December 19, Revelation 19
This final worship scene is more fragmented than the other worship scenes. If the brief, “Amen, Hallelujah,” in Rev 19:4 is counted, then the scene contains five distinct hymns. All of the worship scenes’ participants encountered before emerge for this final time of worship. The content of the hymns is reminiscent of the hymns of the first seven worship scenes.
The first hymn of the worship scene revisits the theme of salvation belonging to God. The content of the second hymn reiterates the Hallelujah of the first hymn and continues, “her smoke rises up forever.” Just as God’s reign is forever, the overthrow of the forces of evil is a permanent action. An unidentified voice coming down from the throne produces the next hymn fragment. The voice is peculiar because every other mention of the throne suggests that God is on the throne. Since the hymn calls for praise to God, the voice cannot be God’s voice. Because the emphasis is on the worship bearers rather than on God, the theological nature of this song is not as significant.
The final hymn conjures thoughts of previous themes. A simple hymn, “Hallelujah, because our Lord God, the Almighty, reigns,” includes three important aspects of the revelation. First, the title by this point in the apocalypse refreshes the memory of all that the Lord God is and has done. Second, the title Almighty reminds the reader of the omnipotence of the Lord God. The aspect of reigning suggests God’s sovereignty in the present world and in the world to come. The last worship scene’s theological impact is in the last hymn. Captured in this final hymn is God’s sovereignty, his omnipotence, his holiness, and his rule. Missing from this hymn is a direct link between the worship of God and Jesus. Present, however, is the constant reminder of the Apocalypse that the Lord God reigns.