In the second clause of Revelation 19:2 John again uses the word “for,” to explain just how God’s judgments are true and just.
The term “just” (upright, fitting
) qualifies the judgment God executed on the great prostitute as described in Revelation 17:1 – 18:24 (“fallen” so as ultimately thrown away) because this is precisely what she deserved according to the Creator’s standard of justice for her efforts to “corrupt the earth with her immorality.”
The term “true” indicates that the Lord has fulfilled what he said he would do, that is, take vengeance on his enemies (Revelation 6:10; see further Deuteronomy 32:35, Deuteronomy 32:41, Deuteronomy 32:43), as echoed at the end of Revelation 19:2: “has avenged on her the blood of his servants.” So Revelation 19:2 has an internal chiastic structure, with the word “true” receiving colour from the last line (“has avenged” and the word “just” receiving colour from the earlier line (“has judged”). So it is clear that the heavenly summons to praise the Lord (Hallelujah!
) is intimately connected to the developments recorded in the previous two chapters of the revelation Christ showed John.
2 for his judgments are true and just; for he has judged the great prostitute who corrupted the earth with her immorality, and has avenged on her the blood of his servants.”