The Testimony of the Elders (Revelation 11: 15-19)

15 Then the seventh angel sounded: And there were loud voices in heaven, saying, “The kingdoms of this world have become the kingdoms of our Lord and of His Christ, and He shall reign forever and ever!” 16 And the twenty-four elders who sat before God on their thrones fell on their faces and worshiped God, 17 saying:

“We give You thanks, O Lord God Almighty,

The One who is and who was and who is to come,

Because You have taken Your great power and reigned.

18 The nations were angry, and Your wrath has come,

And the time of the dead, that they should be judged,

And that You should reward Your servants the prophets and the saints,

And those who fear Your name, small and great,

And should destroy those who destroy the earth.”

19 Then the temple of God was opened in heaven, and the ark of His covenant was seen in His temple. And there were lightnings, noises, thunderings, an earthquake, and great hail.

We have been waiting since chapter 8:13 for the third “woe” to arrive and now it is here. When the seventh angel blew the trumpet, three dramatic events occurred.

I. An announcement of victory (v.15).

15 Then the seventh angel sounded: And there were loud voices in heaven, saying, “The kingdoms of this world have become the kingdoms of our Lord and of His Christ, and He shall reign forever and ever!”

A. With the seventh trumpet sounding, John’s perspective returns to heaven.

1.The unnamed voices probably are the multitude of angels around God’s throne (5:11–2). They proclaim that God’s great plan for creation and redemption has at last reached its full realization. They express this in a two-line poem.

2. The first line announces transfer of this world’s kingship (notice the singular). Satan had assumed kingship, and indeed could be called “the prince of this world” (John 12:31; 14:30; 16:11). He had even claimed ability to offer all the kingdoms of the world to Jesus (Matt. 4:8–9). The second line proclaims the eternal rule of the divine kingship over the world by Christ and God. His reign for ever and ever will never be interrupted.

B. We must not incorrectly assume that our Lord is not reigning today.

Jesus Christ is King of righteousness and King of peace He is enthroned with the Father and He will reign until He defeats all His foes. Today, He rules over a spiritual kingdom, but in that future day, He will reign over the nations of the world and rule.

No matter how difficult the circumstances might be , or how defeated God’s people may think they are, Jesus is still King of kings and Lord of lords, and He is in control.

II. An acclamation of praise (vv. 16-18)

16 And the twenty-four elders who sat before God on their thrones fell on their faces and worshiped God, 17 saying: “We give You thanks, O Lord God Almighty, The One who is and who was and who is to come, Because You have taken Your great power and reigned. 18 The nations were angry, and Your wrath has come, And the time of the dead, that they should be judged, And that You should reward Your servants the prophets and the saints, And those who fear Your name, small and great, And should destroy those who destroy the earth.”

A. The Elders left their thrones and they fell on their faces and worshiped God.

1. We have previously heard this twenty-four-voice choir honoring God for his great act of creation (4:11). They also honored the Lamb for his great act of redemption (5:9–10). Now they solemnly offer praise for the great act of final judgment that God and the Lamb are about to complete.

2. This is by far the longest of the three utterances of the elders, for it introduces themes that the rest of vision two and, indeed, the rest of Revelation will unfold. “We give You thanks” is more simply, “we thank You,” Thanks is due God especially for his sovereign rule and righteous judgment.

B. The nations were angry. What do the nation have to be angry about?

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

2. Why are the nations angry? Certainly the Lord has been good and gracious to them. He has provided their needs, and graciously postponed His judgment to give them the opportunity to be saved. Even more, he sent His Son to be the Saviour of the world. Then why are the nations angry? Because they want to have it their own way.

C. God is long-suffering toward sinners, but there will be a final judgment.

1. there will also be a judgment of God’s children know as the Judgment Seat of Christ. though God’s children will not be judged for their sins, they will be judged for their works and rewarded generously by the Lord.

2. The Judgment Seat of Christ will take place in heaven after Jesus has called His people home. When He returns to earth to establish His kingdom, the saints will be ready to reign with Him, with every blemish of the church removed.

III. An assurance of God’s faithfulness (v.19)

19 Then the temple of God was opened in heaven, and the ark of His covenant was seen in His temple. And there were lightnings, noises, thunderings, an earthquake, and great hail.

A. God’s temple was now opened and the ark of his covenant revealed.

1. John’s vision of God began with a throne room in Revelation 4. With the addition of a golden incense altar, the place had come to be God’s temple in heaven (8:3; 9:13). Now there is further temple language. Israel’s earthly tabernacle and its later temple had been famous for an inner shrine, the Most Holy Place behind a thick curtain. Behind the curtain the earthly ark symbolized the gracious covenant relationship between God and humanity.

2. The reference to the covenant is also important. The covenant is eternal. God has worked out his purpose throughout history and now at the climax the symbol of his covenant faithfulness is publicly disclosed. This is a tremendous moment. Not surprisingly it is the occasion for unusual phenomena, flashes of lightning, rumblings, peals of thunder, an earthquake and a great hailstorm.

CONCLUSION:

We are to stand firm. Firm that the Word of God is truth for a world that has denied truth. Firm that God has all the power in the universe to see to it that his truth will be powerfully manifested. Firm that God intends his churches to be agents of his truth and his power. The world has seen power without truth and is impressed. The world can ignore truth without power. What will shake our society is truth coupled with unmistakable divine power.

ISSUES FOR DISCUSSION:

1. Summarize what the twenty-four elders announce in verses 17–18 about what happens when the seventh trumpet blows.

2. Why does the heavenly “ark of the covenant” appear only here in Revelation? What does the ark’s appearance here mean?