Revelation 19:6Meaning & Commentary from the Church Fathers

The angels glorify the Lord, and the powers of heaven sing to Him. Before the beginning of the world, the cherubim and seraphim cry out with their melodious voices, "Holy, holy, holy" (Isa 6:3).

The countless hosts of angels take up the song, and the elders and the great multitude, like the sound of many waters, sing, "Alleluia" (Rev 19:6).

The effective word, by the sweetness of unceasing song, sets the axis of heaven in motion. The sound of this word reaches the ends of the earth and the farthest places of the universe.

This does not seem foreign to the custom of nature, since a cry drawn forth is reflected by forests and mountains in a more pleasant sound. They return in sweetest echo what they received.

While in bonds, Paul also addresses the prophets of the Church: "When you come together," he says, "each of you has a psalm, has a teaching; has a tongue, has a revelation, has an interpretation. Let all things be done for edification" (1 Cor 14:26).

Again, elsewhere: "I will sing with the spirit, and I will sing with the mind also" (1 Cor 14:15).

So too James affirms in his epistle: "Is anyone among you suffering? Let him pray. Is anyone cheerful? Let him sing psalms" (Jas 5:13).

And John repeats in the Apocalypse, when the Spirit was revealed to him, that he saw and heard a voice coming down from heaven, like the sound of many waters and like the voice of mighty thunders, saying, "Alleluia!"

Therefore no one should doubt that this ministry, if performed with right faith and reverence, is like the ministry of the angels. Without sleep and without distractions, they ceaselessly glorify God in heaven and bless the Savior.

The voice of the people, of many waters, and of thunders signifies the resonance of the hymns of the angels and of all the countless heavenly powers. They were once understood as the waters that are above the heavens (Ps 148:4). With them the whole assembly of the righteous sings glory to God. Through His love for mankind, the Lord Jesus Christ has become King over all whom He formerly possessed as Creator. He will reign with authority, as King and Judge.

According to the divine prophet Isaiah, the seraphim utter "Holy" three times (cf. Isa 6:3). They enclosed the threefold doxology within one lordship, indicating that the Three are hymned according to hypostatic properties, or, speaking closely, according to Persons, while the Godhead is one in essence.

So too in this book the divine angels above proclaimed Alleluia three times and rendered honors to each of the three holy Hypostases. Now they hymn Alleluia in honor of the Most Holy Trinity.

They make clear that the all-hymned Most Holy Trinity has Its being in a single essence and Godhead.

The trumpets signify that confession of which Isaiah speaks: "Cry aloud, do not hold back; lift up your voice like a trumpet" (Isa 58:1).

In this confession the dread of divine judgment is also shown. I think dread is also suggested by the mention of thunder.

In the image of many waters, as usual, are shown those people who render praise to God: Alleluia.

Thus, when the Church preaches, fears, and renders praise, she rejoices with trembling, as we read: "Serve the Lord with fear, and rejoice with trembling" (Ps 2:11).

"For the Lord God Almighty has reigned." The voice rightly mentions the almightiness of God.

For He created from nothing what did not exist, sought those lost in sins, found those who deserved punishment, and from them mercifully made righteous those whom He wished.

Then, from them, as from members, He created the Church for Himself. When He redeemed her for such honor, He made her His bride, though she did not deserve to be His servant.

Loud is the voice of those who sing, and great is the reverence of the heart. By the repeated praise, the voice rejoices together over the fall of the ungodly and over the eternal glory of the Lord and His faithful.

According to Saint Andrew, the marriage of the Lamb is the union of all the faithful with Christ. Its beginning was laid in the upper room of Zion.

To the apostles, and through them to the whole Church founded by them, the pledge of the Holy Spirit was given. They were destined one day to be united with Christ in the Kingdom of Heaven.

Indeed, such a Church prepared herself for union with her Founder through countless sacrifices. In her poverty, this Church shared her last possessions with those who had nothing at all.

To neglect and contempt toward her she answered with meekness and goodwill. To various slanders brought against her she answered by the unpretentious fulfillment of God's commandments and the keeping of her statutes.

Under persecutions and blasphemies against her she endured, blessed her enemies, and prayed for them. This made such a Church glorious, holy, pure, and a worthy bride of Christ, as the Apostle Paul says (cf. Eph 5:25-27).