We Give Thanks

Revelation 11:15-18

In this scene of future prophecy of the end of the age, we see the 7th trumpet, the final stage of events of the 7 year tribulation. This will lead us into the 2nd coming of Jesus, to restore order to the world and establish His reign over the earth.

This will be our true victory and it will bring to end all of the corruption and evil throughout the world.

Only through God’s power can this be done!

All of these climatic events will be catastrophic, included in the 7th trumpet is the 7 bowl judgments (bowls of wrath) which is the final judgement on the earth for the rejection of God’s glorious gift in His Son. You can read about these in Rev. 16.

This all will lead us into Israel’ redemption and usher all of the saints into the millennial reign of Christ.

At this point, in the elders view, the coming of the Kingdom of God is no longer in the future, it is now immediate for them!

Their response is glorious, notice what they declare.....

which art, and wast, and art to come;

First, let’s take a look at Revelation 1:8 “I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the ending, saith the Lord, which is, and which was, and which is to come, the Almighty.”

In Rev. 1 this was all futuristic, we can all see and declare it this way....Who is to come

However, the 24 elders does not say “who is to come”.......

There discussion about this and some even add the last phrase, saying that the interpreters left it off.

That belief is wrong, I believe. The 24 elders are worshipping from knowing that the 7th trumpet was the fulfillment of “Who is to come”.

To them, when the 7th trumpet sounded that was it, Jesus was coming to earth. It was as good as done!

God is no longer “to come” because God has come in power. The elders’ song is a thanksgiving because you have taken your power and have begun to reign (v. 17)

Their praise also declared the fulfillment of God’s promise .............God has decisively dethroned evil and has entered on his reign.

The song of the redeemed is called forth by the sight of the Giver, and the dark problems of earth are solved in the light of heaven (John 13:7 “Jesus answered and said unto him, What I do thou knowest not now; but thou shalt know hereafter.”)

It arises from the possession of “the gift of glory.” Grace is more precious than all the gifts of nature; but glory is greater than grace, as the flower is more than the bud.

This worship/thanksgiving is based on the power of God and that He is overthrowing satan’s false reign on the earth and Jesus is coming to reign.

God’s wrath was to be poured out onto the nations that rejected Jesus and lived after their own desires.

The punishment fits the crime. God’s wrath is not irrational, but the fitting response to the conduct of the nations.

All we made right according to God’s Way, no human intervention will be allowed, only ruled by Jesus Christ!

As I have grown in the Gospel over the years, through God’s Word, there are 2 main factors that must be before true worship can begin in the heart! The knowledge of God, equally the Godhead, and the knowledge of sin!

In our understanding that there will never be a being that exists that is equal to God or even come close to having the goodness, purity, and power that is God.

Humans, even in the time before sin, Adam and Eve has never come close to this, neither has the angels.

Then comes the understanding of the power of God, that He has no beginning nor end, He exists based on His Own power.

We exist only because of His power!

That is why in Jesus declaration, He tells us that He is Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end. Our existence is only by His Power!

Next, will be in light of God as the only Creator, as the only All Powerful being, as the only Good and Pure Being, we must measure ourselves to our creator. His way is completely different from the way of the fallen flesh!

I used to think the definition of sin as “missing the mark” does not adequately define the severity of sin.

But, truly it is exactly the nature of the human condition. The only way to live in the presence of God is to live just as holy and pure as His existence, and that is not our condition nor is it the desire of the human flesh.

By our wrong desire, we have missed the mark! It must be noted that the mark was not set by God, it just simply is God and it can’t be any other way!

Yes, God can do all things, but changing His essence to suit our needs is not possible! Besides, the reality of this truth is that if God could change it would be detrimental to our existence, just as living happily in sin is and will be.

The only Way to be brought back to this innocence is through a perfect life, a perfect sacrifice, that cleanses us from the stain of sinful flesh!

God sent His Son, to restore the relationship between God’s creation and the Creator God the Father!

Hebrews 10:12 “But this man, after he had offered one sacrifice for sins for ever, sat down on the right hand of God;”

The verse that best sums this up is 2 Corinthians 5:21 “For He (God) hath made Him (Jesus) to be sin for us, Who (Jesus) knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in Him (Jesus).”

We are made righteous through Jesus’ work not our own!

The great truth of the 24 elders worship is that they believed it on earth and they know first hand at this point and it is all about to be fulfilled right before them.......when the 7th trumpet sounds the reign of God through Jesus on earth will begin! It is no more “is to come”, they are witnessing it right then and there!

What we have been taught in Scripture and also in seeing the fulfillment of things throughout history, ought to give us great comfort in this life, if we believe!

Just comforted the disciples in this truth as He was preparing them for His death, resurrection, and ascension.

John 16:33 “These things I have spoken unto you, that in me ye might have peace. In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world.”

I have overcome the world, Jesus speaks to them with full assurance that the world His!

Those words of Christ should resound in our hearts and minds and give us great comfort, if we believe in what Jesus told them and us!

I also love 1 John 5:5 “Who is he that overcometh the world, but he that believeth that Jesus is the Son of God?”

No greater truth than that! All of the disciples either was martyred or died banished for Jesus’ Name sake, having nothing in this world but they died overcomers of this world and now live in the Glory of God!

Let’s close with Romans 8:31-39..........Nothing shall separate us from the love of God, as we live today let us take comfort in this and what God has said through His Word! No matter what it looks like down here, the Highest Power imaginable loves you and didn’t spar His Own Son, but delivered Him to pay our 2nd death penalty for our sin!

Through the complete work of Jesus Christ, (verse 34) Jesus is the One Who justifies and condemns!

Tell me, who can separate us from a love of the magnitude!?

The same being the can destroy the earth, with the same power He loves us and has prepared us a place with Him!

Nothing can separate us from this love of God through Jesus Christ!

I wonder if you not that love? I wonder if you know the One Who is that Love?

I will leave you with these declarations in Psalm 21.......verse 1 and the last verse (13)A thanksgiving praise, if you will!

Psalm 21:1 “The king shall joy in thy strength, O Lord; And in thy salvation how greatly shall he rejoice!”

Psalm 21:13 “Be thou exalted, Lord, in thine own strength: So will we sing and praise thy power.”