Through Much Tribulation
Through Much Tribulation
This lesson looks at the vision John saw when the second woe was past and the third woe was about to come (Rev 11:14-19). The seventh angel sounded his trumpet, and another set of wondrous signs begins with a vision of the saints entering the eternal kingdom on the great day of God's judgment and wrath.
Third woe, seventh angel [TRANSITION] The final three angels sounding their trumpets, heralded visions described as three "woes" (Rev 8:13). The first was the plague of locusts from the bottomless pit (Rev 9:1-11). The second was the killing horses (Rev 9:12-21). The third woe is God's wrath (Rev 11:14-19). This vision of the day of judgment precedes seven signs —another complete set of visions starting in chapter 12.
Rev 11:14-17
Kingdoms of the world "The kingdoms of the world have become our Lord's and his Christ's and he shall reign for ever and ever." (Rev 11:15). On the day of judgment, all nations and peoples will be judged by Christ. On that same day, Christ will take his saints into his eternal kingdom.
Reign The twenty four elders around God's throne (cf Rev 4:4) worship God and give thanks to him, "because you have taken your great power, and you have reigned" (Rev 11:16-17). This shows that whilst the kingdoms of the world are ruled by various kings, there is a King of kings. When he takes away rulership from the kings of earth, he will not steal or usurp it —he will take back what is really his. He is "the Lord of the earth" (Rev 11:4) as well as the Lord of Heaven.
Whilst the kingdom of Heaven is here on earth, made up of all the churches of Jesus Christ world wide, it belongs in heaven because it is an eternal kingdom and its King lives forever to reign over it. So after the second coming of Christ, the kingdom of God will be no longer on earth but in heaven alone. No other kingdom on earth will exist after Judgment day —whether kingdoms of men, or the kingdom of Satan. No kingdom except the kingdom of heaven alone will exist after the end of the world. That's what this vision signifies.
Rev 11:18
Wrath has come The last day is a day of wrath. Christ will be angry with those who were antichrist, and they will be angry with him because he "will destroy those who destroy the earth". (Rev 11:18).
Give reward On the other hand, God will welcome the prophets who served him, the saints, and all who were on the Lord's side both great and small. "You will give reward... to those who fear your name both small and great" (Rev 11:18).
The temple The opening of the temple also occurs in a later vision (Rev 15:1-8). The temple signifies fellowship with God and with his Son Jesus Christ (1Jn 1:3). Indeed God is the only temple we need (Rev 21:22). The doors of the temple are opened to signify that we have a way into the Holy Place through Jesus (Heb 10:19-22). The temple also signifies the church of Christ or kingdom of heaven (Eph 2:19-22), because the church is one body in the unity and fellowship of the Spirit (Eph 4:3-7).
Rev 11:19
The ark of the covenant was seen As we know, in Old Testament times the ark of the covenant was hidden in the Most Holy place behind a veil (Heb 9:2-5). In the vision, however, "the ark of his covenant was seen in his temple" The mystery of old has become the revelation of today. That Revelation is the gospel of Christ —his new covenant. Through this revelation we can know the way of escape from God's wrath and the way into eternal fellowship with God.
Lightning... thunderings... [TRANSITION] The vision ends with a confusion of voices, lightning and thunder, earthquake, and big hailstones. This closes the vision of judgment day and ushers in a whole new set of amazing visions.