Grace to you and peace, from Him who is and who was and who is to come, and from the seven Spirits who are before His throne, 5 and from Jesus Christ, the faithful witness, the firstborn of the dead, and the ruler of the kings of the earth. To Him who loves us and released us from our sins by His blood— 6 and He has made us to be a kingdom, priests to His God and Father—to Him be the glory and the dominion forever and ever. Amen. Revelation 1:4b-6
The triumphant Hallelujah Chorus has been sung for over two centuries. Its hallelujahs ring out praise to Messiah, to Christ.
According to Wikipedia, it was King George II who first stood for the Hallelujah Chorus – with the dutiful audience following suit. Perhaps he was responding to the lyrics, perhaps simply to the music. In any case, the words call on the entire audience to recognize “the kingdom of our LORD and of his Christ.”
It is only appropriate that an earthly king stand to acknowledge his superior, “the ruler of the kings of the earth”.
– SSXG.