Sermon Tone Analysis
Overall tone of the sermon
This automated analysis scores the text on the likely presence of emotional, language, and social tones. There are no right or wrong scores; this is just an indication of tones readers or listeners may pick up from the text.
A score of 0.5 or higher indicates the tone is likely present.
Emotion Tone
Anger
0.14UNLIKELY
Disgust
0.07UNLIKELY
Fear
0.12UNLIKELY
Joy
0.62LIKELY
Sadness
0.53LIKELY
Language Tone
Analytical
0.57LIKELY
Confident
0UNLIKELY
Tentative
0.25UNLIKELY
Social Tone
Openness
0.94LIKELY
Conscientiousness
0.82LIKELY
Extraversion
0.07UNLIKELY
Agreeableness
0.28UNLIKELY
Emotional Range
0.73LIKELY
Tone of specific sentences
Tones
Emotion
Language
Social Tendencies
Anger
< .5
.5 - .6
.6 - .7
.7 - .8
.8 - .9
> .9
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!
< .5
.5 - .6
.6 - .7
.7 - .8
.8 - .9
> .9