God with Us

The literary and theological parenthesis of has ended. Therefore, begins where ended (when the 6th angel blew his trumpet).

Whereas the first 6 seals, trumpets, and bowls are all acts of God’s judgement throughout history and not chronological events, the 7th seal, trumpet, and bowl are in fact (to the best of my understanding) God’s final actions of judgement and redemption on the world.

If all the above is in fact the case, then the proceeding verses are in fact God’s final actions of judgement and redemption.

we see 11:15–19 as an explanation of the consummation of history, since 10:7 has announced that when the seventh trumpet sounds, God’s accomplishment of His plan for history “is finished” (see on 10:7).

This section () is a brief explanation of the consummation of history, since has announced that when the seventh trumpet sounds, God’s accomplishment of His plan for history “is finished” (see on ).

This is also the third woe ().

This is also the third woe ().

This is all being told as John sees it in the future, looking back on the past (a future revelation after it occurs).

- The kingdom of the world has become....

All the enemies of God have been defeated ( )

God takes back fully what he temporarily gave to Satan.

“The god of this world has blinded the minds of the unbelievers.”

God gave Satan permission to harm Job.

Satan admits to Jesus that authority was given TO him ()

Ironic that Jesus was given that power directly by the Father :)

“Reign forever” is an ode to which says that the saints will receive the kingdom and posses is forever and ever.

- The twenty four elders worshipped...

They are praising God for completing the work in which all the enemies destroyed and all the saints receive their reward ()

This appears to be the same event we will read about in

Already 3 times in Revelation God has been addressed as the one who was, is, and is to come, but now something changes....

In v 17 he is still praised as the “one who is and who was”..but also the one who has “taken great power and begun to reign” (this is a cosmic time stamp)

At this point in history, God’s control is no longer invisible but now takes on a visible nature.

If all the above is in fact the case, then the proceeding verses are in fact God’s final actions of judgement and redemption.

The first 6 seals, trumpets, and bowls are all acts of God’s judgement throughout history, not in chronological order.

- The final judgement (Reflecting on what just happened in v 15-17)

Both the living and dead are judged (also see )

The nations raged but God’s wrath was fully poured out on them.

The destroyers are destroyed

This is what the saints were crying out for in

The dead are judged (also see )

This is what the saints were crying out for in .

In , it says God avenges the blood of his servants.

This is what the saints were crying out for in

The servants, prophets, and saints are rewarded

Small and great (status matters not). The only thing that matters is that they fear God’s name.

Part of their reward is the destruction of their enemies

They fully realize their reign with Christ

- God’s temple in heaven was opened, and the ark of his covenant was seen

God’s temple in heaven was opened, and the ark of his covenant was seen

What temple? The temple has always been for the believing Jew the place of the Divine Presence.

Read (). The OT people of God did not expect a literal reappearance of the ark, but rather looked forward to a reappearance of God’s presence in their midst.

“I did not see a temple in the city, because the Lord God Almighty and the Lamb are its temple” (21:22).

The appearance of the ark of God’s covenant along with the trumpet also points back to Jericho, where the ark followed the trumpets, declaring both God’s judgment and His victory.

The ark represents not just God’s judgment, but is also the place of forgiveness and of God’s presence with His people.

The appearance of the ark of His covenant along with the trumpet also points back to Jericho, where the ark followed the trumpets, declaring both God’s judgment and His victory. The ark represents not just God’s judgment, but is also the place of forgiveness and of God’s presence with His people. The OT did not expect a literal reappearance of the ark, but rather looked forward to a reappearance of God’s presence in Israel’s midst (as clarified by ), which was what the ark originally represented. This is the idea in , which is expanded on in 21:3, 22, where the establishment of the end-time temple is interpreted as God’s special revelatory presence in the midst of His people. At the consummation, God dwells with His people in a more complete and intense manner than previously, as indicated by the observation that the curtain separating the ark from the rest of the temple and people in the OT is now gone in 11:19, the heavenly ark being in full view. Therefore, the ark in 11:19, in the light of its multiple OT backgrounds, is a suitable symbol to indicate the simultaneous judgment and reward of the Last Day. And so the full answer to the saints’ petition for vindication in 6:9–11 is revealed in 11:15–19.

Beale, G. K., & Campbell, D. H. (2015). Revelation: A Shorter Commentary (p. 239). Grand Rapids, MI; Cambridge, U.K.: William B. Eerdmans Publishing Company.

This is the idea in , which is expanded on in , , where the establishment of the end-time temple is interpreted as God’s presence in the midst of His people.

This is the idea in , which is expanded on in , , where the establishment of the end-time temple is interpreted as God’s presence in the midst of His people.

At the consummation, God dwells with His people in a more complete and intense manner than previously, as indicated by the observation that the curtain separating the ark from the rest of the temple and people in the OT is now gone in 11:19, the heavenly ark being in full view. Therefore the ark in 11:19 is a suitable symbol to indicate the simultaneous judgment and reward of the Last Day. GOD WITH US

Practically

The surprising element here is the imagery “God’s temple in heaven was opened.” “What temple?” one wants to ask; but then it must be remembered that this is imagery, after all, not photography; and the temple is always for the believing Jew the place of the Divine Presence, thus such language is altogether appropriate in an apocalyptic description of heaven. That this is imagery, pure and simple, is made certain by one of the concluding words in the entire narrative: “I did not see a temple in the city, because the Lord God Almighty and the Lamb are its temple” (21:22).

Conclusion - What is it that we look forward to?

Our reward

The surprising element here is the imagery “God’s temple in heaven was opened.” “What temple?” one wants to ask; but then it must be remembered that this is imagery, after all, not photography; and the temple is always for the believing Jew the place of the Divine Presence, thus such language is altogether appropriate in an apocalyptic description of heaven. That this is imagery, pure and simple, is made certain by one of the concluding words in the entire narrative: “I did not see a temple in the city, because the Lord God Almighty and the Lamb are its temple” (21:22).

What is it that we look forward to?

Death? Destruction? Or something greater?

Fee, G. D. (2011). Revelation (p. 159). Eugene, OR: Cascade Books.

The destruction of our enemies? Yes and no.

Death? Destruction? Or something greater?

We give thanks for the physical presence of God, the one thing we have been striving for all along and the only thing that truly fulfills our every want and need.

We give thanks for the physical presence of God, the one thing we have been striving for all along and the thing that truly fulfills our every want and need.

We do not rejoice in the act of their destruction. We give thanks for the end of our pain but

God with us..what else could we want?