“Let Your Kingdom Come”

Turn with me please to Revelation 11:15-19

This is a significant milestone in Revelation…not only are we HALF WAY through Revelation!!

This passage sets in motion the FINAL EVENTS leading up to the return of the Lord Jesus Christ and Him establishing His earthly millennial kingdom.

It is a message of HOPE!

We need a message of HOPE…all in favour of a little more HOPE these days?

HOPE…is the confident expectation that something better is going to come!

The Bible says we have a HOPE that is “an anchor to our soul”…in a crazy world that blows in every direction…

It is good to put our anchor in something stable…that’s what we do & find in God’s Word.

2000 years ago…Pilate asked Jesus… “Are you a King?”

Jesus replied: “My kingdom is not of this world. If My kingdom were of this world, My servants would have been fighting, that I might not be delivered over to the Jews. But My Kingdom is not of this world.”

That was then…but there is coming a day when His Kingdom will include this world.

And we are about to read the ANNOUNCEMENT of that here in Revelation 11.

One day…what is only now a spiritual kingdom of Jesus reigning & ruling over individual hearts…

ALL of that will change…when He rules & reigns over all the earth.

On that day…His Kingdom will finally come…His will…will finally be done.

There is a day coming when there will be no more elections! No more campaigns/empty promises…

No short/long term government…

It will be the ETERNAL, righteous rule of the Lord Jesus Christ.

This passage of Scripture…Revelation 11:15-19 tells us about this Kingdom!

It is an ACTUAL, REAL, LITERAL kingdom…

It is NOT allegorical…NOT metaphorical…NOT symbolic…NOT kingdom like.

We are talking about the ACTUAL KINGDOM of the Lord Jesus Christ!

All history has been moving in this direction from the very beginning.

Daniel…saw a time when the rule & reign of God would cover the entire earth & last forever. Daniel 7

Isaiah…predicted a Messiah…who would rule & reign forever. Isaiah 9

The Angel…to Mary (teen) not only are you pregnant but you’re going to give birth to a King…God will give Him the kingdom of His father David…and He will rule over the house of Jacob forever. (Luke 1).

Bible = is about 1 Person and 2 events…Person is Lord Jesus…the 2 events are 1st & 2nd Coming.

At His FIRST coming…Jesus came to REDEEM the world from sin!

At His SECOND coming…Jesus will come to RULE & REIGN with those He redeemed from sin. 

That’s the message of the Bible. Revelation 11 is about the Second Coming.

[There is more in the Bible about the SECOND Coming than there is about the FIRST Coming.]

All other topics…we could preach on…is because of the reality of this passage. 

Jesus’ Kingdom…provides impetus…incentive…purpose…all because of the reality that is coming!

READ: Revelation 11:15-19

There are a few KEY POINTS in this Kingdom event that I want to draw your attention to.

1. The ANNOUNCEMENT of the Kingdom…Revelation 11:15

Revelation 11:15 “Then the seventh angel blew his trumpet, and there were loud voices in heaven, saying, “The kingdom of the world has become the kingdom our Lord and of His Christ, and He shall reign forever and ever.”

The announcement made at the top of the paragraph… "Then the seventh angel blew his trumpet…”

CONTEXT…The Tribulation began when Jesus was given the scroll with seven seals. (Revelation 5)

Jesus, the Lamb of God…peels one seal at a time revealing God’s 7 Seal Judgments. Revelation 6-7

Then came 6 Trumpet Judgements…in Revelation 8-10.

Then there was an interlude (Revelation 11:1-14)…This is now the Seventh Trumpet.

Remember that the Seal & Trumpet Judgments are a 7 year period of time called the Tribulation.

This is the last half…aka “The Great Tribulation”…but it is exponentially worse.

This Trumpet…will usher in the 7 Bowl Judgements…where God’s wrath is poured out in rapid fire sequence…and then the end comes.

FYI…So chronologically…Jesus doesn’t take control of the world till Revelation 19.

Revelation 11 is like a ZOOM LENS put on a camera…allowing the reader to see to the very end.

For the first recipients of Revelation…this was a very important announcement in a very dark time.

To a discouraged people…a fearful peopel…a persecuted people…down trodden people

LOOK UP! LOOK UP! Your King is coming!!

Good News can be seen already in the horizon…the King is Coming!

The Seventh Trumpet in heaven is a CUE…for a very particular chant…in v. 15

Let’s use our outside voices and say it together: 

“The kingdom of the world has become the Kingdom of our Lord and of His Christ, and He shall reign forever and ever."

(Hallelujah moment!)

This is the moment heaven breaks out in song because Satan’s rule is over & Jesus’ rule is about to begin.

So unrestrained joy breaks out.

“the kingdom of the world” …today 195 separate sovereign states in UN…all will come to an end.

Remember Daniel 2 Neb…had a dream…interpret my dream…wise guys said: we can’t do that…Daniel said I can do that. Neb’s Dream…a great image…head of gold, chest arms of silver thighs of bronze, legs of iron feet made of iron & clay…a small stone, uncut by man struck the image, broke them in pieces……the stone became a great mountain and filled the whole earth.

King Neb…That’s what you saw…This is what it means: (Daniel 2) “There will be a succession of kingdoms that come to this earth but you also saw a stone that came out of heaven and smashed the statue…and decimated it to dust…that stone grew into a mountain that filled the whole earth. and Neb said: “That’s what I saw. What does it mean? Daniel said this is what it means: “The God of heaven will set up a kingdom that will never be destroyed…it shall break in pieces and consume all these kingdoms…and it shall stand forever…predicted way back in the book of Daniel. 

BTW…forever…is a long time…and in case you think forever has an end…it says forever and ever.

“forever” is used 393x.

Another 47x it says “forever and ever” like here…in Revelation 11:15.

So at that time…understand this simple premise: ALL human kingdoms come to a screeching halt.

The important reason why….Mankind is not capable…of governing himself successfully for very long.

The best form of human government there is will fail because mankind…is doomed for failure because of their sin nature.

Roman Empire…499yrs…

Byzantine Empire…1100yrs …

Ottoman Empire…600 yrs…

Canada…158yrs..

ALL human governments will fail because the only best form of government that will last is one where God is the ONLY ONE calling the shots…

God is in charge…when the kingdom of this world become the kingdom of our Lord and His Christ.

APPLIC…so look up!! Your King is coming!

That’s the first thing we see here…

2. The RESPONSE in the Kingdom…Revelation 11:16-17

Revelation 11:16 “And the 24 elders who sit on their thrones before God fell on their faces and worshipped God,” 

Notice that John focuses in on one group in heaven…the 24 elders…(not told who they are)

The 24 elders show up several times…Revelation 4, 5, 7, 11 and 19

We know they are not angels…angels never sit on thrones…but they do wear crowns and wear white

Revelation 4-5 the 24 elders represent believers in heaven…the glorified raptured church.

ADORATION…This is now the third time they have raised their voices in heavenly praise.

In Revelation 4 they praise Him for being the Creator!

In Revelation 5 they praise Him for being the Redeemer!

Here In Revelation 11 they are praising Him for being the Ruler!

“Lord God Almighty…” (panto-krator) absolute all powerful, omnipotent ruler…firmly in charge.

Church note: whatever is going on in heaven…it is LOUD. (Sorry to tell some of you) But it’s true!

You may want to bring ear plugs to heaven!

v.15 loud voices in heaven. v.19 lightnings…rumblings, peals of thunder, an earth quake…

This is a robust worship in heaven.

What are we dealing with here?

This is a Heavenly WORSHIP Service…Hymn of THANKSGIVING!!

Revelation 11:17 “…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!”

WHY are they giving Him Thanks?

Because they have been waiting for this for a long long time.

All of God’s people have been looking forward to this since the beginning…

High SChool…mindlessly reciting: The Lord’s Prayer

When Jesus taught His disciples to pray:  “Our Father who are in Heaven hallowed by Your name…Your Kingdom come…Your will be done… on earth as it is in Heaven!

Now here we have the announcement…IT IS COME!!

That’s why the thanksgiving praise erupts!

Fellowship…let’s not wait till heaven to be the MOST THANKFUL people!

Christians…God’s people should be the most thankful people alive…we should be thankful people.

This RESPONSE…thanksgiving in heaven…reminds us (though not there yet)…

We should get a little practice before this event. (One day a year its not sufficient for us to be thankful. )

The Announcement of the Kingdom…The Response is Worshipful Adoration & Thanksgiving…

3. The is ANTAGONISM at the Kingdom…Revelation 11:18

Notice in this passage that…not every one is happy.

Revelation 11:18 “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.”

v.18a “…the nations raged but Your wrath came…”

This is antagonism/animosity directed at God for establishing His Kingdom…

They are mad…that God is imposing a kingdom that everyone will have to submit to.

This has the feel of Psalm 2… “Why do the nations rage and the people plot a vain thing…

The nations will continue to show hatred to Christ and God’s people…

Those who are living through this horrible time…will show hatred to the two witnesses…to the end.

They are enraged…hostile.

We have seen in Revelation…as God pours out His judgment…you’d think…it would soften hearts…

But it makes them more angry they shake their firsts…they blaspheme God all the way through to the very end.

v.18b “…and the time for the dead to be judged…”

probably a general reference to all of God’s judgment

But Make sure you know…

God will judge every UNBELIEVER…

A very real part of the end of time…is called the Great White Throne Judgment (Revelation 20:11-15)

This verse is so comprehensive…it covers the entire 3 and a half years of the great tribulation…

In fact it covers past that…into the millennial kingdom because saints are also given rewards here.

v.18c “and for rewarding Your servants…”

Jesus will close out Revelation…by saying “Behold I am coming quickly…and my reward is with Me.” Revelation 22:12

This is where…PARABLE of the MINAS…God REWARDS for faithful service…Luke 19

This is where these rewards are realized…There is a reward coming for your life…

The single moms…faithfully raising their children for the glory of God…

The business people…who build their business on Kingdom ethics…wanting to spread the Gospel.

The everyday disciple of Jesus…who people love to hate because they are a Christian…

KNOW YOUR REWARD IS COMING!!

Don’t expect to get rewarded any time soon on this earth.

If you are living for the applause of people’s pats on the back you will be very disappointed…

Because you won’t get a lot of it…

For one simple reason…the WORLD HATES GOD/JESUS…they’ll hate you.

Even though…you may live for the Kingdom…you may live by God’s kingdom ethics…and you pour out your life…and so we should…your reward is coming…

The reality/promise of Christ’s Kingdom coming…gives us INCENTIVE to live for Him…today.

v.18d  “…and for destroying the destroyers of the earth…”

This is NOT God siding with tree hugging environmentalists…

This is not God saying “I am mad at people who do not recycle” …it has nothing to do with that

We are talking about people who destroy the earth by their sin and wickedness.

The most destructive thing in this world is an unredeemed person who pollutes this world…with sin.

So God will destroy those who destroy the earth…I gave you this…stewardship you messed it up by pouring out sin upon sin and more is….God is saying:  “I am done.” Judgment will fall.

The reality/promise of the future kingdom…will help you endure the pressures of the present crisis.

You may ask…How am I going to make it through?

Revelation 11:15-19 says Look higher in the horizon…The kingdom of this world will become His Kingdom.

Keep living for Jesus…

Keep being productive…

Keep on with good works…

Be responsible… improve this place…cultural mandate…be salt and light.

Practice Kingdom compassion…

Serve people and bless people…the world will not appreciate it…

because it does not appreciate people of faith…the world is enraged…

That’s okay because our reward is coming…God’s justice is also coming…He will settle accounts

“They always get away…I get put down…I try to serve the Lord I go through so much heart ache…”

Who in their right mind would be thankful that God will pour out judgement on the earth?

Think for a moment of all the persecution against God’s people in the last several centuries…

It is estimated that from AD 30 to 2000 …70 million Christians have died as martyrs for their faith…Killed by a world that hated them…

How do you feel when you hear of injustice, corruption,  violent crimes.,..what goes though your mind and heart?

Does it ever bother you?

God knows it all…He SAW THE EVENTS in real time

If those things offend you and your sensitivity…how much more does it offend a holy God!

That is why there is praise in Heaven…praise for God acting on His wrath…It is about time!

It is about time…God will end this nonsense and bring justice where it needs to be brought.

So we have the Announcement of the Kingdom…the Response in the Kingdom…the Antagonism at the Kingdom…

We have COMMUNION with God in the kingdom…best part of the story.

4. COMMUNION With God In the Kingdom…Revelation 11:19

Revelation 11:19 “Then God’s Temple in Heaven was opened, and the ark of His covenant was seen within His temple. There were flashes of lightening, rumblings, peaks of thunder, an earth quake, and heavy hail.”

Is there a Temple in heaven? Some think may be symbolic…however…Hebrews stresses…the OT Tabernacle & Temple on earth were a model of the real Temple in heaven…a shadow of the reality in heaven. 

So yes…there may actually be a temple in heaven. Inside will be the ark of the covenant…

This chapter closes with a glimmer of opportunity…this is a vision of Heaven’s temple.

As if God is holding an open house in Heaven….you can see past the veil into the holy of holies to the ark of the covenant.

Remember in the NT…one other time…when Jesus died on the cross…the veil of the temple was torn…it means you could have stood outside and looked in the Holy of Holies and to see the ark of the covenant…symbolizing that there is no more separation 

Now you can come…now we can have intimacy…that’s what this is about.

Real quickly…“The ark of His covenant”…a gold box… 45” long x 27” inches long x 27” inches high

Made of wood covered in gold…The top was a lid of pure gold…inside was a copy of the ten commandments…the two tablets of the Law.

Israel carried around the law…a perpetual reminder they had failed…broken God’s law repeatedly…

Except that what makes it the most important piece of furniture in the temple…

1x/year the priest would come and sprinkle blood on that lid…and now the broken law of God was covered in blood…and by that blood God was saying…we can now have intimate fellowship with Him

The basis for God meeting with man…was the shed blood of an animal on Yom Kippur…

God says…that’s the only way we can meet together…if the blood shed covers your sin.

What God is saying here in heaven is similar…because of the Lamb of God…whose blood was shed once and for all…

We can have access to Him…

Even in the midst of judgement God throws open the Holy of Holies and He invites people in.

He is saying in effect…we can have fellowship with Him because of the shed blood of His son…

And when you place your faith in Jesus Christ…that will admit you into the very presence of God.

So this is an INVITATION to COMMUNION with God…ACCEPTANCE by the Kingdom…

WRAP UP…So the 7th trumpet…is about the declaration that man’s government/rule/authority is very  temporary…man rules presently…he will not rule ultimately.

Jesus Christ will come back…

Jesus Christ will set up His kingdom…

Jesus Christ will be in charge…

Jesus Christ will rule & reign…

Jesus Christ will rule in perfect righteousness…

Jesus Christ He will rule & reign with those who have been redeemed from sin.

So my question to you is this: Does that include YOU? Are you sure?

The word kingdom implies control… that there is a King in charge…who we are to SUBMIT to…

You can be part of the KINGDOM of God now…when the King is in charge of your life!

HAVE YOU ASKED GOD TO CONTROL YOUR LIFE?

HAVE YOU ASKED GOD TO CHANGE YOUR LIFE?

Where does Christ’s kingdom begin?

It begins in the heart…where I step off the throne of my life & invite Jesus to take the royal place of controlling my future, my decisions…my life.

I live my life…not according to my will…but according to His will…Your kingdom come Your will be done

What is the first step?

First step… let go of you…let go of your life…relinquish surrender control and let Jesus sit on the throne of your life.

That is where we begin and where we ought to live…

Where we are no longer kings and queens of our own destiny and singing “I did it my way”. 

But instead we are singing: “I did it His way.”