Can we praise God for His justice with the same confidence that we praise Him for His mercy?
Key Verse:
“After these things I heard something like a loud voice of a great multitude in heaven, saying, ‘Hallelujah! Salvation and glory and power belong to our God; because His judgments are true and righteous.'” — Revelation 19:1–2a (NASB)
Background Context:
Revelation 18 ended with the complete fall of Babylon, the corrupt world system that had deceived the nations, pursued wealth and power, and shed the blood of God’s people. While the kings and merchants of the earth mourned Babylon’s destruction, heaven was commanded to rejoice because God had finally judged her wickedness.
Revelation 19 opens with heaven responding to that call. A great multitude erupts in praise, repeatedly crying, “Hallelujah!” Their worship reminds us of an important truth that can sometimes make us uncomfortable: God’s righteousness is displayed not only through His mercy and salvation, but also through His judgment of persistent evil.
(Continued and expanded after scripture.)
The Fourfold Hallelujah
1After these things I heard something like a loud voice of a great multitude in heaven, saying,
“Hallelujah! Salvation and glory and power belong to our God; 2BECAUSE HIS JUDGMENTS ARE TRUE AND RIGHTEOUS; for He has judged the great harlot who was corrupting the earth with her immorality, and HE HAS AVENGED THE BLOOD OF HIS BOND-SERVANTS ON HER.” 3And a second time they said, “Hallelujah! HER SMOKE RISES UP FOREVER AND EVER.” 4And the twenty-four elders and the four living creatures fell down and worshiped God who sits on the throne saying, “Amen. Hallelujah!” 5And a voice came from the throne, saying,
“Give praise to our God, all you His bond-servants, you who fear Him, the small and the great.” 6Then I heard something like the voice of a great multitude and like the sound of many waters and like the sound of mighty peals of thunder, saying,
“Hallelujah! For the Lord our God, the Almighty, reigns.
Reflection on Revelation 19:1–6:
The first sound John hears after Babylon’s destruction is worship. A great multitude in heaven declares, “Hallelujah! Salvation and glory and power belong to our God.” Their praise is directly connected to what has just happened: “His judgments are true and righteous.” Heaven does not apologize for God’s judgment or treat it as somehow inconsistent with His goodness. His justice is worthy of praise because everything God does is consistent with His perfect character.
We are often more comfortable praising God for mercy than for judgment. We rightly celebrate His patience, forgiveness, compassion, and grace. Yet Scripture never presents mercy and justice as competing aspects of God’s character. The same God who lovingly calls sinners to repentance also judges persistent rebellion. If God permanently ignored evil, oppression, deception, persecution, and injustice, He would not be righteous. His judgment demonstrates that evil will not be allowed to continue forever.
This distinction is important because rejoicing in God’s justice is not the same as taking pleasure in human suffering. Scripture tells us that God Himself takes “no pleasure in the death of the wicked” but desires that the wicked turn from their ways and live (Ezekiel 33:11). Throughout Revelation, God has repeatedly warned, called people to repentance, and demonstrated His power. Yet many continue in rebellion. When judgment finally comes, heaven rejoices not because suffering is enjoyable, but because evil has been defeated and God’s righteousness has prevailed.
The multitude also praises God because He has “avenged the blood of His bond-servants.” This reaches back to Revelation 6, where the martyrs beneath the altar cried, “How long, O Lord, holy and true, will You refrain from judging and avenging our blood?” For many chapters the answer appeared delayed. God’s people suffered while those who opposed Him seemed to prosper. Now the answer has come. God had not forgotten a single one of His faithful servants.
The twenty-four elders and the four living creatures respond by falling down before God and saying, “Amen. Hallelujah!” Then another voice calls all God’s servants—“you who fear Him, the small and the great”—to praise Him. Worship is not reserved for those who appear important by worldly standards. All who belong to God are invited to join in recognizing His sovereignty, righteousness, and victory.
John then hears something like the roar of a great multitude, rushing waters, and mighty thunder declaring, “Hallelujah! For the Lord our God, the Almighty, reigns.” This is the great truth behind their celebration. Babylon has fallen, but God’s kingdom has not. The beast may exercise authority for a time, nations may rebel, and God’s people may suffer, but none of these things threaten His ultimate sovereignty. The Lord God Almighty reigns.
That truth should shape how we view the world around us today. We may see injustice that appears unanswered, wickedness that seems rewarded, or people who suffer because they remain faithful to God. Revelation reminds us not to judge the final outcome by the middle of the story. God’s patience is not weakness, and His delayed judgment is not indifference. There will come a time when everything hidden is exposed and every judgment He renders will be shown to be true and righteous.
For followers of Yeshua, this should produce both confidence and humility. We can trust that God will ultimately deal rightly with every injustice, freeing us from the burden of personal vengeance. At the same time, recognizing the certainty of judgment should strengthen our desire to share the good news of salvation and call others to repentance while there is still opportunity. The righteous Judge is also the God who has graciously provided salvation through the Lamb.
Revelation 19 therefore begins not with fear but with praise. After everything John has witnessed—the dragon’s attacks, the beast’s persecution, Babylon’s corruption, and the suffering of God’s people—he hears heaven proclaim the truth that has never changed:
Salvation belongs to God. His judgments are true and righteous. The Lord God Almighty reigns.
Application:
- Praise God for His righteousness and justice as well as for His mercy and grace.
- Trust God with injustices you cannot correct yourself rather than allowing anger or bitterness to consume you.
- Remember that delayed judgment does not mean God has overlooked evil or forgotten those who have suffered.
- Let the certainty of God’s judgment increase your urgency to share the hope of salvation through Yeshua.
- When circumstances make evil appear victorious, remind yourself that the Lord God Almighty still reigns.
Closing Prayer:
Father, You are holy, righteous, merciful, and just. Help me to trust Your judgment even when I do not understand Your timing. Keep me from taking pleasure in the suffering of others, but teach me to rejoice that evil will not prevail forever and that Your justice will ultimately be established. Thank You for Your patience and for providing salvation through Yeshua. Give me compassion for those who still need to repent and confidence when injustice seems to prosper. May I always remember that You are Almighty, Your judgments are true and righteous, and You reign forever. In Yeshua’s name, Amen.
May the grace and peace of our Lord, Yeshua, be with you.
John Golda
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