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Revelation 19:1

Back to The Bible's Difficult Scriptures Explained!


“And after these things I heard a great voice of much people in heaven, saying, Alleluia; salvation, and glory, and honor, and power, unto the Lord our God.”

What is the identity of those called “much people in heaven”?

The Greek word ochlos is improperly translated “people.” This word has a variety of synonyms in the English language, one of which can be people.

Since the Bible clearly shows that the reward of the saved is rulership on earth at Christ’s Return—not in heaven—another rendering should have been used. The Revised Standard Version and the Goodspeed translations render ochlos as “multitude” and the Moffatt version as “host.” The Numeric English New Testament and the Amplified New Testament render it “crowd.”

While each of these translations uses a slightly different word, they more accurately deliver the meaning of the original Greek. The “people” in heaven referenced in Revelation 19:1 are, in fact, the “host, multitude or crowd” there. This scripture refers to the vast millions of angels—who are in heaven. They are the multitude there, which sing and praise God (Rev. 5:11-12).

Suggested reading:

• Do the Saved Go to Heaven?

• Is There Life After Death?

• The Awesome Potential of Man

• What Is the Kingdom of God?