Page 576 - Demo

19:1 “Alleluia”: “Alleluia” is a Hebrew exclamation that means “praise God.” It occurs frequently in the psalms and has found its way into the liturgy, where it has a special association with the Resurrection; it is not sung in Lent but returns with the celebration of the Resurrection of the Lord at Easter. “We are an Easter people, and ‘Alleluia’ is our song” (St. Augustine).
19:19 The words of the angel are echoed in every Mass, when, just before communion, the priest elevates the consecrated bread and wine and says, “Blessed are those who are invited to the wedding supper of the Lamb.” The celebration of the Eucharist is our wedding- feast, the union of God and God’s people.
a. [19:2] Dn 3:27 / Jer 51:48–49.
b. [19:3] 14:11; Is 34:10.
c. [19:5] 11:18; Ps 115:13.
d. [19:7] Mt 22:9; Eph 5:27.
e. [19:8] 15:6; Is 61:10; Mt 22:11–12.
f. [19:9] Mt 8:11; Lk 14:15.
g. [19:10] 22:8–9.
564
REVELATION  - 
No voices of bride and groom
will ever be heard in you again.
Because your merchants were the great ones of the world, all nations were led astray by your magic potion.n
24In her was found the blood of prophets and holy ones and all who have been slain on the earth.”o
191After this I heard what sounded like the loud voice of a great multitude in heaven, saying:
“Alleluia!*
Salvation, glory, and might belong to our God,
2for true and just are his judgments. He has condemned the great harlot
who corrupted the earth with her harlotry. He has avenged on her the blood of his servants.”a
3They said a second time:
“Alleluia! Smoke will rise from her forever and ever.”b
4The twenty-four elders and the four living creatures fell down and worshiped God who sat on the throne, saying, “Amen. Alleluia.”
The Victory Song.* 5A voice coming from the throne said:
“Praise our God, all you his servants,
[and] you who revere him, small and great.”c
6Then I heard something like the sound of a great multitude or the sound of rushing water or mighty peals of thunder, as they said:
“Alleluia!
The Lord has established his reign,
[our] God, the almighty. 7Let us rejoice and be glad
and give him glory.
For the wedding day of the Lamb* has come,
his bride has made herself ready.d 8She was allowed to wear
a bright, clean linen garment.”e
(The linen represents the righteous deeds of the holy ones.)*
9Then the angel said to me, “Write this: Blessed* are those who have been called to the wedding feast of the Lamb.” And he said to me, “These words are true; they come from God.”f 10I fell at his feet to worship him. But he said to me, “Don’t! I am a fellow servant of yours and of your brothers who bear witness to Jesus. Worship God.g Witness to Jesus is the spirit of prophecy.”*
The King of Kings. 11* Then I saw the heavens opened, and there was a white horse; its rider was [called] “Faithful and True.” He judges and
* [19:1, 3, 4, 6] Alleluia: found only here in the New Testament, this frequent exclamation of praise in the Hebrew psalms was important in Jewish liturgy.
* [19:5–10] A victory song follows, sung by the entire church, celebrating the marriage of the Lamb, the union of the Messiah with the community of the elect.
* [19:7] The wedding day of the Lamb: symbol of God’s reign about to begin (Rev 21:1–22:5); see note on Rev 10:7. His bride: the church; cf. 2 Cor 11:2; Eph 5:22–27. Marriage is one of the biblical metaphors used to describe the covenant relationship between God and his people; cf. Hos 2:16–22; Is 54:5–6; 62:5; Ez 16:6–14. Hence, idolatry and apostasy are viewed as adultery and harlotry (Hos 2:4–15; Ez 16:15–63); see note on Rev 14:4.
* [19:8] See note on Rev 14:12.
* [19:9] Blessed: see note on Rev 1:3.
* [19:10] The spirit of prophecy: as the prophets were inspired to proclaim God’s word, so
the Christian is called to give witness to the Word of God (Rev 19:13) made esh; cf. Rev 1:2; 6:9; 12:17.