A Revelation Invitation

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.” And the twenty-four elders who sit on their thrones before God fell on their faces and worshiped God, 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.
     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.” (Revelation 11:15-18 ESV)

In the prelude to the battle of Jericho the Israelites marched around the city in silence once a day for six days. Only the sound of trumpets was heard. If I had been in Israel’s army, I would have had questions. What is this accomplishing? What is God up to? This is not how armies defeat their foes. On the seventh day, Israel marched seven times around the city. When the trumpets sounded and the army shouted, the walls fell and Israel entered the city without resistance. I hope that I would have learned that day that victory comes not by our strength, but by the Lord’s power. The battle is the Lord’s.

This lesson is pertinent to the Revelation story. Six trumpets had sounded with no relief for the saints who were up against the mighty Roman Empire. However, when the angel blew the seventh trumpet, loud voices were heard saying, “The kingdom of the world has become the kingdom of our Lord and of his Christ, and he shall reign forever and ever.” The battle is the Lord’s! Despite its seeming invincibility, Rome was destined to fall as had Jericho—not by the strength of the Christians but through their gospel message, through their suffering and through God’s “resurrection” of his church. Notwithstanding Rome’s claims to the contrary no one truly rules the world but Christ alone. One eternal kingdom rises to supplant all others—the kingdom of our Lord and of his Christ. Jesus was enthroned as king when he died on Golgotha and will one day reclaim the world as its rightful king.

This is the world Christians long for where God’s rule is undisputed and unrivaled. The nations are weighed and found wanting. The usurpers of God’s supremacy rage at God when their power is wrested from them. God dismisses these pathetic rulers in their impotent grasping for power. The Lord’s wrath is directed at those who have corrupted and exploited the world to their own selfish ends. They are judged, found wanting and destroyed. When the dust settles, one nation, one kingdom stands where love reigns and peace prevails. And the servants of Christ are rewarded with a righteous king and his eternal kingdom. Caesar had set himself against the Lord, God’s anointed, when Pilate lifted Jesus up on a cross on the hill of Calvary crowning him king. In the centuries that have followed, nation after nation and ruler after ruler have defied the Lord’s anointed. Those nations and their rulers have each fallen in turn. The kingdom of our Lord and of his Christ stands. This passage does not chronicle a particular historical event (past, present or future) but characterizes the pattern under which all history progresses, under which all nations and kingdoms must operate. Throughout history every empire that falls heralds the reign of Jesus Christ.

What can we do except fall on our faces in worship and thanksgiving? The Lord God Almighty has revealed himself to us as the one who is and who was. And Jesus Christ is his king worthy of our praise. Let us lift our hands and our voices to him in thanksgiving.

Lord God Almighty, I praise you as the one who accomplishes all that is your will. Your kingdom is eternal. Your kingdom will prevail. I fall on my face before you and acknowledge your power, your glory and your sovereignty over all creation. May your kingdom come and your will be done on earth as it is in heaven. In your great mercy may I live as a humble servant whom you will reward in your eternal kingdom. Amen.