Revelation 19:5; Praise Our God

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Revelation 19:5 (KJV)  And a voice came out of the throne, saying, Praise our God, all ye his servants, and ye that fear him, both small and great. 

The text does not identify the owner of the voice that came from the throne, but it is likely an angel, since he refers to God as our God. The voice authoritatively calls another group to join in the anthem of praise, saying, “Praise our God, all ye his servants, and ye that fear him, both small and great.” The redeemed believers in heaven are described as God’s bond-servants (cf. v2), and those who fear Him (cf. Deuteronomy 6:13; 8:6; 10:12, 20; 13:4; Joshua 24:14; 1 Samuel 12:14, 24; Psalm 22:23, 25; 25:14; 33:18; 34:7, 9; 85:9; 103:11, 13, 17; Luke 1:50).

Revelation 19:2 (KJV)  For true and righteous are his judgments: for he hath judged the great whore, which did corrupt the earth with her fornication, and hath avenged the blood of his servants at her hand. 

Deuteronomy 6:13 (KJV)  Thou shalt fear the LORD thy God, and serve him, and shalt swear by his name. 

Deuteronomy 8:6 (KJV)  Therefore thou shalt keep the commandments of the LORD thy God, to walk in his ways, and to fear him. 

Deuteronomy 10:12 (KJV)  And now, Israel, what doth the LORD thy God require of thee, but to fear the LORD thy God, to walk in all his ways, and to love him, and to serve the LORD thy God with all thy heart and with all thy soul, 

Deuteronomy 10:20 (KJV)  Thou shalt fear the LORD thy God; him shalt thou serve, and to him shalt thou cleave, and swear by his name. 

Deuteronomy 13:4 (KJV)  Ye shall walk after the LORD your God, and fear him, and keep his commandments, and obey his voice, and ye shall serve him, and cleave unto him. 

Joshua 24:14 (KJV)  Now therefore fear the LORD, and serve him in sincerity and in truth: and put away the gods which your fathers served on the other side of the flood, and in Egypt; and serve ye the LORD. 

1 Samuel 12:14 (KJV)  If ye will fear the LORD, and serve him, and obey his voice, and not rebel against the commandment of the LORD, then shall both ye and also the king that reigneth over you continue following the LORD your God: 

1 Samuel 12:24 (KJV)  Only fear the LORD, and serve him in truth with all your heart: for consider how great things he hath done for you. 

Psalm 22:23 (KJV)  Ye that fear the LORD, praise him; all ye the seed of Jacob, glorify him; and fear him, all ye the seed of Israel. 

Psalm 22:25 (KJV)  My praise shall be of thee in the great congregation: I will pay my vows before them that fear him. 

Psalm 25:14 (KJV)  The secret of the LORD is with them that fear him; and he will shew them his covenant. 

Psalm 33:18 (KJV)  Behold, the eye of the LORD is upon them that fear him, upon them that hope in his mercy; 

Psalm 34:7 (KJV)  The angel of the LORD encampeth round about them that fear him, and delivereth them. 

Psalm 34:9 (KJV)  O fear the LORD, ye his saints: for there is no want to them that fear him. 

Psalm 85:9 (KJV)  Surely his salvation is nigh them that fear him; that glory may dwell in our land. 

Psalm 103:11 (KJV)  For as the heaven is high above the earth, so great is his mercy toward them that fear him. 

Psalm 103:13 (KJV)  Like as a father pitieth his children, so the LORD pitieth them that fear him. 

Psalm 103:17 (KJV)  But the mercy of the LORD is from everlasting to everlasting upon them that fear him, and his righteousness unto children’s children; 

Luke 1:50 (KJV)  And his mercy is on them that fear him from generation to generation. 

The all-inclusive phrase the small and the great (cf. Revelation 11:18) transcends all human categories and distinctions to embrace everyone. All the redeemed are called to praise God.

Revelation 11:18 (KJV)  And the nations were angry, and thy wrath is come, and the time of the dead, that they should be judged, and that thou shouldest give reward unto thy servants the prophets, and to the saints, and them that fear thy name, small and great; and shouldest destroy them which destroy the earth. 

When the redeemed obeyed the command from the heavenly voice and added their voices to the heavenly chorus, the dramatic sound John heard was something like the voice of a great multitude. The loud chorus of praise rose to a deafening crescendo, which the apostle likened to the sound of many waters (cf. Revelation 1:15; Revelation 14:2) and … the sound of mighty peals of thunder (cf. Revelation 6:1; 14:2). The fitting finale to the heavenly oratorio of praise is a fourth “Alleluia” followed by the motive for it—“For the Lord our God, the Almighty, reigneth.”

The evil world system has been completely destroyed, and God’s kingdom has come in its fullness. This usage of Alleluia is reminiscent of Psalms 146–50, which repeatedly offer praise for God’s sovereign rule and eternal fellowship with the redeemed. The title Almighty is used nine times in Revelation (v15; Revelation 1:8; 4:8; 11:17; 15:3; 16:7, 14; 21:22).

 MacArthur, J. F., Jr. (2000). Revelation 12–22 (p. 200). Chicago: Moody Press.