Hallellujah!

SLIDE: Scripture

Revelation 19:1–2 CSB

1 After this I heard something like the loud voice of a vast multitude in heaven, saying, Hallelujah! Salvation, glory, and power belong to our God, 2 because his judgments are true and righteous, because he has judged the notorious prostitute who corrupted the earth with her sexual immorality; and he has avenged the blood of his servants that was on her hands.

SLIDE: Welcome

SLIDE: Title

Introduction

For many of us the first experience of hearing the word ‘Hallelujah’ comes of days in vacation Bible school, youth group or Church camp singing the action song, :Hallelu! Praise ye the Lord.

SLIDE: LYRICS — Praise Ye The Lord

Do you remember how it goes? Sing it with me:

Lyrics: “Praise Ye the Lord”

Hallelu, hallelu, hallelu, hallelujah

Praise ye the Lord.

Hallelu, hallelu, hallelu, hallelujah

Praise ye the Lord.

Praise ye the Lord, hallelujah,

Praise ye the Lord, hallelujah,

Praise ye the Lord, hallelujah,

Praise ye the Lord.

One of my favorite songs was written by Leonard Cohen called "Hallelujah".

Listen to Lucy Thomas’ version of Cohen’s song Hallelujah.

VIDEO: Hallelujah

The song talks about a broken hallelujah in King David's heart as he committed the sin of adultery and later is told by the prophet Nathan what he did to God as he broke God's heart. In the book of Psalms from Psalms 100 to 150, the word Hallelujah is used 24 times, always referring God.

Five psalms, the last five, all begin with a single word: “Hallelujah”—or, as most translations have it, a single phrase, “Praise the Lord.” Each of those five psalms ends with “Hallelujah” too. Ten hallelujahs end the Book of Psalms.

For the Old Testament people of God, 10 was the perfect number, the one that represented the whole. Thus five psalms ending the Book of Psalms, each beginning and ending with “Hallelujah!” represent all the praise there is, the kind of praise God deserves.

Mike Kinneman said, . . . "we sing this Hallelujah song. . . we sing at births. . . we sing it at weddings. . . we sing it at funerals . . . we sing it with friends and family. . . .HALLELUJAH! . . HALLELUJAH!" We sing it always. . . we sing in life's peaks and darkest valleys. . . we sing it in the brightest days . . . and in the middle of the darkest night. . . we sing it when everything is great and we sing it when we don't understand. AND at the end of life. . . when we go down to the dust at your grave. . . We sing . . . HALLELUJAH! HALLELUJAH! HALLELUJAH!

The Meaning of the word Hallelujah

SLIDE: Hallelujah Meaning

Halle -means Praise

Lu - means you (really ye, or y’all)

Jah - is the shortened name for God, Jaweh

Praise You the LORD or Praise Ye the Lord

Spiritually speaking, we give God praise for He is the Creator who appears when the light comes in the midst of darkness. When Jesus came to this earth, the Angels were singing HALLELUJAH. We call that the Hallelujah Chorus and to be a time joy and praise. When the crucifixion it was total darkness, but the resurrection came and gave us Hope for a new life. _HALLELUJAH!

As Chapter 18 of Revelation closes, the kingdom of the Antichrist and the Beast has destroyed peace and prosperity on the earth. Almost everything is in shambles. The leaders who had promised peace and security are now discredited. Great darkness now covers the earth. God’s followers have been hunted down and slaughtered like never before in the history of the earth. The few Christians that remain can’t buy or sell openly and are forced to live off of the black market and remain in hiding somewhere.

Why are they saying “Hallelujah!”?

SLIDE: Hallelujah - why being said

1. Because the Harlot is judged.

2. Because we are invited to the wedding supper of the Lamb (and we are the Bride ☺)

Why would the host of heaven rejoice over such massive destruction of a city, a system and a multitude of people?

All appears to be lost. Just when it seems certain that there is no hope the Righteous King of the universe breaks through the clouds and reverses everything the antichrist and the Beast had inflicted on this earth.

SLIDE: At the Darkest

Just when life seems darkest, God can break though our clouds and show us that everything is, and always has been, in His powerful and loving hand. There is NEVER a reason for a Christian to be in despair.

This is related, I think, to the Revelation 5, where no one was found worthy to open the scrolls-to release the judgment of God and to hand over ownership of the earth back to God. John weeps convulsively because no one was found worthy. In Chapter 19, we have the flip-side of that. The entire Host of Heave rejoices because God’s wrath has been poured out, and “the kingdom of this world is become the Kingdom of our LORD and of His Christ, and He shall reign forever and ever”.

SLIDE: Praise God for the End of Evil

We are encouraged and willing to praise God because the end of evil on earth is come to pass & the beginning of the righteous reign of God has begun.

And the marriage supper of the Bride and the Groom is announced

And This Bride is a sharp distinction from the Harlot of Revelation 17 & 18

Hallelujah!

All of the rebellion, the filth, the hurt, destruction, war, famine, pestilence, suffering, evil and tyranny of this world have now been destroyed. It has come to an end. It is over. Finally.

Hallelujah!

There will be no more suffering or sin or tyranny, or crying or pain anymore forever.

Hallelujah!

“Hallelujah!” Of course it’s much easier to belt out a “Hallelujah!” at the successful birth of a child, the end of another semester of school, or a job bonus, but “Hallelujah!” is the right word when you have the flu, have been fired from your job, or when you have to shovel two feet of snow. It’s an appropriate response even when you can’t walk, can’t hear, or can’t eat. It’s the thing to say even in death! Why? Because your God fixed that problem.

CONCLUSION:

SLIDE: How’s it to ya?

And so when someone asks: “How’s it to ya?” Say, “Hallelujah!” Say it on every occasion. Say it with genuine adoration because the LORD reigns and his faithful love endures forever.

“Hallelujah!” Amen.