Rev 19 | HCSB | STEP | After this I heard something like the loud voice of a vast multitude in heaven , saying : Hallelujah ! Salvation , glory , and power belong to our God ,

‏ Revelation of John 19

Celebration in Heaven

1 After this I heard something like the loud voice of a vast multitude in heaven, saying:

^{▼▼Hallelujah!: Or Praise the Lord!; it literally means Praise Yah! (a shortened form of Yahweh)}Hallelujah! ^b
Salvation, glory, and power belong to our God,
2 because His judgments are true ^{▼▼Valid; Jn 8:16; 19:35} and righteous, ^d
because He has judged the notorious prostitute
who corrupted the earth with her sexual immorality;
and He has avenged the blood of His ^{▼▼slave: The strong Greek word doulos cannot be accurately translated in English by "servant" or "bond servant"; the HCSB translates this word as "slave," not out of insensitivity to the legitimate concerns of modern English speakers, but out of a commitment to accurately convey the brutal reality of the Roman empire's inhumane institution as well as the ownership called for by Christ.}slaves
that was on her hands. ^f

3 A second time they said:

^{▼▼Hallelujah!: Or Praise the Lord!; it literally means Praise Yah! (a shortened form of Yahweh)}Hallelujah!
Her smoke ascends forever and ever! ^h

4 Then the 24 elders and the four living creatures fell down and worshiped God, ⁱ who is seated on the throne, saying:

^{▼▼Amen: The transliteration of a Hebrew word signifying that something is certain, valid, truthful, or faithful; it is often used at the end of biblical songs, hymns, and prayers.}Amen! ^{▼▼Hallelujah!: Or Praise the Lord!; it literally means Praise Yah! (a shortened form of Yahweh)}Hallelujah! ^l

5 A voice came from the throne, saying:

Praise our God,
all His slaves, who fear Him,
both small and great! ^m

Marriage of the Lamb Announced

6 Then I heard something like the voice of a vast multitude, like the sound of cascading waters, ⁿ and like the rumbling of loud thunder, saying:

^{▼▼Hallelujah!: Or Praise the Lord!; it literally means Praise Yah! (a shortened form of Yahweh)}Hallelujah, because our Lord God, the Almighty,
has begun to reign!
7 Let us be glad, rejoice, and give Him glory, ^p
because the marriage of the Lamb has come,
and His wife has prepared herself.
8 She was given fine linen to wear, bright and pure. ^q

For the fine linen represents the righteous acts of the ^{▼▼saint(s)/sanctification/sanctify/sanctified: The work of the Holy Spirit that separates believers in Jesus from the world; at the time of saving faith in Jesus, the believer is made a saint; therefore, all believers are saints. The believer participates with the Spirit in a process of transformation that continues until glorification. The goal of sanctification is progressive conformity to the image of Jesus Christ.}saints. ^s

9 Then he ^{▼▼Probably an angel; Rv 17:1; 22:8-9} said to me, ^u “Write: Those invited to the marriage feast ^v of the Lamb are fortunate!” He also said to me, “These words of God are true.” 10 Then I fell at his feet to worship him, but he said to me, “Don’t do that! I am a fellow slave with you and your ^{▼▼brother(s): The Greek word adelphoi can be used as a reference to males only or to groups that include males and females. It is the context of each usage that determines the proper meaning.}brothers who have the testimony about ^{▼▼Or to} Jesus. ^y Worship God, because the testimony about Jesus is the spirit of prophecy.” ^{▼▼Or the Spirit}

The Rider on a White Horse

11 Then I saw heaven opened, ^aa and there was a white horse. Its rider is called Faithful and True, ^ab and He judges and makes war in righteousness. ^ac 12 His eyes were like a fiery flame, and many crowns ^{▼▼Or diadems} were on His head. He had a name written that no one knows except Himself. ^ae 13 He wore a robe stained with blood, ^{▼▼Or a robe dipped in
,} ^ag and His name is the Word of God. ^ah 14 The armies that were in heaven followed Him on white horses, wearing pure white linen. 15 A sharp ^{▼▼Other mss add double-edged} sword ^aj came from His mouth, so that He might strike the nations with it. ^ak He will shepherd ^{▼▼Or rule} them with an iron scepter. ^am He will also trample the winepress of the fierce anger of God, ^an the Almighty. 16 And He has a name written on His robe and on His thigh: KING OF KINGS AND LORD OF LORDS. ^ao

The Beast and His Armies Defeated

17 Then I saw an angel standing on ^{▼▼Or in} the sun, and he cried out in a loud voice, saying to all the birds flying high overhead, “Come, gather together for the great supper of God, 18 so that you may eat the flesh of kings, the flesh of commanders, the flesh of mighty men, the flesh of horses and of their riders, and the flesh of everyone, both free and slave, small and great.” ^aq

19 Then I saw the beast, the kings of the earth, and their armies ^ar gathered together to wage war against the rider on the horse and against His army. 20 But the beast was taken prisoner, and along with him the false prophet, who had performed the signs in his presence. He deceived those who accepted the mark of the beast and those who worshiped his image with these signs. ^as Both of them were thrown alive into the lake of fire that burns with sulfur. ^at 21 The rest were killed with the sword that came from the mouth of the rider on the horse, and all the birds were filled with their flesh.