Revelation 19:6

PLUS
Revelation 19:6

the voice of a great multitude
See commentary on Revelation 19:1.

as the sound of many waters
This phrase describes the roar which attends heavenly voices and noises of great magnitude (Eze. Eze. 1:24; Eze. 43:2). John heard Christ’s voice as the “sound of many waters” (Rev. Rev. 1:15+).

as the sound of mighty thunderings
The voice of mighty heavenly creatures (Rev. Rev. 6:1+; Rev. 10:3-4+) and the sound of the multitude of voices is like that of powerful thunder. The heavenly multitude which attended the song of the 144,000 redeemed from among Israel also was like loud thunder (Rev. Rev. 14:2+). The loudest electronic amplification system of any earthly praise will dwindle to insignificance in comparison to the thunderous praise from heaven at the accomplishment of God in His omnipotence!

Alleluia!
See commentary on Revelation 19:1.

Imagine the largest stadium in the world, filled to overflowing with a thundering crowd. Now multiply that by one thousand, ten thousand, even myriad of myriads (Rev. Rev. 5:11+)! Gather all the world’s instruments together with all the heavenly instruments—instruments and sounds and voices of unimaginable purity, power, and magnificence. On command, they all shout forth: ALLELUIA!

Surely, in the spiritual realm, this thunderous praise is already beginning to erode the strength of the dragon and his unclean spirits who, at this very hour, are gathering the kings of the earth to their impending slaughter below (Rev. Rev. 16:13-14+).

the Lord God Omnipotent reigns
Omnipotent is παντοκράτωρ [pantokratōr] . See commentary on Revelation 1:8.

God is omnipotent, all-powerful: none of His purposes can be withheld or frustrated. “I know that You can do everything, and that no purpose of Yours can be withheld from You” (Job Job 42:2). “Ah, Lord GOD! Behold, You have made the heavens and the earth by Your great power and outstretched arm. There is nothing too hard for You” (Jer. Jer. 32:17). Jesus said, “With God all things are possible” (Mtt. Mat. 19:26b).

Who has measured the waters in the hollow of His hand, measured heaven with a span and calculated the dust of the earth in a measure? Weighed the mountains in scales and the hills in a balance? Who has directed the Spirit of the LORD, or as His counselor has taught Him? With whom did He take counsel, and who instructed Him, and taught Him in the path of justice? Who taught Him knowledge, and showed Him the way of understanding? Behold, the nations are as a drop in a bucket, and are counted as the small dust on the scales; look, He lifts up the isles as a very little thing. (Isa. Isa. 40:12-15)

Reigns is ἐβασίλευσεν [ebasileusen] : “rule over, control completely.”1 “The aorist ἐβασίλευσεν [ebasileusen] is proleptic and ingressive. Looking back from the future point when the climactic battle of Rev. Rev. 19:19-21+ is complete, the verb tense sees God’s assumption of power in reigning over the earth.”2 In one sense, God has and always will reign supreme. His rule over all creation has never been, nor ever will be in question: “Your throne is established from of old” (Ps. Ps. 93:2), “The LORD reigns: let the peoples tremble! . . . He is high above all the peoples” (Ps. Ps. 99:1-2). In another sense, the physical reign of God on earth has been corrupted by fallen men and usurped by Satan. It is in this sense—the mediatorial rule of God on earth through men—that events are now rapidly moving to bring God’s kingdom to earth.

Our Father in heaven. Hallowed be Your name. Your kingdom come. Your will be done. On earth as it is in heaven. (Mtt. Mat. 6:9-10). [emphasis added]

The worship of the multitude restates the announcement which attended the sounding of the seventh trumpet: “The kingdoms of this world have become the kingdoms of our Lord and His Christ, and He shall reign forever and ever!” (Rev. Rev. 11:15+). In the destruction of Babylon, the world is but a hair-breadth away from the institution of God’s literal earthly kingdom. All that remains is the destruction of the Beast and the kings of the earth at the Campaign of Armageddon (Rev. Rev. 19:17-21+).

Notes

1 Timothy Friberg, Barbara Friberg, and Neva F. Miller, Analytical Lexicon of the Greek New Testament (Grand Rapids, MI: Baker Books, 2000), 89.

2 Robert L. Thomas, Revelation 8-22 (Chicago, IL: Moody Press, 1995), Rev. 19:6.