The Seventh Trumpet, Revelation 11:15-19

 

The Seventh Trumpet, 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!”

It was born while America was still in the womb. Today, it’s still going strong. Applauded in cathedrals, played in palaces, all around the globe.   

Arranged entirely of scripture, over eighty passages in all; the entire Christian message, in one single piece. Charles Jennings took his manuscript to a friend, the great composer, George Handel.  

However, Handle’s glory days were over. Once, the highest paid composer in the world; he was now bankrupt. He was considered washed up, outdated, “an old fogey.”

Depression led to physical ailments, including crippling palsy to some of his fingers.

The manuscript sat on a shelf, gathering dust, for eighteen months.

Finally, Handel, read the first verse. “Comfort ye, comfort ye my people, saith your God.” Isaiah 40:1.

Oh, how he was in need of comfort.

August 22, 1741, Handel, dusted off the manuscript, and shut the doors to his London home. Little did he eat or sleep. Twenty-three days later, he emerged with, Messiah. But he hadn’t been alone. When he got to the Hallelujah chorus, his assistant found him in tears, saying, “Whether in the body or out of the body, I do not know, but I think I did see heaven open, and the very face of God.”

 

The Hallelujah chorus is a climactic point, a pivotal moment, in Handel’s Messiah. 

The kingdoms of this world are become the kingdoms of our Lord, and of his Christ; and he shall reign for ever and ever.

These words are part of our text today, Revelation 11:15. They are the opening response, to the sounding of The Seventh Trumpet, and represent a climatic point, a pivotal moment, in the end times, Tribulation Timeline.

Jesus spoke of the signs of the end times, as labor pains. We know how that goes. At first, they’re light, just Braxton Hicks. But the closer to delivery, the stronger they get, more and more intense. Until, finally, late in the third trimester, something happens. Everything changes. A watershed moment—our water breaks.

In His infinite wisdom, Jesus picked just the right analogy. Sticking with His theme, we can see, The Seventh Trumpet, in the third trimester of the Tribulation, is the watershed moment—when the water breaks.

After that, it comes hot and heavy. Just like labor. The bowls are poured back-to-back, one after another, no delays. The most intense pain is just ahead…but also, the most intense joy, in the end.

This joy sparks a celebration in heaven.

Revelation 11:16-18.

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.”

 

Did you notice the back and forth? I color coordinated it to make it easier to see. Rewards and wrath; back and forth. Thanks… Wrath… Reward… Destroy.

Speaking of labor pains…

Oh honey, we’re gonna have a baby…

YOU DID THIS TO ME!

You’re going to be such a wonderful daddy

THIS IS ALL YOUR FAULT!

I hope our baby has your smile

DON’T TOUCH ME! GIVE ME DRUGS! NOW!

Then the temple of God was opened in heaven, and the ark of His covenant was seen in His temple…Revelation 11:19a.

This chapter closes as it started; with a sighting of the temple. The first one was on earth; this one is in heaven.

This time, the ark of His covenant is mentioned.

As bad as it’s been on the earth thus far, and as bad as it’s going to get, especially for the Jews, God reveals that He has not forgotten or forsaken His covenant with Israel.

A modern-day example of His Divine protection over Israel, was seen just this past weekend. One thousand, one hundred rockets were fired from Gaza, toward Israel. Think about that. Israel is small; it could fit inside the Florida panhandle with over two-thousand square miles to spare. Imagine if this weekend, 1,100 missiles were dropped on the Florida panhandle—there’d be nothing left.

Yet, in Israel, not even one life was lost.

And there were lightnings, noises, thunderings, an earthquake, and great hail. Revelation 11:19.

From Mount Sinai, (the first “trumpet” mentioned in the Bible—which was a ram’s horn) to here (the last reference to “trumpet” in the Bible—which is a metal instrument) time and again we see these signs accompany the presence of God, lightnings, noises, thunderings, an earthquake.  

Therefore consider the goodness and severity of God: on those who fell, severity; but toward you, goodness, if you continue in His goodness. Otherwise you also will be cut off. Romans 11:22.

Let’s pray.

Lord Jesus, open our eyes to see the signs of Your coming, hear Your trumpets warning, feel the labor pains quickening, and use us, to waken our world.

 

Next:

Speaking of labor; next we see a woman giving birth.

Revelation 12

The Woman, the Child, and the Dragon

Who are they? What do they mean?

Lord willing, next time, we’ll discover, just that.

Revelation 12:1 Now a great sign appeared in heaven…

Handel’s Messiah: Lyrics and Verse References