May 16 2022
Today, Monday May 16
The Seventh Angel Sounds
Revelation 11:15-19 “Then the seventh angel sounded: And there were loud voices in heaven, saying, "The kingdoms of this world have become the kingdoms of our Lord and of His Christ, and He shall reign forever and ever!" And the twenty-four elders who sat before God on their thrones fell on their faces and worshiped God, saying: "We give You thanks, O Lord God Almighty, The One who is and who was and who is to come, Because You have taken Your great power and reigned. The nations were angry, and Your wrath has come, And the time of the dead, that they should be judged, And that You should reward Your servants the prophets and the saints, And those who fear Your name, small and great, And should destroy those who destroy the earth." Then the temple of God was opened in heaven, and the ark of His covenant was seen in His temple. And there were lightnings, noises, thunderings, an earthquake, and great hail.”
The actual Seven-year Tribulation begins with the Antichrist appearing and signing a peace treaty with Israel and promising peace and prosperity to the rest of the earth. This is pictured in Rev. 6 when the first seal is opened and a rider on a white horse appears. From there the next six seals are opening with the last one revealing the seven angels with the seven trumpet judgments. We believe that these events all take place in the first three and a half years of the Tribulation.
Up to this point, six of the seven trumpets have sounded, and the first two woes have taken place. Remember when the fifth angel sounded, an army of demons from hell or the abyss are release on earth and they plague the followers of Antichrist with the torment of scorpions for five months. During this time, men will seek to die but can’t. (Rev. 9:1-12). This is the first woe.
Then when the sixth trumpet sounds another army of demons numbering 200 million, with four demonic angels leading them, are released from the east and they plague and kill one third of mankind with fire, smoke and brimstone that comes out of their mouths. (Rev. 9:13-21)
Chapter 10 begins with the testimony of the mighty angel proclaiming that when the seventh trumpet is sounded the mystery of God would be completed. This mystery is how God how has permitted evil to increase until the world is ripe for judgment (Rev. 14:14-20). Since God has already paid the price for sin, He is free to delay His judgment, and He cannot be accused of injustice or unconcern. The last half of the Tribulation begins when the angels start to pour out the bowls, in which "is filled up [completed] the wrath of God" (Rev. 15:1).
Chapter 11 begins with the testimony of the two witnesses. They are prophesying of the terrible judgments to come and calling the nation of Israel and the rest of the world to repent! Their witness ends with them being killed by the beast (Antichrist), then resurrected by the breath of life from God and ascending into heaven. This is followed by a great earthquake in Jerusalem that kills 7,000 people. Now the second woe is past, and the third woe is about to begin with the sounding of the seventh trumpet. (Rev. 11:14)
Now in Revelation 11:15, when the seventh trumpet sounds, we have the witness of the twenty-four elders in heaven proclaiming an announcement of victory. These "great voices" were probably the choirs of heaven. The great announcement is that the kingdom (John uses the singular because "the beast" now has the world under his control) of this world belongs to Jesus Christ. Of course, Christ does not claim His royal rights until He returns; but the victory has already been won. Satan offered Him the world's kingdoms, but He refused the offer (Matt. 4:8-9). Instead, He died on the cross, arose, and returned victoriously to heaven; and there the Father gave Him His inheritance (Ps. 2:4-9).
However, we must not incorrectly assume that our Lord is not reigning today, because He is. According to Hebrews 7:1-2, Jesus Christ is "King of righteousness" and "King of peace." He is enthroned with the Father (Rev. 3:21), and He will reign until He defeats all His foes (1 Cor. 15:25). Today, He rules over a spiritual kingdom; but in that future day, He will reign over the nations of the world and rule with a rod of iron.
No matter how difficult the circumstances might be, or how defeated God's people may think they are, Jesus Christ is still King of kings and Lord of lords, and He is in control. One day, we shall triumph! Amen!!!!!
God bless!