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Question

What is the significance of the four hallelujahs in Rev 19:1-6? What is the marriage supper of the Lamb? How does "The Word of God" on the white horse connect to the broader Johannine corpus? How does the chapter conclude the altar vindication arc (SP037) and transition from Babylon's judgment to Christ's triumphant return?

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HALLELUJAH

An exclamatory expression of praise or adoration. PSA 106:1; 111:1; 112:1; 113:1; 117:1; 135:1; 146:1,10; 147:1; 148:1; REV 19:1

Note: G239 (allElouia) occurs ONLY 4 times in the entire NT -- all in Rev 19:1,3,4,6. This is the Greek transliteration of the Hebrew hallelu-Yah (H1984 + H3050, "praise Yahweh"). The concentration of all four NT occurrences in a single passage makes this the climactic moment of praise in the New Testament.

PRAISE

  • Song of Moses, after the passage through the Red Sea EXO 15:1-19
  • Of Miriam EXO 15:21
  • Of Deborah, after defeating the Canaanites JDG 5
  • Of Hannah 1SA 2:1-10
  • Of David: Celebrating his deliverance from the hand of Saul 2SA 22; On bringing the ark of the covenant to Zion 1CH 16:8-36; At the close of his reign 1CH 29:10-19
  • The chorus when Solomon brought the ark of the covenant into the temple 2CH 5:13
  • Psalms of, for God's goodness to Israel PSA 46; 48; 65; 66; 68; 76; 81; 85; 98; 105; 124; 126; 129; 135; 136
  • For God's goodness to righteous men PSA 23; 34; 36; 91; 100; 103; 107; 117; 121
  • For God's goodness to individuals PSA 9; 18; 22; 30; 40; 75; 103; 108; 116; 118; 138; 144
  • For God's attributes PSA 8; 19; 22; 24; 29; 33; 47; 50; 65; 66; 76; 77; 92; 93; 95; 96; 97; 98; 99; 104; 111; 113; 114; 115; 134; 139; 147; 148; 150
  • IN HEAVEN NEH 9:6; JOB 38:7; PSA 103:20,21; 148:2,4; ISA 6:3; EZK 3:12; LUK 2:13,14; 15:7,10; REV 1:6; 4:8-11; 5:9-14; 7:9-12; 11:16,17; 14:2,3; 15:3,4; 19:1-7

WORSHIP

  • To be rendered only to God EXO 20:3; DEU 5:7; 6:13; MAT 4:10; LUK 4:8; ACT 10:26; 14:15; COL 2:18; REV 19:10; 22:8
  • Of angels, forbidden REV 19:10; 22:8,9
  • Commanded GEN 35:1; EXO 23:17,18; 34:23; DEU 12:5-7,11,12; PSA 45:11; 76:11; 96:8,9; 97:7; 99:5; REV 14:7; 19:10

BRIDE

  • Ornaments of ISA 49:18; 61:10; JER 2:32; REV 21:2
  • Presents to GEN 24:53
  • Maids of GEN 24:59,61; 29:24,29
  • FIGURATIVE PSA 45:10-17; EZK 16:8-14; REV 19:7,8; 21:2,9; 22:17

MARRIAGE (figurative)

  • ISA 54:5; 62:4,5; JER 3:14; 31:32; HOS 1:2; 2:19,20; EPH 5:30-32; REV 19:7-9
  • Parables from MAT 22:2; 25:1-10

LAMB OF GOD

A name of Jesus. JHN 1:29; REV 6:16; 7:9,10,14,17; 12:11; 13:8; 14:1,4; 15:3; 17:14; 19:17; 21:9,14,22,23,27; 22:1,3

GARMENT (of righteousness)

ISA 61:10; MAT 22:11; 2CO 5:3; REV 3:18; 7:14; 16:15; 19:8

ROBE (of righteousness)

2CH 6:41; ISA 61:10; REV 6:11; 7:9,13. The parable of the man who was not dressed in a wedding garment MAT 22:11.

LINEN (figurative)

Pure and white, of righteousness REV 15:6; 19:8,14. Vestments of priests made of EXO 28:5-8,15,39-42. Curtains of the tabernacle made of EXO 26:1; 27:9.

TESTIMONY (religious)

1CH 16:8,9; PSA 9:11; 18:49; 26:6,7; 119:27,172; 145:11,12; ISA 12:4-6; 32:4; 43:10; 44:8; 45:24; JER 51:10; MAT 5:15; 10:32; ROM 10:9,10; 1CO 1:5,6; 12:3; REV 12:11

FAITHFULNESS

Exhortation to: PSA 12:1; 31:23; PRO 20:6; 28:20; MAT 10:22; 24:45-47; 25:14-23; LUK 12:42-44; 16:10-12; 19:12-27; 1CO 4:2; REV 2:10. Instances of: Abraham GAL 3:9; Moses HEB 3:5; David 2SA 22:22-25; Elijah 1KI 19:10,14; Job JOB 1:21,22; 2:9,10.

LAKE (of fire)

REV 19:20; 20:10,14,15; 21:8. First mention is at Rev 19:20 (beast and false prophet). The lake of fire is distinct from "hell" (Hades) -- Rev 20:14 says "death and hell were cast into the lake of fire."

PRAISE IN HEAVEN (critical for context of Rev 19:1-7)

NEH 9:6; JOB 38:7; PSA 103:20,21; 148:2,4; ISA 6:3; EZK 3:12; LUK 2:13,14; 15:7,10; REV 1:6; 4:8-11; 5:9-14; 7:9-12; 11:16,17; 14:2,3; 15:3,4; 19:1-7

VENGEANCE / WRATH

PSA 94:1; ROM 12:19. The vindication language of Rev 19:2 (exedikesen) connects to God's promise to avenge His servants' blood (Deu 32:43).

WINEPRESS IMAGERY (OT background for Rev 19:15)

ISA 5:2; ISA 63:1-6; JOL 3:13; LAM 1:15; REV 14:18-20; 19:15

KING OF KINGS TITLE

EZR 7:12; EZK 26:7; DAN 2:37; REV 17:14; 19:16; 1TI 6:15. The title is applied to earthly rulers (Nebuchadnezzar, Artaxerxes) in the OT, but in the NT it belongs exclusively to Christ.