REVELATION 11:15-19

Five verses here, packed with excitement and anticipation. The seventh angel sounds its trumpet, and the reign of Christ is declared forever!

God’s eternal kingdom will be forever, for eternity, and yet it will start literally on earth, with Christ on the throne. In response to hearing the trumpet, and the declaration of the kingdom, the 24 elders follow suit with worship. The fall on their faces and tell God just how great He is, and by their actions show how unworthy they are. Humbly subject to God.

Verse 17 begins a prayer of thanksgiving to God, and though this prayer fits a specific happening, the pattern is such that we would do well to follow. Those in prayer recognize God’s almighty power, and pay homage to Him reigning. His holy justice is acknowledged as are His promises of reward to His people. Just as He has promised heavenly reward, so He has also promised His wrath to those who do not accept His Son.

And then, as if in response to the prayers, God opens up the heavenly temple, and there sits the ark of the covenant. Whether or not it will literally be there will have to remain to be seen. The original ark in the Jerusalem temple disappeared after the city fell to Nebuchadnezzar and Babylon. Some believe it was destroyed, others believe it was taken and hidden in the region of Alexandria. Still others believe it was taken and hidden at Mt. Sinai by Jeremiah, only to be returned or revealed when God would again establish His temple.

John’s believing readers would immediately recognize God in His temple with the ark as a complete picture of Him reigning eternal. The ark was where God was, in the holy of holies, and where only the high priest could go, nationally representing each person’s individual faith. Christ came to rule the hearts of individuals, inviting all to come to the Father through Him. God shows that His kingdom, His temple is ready for all who will come.

Following this awesome display by God are thunder and lightning, and earthquake and a hailstorm. It reminds me of something out of a sci-fi movie, but this is God’s power on display. How will the unbeliever respond? How should we?

SO WHAT…?

So, I get to read of God’s promises, of His justice, of His wrath. I should therefore present my life humbly before Him in worship, in recognition of just how great He is, though I can scarcely comprehend that.

So, God is very serious about getting our attention, about calling the lost to Him to believe. Often, I fail to sense the urgency of my part in being a witness for Him, and I need to step it up.

So, I also pray that my regular, corporate worship to Him shows Him that I recognize my proper and humble place before Him. It’s about Him, not me.