After these things
What things? The judgment and total annihilation of the whore called Babylon (chapters 17-18). As we have found from our studies of the last two chapters, Babylon is the collapse of the global economy. But it is more than that. It is also the spiritual (evil) motivators that are destroyed. These motivators are greed, envy, anger, idolatry, and so on and so on.
Most scholars tend to write about the harlot as only pertaining to the unbelieving world and/or those who did take the mark of the beast (Revelation 13:11-18). I would suggest that the judgments in chapters 17 and 18 are aimed squarely at organized churches and religions. It is clear that the Revelation of Jesus Christ
I heard, as it were, a LOUD VOICE of a GREAT MULTITUDE in HEAVEN, saying
Scholars are divided as to whom the GREAT MULTITUDE are. Some say this is the heavenly host of angels¹; others say this is the same GREAT MULTITUDE of tribulation saints in Revelation 7:9. For all we know it may be a merged choir of all heaven's occupants; angels, redeemed/raptured saints, the 24 elders and the 4 living creatures (verse 4).
It does contain one of the mysteries of heaven, however, in that, we really don't know the language of heaven. It is unified and can be spoken by all listed previously and by fetuses and young children who were not able to or had learned to speak. Spirit-filled believers can testify to talking with God the Father in another tongue or prayer language. But we can only wonder at how the spiritual nature of an unborn fetus, for example, can participate in this LOUD VOICE?
"HALLELUJAH! SALVATION and GLORY and POWER belong to our God;
This is the first time that HALLELUJAH is used in the New Testament. Literally translated it means "Praise Him Who Is". In the Old Testament, this same HALLELUJAH is translated "Praise the Lord" as in Psalm 104:31-35-35.
We see GLORY and POWER in Revelation 4:11 given to Jesus Christ because He is Worthy. Here SALVATION is added to confirm the completion of His Worthiness. Furthermore, this is the response to the command given in Revelation 18:20.
SALVATION: We can find SALVATION in no other than Jesus Christ (Acts 4:5-12). But the full meaning of SALVATION here is to include the redemption of the earth from the sin curse as we discussed in the chapter 5 verse studies.
GLORY: This is the essence of God. As Moses experienced it (Exodus 33:17-23), the GLORY of God contains GOODNESS, NAME OF THE LORD, GRACIOUSNESS, and COMPASSION. When one comes to understand and worship God's GLORY, one will not have any other gods (Exodus 20:21-26).
POWER: So POWERful is the GLORY of God, that a person becomes afraid of its brilliance (Exodus 34:29-35). This is not being afraid like being scared, but rather like having a holy respect for God. We are to "FEAR GOD" was the conclusion "The Preacher" came to (Ecclesiastes 12:13-14).
In this verse, we have the three spiritual aspects the GREAT MULTITUDE have in common. Yet how little is heard about these aspects from our present day leaders. If our leaders are to "shepherd" us into eternity, then I think we should be prepared in these three aspects so that we won't feel out of place in heaven. Or to make this even more personal, when was the last time you shared with someone about SALVATION or GLORY or POWER as you have experienced it in your life?
1 MacArthur, John Jr., Revelation 12-22, Moody Press, Chicago, page 196