We give thanks to you, Lord God Almighty, who is and who was, for you have taken your great power and begun to reign. – Revelation 11:17
Between now and the conclusion of the Christmas season you will no doubt hear strains of the Baroque-era composition of George Frideric Handel—the “Messiah.” Although it was written for Easter to give its listeners hope, part one of the oratorio has been embraced as a strong theme at Christmastide. First performed in Dublin in April 1742, the complete oratorio, some 260 pages in length, took Handel just 24 days to complete. So inspired was he that during that time he got very little sleep, and even though an assistant would bring him meals, they were often left uneaten. When he completed the famed “Hallelujah,” he reportedly said, “I did think I did see all Heaven before me, and the great God Himself seated on His throne, with His company of Angels.”
In the portion of Revelation 11 from which today’s verse is taken, you will find words included in that Hallelujah chorus: “The kingdom of this world has become the kingdom of our Lord and of his Christ, and he shall reign forever and ever.” There can be no better reason to shout out “Hallelujah!“ The word “hallelujah” itself occurs only once in Scripture, in Revelation 19, when it is sung by a great multitude. It comes from “hallel,” a Jewish liturgical word often sung as an antiphon by a choir singing some of the Psalms, particularly Psalms 113-118. It literally means “praise.” According to the Jewish Virtual Library, it may have originated as something to be “chanted on Passover eve while the Paschal lambs were being slaughtered.” The last part of the word “hallelujah” acknowledges that it is God who is being praised by including an aberration of the name “Jehovah.”
Florida Pastor Charlie Garrett wrote, “Just as we move into the future, live in the present, and look back at the past, we also anticipate God’s revelation.” Of today’s verse he says, “This heavenly scene goes from Creation to Redemption and then to the Authority to Rule,” all in praise to Jesus Christ. Until that time when you reach Heaven’s glories, include in your thanksgiving anticipation for the time when there will be complete adoration of the Eternal Son of God, when you join with the multitudes in singing “Hallelujah!“
Today’s Verse: Revelation 11:17
saying,
“We give thanks to you, Lord God Almighty,
who is and who was,
for you have taken your great power
and begun to reign.
All Scripture quotations and audio are from the ESV® Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®), copyright © 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Recommended for further reading: Revelation 11:15-19
15 Then the seventh angel blew his trumpet, and there were loud voices in heaven, saying, “The kingdom of the world has become the kingdom of our Lord and of his Christ, and he shall reign forever and ever.” 16 And the twenty-four elders who sit on their thrones before God fell on their faces and worshiped God, 17 saying,
“We give thanks to you, Lord God Almighty,
who is and who was,
for you have taken your great power
and begun to reign.
18 The nations raged,
but your wrath came,
and the time for the dead to be judged,
and for rewarding your servants, the prophets and saints,
and those who fear your name,
both small and great,
and for destroying the destroyers of the earth.”
19 Then God’s temple in heaven was opened, and the ark of his covenant was seen within his temple. There were flashes of lightning, rumblings, peals of thunder, an earthquake, and heavy hail.
All Scripture quotations and audio are from the ESV® Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®), copyright © 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
