THE SEVENTH TRUMPET SOUNDS

Revelation 11:15-19

  1. Intro.
    1. in the middle of all the woes of the tribulation period, some encouragement is given to the saints still on earth
    2. they are apt to get discouraged after all they have been through
    3. the worst part of the tribulation period is still ahead
  2. the seventh trumpet – 11:15
    1. "great voices in heaven"
      1. at the opening of the seventh seal, there was silence in heaven
      2. the sounding of this trumpet clears up the mystery of God
      3. all creation is now to be delivered from the curse
      4. all of God’s created beings can now see the end, and are jubilant in anticipation of the termination of evil
    2. Christ is going to take possession of the kingdoms of this world
      1. Satan’s kingdom will be defeated someday, but not by some sweet talk on brotherhood and love
      2. the Lord Jesus is coming to put down all rebellion, and He shall reign supreme forever
        1. He will sit on the throne of David in Jerusalem
        2. the knowledge of the Lord will cover the earth as the waters cover the sea
        3. the curse will be lifted and we will have "peace on earth, good will toward men
        4. we will have the peace the politicians have talked about but have done very little to bring about
  3. the twenty-four elders fall down before God in worship – 11:16-17
    1. Jesus came the first time as a babe in a manger -- a tender Lamb
    2. He is coming the second time in great power, taking vengeance on them that know not God
    3. here we approach the grand climax of the affairs of the ungodly on earth
    4. they were the ones counted worthy to escape the woes that will come upon the whole earth
    5. not only do they fall on the ground before the Lord, but they fall on their faces
  4. the nations of the earth become angry – 11:18
    1. reveals that the stubborn rebellion of man will continue to the very end
      1. we cannot make this old nature obey God
      2. we cannot bring this old nature under control, that is why God is going to get rid of it someday
    2. the time of God's judgment has come
      1. God is about to judge the wicked in a final judgment
      2. He is about to reward all of His prophets and servants
      3. there will be a new Heaven and a new earth, wherein dwelleth righteousness
      4. the saints will be put on display in the Pearly White City, and Satan will be put in the pit
      5. all sin and all unrighteousness must be removed from the earth
      6. the Antichrist and the wicked will be put down
      7. they become exceedingly angry, and in chapter twelve a great war breaks out between God and the devil
  5. the temple is opened – 19
    1. the tabernacle and the temple of the Jews were copies of the tabernacle and temple in Heaven
    2. when the temple in Heaven is open, John sees "the ark of God's covenant"
      1. all the covenants and promises of God to His people are in that ark
      2. God's solemn promises cannot be broken, they are forever settled in Heaven
      3. not one word of God's promises is obsolete, dead, or forgotten; God cannot lie
    3. now, at the ending of time, when all promises are to be fulfilled, that sacred ark appears
      1. the ark was the most sacred part of the temple
      2. the ark disappeared when Nebuchadnezzer destroyed the temple and carried Judah captive into Babylon around 600 BC
        1. at this time all the vessels of the house of God were taken into Babylon
        2. no mention was made of the ark, the most important and most costly item
        3. no mention was made of the ark when Cyrus commissioned the rebuilding of the temple, and sent back all the vessels
        4. it would seem strange for God to have allowed the ark to have been destroyed
        5. there is no mystery as to were the ark is, God showed John