Because Full Salvation Has Come (Rev. 19:1)

SPIRITUAL DIARY FOR 9/15/2015 10:09 AM

My Worship Time                                                          Focus:  Because Full Salvation Has Come

Bible Reading & Meditation                                     Reference:  Revelation 19:1

            Message of the verses:  “1 After these things I heard something like a loud voice of a great multitude in heaven, saying, "Hallelujah! Salvation and glory and power belong to our God.”

            A short reminder that we are looking at the first of five reasons for heaven’s joy has become evident and the first on is seen with the first “hallelujah” in chapter 19.

            First we want to look at a familiar phrase “After these things,” as this has been in 4:1; 7:9; 15:5; 18:1 also and this marks the beginning of a new vision that John is now seeing.  John MacArthur writes that “This new vision takes place after the destruction of Babylon (chapts. 17-18) and before the triumphant return of Jesus Christ (19:11-21) to establish the Millennial Kingdom (20:1-10).  As the loud laments over Babylon’s destruction fade into silence, loud hallelujah’s ring out in heaven.”

            When we first began our study in the book of Revelation I mentioned that the words like and as are used many times in the book.  I believe the reason that these similes are used so often is that John is seeing things that he has a difficult time describing and thus uses familiar things that he knows to help his readers understand what he is seeing.  We see an example in verse one when John writes “I heard something like a loud voice of a great multitude in heaven.”  MacArthur writes “The text does not identify those whose composite voices make up the ‘loud voice’ John heard, but they are likely angels.  This ‘great multitude’ does not appear to include the redeemed saints, since they are encouraged to join in the praise later (vv. 5-8).  The uncounted millions of holy angels make up a majestic, awe-inspiriting choir.”

            Now we come to the word “hallelujah” in this verse which is an exclamation of praise to God.  MacArthur explains “The Greek word Allelouia is a transliteration of the Hebrew phrase comprised of the verb halal (‘to praise’) and the noun Yah (‘God’).  It appears only in this chapter in the New Testament (cf. vv. 3:3-4, 6).  The Hebrew phrase first appears in Psalm 104:35, ‘Let sinners be consumed from the earth and let the wicked be no more.  Bless the Lord, O my soul.  Praise the Lord!’  In its first Old Testament appearance, as in its first New Testament appearance, ‘Hallelujah’ expresses praise for God’s judgment on the wicked oppressors of His people.  The Hebrew phrase is associated with God’s deliverance of His people from Egypt in Psalms 113-18, which are know collectively as the Egyptian Hallel.  It is a word often associated with both judgment of the ungodly and the salvation of God’s people.”

            In our verse today this hallelujah is specifically used because of salvation and this salvation has come for God’s people, and with it we see the glory and power of our God to which it belongs.  “"Yours, O LORD, is the greatness and the power and the glory and the victory and the majesty, indeed everything that is in the heavens and the earth; Yours is the dominion, O LORD, and You exalt Yourself as head over all (1 Chronicles 29:11).”  MacArthur writes “The word salvation does not focus on justification or sanctification, but celebrates the final aspect of salvation history, the glorification of the saints in the kingdom of Christ.  The imminent coming of Jesus Christ prompts this praise as the angels anticipate the glory of His kingdom.”

            Spiritual meaning for my life today:  It seems that in the books that I am reading and the sermons that I have listened to lately that they focus in on praising the Lord and this theme continues today.  In the book “Before Amen” that I am reading Max Lucado goes through the alphabet giving praise to the Lord for each letter.  In Psalm 119 the writer does something similar as he writes about the Law of the Lord and uses the Hebrew alphabet in a series of 13 verses each for each letter do this.  I am told that there are only three verses in all of the 176 verses of Psalm 119 that do not have a reference to the Word of God.

My Steps of Faith for Today:  Continue to experience peace as we get ready for our company.

Answer to yesterday’s Bible question:  “Daniel.”

Today’s Bible question:  “How many men were in the group when the Israelites left Egypt?”

Answer in our next SD.

9/15/2015 10:45 AM