Revelation 11:15-19

Then the seventh angel blew his trumpet, and there were loud voices in heaven, saying, “The kingdom of the world has become the kingdom of our Lord and of his Christ, and he shall reign forever and ever.”  And the twenty-four elders who sit on their thrones before God fell on their faces and worshiped God, saying, “We give thanks to you, Lord God Almighty, who is and who was, for you have taken your great power and begun to reign.  The nations raged, but your wrath came, and the time for the dead to be judged, and for rewarding your servants, the prophets and saints, and those who fear your name, both small and great, and for destroying the destroyers of the earth.” Then God's temple in heaven was opened, and the ark of his covenant was seen within his temple. There were flashes of lightning, rumblings, peals of thunder, an earthquake, and heavy hail.

The blowing of the seventh trumpet signals the culmination of the judgments.  There are still many aspects to this judgment, but this signals the beginning of the end.  The evidence of Christ’s sovereign authority over the earth is about to become visible.  Since the fall of man, the history of the earth has been marked but the wicked often prospering while the righteous suffer.  This is about to change radically.  Injustice will end and eternal justice will be established.

THE REIGN OF CHRIST: At the sound of the seventh trumpet the declaration from heaven reveals that the kingdoms of the world have become the kingdom of Christ.  His wrath is being poured out on sin and His control over the events of the world are going to be made known.  All rival kingdoms are going to be vanquished and the reign the Christ will establish will have no end.  He will never be overthrown or defeated.  Throughout the history of the world there have been different kingdoms.  The rise and fall of powerful and corrupt kingdoms are now over.  The kingdom of Christ will have no rivals and no equal.  The elders in heaven give thanks to the Lord as the wait is over and the just reign of Jesus is about to be revealed. 

THE REACONING OF CHRIST: The reign of Christ will be in great power.  That which the disciples longed to see, that which the prophets foretold, is about to come true.  The nations of the earth have been deluded into thinking they were powerful and they raged against the will and Word of God.  Systems have been formed, laws have been passed, injustice has been practiced, God has been mocked, and those who fear and follow the Lord have suffered persecution.  This reality will be no more.  The unjust will be judged and the followers of the Lord will be rewarded.  Prophets, saints, and all who feared the Lord in life and suffered for it will receive eternal reward.  The people and nations who sought to destroy God’s work will now be destroyed.  God’s perfect justice will be revealed.

THE REVELATION OF CHRIST: The temple in heaven is open and the dwelling place of God is revealed.  The ark of the covenant is visible within the temple.  The tabernacle and later the various temples that were erected on earth were only models of this place in the heavens where God is enthroned.  The ark of the covenant that Moses built and was carried into battle was placed in the holy of holies.  This was a sacred place that was only entered once a year by the high priest.  All of these models and all the separation that sin caused between God and man have passed.  God’s glory is now revealed and those redeemed by the blood of the Lord Jesus Christ are given access to the very dwelling place of God. This glorious scene in heaven will result in lightning, thunder, and hail being poured out upon the face of the earth. 

APPLICATION: Rejoice and take great hope in the coming kingdom of our Lord Jesus Christ.  Don’t fret or fear in the face of injustice that marks our current reality.  Injustice has an expiration date that God has determined but the kingdom that Jesus will establish will never expire.  Leave vengeance for injustice in the Lord’s hands and seek to live for the eternal rewards that Christ has promised to those who fear and follow Him.  Look forward to an eternity when we will have full access to the dwelling place of God.

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