On Earth As In Heaven

INTRODUCTION

Did you know that on March 21st of 2021 we started studying the book of Revelation? For 23 weeks we have moving word by word, verse by verse, chapter by chapter through this awesome book of the Bible.

We’ve taken a break here and a break there (and I actually plan to take a short break for the season of Advent) but today is a day of celebration.

Today we celebrate because in finishing Revelation 11 we will officially be halfway through this incredible book of the Bible!

Have you ever been on one of those long road trips and somebody shots, “Whoo hoo! We’re halfway there!” You either respond with “Oh no… this is going to take forever!” Or “Oh boy! That flew so fast! I can’t wait to see what the rest has in store.”

Hopefully most of us are in the latter camp not the former.

A Turning Point

Today’s passage is a turning point in the book of Revelation. You might describe as the greatest event in human history.

The seventh trumpet sounds and it brings about the second advent of the Lord Jesus Christ to the earth. The kingdoms of this world become the kingdom of our God and of his Christ.

Have you ever watched those movies where there’s like a flashpoint of the future that foreshows the end before the events leading up to the end have taken place? That’s how you should think about today’s text.

It’s a flashpoint of the second advent of Christ that foreshadows the impact that advent will have on the rest of the world.

It’s the natural development of the vision John has been building out. It’s not surprising to find it here at the end of chapter 11. What is surprising is how John breaks this trumpet up and what he puts on either side of those descriptions.

The Interludes of Revelation

The seventh trumpet in Revelation 11:14-19 is surrounded by these pregnant “pauses” or “interludes” in the book of Revelation. CHART

These interludes are just breaks in the chronological sequence of the 21 judgments in Revelation. (seals, trumpets, bowls)

The first one was in Revelation 7.

After the sixth seal there was a break in the action and John had a vision of four angels holding back judgment on the earth.

First they are instructed to seal 144K people from the 12 tribes of Israel.

After that John sees a vast multitude that nobody could number, surrounding the throne and worshipping the lamb who was slain.

In Revelation 8 we see the seventh seal broken and the trumpet judgments begin. The sequencing of events continues.

Trumpets one through four scorch the physical resources left on the earth: air, commerce, food, water, light and heat. (Rev 8)

Trumpets five and six unleash demonic torment and military devastation on the people who live on the earth. (Rev 9)

Then, in Revelation 10, after the sixth trumpet (just like after the sixth seal) there’s another pause. An interlude that fills in some details from a different, heavenly perspective.

John envisions this mighty angel (who may or may not have been a vision of the exalted Christ himself).

That angel makes an oath to the one seated on the throne that there will no longer be a delay but that when the 7th trumpet sounds that the mystery of God will be complete. (Rev 10:6-7)

John is then told to take the scroll from the hand of the mighty messenger and eat it. It was sweet in his mouth but sour in his stomach. He was then told he would prophesy AGAIN about many peoples, nations, languages and kings. (Rev 10:11)

The Final Trumpet Sandwich

That statement serves as a transitional verse in the book of Revelation. It marks the beginning of a new emphasis in John’s prophecy. There is a thematic shift that takes place after Revelation 10. CHART

Chapter 11 begins with John being told the “measure the temple” and warned about the coming trampling of the people of God by the enemies of God..

We see these two witnesses that prophesy for 3 1/2 years. The beast ends up killing these two messengers but after 3 1/2 days they are resurrected and ascend to heaven.

Chapter 12 takes that drama and expands upon it even more. It functions as a peek behind the curtain to see the spiritual warfare that took place around Israel giving birth to Jesus the Messiah and Satan’s goal to try and thwart it.

Chapters 13 expands on the drama even more with the rise of the antichrist, his false prophet and the dragon - all dedicated to taking the people of God and wiping them off the face of the earth.

Chapter 14 presents the Lamb, standing on Mount Zion leading his people against the unholy trinity and three angels that make proclamations pertaining to that warfare.

Finally in Revelation 15 we see the conclusion of the seventh trumpet and the preparation for unleashing the seven bowls of wrath.

So Revelation 10-15 invites the reader into cosmic political drama between the good and evil. The true God and the unholy trinity: God’s people and God’s enemies. And the seventh trumpet holds everything together like bookends on a shelf: beginning (10:7) middle (11:15) and end (15:5-6).

LONGING FOR THAT DAY

With that in place lets read our passage. Remember the context. The two messengers having been killed by the beast after finishing their assignment.

Just as Satan thought he had won the battle, God raises them from the dead and unleashes the final trumpet.

As they ascend up to heaven in a cloud a violent earthquake breaks out on the earth. A sign that God is on his way. We will pick it up in verse 14.

Revelation 11:14–19 (CSB)

14 The second woe has passed. Take note: The third woe is coming soon!

15 The seventh angel blew his trumpet, and there were loud voices in heaven saying,

The kingdom of the world has become the kingdom

of our Lord and of his Christ,

and he will reign forever and ever.

16 The twenty-four elders, who were seated before God on their thrones, fell facedown and worshiped God, 17 saying,

We give you thanks, Lord God, the Almighty,

who is and who was,

because you have taken your great power

and have begun to reign.

18 The nations were angry,

but your wrath has come.

The time has come

for the dead to be judged

and to give the reward

to your servants the prophets,

to the saints, and to those who fear your name,

both small and great,

and the time has come to destroy

those who destroy the earth.

19 Then the temple of God in heaven was opened, and the ark of his covenant appeared in his temple. There were flashes of lightning, rumblings and peals of thunder, an earthquake, and severe hail.

You can’t read that text and not get excited, right?! I don’t know about you but it’s very easy when you live in this broken world to get discouraged.

I know you’ve had those bad days that turn into bad weeks that turn into bad months followed by so many negative events you feel like you’ve just had a bad year. Your thinkin gets to stinkin and your attitude sours.

But John puts this song of triumph right in the middle of this big cosmic drama to remind you and me that God’s promise will prevail. The mystery of God WILL BE COMPLETED! End the end WE WILL WIN!

The Trumpet Promised

With all that being said let’s dig into our text. And really, before we can break down this passage we need to go back a chapter to Revelation 10.

Because the first time the seventh trumpet shows up in the book of Revelation is Revelation 10:6-7.

The seventh trumpet is like bread on an end times “Big mac.” There’s a mention up top, in the middle, and on the bottom.

To understand Revelation 11:14-19 you must interpret it alongside the statement by the mighty angel in Revelation 10:7.

Revelation 10:6-7 (CSB)

“There will no longer be a delay, 7 but in the days when the seventh angel will blow his trumpet, then the mystery of God will be completed, as he announced to his servants the prophets.”

Notice a few things about this verse:

He says in the DAYS - plural - not day. There’s something that happens after the blowing of that 7th trumpet that kicks off a process that results in God’s kingdom being consummated on the earth.

The angel describes this as “the mystery of God” being completed. He further explains that this “mystery of God” was announced (and described by) God’s servants the prophets.

What is this “mystery?” How and when was it announced? Which prophets at what time and in what way?

These are all questions that need to be answered and we will do that in the next couple of weeks.

What I want you to see this morning is that this seventh trumpet inaugurates a complex series of events that culminate in the kingdom of Christ swallowing up the kingdoms of this world.

Today’s passage is a snapshot of the fall out and big picture of that process. I’ve summarized it under three headings:

RULING AND REIGNING

REWARDING AND REPAYING.

REMOVING AND RELEASING.

RULING AND REIGNING

The first thing that’s going to happen is the rule and reign of Jesus over those who live on the earth. His rule will no longer be over a spiritual kingdom only, he will establish an earthly kingdom and rule over all the nations of the earth.

When the Bible describes the seconding coming of Jesus it describes it in terms of a literal, physical bodily return of Jesus Christ to the earth.

Different interpretive camps disagree on the nature of that earthly kingdom and we will get into that in the coming months. But make no mistake. Jesus Christ is coming back to a physical earth in a physical body.

The Temple In Jerusalem

When studying the first 13 verses of this chapter we noted how some people think the description of the temple and the two messengers and the beast who fights against them were all figurative.

Could Revelation 11:1-13 figuratively refer to a cosmic battle between good and evil? Absolutely. Will there also be a rebuilt temple in Jerusalem and a physical return of Jesus Christ to rule and reign on the earth? Absolutely. Both things can be true.

And Zechariah 14:4 suggests at least part of Christ’s reclamation of this earth is done from the mount of olives facing Jerusalem.

That means, at the end of the day, when Jesus comes back, he’s coming to a physical place on a physical earth in a physical body. There’s nothing figurative about any of that!

You’ve heard the phrase “All good things must come to an end.” That’s generally a true statement for everything in this world. Except for this one thing.

When Jesus establishes his earthly throne here on the earth there will be NO END to his rule and reign.

What Happens As He Reigns

Notice what happens when Jesus establishes his earthly kingdom after the blowing of this seventh trumpet. The first thing we see is grateful praise by the 24 elders.

Revelation 11:16–17 (CSB)

16 The twenty-four elders, who were seated before God on their thrones, fell facedown and worshiped God, 17 saying,

We give you thanks, Lord God, the Almighty,

who is and who was,

because you have taken your great power

and have begun to reign.

Grateful Praise

We saw this 24 elders earlier in Revelation 5 and again in Revelation 7. In each case they are representatives of the entire covenant people of God (12 tribes of Israel and 12 apostles… angelic or human).

Even though these elders are themselves beings of great power and authority (seated on thrones) they fall facedown and worship God. (a very biblical posture of worship).

Their worship is one of THANKSGIVING. He is the Lord God the ALMIGHTY (pantokrator = being of all power and strength)

The Greek comes from their attempt at translating the Hebrew word for Yahweh. The Lord Sabaoth! Lord of armies. God of possibilities. God who takes the impossible and makes it possible.

They give thanks to God because he has “taken his great power and has begun to reign.” That word translated reign is what’s called a propeleptic aorist.

Meaning it’s a future event that is described as a past tense action even though it hasn’t even happened yet. That’s how certain heaven in of the victory.

What an amazing cause for grateful worship. The story has already been written, the victory has already been won.

Thank you GOD that you will not leave us or forsake us. “I’m going to see a victory because the battle belongs to the Lord!”

Angry Resistance

The second thing we see is angry resistance by the nations.

Revelation 11:18 (CSB)

18 The nations were angry,

but your wrath has come.

You may be thinking, “why on earth would anybody be angry if Jesus Christ came back to the earth?” Why would anybody want to resist God when his plans are good and submission to his authority brings blessing and joy into your life?

If you stop and think about that for use a minute you realize just how naive a question that is. There are many people - even today - who want nothing to do God or Jesus Christ or anything in that sphere.

At this point and time on the earth the people who remain

will KNOW the source of these trumpet judgments,

they will have heard the preaching of those two witnesses and

they will HATE everything that the kingdom of Christ stands for/advances.

So they will angrily resist the Lord and the advancing of his kingdom.

Then Versus Now

The two responses we will see in the future are the same two responses we see today. Those are the two responses you will have to the authority of Christ over your life and this world.

Do you bow down in grateful worship or do you swell up with angry resistance?

The truth is Christ is already reigning as king over his kingdom. His kingdom now is in the hearts and lives of those who’ve repentant of their sins and trusted in Jesus as Lord.

The Bible says that Jesus is seated at the right hand of God while he makes his enemies a footstool - the last enemy being the enemy of death. When that day comes the earth will shake, Jesus will descend and every knee will bow and tongue confess that Jesus is Lord.

Will your heart be in a posture of grateful worship or angry resistance?

A Reclamation Process

If you’ve been paying attention, the language and clues in our text make the establishment of Christ kingdom on the earth look like it takes a while.

Many people mistakenly think that at the second coming of Jesus there’s just going to be this instantaneous victory. The victory of Christ is CERTAIN but it’s not instantaneous. Revelation instead presents it as a process.

Just like the Exodus took days so also will the reclamation of this world take more than a moment. There will be opposition and resistance that must be overcome.

That why the angel in Revelation 10 says “in the DAYS - plural - of the seventh trumpet.” It’s why the elders sing “you have begun to reign...” as though it’s the beginning of a process wherein ground is steadily taken.

In the coming months we will explore the specific ways that the antichrist and his forces of evil advance political schemes against God’s people and His Messiah.

We will see Jesus reclaim this world through a strategic offensive against the forces of evil. We will see the seven bowl judgments which are unleashed with the blowing of this seventh trumpet and it’s all very fascinating.

For now we just see it in seed form. The nations were angry. And in their anger they’re going to resist. But praise God Jesus and his people will overcome!

REWARDS AND RETRIBUTION

The second thing that happens during the second advent of Christ is rewards and retribution towards those who lived on the earth.

Revelation 11:18 (CSB)

The nations were angry,

but your wrath has come.

The time has come

for the dead to be judged

and to give the reward

to your servants the prophets,

to the saints, and to those who fear your name,

both small and great,

and the time has come to destroy

those who destroy the earth.

We aren’t going to spend much time on this but I think this is a reference to the Great White throne judgment that we see later on in the book of Revelation. (Revelation 20:11-15)

Again - this song is anticipating events that haven’t yet happened in their fullness. The Great White Throne judgment doesn’t take place until after the millennial reign of Christ comes to a close.

The beast and the false prophet are thrown into the lake of fire. (Revelation 20:7-10) Then every person who has ever lived is going to stand before God on his throne and give an account for their works.

You also see this described by Jesus in Matthew 25:31-46.

Two Groups | Two Books

The judged will be broken into two groups and judged on the basis of two different books.

The two groups are presented in this text as “those who fear God and those who destroy the earth.” Believers and unbelievers. Sheep and goats.

In addition to those two groups of people God is going to be reading from two books.

The first book is a book of works with every word and deed done by every person who has ever lived.

Both groups are going to be judged according to their works and every single person is going to be guilty before a holy God because even our righteousness is a polluted garment before God’s perfect standard.

Thankfully there’s going to be a second book on that great day of judgment called the book of life. Those who have repented of sin and trusted in Christ are going to have their names written in the book of life - and once you name is written is cannot be blotted out!

Those whose names were not written in the lambs book of life will be judged for their works and cast into the lake of fire along with the beast, the false prophet and Satan himself. (Revelation 20:15)

John describes this in chapter 11 as Jesus “destroying those who destroy the earth.”

Those whose names are written in the book of life will inherit their rewards based on their love and service to the Lord. (2 Corinthians 5:10)

Great & Small All Are Judged

John breaks this group up into two different sections as he does elsewhere in the book of Revelation. (Revelation 10:7; 16:6; 18:24; 22:9)

God’s servants the prophets (maybe OT?)

The saints (a common reference to the people of God)

Both of these groups fall under the larger heading of those who fear God’s name.

John says both the small and the great will be judged.

This is a reminder that one’s position in society or in the church is IRRELEVANT on the day of judgment.

They may have been great in the eyes of the world while they lived on the earth or they may have been small in the eyes of the world - on the day of judgment we all stand underneath the judgment of a perfect and holy God.

You might’ve been a stage personality that everybody saw or you may be a silent servant that God only knows the full measure of the impact you’ve made on the kingdom. On that day - the things that were invisible will become visible and your rewards will be given in light of your service to the King.

Some people like to break these judgements up: the sheep and the goats, the great white throne and the bema seat of Christ. It might just as well be ONE judgment at the end of days looked at from different perspectives.

The point is, when Jesus returns there will be rewards and just retribution towards those who have lived on the earth.

REMOVE AND RELEASE

He will RULE & REIGN from the earth. He will bring REWARDS & RETRIBUTION to people of the earth. Finally he will REMOVE evil and RELEASE the fullness of God’s presence on the earth.

Notice how the chapter closes with the conclusion of the song and the response from heaven.

Revelation 11:18–19 (CSB)

...the time has come to destroy

those who destroy the earth.

19 Then the temple of God in heaven was opened, and the ark of his covenant appeared in his temple. There were flashes of lightning, rumblings and peals of thunder, an earthquake, and severe hail.

The passage ends with a picture of God destroying those who destroy the earth and releasing the fullness of the presence of God onto the earth.

So the third and final thing that happens at the second advent of Christ is the removing of Satan and evil and the releasing of the fullness of the presence of God on the earth.

Remove The Destroyers

I believe the reference to “those who destroy the earth” is a reference not to the people who live on the earth but rather this unholy trinity made up of Satan, the antichrist and the false prophet.

Those forces are what animated the people who live on the earth to bring about such destruction and devastation on our world.

What an amazing thought to think that finally and forever the forces of satan and evil will forever be abolished from our world.

No more lies or deception.

No more anger or physical violence.

No more brokenness or tears.

No more sickness nor death.

Everything that Satan and his forces have used to kill steal and destroy will themselves be destroyed when the Lord Jesus comes again!

Release God’s Presence

Not only will Satan and evil be removed. God’s presence will be released.

Since most of us are not steeped in our Old Testament much of this imagery is lost on us. But for the original audience this would have been such a powerful sight.

The ark of the covenant was Israel’s most sacred relic. It was in the ark of the covenant that the presence of God would reside. Even in the wilderness wanderings where there was no temple or physical edifice for the presence of God to dwell - his presence resided in the ark.

This ark was not an ark on earth (as it had been lost during the destruction of the temple) this was the ark of the covenant in HEAVEN. We know from Hebrews 9 that every element in the earthly temple is really just a copy of that which is in the heavenly temple. The copies are shadows but the SUBSTANCE is in heaven.

On earth the ark of the covenant was a reminder that God was WITH us and that his promises are TRUE and his faithfulness is GREAT. He will do as he promised to do and when his presence is unleashed anything is possible.

That is what comes down from heaven and helps to begin reclaiming the earth as Jesus rules and reigns from his kingdom there in Jerusalem.

Again - we will look more into the details of that as time goes on but what an amazing picture of the presence of God filling the earth when that last trumpet is sounded.

Conclusion

Jesus taught us to pray it in the Lord prayer and when the seventh trumpet is blown then the prayer will finally become a reality. His kingdom will come and his will shall be done ON EARTH as it is IN HEAVEN.

Do you long for that day? Are you praying for that day? Are you living in light of that day?

If Jesus were to show up today would you be ready? Because he is LORD right now whether you believe him to be or not.

One day every knee will bow and every tongue will confess. Including yours. If you’re not ready then today is the day to get ready.