JCLSK 85 Jesus’ Victory Trumpet and World’s Final Woe - Revelation 11

 

JCLSK 85 Jesus’ Victory Trumpet and World’s Final Woe
- Revelation 11

 Introduction: 

Past/ Review / Chronology

I. The vision of Christ and letters to the seven churches. 1:9–3:22.

II. The Lamb opens the seven-sealed book is opened. 4:1–6:17.

III. The sealing of the 144,000 and the angels sounding the seven trumpets. 7:1–9:21.

IV. Interlude 10-11 (To comfort and encourage the people of God, then and now)

Last week we were shown the Two, the witnesses for God, the two olive trees, the two lampstands,  the last two great heroes of God in the last epoch of the time of the Gentiles.

I stopped with their story, but chapter 11 continues with the Final Woe, which is the Seventh Trumpet of the Angels. That commences in verse Revelation 11:14.

The Hymn Victory Ahead

As a young boy growing up in the Baptist churches of my childhood, hymns were most of my favorite songs. I sang them on Sundays, Wednesdays and often they would pop into my head and I’d softly sing them wherever I happened to be. I’d be humming Faith is the Victory during football practice or Victory in Jesus as I ran the ¼ mile. It didn’t really help in football season we went 1-9 both years when I was on varsity. In track though we did make it to state and placed in the mile relay. Another Victory hymn that often came to mind was “Victory Ahead” by William Grum written in 1905.

When the hosts of Israel, led by God,
Round the walls of Jericho softly trod;
Trusting in the Lord, they felt the conqu’ror’s tread,
By faith they saw the victory ahead.

 Chorus: Victory ahead! Victory ahead!
Thro' the blood of Jesus, victory ahead;
Trusting in the Lord, I hear the conqu’ror’s tread,
By faith I see the victory ahead!

 Our passage today from Revelation chapter 11:14-19 is like that hymn. When the 7^th Angel sounds the 7^th Trumpet the song that he will be playing will be a rendition of “Victory Ahead.” Even if the tune will not be one we are familiar with the intent is exactly the same, “Jesus is coming, Satan is defeated, victory is ahead!”

A Proclamation Of Victory - Revelation 11:14–19

14 The second woe is past; and behold, the third woe cometh quickly. And the seventh angel sounded; and there were great voices in heaven, saying, The kingdoms of this world are become the kingdoms of our Lord, and of his Christ; and he shall reign for ever and ever.

The Seventh Angel Sounds The Seventh Trumpet

We have been anticipating for the seventh trumpet to sound since chapter Revelation 8:13 And I beheld, and heard an angel flying through the midst of heaven, saying with a loud voice, Woe, woe, woe, to the inhabiters of the earth by reason of the other voices of the trumpet of the three angels, which are yet to sound!

There are three woes that the angel announces after the fifth trumpet. These mark an intensifying of God’s wrath upon the dwellers on earth, who will not heed the call to repent of their sin and wickedness.

The first woe was the 5^th trumpet in Revelation 9:1-4 And the fifth angel sounded, and I saw a star fall from heaven unto the earth: and to him was given the key of the bottomless pit. And he opened the bottomless pit; and there arose a smoke out of the pit, as the smoke of a great furnace; and the sun and the air were darkened by reason of the smoke of the pit. And there came out of the smoke locusts upon the earth: and unto them was given power, as the scorpions of the earth have power. And it was commanded them that they should not hurt the grass of the earth, neither any green thing, neither any tree; but only those men which have not the seal of God in their foreheads.

The Second Woe was the 6^th Trumpet in Revelation 9:13-19 And the sixth angel sounded, and I heard a voice from the four horns of the golden altar which is before God, Saying to the sixth angel which had the trumpet, Loose the four angels which are bound in the great river Euphrates. And the four angels were loosed, which were prepared for an hour, and a day, and a month, and a year, for to slay the third part of men. And the number of the army of the horsemen were two hundred thousand thousand: and I heard the number of them.

We then saw in Revelation 10 and 11 an interlude, a step away from the plagues of the seals and the trumpets for the purpose of showing God’s people, that God was working, to show the faithful believers who refused to take the mark of the beast God’s perspective during this time. First a heavenly perspective of the great angel and John eating the little book showing the call to be a witness for the Lord even though it would be a bitter experience.

Then there was the earthly perspective to be seen of the two witnesses on the earth, the great powerful last prophets and heroes of God. These powerful men who for 3 ½ years cannot be touched by the anti-Christ, but when the Beast returns from the pit, he finally kills them, whereas before he could not even hinder them. The world celebrate their death, but after 3 ½ days, God shows that He is still at work and He raises them up and the whole world see them taken home to heaven.

These events remind us that God’s perspective is not our perspective. He sees from Heaven, we see from earth. He has planned from eternity; we can only plan in terms of time. He has an unalterable purpose and unlimited power: our purposes change with the season and our power is finite in the extreme.

His plan may not be what I can understand, but ultimately that plan will result in my ultimate good even if that ultimate good may only be understood once I stand on heaven’s shores.

God’s perspective is eternal and omniscient therefore it is and always will be right. God is the overseer of time, history and eternity. He is not late, He is not lazy and He is not lacking in power to bring about His purpose. My calling is simply to be faithful to His Word and trust in His love. 

Now, then we finally come to the Seventh Trumpet, The Final Woe of this series of plagues. The seventh angel sounds his trumpet and then this “woe” is announced by a great choir, great voices in heaven and they make a pronouncement, not of woe, but a of victory.

The Trumpet of Victory Sounds - Revelation 11:15 “The kingdoms of this world are become the kingdoms of our Lord, and of his Christ; and he shall reign for ever and ever.”

This is the victory call of Christ’s Kingdom. This signals the beginning of the end. I believe it right at the middle of the seven-year tribulation, 3 ½ years have passed and now 3 ½ years are left, but we know that victory is ahead. The trumpet marks the final onslaught of God’s judgment on the earth and, in particular, upon the kingdom of the anti-Christ and the Beast.

Just as we saw earlier, when the seventh seal opens it reveals the rest of the judgments of God. The seventh seal contains the seven trumpets and the seven bowl judgments. Now we hear the seventh trumpet sounding and it opens or reveals the final woe, which is the seven vials or bowl judgments, the final strike against the kingdom of the Antichrist and the Dragon, before the Messiah takes His Kingdom. This is the Divine D-Day, there is no hope for the Kingdoms of earth and the empire of the Anti-Christ.

This trumpet sounding is like the trumpets blowing in Joshua’s army as they marched around the city of Jericho, six days they marched but on the seventh day they marched and blew the trumpets and the walls fell down. The battle still had to be finished before Israel could take possession of Jericho, but that seventh day marked the point of victory, there was no hope for the enemies of God’s people, no time to rebuild the walls, no time to repent of the taunts, the jeers or their misplaced faith in their pagan gods. When the trumpet sounded on the 7^th day it was defeat for Jericho and victory for Israel.

The same is true here, there is still 3 ½ years to go but when the 7^th trumpet sounds it is over for the anti-Christ and his kingdom. All of heaven knows this and they cry out in victory, “The kingdoms of this world are become the kingdoms of our Lord, and of his Christ; and he shall reign for ever and ever.”

This means woe to the inhabitants of earth, but it is Joy to the inhabitants of heaven and the faithful believers still on earth, who are hiding from the persecution of the Beast and hoping for Jesus to come quickly.

Woe to the World, Is often Joy to Jesus’ Disciples

Isn’t this also true today. That this world may be destined for woe but God’s people are destined for joy, a joy that overcomes the woe of this world.

John 14:27 Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.

John 16:33 In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world.

2 Corinthians 7:4.Great is my boldness of speech toward you, great is my glorying of you: I am filled with comfort, I am exceeding joyful in all our tribulation. 

No matter how bad, how horrific, how catastrophic it may be in this world, Jesus has promised us joy because His victory is ahead.

How Can I Keep From Singing?

In the middle of 2020’s Covid lockdowns, the world was a scary place to be wasn’t it? No one knew what was happening and we were being told stay home, stay away from each other and we unfortunately believed it. In that time of fear and isolation, many people would get together and have Zoom meetings for church, for business, for family. I remember one in particular, when a choir all in their own homes got together and with digital editing and mixing through Zoom, all appeared on the screen and they sang a beautiful hymn that reminded all who listened to it, that joy is always greater than fear. They sang the hymn, “How Can I Keep From Singing”

My life flows on in endless song, above earth’s lamentation.
I catch the sweet, though far-off hymn that hails a new creation.

 Refrain: No storm can shake my inmost calm while to that Rock I’m clinging.
Since Christ is Lord of heav’n and earth, how can I keep from singing?

 2 Through all the tumult and the strife, I hear that music ringing.
It finds an echo in my soul. How can I keep from singing? [Refrain]

 3 What though my joys and comforts die, I know my Savior liveth.
What though the darkness gather round? Songs in the night He giveth. [Refrain]

 4 The peace of Christ makes fresh my heart, a fountain ever springing!
All things are mine since I am his! How can I keep from singing? [Refrain]

Praise

And that brings us to verses 16-18 where praise is once again sung in the halls of Heaven’s Throne room

Praise To God - Revelation 11: 16-18

16 And the four and twenty elders, which sat before God on their seats, fell upon their faces, and worshipped God, 17 Saying, We give thee thanks, O Lord God Almighty, which art, and wast, and art to come; because thou hast taken to thee thy great power, and hast reigned. 18 And the nations were angry, and thy wrath is come, and the time of the dead, that they should be judged, and that thou shouldest give reward unto thy servants the prophets, and to the saints, and them that fear thy name, small and great; and shouldest destroy them which destroy the earth.

The 24 Elders Praise God

This short song of praise is the expression of the victory that has been proclaimed by the heavenly choir of vs. 15. It captures the emotion of all of God’s Old and New Covenant people are represented by the 24 elders.

This moment is what all of God’s people, the persecuted, the dispersed, the wanderers and the pilgrims of all the earth or all time, have been longing and praying for.

Abraham left his home looking for that city whose builder and maker was God. Hebrews 11:8–10 By faith Abraham, when he was called to go out into a place which he should after receive for an inheritance, obeyed; and he went out, not knowing whither he went.  By faith he sojourned in the land of promise, as in a strange country, dwelling in tabernacles with Isaac and Jacob, the heirs with him of the same promise:  For he looked for a city which hath foundations, whose builder and maker is God.” This is when Abraham will find that city of God.

Jesus preached the Sermon on the Mount and called people to the Kingdom of God.

Matthew 5:3–12 Blessed are the poor in spirit: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Blessed are they that mourn: for they shall be comforted. Blessed are the meek: for they shall inherit the earth. Blessed are they which do hunger and thirst after righteousness: for they shall be filled.  Blessed are the merciful: for they shall obtain mercy. Blessed are the pure in heart: for they shall see God. Blessed are the peacemakers: for they shall be called the children of God. ¹⁰ Blessed are they which are persecuted for righteousness' sake: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Blessed are ye, when men shall revile you, and persecute you, and shall say all manner of evil against you falsely, for my sake. Rejoice, and be exceeding glad: for great is your reward in heaven: for so persecuted they the prophets which were before you.

All those multiplied prayers of all those longin saints are now answered as the seventh trumpet sounds. All that hope, all that faith, all that great expectation will be at last realized when the Kingdoms of earth become the Kingdoms of our God.

This is why we see the 24 elders, the representation of all believers, fall on their face, and worship and praise God, who has now answered the final unanswered prayer of all God’s people throughout history. Lord, let they Kingdom come!

And that brings us to a question we should ask ourselves?...

Are We praying for The Kingdom?

One day, if you are a follower of the Lamb, member of the redeemed family of God,  we will be in that throng, gathered round the throne and we will see these events play out just as John did. We will sing the songs of praise to Him as King and judge. We will lift our voices with the chorus of heaven and sing, “Revelation 11:17 We give thee thanks, O Lord God Almighty, which art, and wast, and art to come; because thou hast taken to thee thy great power, and hast reigned.”

If we are the children of God, if we are saved and sanctified by the blood of the lamb then when what we just read happens, we will be there! And now, until that day of victory comes, we should be preparing for it by praying the prayer request of the people of God in heaven’s throne room. We need to be praying “O Lord God, let your kingdom come.”

Isn’t that what Jesus told us to do in? Matthew 6:9–10  After this manner therefore pray ye: Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name. Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven.

Pray for the kingdom of Heaven to come to earth. Yes, pray for Jesus to return. Pray for the sin, pain, and sorrow of this sin-sick, evil-soaked world to end. Pray for God to prove to this belligerent, atheistic world that He rules and reigns. Pray for the Kingdoms of this world to become the Kingdom of our God. But also, we should also be praying for the Kingdom in another way.

Pray for the kingdom to come to human hearts. When John the Baptist and Jesus were preaching in Israel during Jesus’ first coming their message was…

 Matthew 4:17 “…Repent: for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.”

Now they weren’t saying that the kingdom of heaven as we are reading about in Revelation 11 was near. No, they were preaching about entrance into that kingdom, about belonging to that kingdom.  The Kingdom of Heaven one day will be physically on the earth, but until then it is a spiritual kingdom in our heart and we enter it by repentance and faith in Jesus the Coming King.

Jesus told Nicodemus, who was looking for that physical Kingdom, John 3:3-5 …Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God. Nicodemus saith unto him, How can a man be born when he is old? can he enter the second time into his mother's womb, and be born? Jesus answered, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God.

Until the seventh trumpet blows, we are to be working and praying to bring people into the Kingdom of Heaven. Do you remember what Jesus told Peter and the Disciples in Matthew 16:19? “I will give unto thee the keys of the kingdom of heaven: and whatsoever thou shalt bind on earth shall be bound in heaven: and whatsoever thou shalt loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven.” The ability, the power and the responsibility to open the kingdom of heaven is now ours. The keys to kingdom is the Gospel of Jesus Christ, and we as His church hold those keys.

Mark 1:15 … The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand: repent ye and believe the gospel.

Luke 17:21 Neither shall they say, Lo here! or, lo there! for, behold, the kingdom of God is within you.

Yes, we need to be praying for Jesus to return, reclaim, and revive this sin corrupted world, but we should also be praying, working and giving to bring entrance into that kingdom to the hearts of the lost around us. “Repent for the Kingdom is at hand” has never a more needed message than it is today.

Conclusion: Keep Looking Up!

In a nursing home ministry I had as a Bible College student in DeSoto, Texas, I was once wheeling one of the residents back to her room. I had just finished preaching about the second coming and the sweet lady I was pushing to her room. Looked back over her shoulder and asked. Do you believe Jesus is coming back? I was a little surprised at the question, since I had just finished my sermon about just exactly that. But it wouldn’t be the first time I had put someone to sleep during a sermon so I smiled and said, “Yes Ma’am. I sure do.” She then smiled real big pointed her finger toward heaven and said, “Keep looking up!”

I’ve thought of that encounter many times since then, she preached a message to me that day. Keep looking up, Jesus is coming. Keep looking up, despite fear, pain and sorrow, Jesus is coming. Keep looking up, keep telling the Gospel to those in pain, Jesus is coming back. Just keep looking up for Jesus! Just keep praying up the Kingdom! Just keep preaching up the Gospel!

When the 7^th Trumpet sounds all those who have been looking up, praying up and preaching up will stand up and joyfully shout up at the throne of God, Victory Is the Lord’s. So let us all stand up and sing ….