Day 1,098: Revelation 11- Singing Of His Reign

Then I was given a measuring rod like a staff, and I was told, “Rise and measure the temple of God and the altar and those who worship there, 2 but do not measure the court outside the temple; leave that out, for it is given over to the nations, and they will trample the holy city for forty-two months. 3 And I will grant authority to my two witnesses, and they will prophesy for 1,260 days, clothed in sackcloth.”
4 These are the two olive trees and the two lampstands that stand before the Lord of the earth. 5 And if anyone would harm them, fire pours from their mouth and consumes their foes. If anyone would harm them, this is how he is doomed to be killed. 6 They have the power to shut the sky, that no rain may fall during the days of their prophesying, and they have power over the waters to turn them into blood and to strike the earth with every kind of plague, as often as they desire. 7 And when they have finished their testimony, the beast that rises from the bottomless pit will make war on them and conquer them and kill them, 8 and their dead bodies will lie in the street of the great city that symbolically is called Sodom and Egypt, where their Lord was crucified. 9 For three and a half days some from the peoples and tribes and languages and nations will gaze at their dead bodies and refuse to let them be placed in a tomb, 10 and those who dwell on the earth will rejoice over them and make merry and exchange presents, because these two prophets had been a torment to those who dwell on the earth. 11 But after the three and a half days a breath of life from God entered them, and they stood up on their feet, and great fear fell on those who saw them. 12 Then they heard a loud voice from heaven saying to them, “Come up here!” And they went up to heaven in a cloud, and their enemies watched them. 13 And at that hour there was a great earthquake, and a tenth of the city fell. Seven thousand people were killed in the earthquake, and the rest were terrified and gave glory to the God of heaven.
14 The second woe has passed; behold, the third woe is soon to come.
The Seventh Trumpet15 Then the seventh angel blew his trumpet, and there were loud voices in heaven, saying, “The kingdom of the world has become the kingdom of our Lord and of his Christ, and he shall reign forever and ever.” 16 And the twenty-four elders who sit on their thrones before God fell on their faces and worshiped God, 17 saying,
“We give thanks to you, Lord God Almighty,
    who is and who was,
for you have taken your great power
    and begun to reign.
18 The nations raged,
    but your wrath came,
    and the time for the dead to be judged,
and for rewarding your servants, the prophets and saints,
    and those who fear your name,
    both small and great,
and for destroying the destroyers of the earth.”
19 Then God's temple in heaven was opened, and the ark of his covenant was seen within his temple. There were flashes of lightning, rumblings, peals of thunder, an earthquake, and heavy hail.

​Meditation
God is sovereign over history, present with His people for their protection while working His purposes through every detail. Though pain, problems, and persecution persist- Jesus rules and His sovereign grace invites us to join the chorus of worship.
 
Two witnesses, the second woe, and the seventh trumpet are images that create confusion. Simply stated, John shares a parable (1-2) introducing the two witnesses who work for 1,260 days (or 42 months, three and a half years, the same period of time the nations will rage against the church). Using imagery from Zechariah, Daniel, and the OT historical books, the witnesses represent the church called to testify to the gospel during the turbulent times before Jesus returns to judge those who reject their testimony (3-13). God’s people are the lamp stands John writes about (11:4; 1:20) whose witness to the gospel shines brightly during the dark days of persecution.
 
Strength to sustain through suffering and struggle is found in the rule of King Jesus. John feeds hope by sharing what he sees- the kingdom of Jesus is an already reality and Christian witness joins the chorus of eternal worship (15-18) while anchoring in awareness of God’s promised and powerful presence (19). Handel’s Messiah celebrates 11:15 in the Hallelujah Chorus, “The kingdom of this world…is become… the kingdom of our Lord and of his Christ, and of his Christ. And he shall reign for ever and ever.”
 
Faith sees the fulfillment of God’s promised kingdom as an already accomplished reality, empowering singing even amid struggle, suffering, pain, problems, and persecution.
 
Richly dwelling
-The imagery is confusing! Where do you see God’s sovereignty in ways that strengthen you?
 
-What difference does it make that Jesus’ kingdom is an already reality?
 
-How can you (practically) join the chorus of saints who celebrate God’s presence by singing of God’s power, siphoning strength to persevere?
 
Key verse
15 Then the seventh angel blew his trumpet, and there were loud voices in heaven, saying, “The kingdom of the world has become the kingdom of our Lord and of his Christ, and he shall reign forever and ever.”