Celebration in Heaven

19 After this I heard something like the loud voice of a vast multitude(A) in heaven, saying,

Hallelujah!(B)
Salvation, glory, and power belong to our God,(C)
because his judgments are true[a] and righteous,(D)
because he has judged the notorious prostitute(E)
who corrupted the earth with her sexual immorality;
and he has avenged the blood of his servants
that was on her hands.(F)

A second time they said,

Hallelujah!
Her smoke ascends forever and ever!(G)

Then the twenty-four elders and the four living creatures fell down and worshiped God,(H) who is seated on the throne, saying,

Amen! Hallelujah!(I)

A voice came from the throne, saying,

Praise our God,
all his servants, and the ones who fear him,
both small and great!(J)

Then I heard something like the voice of a vast multitude, like the sound of cascading waters,(K) and like the rumbling of loud thunder, saying,

Hallelujah, because our Lord God, the Almighty,
reigns!(L)
Let us be glad, rejoice, and give him glory,(M)
because the marriage of the Lamb has come,
and his bride has prepared herself.(N)
She was given fine linen to wear, bright and pure.(O)

For the fine linen represents the righteous acts of the saints.(P)

Then he[b] said to me,(Q) “Write: Blessed are those invited to the marriage feast(R) of the Lamb!” He also said to me, “These words of God are true.”(S) 10 Then I fell at his feet to worship him, but he said to me, “Don’t do that!(T) I am a fellow servant with you and your brothers and sisters who hold firmly to the testimony of Jesus.(U) Worship God, because the testimony of Jesus is the spirit[c] of prophecy.”

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Footnotes

  1. 19:2 Valid; Jn 8:16; 19:35
  2. 19:9 Probably an angel; Rv 17:1; 22:8–9
  3. 19:10 Or the Spirit

Threefold Hallelujah Over Babylon’s Fall

19 After this I heard what sounded like the roar of a great multitude(A) in heaven shouting:

“Hallelujah!(B)
Salvation(C) and glory and power(D) belong to our God,
    for true and just are his judgments.(E)
He has condemned the great prostitute(F)
    who corrupted the earth by her adulteries.
He has avenged on her the blood of his servants.”(G)

And again they shouted:

“Hallelujah!(H)
The smoke from her goes up for ever and ever.”(I)

The twenty-four elders(J) and the four living creatures(K) fell down(L) and worshiped God, who was seated on the throne. And they cried:

“Amen, Hallelujah!”(M)

Then a voice came from the throne, saying:

“Praise our God,
    all you his servants,(N)
you who fear him,
    both great and small!”(O)

Then I heard what sounded like a great multitude,(P) like the roar of rushing waters(Q) and like loud peals of thunder, shouting:

“Hallelujah!(R)
    For our Lord God Almighty(S) reigns.(T)
Let us rejoice and be glad
    and give him glory!(U)
For the wedding of the Lamb(V) has come,
    and his bride(W) has made herself ready.
Fine linen,(X) bright and clean,
    was given her to wear.”

(Fine linen stands for the righteous acts(Y) of God’s holy people.)

Then the angel said to me,(Z) “Write this:(AA) Blessed are those who are invited to the wedding supper of the Lamb!”(AB) And he added, “These are the true words of God.”(AC)

10 At this I fell at his feet to worship him.(AD) But he said to me, “Don’t do that! I am a fellow servant with you and with your brothers and sisters who hold to the testimony of Jesus. Worship God!(AE) For it is the Spirit of prophecy who bears testimony to Jesus.”(AF)

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