7th Trumpet Blows - Introducing the End

Revelation 11:15-19

Then the seventh angel sounded, 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 shall reign forever and ever.”  And the twenty-four elders who sit on their thrones before God fell on their faces and worshiped God,  saying, 

“We give thanks to you, Lord God Almighty,
who is and who was,
for you have taken your great power
and begun to reign.
The nations raged,
but your wrath came,
and the time for the dead to be judged,
and for rewarding your servants, the prophets and saints,
and those who fear your name,
both small and great, 
and for destroying the destroyers of the earth.” 

Then God’s temple in heaven was opened, and the ark of his covenant was seen within his temple. There were flashes of lightning, rumblings, peals of thunder, an earthquake, and heavy hail

With the sounding of the 7th Trumpet, the final day of the Lord will appear with great tribulation and woe to those who remain.  Chapter 19 will tell of the return of Christ on that day and the bloodshed of the remnant.  Those who had been given multiple opportunities to follow the Lord, and to find peace from the wrath of God, but woe to them who refuse, for they will not find rest in the eternal.

The 7th Angel blows the trumpet, and the Lord’s kingdom overcomes the worldly kingdom to reign forevermore.  Again, we see the elders and angels falling before God Almighty with praise and worship.  For He alone is worthy to be praised.  The elders call attention to the Authority and Omnipotence of God.  “..the nations were enraged, Your wrath came….the dead will be judged…time to reward the bond-servants your prophets and saints…those who fear your name…the small and the great…and to destroy the earth.” In Chapter 6, we saw the Martyrs petition God to judge the world and avenge their deaths.  Here in Chapter 11, we see a reference to His actions that will indeed do just that.

John’s vision continues as he is in the Throne room of God, but now includes God’s temple in heaven.  Here we see a reference to the ark of the covenant between God and mankind.  The original ark of the covenant was established between God and Moses to contain the 10 Commandments, Aaron’s Rod, a jar of manna, and resided in the Tabernacle in the Holy of Holies, according to Exodus 25:10.  It was established for the Israelites to follow God’s commandments and to draw near.  Here we see an ark of the covenant in the Temple in heaven.  The new covenant between God and mankind is a covenant in blood.  The blood of Jesus Christ and God’s saving grace through his death and resurrection.  

The ark of the covenant in the Old Testament would go before David (being carried) as a symbol that God is with us in battle, that God is our authority and power.  It was often accompanied by worship, dancing, and praise to the Lord above as it was carried on the shoulders of men.  The new ark of the covenant referenced here in God’s Temple signifies that God once again is going before mankind to lead the way to the battle, and that in only through His power we will overcome the evil in the world.

The great battle between Satan and Christ is coming soon.  Knowing that regardless of the pain and suffering we go through in this life, God is always before us and our protection behind us is comforting.  Evil is becoming much more evident in our daily walk, and although God has expressed much patience in allowing mankind to turn and come back to Him, I fear that we may not have much time before God decides to avenge the righteous and bondservants accordingly.