people,”—­all the saints.  Thus they recognise the faithfulness and justice of God, as he heard and answered the cry of the “souls under the altar;” (ch. vi. 9, 10,) for he had now “avenged their blood” and that of their “brethren that had been killed as they were,” upon them that dwell on the earth,—­the population of mystic Babylon. (Ps. cxxxvii. 8, 9.) “And again they said, Alleluia; and her smoke rose up for ever and ever,” like that of Sodom.  In all this, the ministry and members of the whole church cordially join, adding their hearty and solemn “Amen!”

For this protracted joy and exulting praise, two causes seem to be in operation, God’s judgment on Babylon, and his mercy on Zion.  Both are matter of praise. (Ps. ci. 1.)

5.  And a voice came out of the throne, saying, Praise our God, all ye his servants, and ye that fear him, both small and great.

6.  And I heard as it were the voice of a great multitude, and as the voice of many waters, and as the voice of mighty thunderings, saying, Alleluia:  for the Lord God Omnipotent reigneth.

7.  Let us be glad and rejoice, and give honour to him; for the marriage of the Lamb is come, and his wife hath made herself ready.

8.  And to her was granted, that she should be arrayed in fine linen, clean and white; for the fine linen is the righteousness of saints.

9.  And he saith unto me, Write, Blessed are they which are called unto the marriage supper of the Lamb.  And he saith unto me, These are the true sayings of God.

Vs. 5-9.—­This happy company are called upon to renew their song.  The call seems to come from some one who is authorized to speak with authority, “out of the throne.”  All the servants of God are invited, and all appear to respond, “a great multitude.”  This is the most animated of all the examples of praise recorded in this book.  It is compared to the rushing of waters down a cataract, as the roaring of the sea, or the rolling of thunder in the heavens.  It is indeed the “voice of them that shout for mastery,”—­and “all the people shout with a great shout, for the Lord hath given them the city,”—­“Alleluia, praise ye the Lord, for the Lord God omnipotent reigneth.”  “Thou wilt perform the truth to Jacob, and the mercy to Abraham, which thou hast sworn unto our fathers from the days of old.”—­These joyful victors encourage each other to prolong their acclamations:—­“Let us be glad and rejoice,” ... “for the marriage of the Lamb is come:”  and what can that be, but the recalling of the Jews?  This is the day of our New Testament Solomon’s espousals, and the day of the gladness of his heart. (Song iii. 11.)—­Not only the Jews, but the great majority of professing Christians during the 1260 years of Antichrist’s usurpations, have refused to “submit themselves to the righteousness of God.” (Rom. x. 3.) The kings of the earth also have fostered the pride and profligacy of the great whore, instead of the bride