In response to the announcement of the final defeat of the evil worldly powers (characterised as ‘Babylon’) we have a great chorus of praise. It is like a great heavenly opera with the multitude of God’s people on the one side and the heavenly courtroom on the other singing an antiphonal (i.e. call-and-response) chorus. The multitude of God’s people in heaven rejoice over the destruction of the worldly powers that had so terribly persecuted them. Then the heavenly courtroom of elders and living creatures respond in praise. Then the multitude sing again announcing that the time has come for the great wedding feast. This great song precedes the final showdown depicted in the second half of chapter 19. The scene looks like that of the army of the faithful king Jehoshaphat who sent the musicians out in front of the troops to declare God’s praise. (This wasn’t a cunning way of getting rid of a bad music team!) Then, as here in this scene in Revelation, the praise pre-empts the certain victory that God will bring about for his people. As we serve God’s purpose we can praise God in the face of opposition knowing that such opposition will surely become an occasion for God to display his power and faithfulness. We see this happening in many of the supplicatory psalms written in the face of severe impending threats. They prayed and then praised God in anticipation of the answer.
Pray regarding the challenges that face you and then praise God in anticipation of what he will do.
Read Revelation 19:1-10
