The Final Phase | Revelation 11:15-19 | Richard Caldwell

Scripture

• Revelation 11:15–19

About this sermon

Introduction: One day, everything we have known by faith — we will know by sight. Everything we have waited for, since the Lord saved us, will have arrived. Everything we have longed for, looked forward to, will be OURS FOREVER. That day will represent the fulfillment of desires that exist in heaven and on earth — the fulfillment of the will of God, the anticipation of the angels of God, and the hopes of the people of God. THE JOY OF THAT DAY, THE RIGHTEOUS READINESS FOR THAT DAY, IS ON DISPLAY IN OUR VERSES. The 7th trumpet will sound. That 7th trumpet contains the 7 bowl judgments — the final phase of activity that leads directly to the return of Jesus from heaven to earth. What is announced in the 7th trumpet is delayed on earth — it is sounded and celebrated in our verses, because it kicks off the final phase — the judgments that will conclude with the ushering in of Christ’s kingdom. BUT THE JOY OF THE FINAL OUTCOME IS ALREADY VOICED. What do we see in Heaven and on earth as we come to the sounding of the 7th trumpet? I. THE KINGDOM COMES (vs.15) This trumpet announces the second coming of Christ to the earth. This final trumpet contains bowl judgments. So, with the sounding of this trumpet, everything that leads up to the second coming of Christ from heaven to earth is set in motion. This is the unleashing of the final phase, and in that sense, this 7th trumpet is the announcement of the 2nd coming of Christ. A. THE DESCRIPTION OF THE KINGDOM Notice that there are two kingdoms in view. THE KINGDOM OF THE WORLD. THE KINGDOM OF OUR LORD AND OF HIS CHRIST The world of lost humanity, currently under the domain of darkness, will be REPLACED with a world of saved humanity, under God’s rule in His Son. B. THE DURATION OF THE KINGDOM And that replacement will NEVER be reversed. He will reign forever and ever. II. THE CREATION RESPONDS (vs.15-18) That announcement, by the sounding of the trumpet, meets with a response. A response that is found in all of creation. A. ACTIVITY IN HEAVEN (vs.15-17) While there are woes on earth there is worship in heaven. And the worship that is expressed in response to the sounding of this 7th trumpet includes at least four things. 1. AFFIRMATION (vs.15) Clearly with great zeal. LOUD VOICES. The location of the voices is not identified, but perhaps (given the fact that the redeemed are in view later) these are the voices of holy angels. 2. REVERENCE (vs.16) We talked about the 24 elders back in chapter 4 (representatives of the church). They are glorified, they are graciously honored, and yet THEY FALL ON THEIR FACES in worship to God as they hear the sound that speaks of the second coming of Christ. 3. THANKSGIVING (vs. 17) Their REVERENT worship is THANKFUL worship. Note: Do we realize that every GRACE we know in our redeemed lives is a grace that IS STILL HINDERED BY SIN? We fight numbness to everything to which we should be ALIVE. We are GRATEFUL for what God has done, THANKFUL for the day that is coming, but not to the degree that we should be, and not to the degree THAT WE WILL BE when we MEET WITH THAT DAY., THEY CELEBRATE WHO GOD IS AND THEY CELEBRATE WHAT HE HAS DONE. 4. SUBMISSION (vs.17) With that thanksgiving there is also a WELCOMING of the power of God expressed in the RULE OF GOD. This speaks of the joyful submission of the true subjects of the King. NOTE: THE FACT OF THIS RESPONSE TO THE REVELATION OF WHAT IS COMING TESTIFIES TO THE CERTAINTY OF ALL THAT SOVEREIGN GOD DETERMINES TO DO.

Topics

• Bible Study
• Prophecy & End Times