Revelation 19:3-4

‘And her smoke goes up for ever and ever, and the twenty four elders and the four living creatures fell down and worshipped God who sits on the throne, saying, “Amen. Halleluyah”.'

And her smoke goes up for ever and ever.' This refers to the demise of Babylon the Great (Revelation 19:2). That too contributes to the worship of God, as it testifies to His eternal judgment. It is open to question whether the phrase should be connected to the Haleluyah of the living creatures, or to the Halleluyah of the twenty four elders.

The only other time when the four living creatures and the twenty four elders fell down together and worshipped was in Revelation 5:8, where they honoured the Lamb. Note the reverse order. There the living creatures led the way, for they celebrated the opening of the seals, stressing the holiness of God, for they are guardians of His holiness.. Here the twenty four elders lead the way for they represent the people of God and the celebration is of the deliverance of God's people and the destruction of their enemies.

‘Amen, Halleluyah.' The promises and purposes of the Amen are now in process of final fulfilment (see on Revelation 3:14; also Revelation 1:6; 1 Corinthians 1:20; see also Isaiah 65:16 in the Hebrew; Psalms 106:48). And God is to be praised. The threefold use of Halleluyah by the heavenly beings represents the completeness of their praise.

‘Her smoke goes up for ever and ever.' Great Babylon's judgment is everlasting. There can be no revival of her power. The symbols of judgment are regularly described as everlasting for they are a guarantee of the finality of the judgment and of its completeness (see Isaiah 34:10; Revelation 14:11 and compare Isaiah 66:24). The judgment of God is unquenchable. We can also compare the end of Sodom and Gomorrah (Genesis 19:28). These words are introduced as a contrast to the marriage of the Bride.