‘Hallelujah’ is a Hebrew word meaning ‘Praise the Lord’ or ‘Praise Yahweh’. Revelation 19 is the only place in the NT that we find this word hallelujah. But it is very common in the OT, particularly in the book of Psalms. Here in Revelation 19 what we have, are basically two Hallelujah Psalms. The first song (v1-5) focuses on the Judgement and the second song (v6-9) focuses on the marriage supper of the Lamb.

In chapter 18 v20 the sailors call upon heaven to rejoice at Babylon’s fall. Here at the beginning of chapter 19 is the response to that call, and it is an amazing response (v1-2) not what we might normally expect in praise (v2).

“Heaven is not embarrassed by the fierceness of the judgment of God. And indeed it lies at the heart of heaven glorying in who God is.” (Eric Alexander)

God’s judgment of the wicked is eternal (v3). All the saints are to join with them in this praise the great and small (v4-5). The key to this praise is a proper fear of God, having a sense of awe and wonder at who God is.

The second song is for the Marriage Supper of the Lamb (v6-9). John is struggling for words to express what he hears. Now faith gives way to sight as they see the culmination of God’s plan in the marriage supper (v7).

This chapter shows a major contrast between the destinies of those who belong to Christ and those who constantly resisted Christ.