Rejoice over her, O heaven, O saints and apostles and prophets, because God has pronounced for you His judgment against her.
Parallel translations
- WEB “Rejoice over her, O heaven, you saints, apostles, and prophets; for God has judged your judgment on her.”
- KJV Rejoice over her, thou heaven, and ye holy apostles and prophets; for God hath avenged you on her.
- NKJV “Rejoice over her, O heaven, and you holy apostles and prophets, for God has avenged you on her!”
- NASB Rejoice over her, O heaven, and you saints and apostles and prophets, because God has pronounced judgment for you against her.”
- NLT Rejoice over her fate, O heaven and people of God and apostles and prophets! For at last God has judged her for your sakes.
Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Scripture quotations taken from the (NASB®) New American Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1960, 1971, 1977, 1995, 2020 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. All rights reserved. lockman.org
Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
Quick answer
Heaven, saints, apostles, and prophets are called to rejoice, for God has judged Babylon on their behalf. The martyrs are vindicated.
Overview
In sharp contrast to the earth's mourning, heaven is summoned to rejoice over Babylon's fall. God has 'judged your judgment on her,' answering the cry of the martyrs for justice. The verse assures the persecuted church that God will vindicate His people, turning their suffering into cause for praise.
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 24
- Rev 6:10And they cried out in a loud voice, “How long, O Lord, holy and true, until You avenge our blood and judge those who dwell upon the earth?”
- Rev 19:1–3After this I heard a sound like the roar of a great multitude in heaven, shouting: “Hallelujah! Salvation and glory and power belong to our God!
- Luke 18:7–8Will not God bring about justice for His elect who cry out to Him day and night? Will He continue to defer their help?
- Rev 12:12Therefore rejoice, O heavens, and you who dwell in them! But woe to the earth and the sea; with great fury the devil has come down to you, knowing he has only a short time.”
- Isa 26:21For behold, the LORD is coming out of His dwelling to punish the inhabitants of the earth for their iniquity. The earth will reveal her bloodshed and will no longer conceal her slain.
- 2 Pet 3:2by recalling what was foretold by the holy prophets and commanded by our Lord and Savior through your apostles.
- Isa 49:13Shout for joy, O heavens; rejoice, O earth; break forth in song, O mountains! For the LORD has comforted His people, and He will have compassion on His afflicted ones.
- Ps 94:1O LORD, God of vengeance, O God of vengeance, shine forth.
- Prov 11:10When the righteous thrive, the city rejoices, and when the wicked perish, there are shouts of joy.
- Eph 4:11And it was He who gave some to be apostles, some to be prophets, some to be evangelists, and some to be pastors and teachers,
- Luke 11:49–50Because of this, the wisdom of God said, ‘I will send them prophets and apostles; some of them they will kill and others they will persecute.’
- Ps 109:28Though they curse, You will bless. When they rise up, they will be put to shame, but Your servant will rejoice.
- Ps 58:10The righteous will rejoice when they see they are avenged; they will wash their feet in the blood of the wicked.
- Eph 2:20built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, with Christ Jesus Himself as the cornerstone.
- Jer 51:47–48Therefore, behold, the days are coming when I will punish the idols of Babylon. Her entire land will suffer shame, and all her slain will lie fallen within her.
- Isa 44:23Sing for joy, O heavens, for the LORD has done this; shout aloud, O depths of the earth. Break forth in song, O mountains, you forests and all your trees. For the LORD has redeemed Jacob, and revealed His glory in Israel.
- Jude 1:17But you, beloved, remember what was foretold by the apostles of our Lord Jesus Christ
- Judg 5:31So may all Your enemies perish, O LORD! But may those who love You shine like the sun at its brightest.” And the land had rest for forty years.
- Ps 48:11Mount Zion is glad, the daughters of Judah rejoice, on account of Your judgments.
- Eph 3:5which was not made known to men in other generations as it has now been revealed by the Spirit to God’s holy apostles and prophets.
- Ps 18:47the God who avenges me and subdues nations beneath me,
- Ps 107:42The upright see and rejoice, and all iniquity shuts its mouth.
- Ps 96:11–13Let the heavens be glad and the earth rejoice; let the sea resound, and all that fills it.
- Deut 32:42I will make My arrows drunk with blood, while My sword devours flesh—the blood of the slain and captives, the heads of the enemy leaders.”
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Christ at the center
Revelation ends the story with the slain-yet-standing Lamb who is worthy, the Lion of Judah, the Alpha and Omega, the returning King who makes all things new and dwells with his people forever.
How Revelation 18:20 points to him is part of the one story that runs through all Scripture — meet Jesus at the heart of the web, or follow a trail that traces him from Genesis to Revelation.
Original language
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