Presents
Presents
After seeing the fall of "Babylon the great" John hears much rejoicing in heaven. "Alleluia" is the Greek word for the Hebrew word "Hallelujah" which means "Praise ye Jah" or "Praise the Lord". "Jah" or "Yah" is God's name. So now when someone asks you if you speak any Hebrew say "Yes, Hallelujah".Pamphlet 1906 Rev. kc 49-2 John meets with one of our own brethren while in heaven,
only he was in his spiritual body, not his flesh body.Rev. 19:1
And after these things I heard a great voice of much people in heaven, saying, Alleluia; Salvation, and glory, and honour, and power, unto the Lord our God:
By the way, this is the first time this word "Hallelujah" is used in the New Testament and it is connected with the punishment of the wicked. Do you know what? The first time it is used in the Old Testament it is connected with the same thing.
"Praise ye the LORD" is the translation of "hallelujah" as opposed to just converting the Hebrew letters to English, which is a process called transliteration.Psalm 104:35
Let the sinners be consumed out of the earth, and let the wicked be no more. Bless thou the LORD, O my soul. Praise ye the LORD.
So John observes them praising God in heaven.
We've read of it all.[2] 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.
Praise ye Yah! The great whore who corrupted the earth by committing fornication, which is idolatry, with all the nations is GONE![3] And again they said, Alleluia. And her smoke rose up for ever and ever.
Don't let the phrase "and her smoke rose up for ever and ever" conjure up some image of an ever burning hell fire. It simply means that when something is burned and it "goes up in smoke" it is gone for ever and ever.
You should know who these people are. This verse should bring back a vivid and beautiful scene of heaven in your mind from chapter four. If it doesn't then go back and re-read chapter four.[4] And the four and twenty elders and the four beasts fell down and worshipped God that sat on the throne, saying, Amen; Alleluia.
The word "fear" means "reverence", i.e. to "revere" or to love God.[5] And a voice came out of the throne, saying, Praise our God, all ye his servants, and ye that fear him, both small and great.
Hallelujah![6] And I heard as it were the voice of a great multitude, and as the voice of many waters, and as the voice of mighty thunderings, saying, Alleluia: for the Lord God omnipotent reigneth.
Note to the advanced student: If you are familiar with those who were chosen "before the foundation of this world" spoken of by Paul in Ephesians chapter 1, and their calling and justification also spoken of by Paul in Rom 8:29-30, then you will know that the wife (Greek #1135 gune) is not the same as the bride (Greek #3565 numphe). Read the marginal note in The Companion Bible on Rev. 21:9.[7] Let us be glad and rejoice, and give honour to Him: for the marriage of the Lamb is come, and his wife hath made herself ready.
The fine linen is the righteousness or "righteous acts" of the saints (look up the word righteousness in Strong's). Your "works", your righteous acts, will be your clothing in heaven. If you have no righteous acts you'll be very, very naked! How embarrassing would that be?Rev. 19:8 And to her was granted that she should be arrayed in fine linen, clean and white: for the fine linen is the righteousness of saints.
"Yes, but salvation is of grace and not of works", you say. True, but you are rewarded by your works, so will you be saved with your clothes on or will you saved stark naked.
So get some clothes and keep them on.Rev. 16:15
Behold, I come as a thief. Blessed is he that watcheth, and keepeth his garments, lest he walk naked, and they see his shame.
Now John is given some instructions. Back to work John!
Rev. 19:9 And he saith unto me, Write, Blessed are they which are called unto the marriage supper of the Lamb. And he saith unto me, These are the true sayings of God.
This angel was one of John's brethren only he was in his spiritual body, not his flesh. And the angel said "Never, never, never worship angels.[10] And I fell at his feet to worship him. And he said unto me, See thou do it not: I am thy fellow servant, and of thy brethren that have the testimony of Jesus: worship God: for the testimony of Jesus is the spirit of prophecy.Did you catch what that angel said?
What is the testimony of Jesus? It's the entire Word of God. We could say it's both the Old Testimony and the New Testimony. Yes, I like it!
Revelation
22:6 And he said unto me, These sayings are faithful and true:
and the Lord God of the holy prophets sent his angel to shew unto his
servants the things which must shortly be done.
7 Behold, I come quickly: blessed is he that keepeth the sayings of the prophecy of this book.
8 And I John saw these things, and heard them. And when I had heard and seen, I fell down to worship before the feet of the angel which shewed me these things.
9 Then saith he unto me, See thou do it not: for I am thy fellowservant, and of thy brethren the prophets, and of them which keep the sayings of this book: worship God.
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