revelation, whence ELLICOTT infers the Jews bear a prominent part in this thanksgiving. JAH is not a contraction of "JEHOVAH," as it sometimes occurs jointly with the latter. It means "He who Is": whereas Jehovah is "He who will be, is, and was." It implies God experienced as a PRESENT help; so that "Hallelujah," says KIMCHI in BENGEL, is found first in the Psalms on the destruction of the ungodly. "Hallelu-Jah" occurs four times in this passage. Compare Psalms 149:4-9 , which is plainly parallel, and indeed identical in many of the phrases, as well as the general idea. Israel, especially, will join in the Hallelujah, when "her warfare is accomplished" and her foe destroyed.
Salvation, &c.--Greek, "The salvation . . . the glory . . . the power."
and honour--so Coptic. But A, B, C, and Syriac omit.
unto the Lord our God--so ANDREAS. But A, B, C, and Coptic read, "(Is) of our God," that is, belongs to Him.

2. which did corrupt the earth--Greek, "used to corrupt" continually. "Instead of opposing and lessening, she promoted the sinful life and decay of the world by her own earthliness, allowing the salt to lose its savor" [AUBERLEN].
avenged--Greek, "exacted in retribution." A particular application of the principle ( Genesis 9:5 ).
blood of his servants--literally shed by the Old Testament adulterous Church, and by the New Testament apostate Church; also virtually, though not literally, by all who, though called Christians, hate their brother, or love not the brethren of Christ, but shrink from the reproach of the cross, and show unkindness towards those who bear it.

3. again--Greek, "a second time."
rose up--Greek, "goeth up."
for ever and ever--Greek, "to the ages of the ages."

4. beasts--rather, "living creatures."
sat--Greek, "sitteth."

5. out of--Greek, "out from the throne" in A, B, C.
Praise our God--Compare the solemn act of praise performed by the Levites, 1 Chronicles 16:36 , 23:5 , especially when the house of God was filled with the divine glory ( 2 Chronicles 5:13 ).
both--omitted in A, B, C, Vulgate, Coptic, and Syriac. Translate as Greek, "the small and the great."