Revelation 19:1-5--Rejoicing in Heaven

Revelation 19:1-5
English Standard Version

Rejoicing in Heaven
19 After this I heard what seemed to be the loud voice of a great multitude in heaven, crying out,

“Hallelujah!
Salvation and glory and power belong to our God,
2     for his judgments are true and just;
for he has judged the great prostitute
    who corrupted the earth with her immorality,
and has avenged on her the blood of his servants.”

3 Once more they cried out,

“Hallelujah!
The smoke from her goes up forever and ever.”

4 And the twenty-four elders and the four living creatures fell down and worshiped God who was seated on the throne, saying, “Amen. Hallelujah!” 5 And from the throne came a voice saying,

“Praise our God,
    all you his servants,
you who fear him,
    small and great.”

---

The citizens of heaven (the saints, the angels, and the angelic creatures) all rejoice at the victory that the Lord is having over the enemies of God.  It is clear to them that the kingdom of this world is coming to an end the time for the Kingdom of Christ to be established is almost upon us.  The people sing a new song with the multitude of voices singing in unison:

“Hallelujah!
Salvation and glory and power belong to our God,
2     for his judgments are true and just;
for he has judged the great prostitute
    who corrupted the earth with her immorality,
and has avenged on her the blood of his servants.”

They are celebrating because this is still part of the process of their salvation--this time, they are being saved, not only from their enemies, but from the wickedness of sin that corrupted the earth.  They are not quite there yet, but the finish line is in sight and they know that the battle belongs to the Lord.  This judgment and wrath that has been poured out on the earth has been to avenge many of them.  It is the answer to "How long, O Lord?" that was asked back in Revelation 6:10.  We've been waiting nearly the entire book of Revelation for the answer of "Just a little while longer" to be fulfilled.  Now it seems that everyone sees that the time of waiting is coming to an end, and it is time to celebrate the victory that already has been won and the complete and total victory that is certain.

​The world's system known as Babylon the Great is going into eternal judgment and the smoke of the fire of her burning and destruction will rise forever and ever.  There will be a constant visible reminder of some kind for all eternity that God and everyone He allows to remember will know that the wicked are being eternally punished for their great iniquity they have committed against God and God's people.  

The 24 Elders and the four living creatures join the praise with their own verse: as they call everyone in heaven and on earth who serves Him to join the chorus:

“Praise our God,
    all you his servants,
you who fear him,
    small and great.”

Again, I understand that this may seem out of place in the middle of story of judgment, but this is a war that has been fought against the kingdom of darkness and the Kingdom of Light since Satan rebelled against God and was cast out of heaven along with 1/3 of the angels that rebelled with him.  Every since then, he has been working to kick God off of His throne and keep Jesus from taking the throne as the rightful successor so that Satan could try to take the throne for himself and corrupt everything God made "very good" and, if possible, he even wants to make God Himself sin so that He would become corrupted and wicked just like Satan.  It becomes clear at this point what we should have known from the laws of nature, the light will always overcome the darkness.  Darkness only "reigns" for a brief time between sunset and sunrise (and still it does not reign supreme because the moon reflects the light of the sun and there are many stars in the sky giving adding a little light).  It is obvious to everyone in heaven that the dawn of a new day is coming, and that is something to be excited and joyful about, even though it comes at the cost of destroying the wicked who would not repent and tried their hardest to stop the establishment of God's Kingdom.  The world cannot and will not be victorious.  Our God reigns supreme both now and forevermore and He must be victorious.  It is definitely a cause for celebration (especially when we see what is coming next, which is definitely a cause for celebration).