Revelation 19 – watercress words by Dr Aletha

Dr. Handel and his son

I know families with multiple physicians, including parents, siblings, or children. My grandfather was a dentist, but he died before I was born. My sons had no interest in medicine and instead chose technology careers.

Georg Handel was a barber-surgeon in northern Germany in the 17th century. Barber-surgeons were physicians in medieval Europe who only performed surgery, often treating wounds from war injuries. Eventually, surgery and barbery became separate occupations.

His son George did not follow his father into medicine. Instead George Frideric Handel followed his HEART and studied music and eventually composed his masterpiece , Messiah, first performed in 1742, and presented countless times since then.

Modern choirs perform Messiah at Christmas, but Handel wrote it to be performed at Easter. The lyrics of the songs in Messiah explore the HEART of the Bible with passages that tell the story of God sending Jesus to earth to redeem His people.

The London Symphony Orchestra presents Handel's Messiah

The scripture references in this post are used as lyrics in songs from Messiah, including the song that brings the audience to its feet, Hallelujah.

Text for “Hallelujah” comes from the book of Revelation in the New Testament.

Revelation 19:6: “Alleluia: for the Lord God omnipotent reigneth.”

Revelation 19:16: “And he hath on his vesture and on his thigh a name written, King of Kings, and Lord of Lords.”

Revelation 11:15 reads, “And he shall reign for ever and ever.”

The kingdom of this world;

is become the kingdom of our Lord,

and of His Christ

And He shall reign forever and ever

King of kings and Lord of lords

Hallelujah, hallelujah, hallelujah, hallelujah

Hallelujah

“And I heard as it were the voice of a great multitude, and as the voice of many waters, and as the voice of mighty thunderings, saying,

Alleluia: for the Lord God omnipotent reigneth.

And the seventh angel sounded; and there were great voices in heaven, saying,

The kingdoms of this world are become the kingdoms of our Lord, and of his Christ; and he shall reign for ever and ever.

And he hath on his vesture and on his thigh a name written,

King Of Kings, And Lord Of Lords.”

Revelation 19, King James Version

The birth of Jesus made possible not just a new way of understanding life but a new way of living it. — Carl Frederick Buechner was an American writer and theologian. He died in 2022 at 96 years old.(affiliate link) graphic credit Lightstock.com (affiliate link)

Messiah’s Hallelujah Chorus

Often referred to as the Hallelujah Chorus, this passage is the most recognized part of Handel’s Messiah. We associate Messiah with Christmas, but Handel wrote it to be performed at Easter. He drew the words of the songs from Scripture, choosing passages that tell the story of God sending Jesus to earth to redeem His people.

If you have ever attended a live performance of Messiah, you probably stood up during the Hallelujah Chorus. That tradition dates back to King George II of England who according to tradition, was so moved during this song that he stood to his feet. Since he was the king, everyone had to stand with him.

The Pure Power Of Handel’s ‘Hallelujah Chorus’

The “Hallelujah Chorus,” from George Frideric Handel‘s Messiah, is such an iconic piece of music that it’s easy to take its exuberance and its greatness for granted.

Composer-conductor Rob Kapilow joins Performance Today host Fred Child to examine the structure of Handel’s popular little chorus and discover why the music has such a powerful grip on singers and listeners.

Sharing the HEART of Christmas

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Shouting good news at Christmas

We usually associate Messiah with Christmas, but Handel wrote it to be performed at Easter. He drew the words of the songs from Scripture, choosing passages that tell the story of God sending Jesus to earth to redeem His people.

Keep reading

Handel’s Messiah-Announcing good news

An angel announced the birth of the Savior in Luke 2, bringing joy and a sign of hope. The text from Isaiah 9:6, referenced in Handel’s Messiah, highlights the significance of this birth, which inspired Handel’s composition in 1741. The piece, however, was originally intended for Easter, not Christmas.

Keep reading