25. THE KINGDOM IS COMING

Revelation 11:15–19 KJV

15 And the seventh angel sounded; and there were great voices in heaven, saying, The kingdoms of this world are become the kingdoms of our Lord, and of his Christ; and he shall reign for ever and ever. 16 And the four and twenty elders, which sat before God on their seats, fell upon their faces, and worshipped God, 17 Saying, We give thee thanks, O Lord God Almighty, which art, and wast, and art to come; because thou hast taken to thee thy great power, and hast reigned. 18 And the nations were angry, and thy wrath is come, and the time of the dead, that they should be judged, and that thou shouldest give reward unto thy servants the prophets, and to the saints, and them that fear thy name, small and great; and shouldest destroy them which destroy the earth. 19 And the temple of God was opened in heaven, and there was seen in his temple the ark of his testament: and there were lightnings, and voices, and thunderings, and an earthquake, and great hail.

We have come tonight to the sounding of the seventh trumpet.

This is a mountain peak in the book of Revelation.

It does not give us every detail of the final judgments, but it announces that the final movement has begun. The seventh trumpet will eventually introduce the seven vial judgments in Revelation 15 and 16.

Those judgments will bring the wrath of God to its awful conclusion before Jesus Christ returns in glory.

An Angel announced Back in Revelation 10:7 “in the days of the voice of the seventh angel, when he shall begin to sound, the mystery of God should be finished”

Now, in Revelation 11:15, that trumpet sounds.

The word “mystery” there does not mean something spooky or strange.

It means something God had not fully revealed before, but now makes known.

The mystery of God’s long patience with evil is about to be finished. The question men have asked for centuries is about to be answered: “Why does God allow evil to continue?”

Revelation 11 tells us that God has not forgotten.

God has not failed.

God has not lost control.

God is moving history toward the reign of His Son.

The Bible says there were “great voices in heaven.”

The word “great” is from the Greek word megas,

the word “voices” is from phōnē. … We get the idea of a “megaphone” from those words.

Heaven is not quiet here.

Heaven is not hesitant.

Heaven is not confused.

Heaven is loud with praise.

The earth may be raging, but Heaven is rejoicing.

The nations may be angry, but Heaven is worshipping.

Satan may still be fighting, but Heaven already knows the outcome.

I want to preach on this thought:

The Kingdom Is Coming

Why is Heaven rejoicing in these verses?

I. THERE IS REJOICING OVER THE KINGDOM

Revelation 11:15 “The kingdoms of this world are become the kingdoms of our Lord, and of his Christ; and he shall reign for ever and ever.”

Heaven rejoices because the rightful King is taking His rightful place.

The KJV says, “The kingdoms of this world,” but the word in the Greek is singular.

It is “the kingdom of this world.”

That does not mean there is only one nation on earth. It means that behind all the nations, kingdoms, empires, philosophies, and systems of man, there is one great world system in rebellion against God.

The Bible tells us that Satan is presently called “the god of this world.”

2 Corinthians 4:4 KJV

“In whom the god of this world hath blinded the minds of them which believe not”

Jesus called him “the prince of this world” in John 12:31, John 14:30, and John 16:11.

That does not mean Satan owns the earth. The earth belongs to God.

Psalm 24:1 KJV

The earth is the Lord’s, and the fulness thereof; The world, and they that dwell therein.

But since the fall of man, this world system has operated in rebellion against God.

That is why righteousness is mocked,

sin is celebrated, truth is rejected,

and the name of Jesus is hated.

But Revelation 11:15 announces that Satan’s temporary dominion is coming to an end.

Revelation 11:15 KJV

“The kingdoms of this world are become the kingdoms of our Lord, and of his Christ; and he shall reign for ever and ever.”

That is not a possibility. That is a certainty.

It has not yet fully happened on earth, but Heaven speaks of it as already done because when God declares something, it is as good as accomplished.

Isaiah did the same thing in Isaiah 53. “Nearly 700 years before Jesus ever walked up Calvary’s hill, Isaiah described the suffering, substitution, silence, death, burial, and victory of the Lord Jesus Christ.”:

Isaiah 53:5 KJV

“But he was wounded for our transgressions, He was bruised for our iniquities…”

When God says it, faith can stand on it.

One day, every false throne will fall.

Every rebel kingdom will crumble.

Every proud ruler will bow.

Every atheist will know.

Every demon will tremble.

Every saint will rejoice.

Jesus Christ will reign.

And notice the duration of His reign:

Revelation 11:15 KJV

“…and he shall reign for ever and ever.”

Human rulers come and go.

Presidents serve terms.

Kings die. Dictators fall.

Empires collapse.

Kingdoms pass away.

But Jesus will reign forever.

II. THERE IS REJOICING OVER THE REWARD

Revelation 11:18 “And the nations were angry, and thy wrath is come, and the time of the dead, that they should be judged…”

Heaven rejoices because God will finally settle every account.

The nations are angry. That has always been the spirit of the world toward God. Psalm 2 asks:

Psalm 2:1 KJV

“Why do the heathen rage, And the people imagine a vain thing?”

Man has always wanted God’s world without God’s rule.

He wants God’s air,

God’s rain,

God’s food,

God’s mercy,

and God’s patience, but he does not want God’s authority.

But man’s anger cannot overthrow God’s throne.

*** The nations are angry, but God’s wrath is come.

That is a sobering phrase.

God’s wrath is not like man’s wrath. Man’s wrath is often selfish, sinful, uncontrolled, and unjust. God’s wrath is holy, righteous, measured, pure, and deserved.

The world has mocked God’s grace, rejected God’s Son, trampled God’s Word, persecuted God’s people, and corrupted God’s earth. But there is a payday coming.

A. The Sinner Will Be Judged

Revelation 11:18 KJV

“…and the time of the dead, that they should be judged”

There is coming a day when lost sinners will stand before God. The dead who died without Christ are not finished. Death is not the end. The grave is not the final chapter.

Hebrews 9:27 KJV

And as it is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment:

The sinner’s greatest problem is not society, politics, money, family background, or lack of religion.

His greatest problem is sin.

Romans 6:23 KJV

For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.

Sin pays wages.

It pays in guilt,

bondage and

judgment.

But thank God, that verse also speaks of a gift.

A sinner does not have to be judged in his sins. Jesus was judged for sin at Calvary. He shed His blood. He took our place. He died for the ungodly. He rose again.

The tragedy is that men reject the gift and choose the wages.

B. The Servant Will Be Rewarded

Revelation 11:18 KJV

“… and that thou shouldest give reward unto thy servants the prophets, and to the saints, and them that fear thy name, small and great…”

God will judge the sinner, but He will reward the servant.

He mentions “thy servants the prophets.”

These are those who faithfully declared His Word.

Many of them were mocked, hated, persecuted, and killed. But God did not forget them.

Then He mentions “the saints.” These are the people of God, those set apart unto Him.

Then He mentions “them that fear thy name, small and great.”

I like that phrase: “small and great.”

God does not reward according to popularity.

He does not reward according to platform.

He does not reward according to fame.

He rewards faithfulness.

Some serve in front of crowds.

Some serve where nobody sees.

Some preach in pulpits.

Some pray in secret.

Some teach classes.

Some visit the sick.

Some give sacrificially.

Some raise children in the nurture and admonition of the Lord.

Some keep serving after their heart has been broken.

God sees it all.

Hebrews 6:10 KJV

“For God is not unrighteous to forget your work and labour of love…”

Not even a cup of cold water given in Jesus’ name will be forgotten.

Mark 9:41 “…he shall not lose his reward.”

💡 A mother may never have her name printed in a bulletin, but God sees her teaching her children to pray. A deacon may never be applauded, but God sees him locking the doors after everyone else has gone home. A widow may not have much to give, but God sees the sacrifice behind the gift. Heaven keeps better records than earth.

That ought to encourage every weary servant of God.

Keep preaching.

Keep praying.

Keep witnessing.

Keep serving.

Keep loving.

Keep giving.

Keep going.

The reward is not always immediate, but it is certain.

III. THERE IS REJOICING OVER THE RESTORED RELATIONSHIP

Revelation 11:19 KJV

“And the temple of God was opened in heaven, and there was seen in his temple the ark of his testament…”

This verse brings us into the temple of God in Heaven.

The mention of the temple and the ark places us back on Jewish ground.

Revelation 11 has already mentioned the temple, the altar, the city of Jerusalem, and the two witnesses.

God is dealing with Israel. God is showing that He has not forgotten His covenant promises.

The church does not have an earthly temple. The church which is the people not the building is the temple of God.

But Israel had a temple, a priesthood, sacrifices, and the ark of the covenant. And here, John sees the ark in Heaven.

The ark was the symbol of God’s presence,

God’s holiness,

God’s throne,

God’s covenant, and God’s mercy.

A. The Open Temple Speaks Of Access

The temple is opened.

In the Old Testament, the ark was hidden behind the veil in the Holy of Holies.

Only the high priest could enter, only once a year, and only with blood.

But here, the temple is opened and the ark is seen.

That speaks of access.

For the believer, that access has already been made possible through Jesus Christ.

When Jesus died, the veil of the temple was rent in twain from top to bottom.

Matthew 27:51 KJV

“And, behold, the veil of the temple was rent in twain from the top to the bottom…”

God opened the way.

Hebrews 10:19 KJV

“Having therefore, brethren, boldness to enter into the holiest by the blood of Jesus,”

We do not come to God through religion, ritual, merit, or morality. We come by the blood of Jesus.

B. The Ark Speaks Of Covenant

Revelation 11:19 KJV

“the ark of his testament”

That means the ark of His covenant.

God is reminding Israel that He keeps His promises.

He made promises to Abraham, David.

He made promises concerning Israel’s future restoration.

The Tribulation will be terrible, but it will not destroy God’s covenant plan.

The Antichrist will rage, but he will not erase God’s promises.

Satan will persecute Israel, but he will not prevent God’s purpose.

God is not finished with Israel.

The same God who keeps His word to Israel will keep His word to us.

C. The Ark Speaks Of Mercy

Inside the ark were the broken Law, the manna, and Aaron’s rod that budded.

Those items reminded Israel of God’s holiness, man’s sin, man’s complaints, and man’s rebellion.

But over the ark was the mercy seat.

Once a year, the high priest sprinkled blood on the mercy seat.

That blood pointed forward to Jesus Christ.

Jesus is the true mercy seat.

He is the meeting place between a holy God and guilty sinners.

The only reason sinners can be saved is because blood has been shed.

The only reason we can have access is because Jesus died in our place.

The only reason Heaven will be our home is because Christ became our sacrifice.

D. The Storm Speaks Of Judgment

Revelation 11:19 KJV

“…and there were lightnings, and voices, and thunderings, and an earthquake, and great hail.”

The open temple speaks of mercy, but the thunder and hail speak of judgment.

God is loving, but He is holy.

God is patient, but He is just.

God saves sinners, but He judges rebellion.

This verse reminds us that the same God who opens the way to His presence will also shake the earth in judgment.

CONCLUSION: ARE YOU READY FOR THE KING?

Heaven is rejoicing because the King is coming.

The seventh trumpet announces that the kingdom of this world will become the kingdom of our Lord and of His Christ.

Jesus will reign.

The wicked will be judged.

The faithful will be rewarded.

Israel’s covenants will be fulfilled.

God’s temple will be opened.

The ark will be seen.

The earth will shake.

And Heaven will rejoice.

But the question tonight is not merely, “Will Jesus reign one day?”

The question is, “Does He reign in you today?”

Is He King of your heart?

Is He Lord of your life?

Have you bowed before Him in repentance and faith?

One day every knee will bow. But it is far better to bow now as a sinner receiving mercy than to bow then as a rebel facing judgment.

If you are lost, Jesus will save you.

If you are saved, keep serving Him.

If you are weary, remember your reward is coming.

If you are discouraged, remember the throne is not empty.

If you are afraid, remember the King is coming.

The earth may rage, but Heaven rejoices.

And one day, every child of God will join that great heavenly anthem:

Revelation 11:15 KJV

“…the kingdoms of our Lord, and of his Christ; and he shall reign for ever and ever.”