Revelation 19:1; Rejoicing Over Babylon’s Fall

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Revelation 19:1 (KJV)  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: 

Structurally speaking, Revelation 19:1-10 is the concluding part of the intercalation describing the demise of Babylon (Revelation 17:1-18:24). The fourfold “hallelujahs” (v1, 3, 4, 6) respond to the angel’s invitation to the heavenly community to rejoice (Revelation 18:20). And Revelation 19:1-22:5 gives the closing visions of John.

Revelation 18:20 (KJV)  Rejoice over her, thou heaven, and ye holy apostles and prophets; for God hath avenged you on her. 

The formula of Revelation 19:9-10 concludes the section begun by the formula of Revelation 17:1-3, setting the intervening verses apart as a discussion of Babylon’s history up to the point of the seventh bowl. It is now time for the loudness of enthusiastic rejoicing to replace the silence of the ruined city (Revelation 18:21-24).

Revelation 18:21-24 (KJV)  And a mighty angel took up a stone like a great millstone, and cast it into the sea, saying, Thus with violence shall that great city Babylon be thrown down, and shall be found no more at all. And the voice of harpers, and musicians, and of pipers, and trumpeters, shall be heard no more at all in thee; and no craftsman, of whatsoever craft he be, shall be found any more in thee; and the sound of a millstone shall be heard no more at all in thee; And the light of a candle shall shine no more at all in thee; and the voice of the bridegroom and of the bride shall be heard no more at all in thee: for thy merchants were the great men of the earth; for by thy sorceries were all nations deceived. And in her was found the blood of prophets, and of saints, and of all that were slain upon the earth. 

The four songs of Revelation 19:1-5 look backward to the judgment of Babylon, and the song of Revelation 19:6-8 looks forward to the marriage of the Lamb. The two themes are not unrelated, as the former must occur before the latter can become a reality. Taken together, the two themes comprise a response to Revelation 18:4-20.

In the earlier section, a voice is heard from heaven predicts earthly mourning over the fall of Babylon, and in the latter voices from heaven praise God for this same fall. The end of the harlot’s regime on earth marks the beginning of the bride’s enjoyment of earth’s fullness.

The first part of the celebration is in four parts: a large multitude praising God for His judgment of the harlot (v1-2), the same multitude celebrating Babylon’s judgment (v3), a response of agreement and praise from the twenty-four elders and four living beings (v4). and a voice from the throne inviting praise to God by all His slaves (v5). (Johnson).

Of all the heavenly song in Revelation, this one is the most solemn and formal because of the event that occasions it: God’s judgment of the enemy of His people (Alford, Lee).

[Robert L. Thomas, Revelation 8-22, Moody Press, 1995, 353-355]