Hallelujah!

George Frederick Handel is regarded as one of the greatest composers in church history. His oratorio Messiah is the most popular of his works, as it has captivated and inspired many with its biblical lyrics and musical score. King George II of England was present during the first performance in London on 23 March 1743. When the famous “Hallelujah Chorus” was sung, which contains the words, “For the Lord God omnipotent reigneth,” the King stood unexpectedly.

His act of homage prompted the entire audience to stand with him, and everyone remained standing throughout the entire chorus because they sought to glorify the greatness of the true King who reigns overall. From that time in 1743 until the present, it is customary to stand during the “Hallelujah Chorus.”

According to the late A. W. Tozer (1897-1963), one of the most important things in life is what thought enters the mind concerning God. In his The Knowledge of the Holy (1961; reprint, San Fran cisco: HarperCollins, 1978), he wrote: “The history of mankind will probably show that no people has ever risen above its religion, and man’s spiritual history will positively demonstrate that no religion has ever been greater than its idea of God…. For this reason, the gravest question before the Church is always God Himself, and the most portentous fact about any man is not what he at a given time may say or do, but what he in his deep heart conceives God to be like…. Were we able to extract from any man a complete answer to the question, ‘What comes into your mind when you think about God?’ we might predict with certainty the spiritual future of that man” (p. 1).

The majority of life’s difficulties are not circumstantial; rather, they are perceptual. The greatest problems are the result of an inadequate understanding of who God is. Tozer believed correctly that a faulty concept of God “is the cause of a hundred lesser evils” (p. vii). However, the one who believes in God as He is will be “relieved of ten thousand temporary problems” (p. 2). Handel’s thrilling “Hallelujah Chorus” celebrates Christ’s final victory. Knowing “the Lord our God, the Almighty, reigns” (Rev 19:6b) certainly should direct the course of one’s life. Revelation 19—20 provides a rejuvenating emphasis upon God as Victor over all.

TWO GRAND EVENTS

(Rev 19:1-21) Revelation 18:20 invited rejoicing at the end of the continually downward trend of history. Revelation 19 begins with heaven’s response to that invitation. The praise is focused upon God’s character, particularly His “salvation and glory and power” (v. 1b). Evidence of the Lord’s true and righteous judgment is twofold: (1) He “judged the great harlot who was corrupting the earth with her immorality”; and, (2) He “AVENGED THE BLOOD OF HIS BONDSERVANTS” (v. 2; cf. 17:1-18). Those rejoicing had rejected false religion and, by faith, received the Lord as God and Savior.

Justice sometimes appears lacking in the present age, yet this will not always be the circumstance because of the character of God. The expression, “Hallelujah!” leads to the second confirmation of God’s righteous and true judgments, which is the assurance that wickedness will never again control the earth (19:3). Considering that reality, “the twenty-four elders and the four living creatures fell down and worshipped God who sits on the throne” (v. 4). They worshiped the Lord who sits continuously upon His throne (vv. 5-6). How essential it is to embrace this concept of God upon His eternal throne!

The beginnings words of verse 7 allude to Psalm 118:22-24, where rejoicing occurs because God caused “the stone which the builders rejected” to “become the chief corner stone.” There is also reference to Jesus’ words: “‘Rejoice and be glad, for your reward in heaven is great” (Matt 5:12a). God will vindicate His Son and those who trust in Him. Babylon’s existence will impact the marriage of the Lamb (Rev 19:7-10). The domination and enticement of Babylon was necessary to the perseverance of God’s people, so they would be prepared to enter “the holy city, new Jerusalem” (21:2).

The Lord God Almighty reigns, so there is no reason for anxiety (19:6b). Worthy is the Lamb; therefore, worship belongs to Him alone (vv. 7, 10). Just as one gets ready for supper, so should the believer prepare for the marriage of the Lamb (v. 7b-9). Readiness occurs through sanctification by the Holy Spirit and the Word of God (cf. John 15:3; 17:16-19; Rom 6:17-19; 15:15-16; Eph 2:10). Nothing will preclude the coming of the Lamb (Rev 19:11-19), making readiness all the more relevant and urgent. No matter the challenges and difficulties that may arise, Christ is certain to come and make “all things new” (21:5).

John was privileged to witness fulfillment of the dreams and hopes of every believer: the coming of Christ (19:11-19). He saw “heaven opened, and behold, a white horse, and He who sat on it is called Faithful and True, and in righteousness He judges and wages war” (v. 11). The descriptions of the Rider can only be properly related to one person, Jesus Christ (cf. 1:12-14; 3:14). The hosts of heaven attend Him from heaven to earth (19:14). The context would seem to indicate that the armies, in the least, are composed of the church, the body of Christ, for it was just stated that the bride had clothed herself in “fine linen, bright and clean” (v. 8; cf. Eph 5:27). Angels would also be in accompaniment (Jude 14-15).

The white horse Rider had “a name written on Him which no one knows except Himself” (Rev 19:12b). While the name is presented initially as unknown, verse 13 says, “His name is called The Word of God.” The idea is that certain aspects of the Word’s attributes are unknown, and human beings can only know what is revealed. The expression “Word of God” recalls John 1:1-3, where the Lord Jesus is presented as the exact expression of deity. John 1 reveals the Word as the Creator, who by virtue of that work is the earth’s rightful Owner. The Word will come to claim what belongs to Him (Rev 19:15-16).

Christ will come in triumph and is victorious by the power of His word (vv. 15, 17-21). He only speaks and the battle is ended! He who spoke the world into existence will conquer all enemies. The fact that “the beast” and “the false prophet” were cast “alive into the lake of fire” and will still be there in 20:10, indicates a place of conscious, eternal punishment.

TWO DIVERGENT RESURRECTIONS

(Rev 20:1-15) Everything in the book of Revelation has been leading to the final chapters, in which Christ appears in victory over death, Satan, and sin. With the doom of the earthly enemies (19:20 21), the primary antagonist—Satan—is also defeated and cast into the abyss, thus preventing him from being able to “deceive the nations” (20:1-3). In contrast to the present (1 Pet 5:8), there will be a complete end to the devil’s influence.

John “then … saw thrones” (Rev 20:4) and described those who sat upon them as having “a part in the first resurrection” (v. 6). They overcome by grace through faith in Christ, and will rule and reign with Him (cf. 2:26-28; 3:12). Verse 4 certainly indicates a bodily resurrection, as does the counterpart in verse 5. The “first resurrection” (vv. 4-6), which is “blessed and holy,” is distinguished from the “second resurrection” (vv. 11 15).

Every human being is created in the image of God (Gen 1:26) but has fallen into sin (Rom 3:23; 6:23). However, the good news is that whosoever will have a faith relationship with Jesus Christ as Lord God and Savior, will experience resurrection and live with the Creator for eternity (John 3:16). Of course, one’s faith is only as good as the object in which it resides. Biblical faith is founded upon certainty in the historical resurrection of Jesus from the dead, as the divine Substitute on behalf of sinners who trust in Him. Belief in the resurrection of Jesus Christ is a practice of faith, but it is not a blind trust; rather, it is a reasonable faith in a historical Jesus, who will transform the heart of any individual by grace through faith in Him alone.

The resurrection is a vital doctrine, because it is the foundation for any hope in this life and thereafter. The resurrection is the vital truth of the gospel, because it forms the basis for the legitimacy and reasonableness of faith. “But if there is no resurrection of the dead, not even Christ has been raised; and if Christ has not been raised, then our preaching is vain, your faith also is vain…. For if the dead are not raised, not even Christ has been raised; and if Christ has not been raised, your faith is worthless; you are still in your sins…. But now Christ has been raised from the dead, the first fruits of those who are asleep” (1 Cor 15:13-14, 16-17, 20).

Revelation 20 began with the binding of Satan, which was merely temporary (v. 2). “When the thousand years are completed, Satan will be released from his prison” (v. 7). Immediately, he will resort to deceiving the nations (vv. 8-9). Subsequent to this final battle of evil, Satan will be “thrown into the lake of fire and brimstone,” where he will remain eternally (v. 10).

The redeemed have been born twice (physically and spiritually); they die once physically and will be resurrected to live forever (v. 5). The second resurrection involves those who are born once (physically) yet die twice (physically and spiritually), and thus experience death forever (v. 14). Be certain your name is “written in the book of life” (v. 15)!

The Christian has a great hope in Jesus Christ. All humanity is condemned before God as sinners, but victory over the wages of sin is by grace through faith in Jesus Christ as one’s Lord and Savior. He alone can provide the victory, through either resurrection or translation. The latter experience is to have a purifying effect on the body of Christ, since at any moment the church saints could be in His presence. The Rapture of the church should also cause Christians to be active in fulfilling the Great Commission, since Christ could return at any moment. Certainly, the church should be diligent in the work of the Lord, so that when He returns to gather His church, she will not have any shame. Rather, she will have confidence because of a life lived in obedient, privileged service of the coming King.