1. Revelation 19:1 (ESV)
  2. Exposition

To whom is the summons to call to praise the Lord (“Hallelujah!”) directed?

Revelation 19:1 (ESV)

1 After this I heard what seemed to be the loud voice of a great multitude in heaven, crying out, “Hallelujah! Salvation and glory and power belong to our God,

All who hear the summons—throughout God’s wide creation—are expected to respond with indications of praise for God. Note that those who issue the summons also follow through themselves with further praise to God in the words that follow (Revelation 19:1–3). The twenty-four elders and the four living creatures add their response in Revelation 19:4. More, in Revelation 19:5 “all you his servants” are instructed to “praise our God.” That John must write this vision down for the benefit of the seven churches of Asia Minor (Revelation 1:11) and so for the church of all ages and places indicates that God’s people everywhere and always are meant to take this directive to heart.