中學合唱團演唱一首阿根廷歌曲（El Cielo Canta Alegría），他們的歌聲喜樂洋溢。我雖然陶醉其中，但因為不諳西班牙語，所以也不明白歌詞的意思。但沒過多久，我就聽到了一個熟悉的詞語，合唱團開始重複歡欣高唱：「哈利路亞！」我聽到了好幾次的「哈利路亞」，這讚美上帝的宣告，在世界上大多數語言中聽起來都很相似。我很想知道這首詩歌的背景，音樂會結束後便上網查詢，發現其歌名被翻譯為《天堂歡唱》。

從啟示錄19章歡慶的章節，我們得以一窺這首合唱歌曲所表達的意境──整個天堂都歡聲雷動！新約的最後一卷書記載了使徒約翰在異象中看到未來的情景，在天堂裡有一大群人與四活物齊聲稱頌感謝上帝。約翰寫道，這合唱的聲音是讚美上帝的全能勝過罪惡與不義，祂掌管全地，以及基督徒永遠與祂同在。天國的子民，一遍又一遍地宣告：「哈利路亞（要讚美耶和華）！」（1、3、4、6節）

有一天，「各族、各方、各民、各國」（5章9節）的人都將齊聲歌頌上帝的榮耀。我們將用不同的語言一同歡呼：「哈利路亞！」

Joy was apparent in their voices as the high school choir sang the Argentinian song “El Cielo Canta Alegría.” I was enjoying the performance but couldn’t understand the lyrics because I don’t know Spanish. But it wasn’t long until I recognized a familiar word as the choir began to jubilantly declare, “Aleluya!” Repeatedly, I heard “Aleluya,” a declaration of praise to God that sounds similar in most languages around the world. Eager to know the background of the song, I went online after the concert and discovered the title translates “Heaven Is Singing for Joy.”

In a celebratory passage in Revelation 19, we’re given a glimpse of the reality expressed in that choral song—all of heaven rejoicing! In the apostle John’s vision of the future in the last book of the New Testament, he saw an enormous gathering of people and angelic creatures in heaven declaring gratitude to God. John wrote that the chorus of voices celebrated God’s power that overcame evil and injustice, His reign over the whole earth, and eternal life with Him forever. Over and over again, all the inhabitants of heaven declare “Hallelujah!” (vv. 1, 3, 4, 6), or “Praise God!”

One day people “from every tribe and language and people and nation” (5:9) will declare God’s glory. And with joy all our voices in every different language will shout together, “Hallelujah!”