Revelation 19
Hallelujah!
Good morning! This is Pastor Jerry Ingalls from New Castle First Baptist Church and today is Wednesday, March 24.
Have you ever heard someone shout out “Hallelujah” and wondered what it meant?
Hallelujah is a Hebrew word transliterated into the Greek of the New Testament and then used by people all around the world, regardless of their native language.
The word Hallelujah is found four times in Revelation 19 (verses 1, 3, 4 & 6). Ready to be surprised? These are the only four usages of this word in the New Testament. I found that hard to believe because it feels like a more common word, so I did a careful word study and found it to be true.
What does Hallelujah mean? In the Hebrew, it literally means Praise Jah (a shortening of Yahweh)! When we use it, we are saying, “Praise God!”
In Revelation 19, this word of praise is coming from the great multitude, the twenty-four elders, and the four living creatures. It is used to not only praise God for who He is (verses 1, 4 & 6), but also for what He has done (verses 1 & 3), and what He will do (verse 6).
How are we to use the word Hallelujah in our lives today?
First, when we want to praise God for who He is and lift up His name! When you meditate upon who God is, you will not be able to do anything, but praise Him.
Second, we use Hallelujah to praise God for His mighty works. The heavenly parties did this when they praised God for what He had done: His righteous and just judgment on Babylon (Revelation 19:1-6). They also praised God for what He would do: the marriage of the Lamb with the Bride, which is biblical imagery at the completion of all things (eschatos) that would forever and perfectly unite Jesus and His Church (Revelation 19:6ff).
Seize the moment and cry out Hallelujah with your life. May your words and actions praise the Sovereign God for who He is and all that He does to bring His glory from Heaven to earth.