Rev 19:3-4, 6 | Barnes | STEP | Verse 3. And again they said, Alleluia . . The event was so glorious and so important; the final destruction of the great enemy of the church was of so much moment in its bearing on the welfare of the world, as to call forth repeated expressions of praise. And her smoke rose up for ever and ever . . This is an image of final ruin; the image being derived probably from the description in Genesis of the smoke that ascended from the cities of the plain, . On the joy expressed here in her destruction, compare . (f) "smoke"

Revelation of John 19:3-4

Verse 3. And again they said, Alleluia. Rev 19:1. The event was so glorious and so important; the final destruction of the great enemy of the church was of so much moment in its bearing on the welfare of the world, as to call forth repeated expressions of praise.

And her smoke rose up for ever and ever. Rev 14:11. This is an image of final ruin; the image being derived probably from the description in Genesis of the smoke that ascended from the cities of the plain, Gen 19:28. On the joy expressed here in her destruction, compare Rev 18:20.

(f) "smoke" Rev 18:9,18, Isa 34:10 Verse 4. And the four and twenty elders and the four beasts. Rev 4:4, Rev 4:6, Rev 4:7. As representatives of the church, and as interested in its welfare, they are now introduced as rejoicing in its final triumph, and in the destruction of its last foe.

Fell down. Prostrated themselves--the usual posture of worship.

And worshipped God that sat on the throne. Rev 4:2-3,10. That is, they now adored him for what he had done in delivering the church from all its persecutions, and causing it to triumph in the world.

Saying, Amen. Mt 6:13. The word here is expressive of approbation of what God had done; or of their solemn assent to all that had occurred in the destruction of the great enemy of the church.

Alleluia. Rev 19:1. The repetition of this word so many times shows the intenseness of the joy of heaven in view of the final triumph of the church.

Revelation of John 19:6

Verse 6. And I heard as it were the voice of a great multitude. In Rev 19:1, he says that he "heard a great voice of much people;" here he says he "heard as it were a voice of great multitude." That is, in the former case he heard a shout that he at once recognised as the voice of a great multitude of persons; here he says that he heard a sound not distinctly recognised at first as such, but which resembled such a shout of a multitude. In the former case it was distinct; here it was confused--bearing a resemblance to the sound of roaring waters, or to muttering thunder, but less distinct than the former. This phrase would imply

(a) a louder sound; and

(b) that the sound was more remote, and therefore less clear and distinct.

And as the voice of many waters. The comparison of the voices of a host of people with the roar of mighty waters is not uncommon in the Scriptures. Isa 17:12 Isa 17:13. So in Homer-- "The monarch spoke, and straight a murmur rose,

Loud as the surges when the tempest blows;

That dash'd on broken rocks tumultuous roar,

And foam and thunder on the stony shore."

And as the voice of mighty thunderings. The loud, deep, heavy voice of thunder. The distant shouts of a multitude may properly be represented by the sound of heavy thunder.

Saying, Alleluia. Rev 19:1. This is the fourth time in which this is uttered as expressive of the joy of the heavenly hosts in view of the overthrow of the enemies of the church. The occasion will be worthy of this emphatic expression of joy.

For the Lord God omnipotent reigneth. Jehovah--God Almighty--the true God. The meaning is, that as the last enemy of the church is destroyed, he now truly reigns. This is the result of his power, and therefore it is proper that he should be praised as the omnipotent or Almighty God-- for he has shown that he can overcome all his enemies, and bring the world to his feet.

(a) "for the Lord" Ps 97:1,12