Revelation 16:7 True and Righteous Are Thy Judgments

Revelation 16:7 And I heard another out of the altar say, Even so, Lord God Almighty, true and righteous are thy judgments. 

As an appropriate response to the hymn that was sung by the angel in charge of the waters, a voice coming from the altar now sings a tribute to God. The expression altar, personified by functioning as the speaker, emphasizes the place where the voice originates. This is the altar where the souls of the martyrs cried out, “How long, O Lord, holy and true, dost thou not judge and avenge our blood on them that dwell on the earth?” (6:10). Now that the Lord God Almighty has responded to their plea, they utter a word of praise and affirmation.

The altar is the altar of incense from which the prayers of the saints ascend to God. These prayers mingle with the aromatic smell of incense. And from this altar God casts fire on the earth by punishing the wicked (Revelation 8:3–5; 14:18) and passing judgment on his adversaries.

Revelation 8:3-5 And another angel came and stood at the altar, having a golden censer; and there was given unto him much incense, that he should offer itwith the prayers of all saints upon the golden altar which was before the throne. And the smoke of the incense, which camewith the prayers of the saints, ascended up before God out of the angel’s hand. And the angel took the censer, and filled it with fire of the altar, and cast itinto the earth: and there were voices, and thunderings, and lightnings, and an earthquake. 

Revelation 14:18 And another angel came out from the altar, which had power over fire; and cried with a loud cry to him that had the sharp sickle, saying, Thrust in thy sharp sickle, and gather the clusters of the vine of the earth; for her grapes are fully ripe. 

Now, these voices address the Lord God Almighty (see also Revelation 4:8; 11:17; 15:3; 19:6) and praise Him for His judgments that are true and just. These voices come as an antiphonal response to the hymn of the angel (v5–6).

Revelation 4:8 And the four beasts had each of them six wings about him; and they were full of eyes within: and they rest not day and night, saying, Holy, holy, holy, Lord God Almighty, which was, and is, and is to come. 

Revelation 11:17 Saying, We give thee thanks, O Lord God Almighty, which art, and wast, and art to come; because thou hast taken to thee thy great power, and hast reigned. 

Revelation 15:3 And they sing the song of Moses the servant of God, and the song of the Lamb, saying, Great and marvellous are thy works, Lord God Almighty; just and true are thy ways, thou King of saints. 

Revelation 19:6 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. 

The Greek word krisis (judgment) actually signifies the process of coming to a verdict that then becomes the judge’s sentence. The words “true and just are thy judgments” are repeated verbatim in 19:2, and the combination “Lord God Almighty, true and just” is a copy of 15:3.

No one can accuse God of being hasty in His judgment, for the Almighty has demonstrated extraordinary patience, warning the people repeatedly while they scornfully refused to repent. No one can charge Him with injustice, for He passes judgment that accords with truth and justice (Deut. 32:4; Ps. 19:9; 119:137; Dan. 3:27–28).

Deuteronomy 32:4 He is the Rock, his work is perfect: for all his ways are judgment: a God of truth and without iniquity, just and right is he. 

Psalm 19:9 The fear of the LORD is clean, enduring for ever: the judgments of the LORD are true and righteous altogether. 

Psalm 119:137 TZADDI. Righteous artthou, O LORD, and upright are thy judgments. 

Daniel 3:27-28 And the princes, governors, and captains, and the king’s counsellers, being gathered together, saw these men, upon whose bodies the fire had no power, nor was an hair of their head singed, neither were their coats changed, nor the smell of fire had passed on them. Then Nebuchadnezzar spake, and said, Blessed be the God of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-nego, who hath sent his angel, and delivered his servants that trusted in him, and have changed the king’s word, and yielded their bodies, that they might not serve nor worship any god, except their own God. 

 Kistemaker, S. J., & Hendriksen, W. (1953–2001). Exposition of the Book of Revelation (Vol. 20, pp. 443–444). Grand Rapids: Baker Book House.