In verse 14, we have the announcement that “the second
woe is past.” John says, “behold, the third woe is coming
quickly.” In Revelation 8:13 John was informed that the last
three trumpet judgments, there called woes, would be more
intense upon the earth dwellers. Now in Revelation 11:14 we
are told the third woe is coming and quickly.
This is the seventh trumpet that will take us up to the
return of Christ and the establishment of His kingdom. This
judgment becomes the greatest woe because it includes the
seven bowl judgments though they are not mentioned here.
Verses - 15 - 16, “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 will reign forever and ever.”
The seventh and final trumpet is blown and immediately
something happens in heaven; there is an immediate heavenly
response. In contrast to Revelation 10:8 and Revelation 11:1
where a single voice was heard, now a great choir in heaven
is heard praising God for what is about to occur. Note that
their voices are “loud.” This stresses the joy and extreme
exuberance over what God is going to do through the seventh
trumpet.
“The kingdom of the world,” refers to the reign and rule of
the earth that God intended to be under man’s authority and
rule but was wrested from man by Satan (Hebrews 2:5-8).
Satan became “the god of this world” (2 Corinthians 4:4) and
“the prince of the power of the air, of the spirit that is
now working in the sons of disobedience” (Ephesians 2:2).
There are really only two kingdoms, God’s and Satan’s,
through this trumpet and woe, Satan’s kingdom will be
totally destroyed and the world will come under the lordship
of Christ.
At this point the seven bowl judgments have yet to be poured
out, but they make up the seventh trumpet and will now fall
in rapid succession. That they make up the seventh trumpet
is clear from the fact that it is the last trumpet that
establishes the rule of Christ on earth and He will reign
forever. The millennial reign of Christ will last for 1,000
years, but the reign of Christ will continue throughout all
eternity in the new heavens and the new earth. So here, we
have the fulfillment of many Old Testament prophecies that
look forward to the eternal rule of God when the will of
Goodwill be done on earth as it is in heaven.
True worship results in action befitting the attitudes of
the heart. The 24 elders now recognize that it is time, or
soon will be, for the reward of Old Testament and
Tribulation saints. The coming of the kingdom will be
connected with the giving of rewards to the faithful
servants of God (Matthew 24:42-25:30). In recognition of
God’s faithfulness to His people and the sovereign actions
of God, they rise from their thrones and fall on their faces
in deep respect and adoration of God. While they reign with
Him they recognize that this is all because of who and what
God is and what He has accomplished through the Lord Jesus.
In verse 18, note that three things are said; (a) “The
nations were enraged.” Here we have the reaction of the
world in the Tribulation, especially in the last portion at
Armageddon. (b) “And Your wrath came.” In the context, this
particularly speaks of the final out pouring of divine
judgment in the seventh trumpet, (c) “and the time of the
dead to be judged.” This speaks of the resurrection of Old
Testament saints.
First, the dead are not only judged, but they are rewarded.
These are only Old Testament and Tribulation saints who are
resurrected. The context makes this clear. They are “Your
bondservants, the prophets,” “saints,” and “those that fear
Your name, small and great.” Unbelievers await the Great
White Throne Judgment and the church is already in heaven.
Second, God’s wrath aimed at the enraged nations is taken up
in the last part of the verse in the words “to destroy those
who destroy the earth.” This refers to the final judgments
that are aimed at those living on earth. These will be
either killed outright or removed by Christ at the judgments
of the Jews and Gentiles that will occur at the end of the
Tribulation (Matthew 24:25; Revelation 19).
We should note that chapter 11 began with the apostate
temple on earth, but closes triumphantly with the heavenly
temple in view. Again this stresses, as in Isaiah 6, the
awesome holiness of God, the basic cause of God’s wrath
(Hebrew 1:13). Remember, the beast desecrates this earthly,
apostate temple, but he cannot touch the heavenly temple
that reflects God’s perfect righteousness, perfect justice
and majesty.
The things seen in the temple are symbolical of, first, the
presence of God by the Shekinah glory that hovered over the
mercy seat. Second, the faithfulness of God as evidenced by
the contents of the Ark, the Law which guided God’s people,
Aaron’s rod, a picture of resurrection, and the pot of
manna, a picture of the person of Christ and daily
provision. Third, God’s divine holiness which could not be
approached without blood, and spoke of the sacrifice of
Christ. All this is seen in heaven to remind the Jews that
God is going to fulfill His covenant promises. It is to
encourage faith in Christ.
Accompanying the sight of the Ark is lightning, peals of
thunder, an earthquake and a great hailstorm all of which
are signs of doom and judgment. God in His absolute holiness
must deal with the sin and rebellion of man. However, before
this judgment is poured out in the seven bowls of judgments,
the chronological sequence is again interrupted to portray
other events and situations that will be in existence during
the last half of the Tribulation. This will serve to
highlight the dramatic return of Christ as he comes back in
the midst of such horrendous conditions.
Apart from the outpourings of the vials, which occur in
rapid succession, there is little chronological movement
from this point until chapter 19 and the second coming of
Christ. Events and situations are now introduced which are
concurrent with the seals and the trumpets. These serve to
emphasize the Second Coming of our Lord and Savior, Jesus
Christ.
