The Kingdom Proclaimed

The Apocalypse – Chapter 11 – Part 2

Blessed is he who reads and those who hear the words of this prophecy (in the book of the Apocalypse / Revelation), and keeps those things which are written in it; for the time is near. Rev 1:3. The time is near. Nearer today than it was yesterday and it will be ever nearer tomorrow. May we be a people who have made themselves ready. Today we finalise Chapter 11 of the book of Revelation (or Apocalypse) – The Kingdom Proclaimed Rev. 11:14-19

 Kingdom Day
 Can I look beyond
 The pain and sorrow
 That is the pace of today
 To a different tomorrow.
  
 Today it seems will hurtle by
 As I’m sure tomorrow will
 Crowded with intense activity
 Oh why can’t life be still.
  
 Lord that everything may 
    just stop
 If only for a while
 So that people can learn 
     to listen again
 To talk, to exchange a smile.
  
 Lord can we have sometime 
     in the future,
 A day let’s call it Kingdom Day
 When everything that is said 
    and done
 Is in accordance with Your 
    unhurried way.
    
 By the late Andrew Feakin 
 [passed away 16^th March 2019]

Keys – The Kingdom Proclaimed

Know that God’s reign shall never end: He shall reign for ever and ever.
There will come a day when the faithful services and sufferings of God’s people will be rewarded.
All the great occurrences of the world are concerted in heaven, and are the answers of the prayers of the saints.

Today we finalise Chapter 11 of the book of Revelation (or Apocalypse) – The Kingdom Proclaimed Rev. 11:14-19

Seventh Trumpet: The Kingdom Proclaimed

Then the seventh angel sounded: And there were loud voices in heaven, saying, “The kingdoms of this world have become the kingdoms of our Lord and of His Christ, and He shall reign forever and ever!” And the twenty-four elders who sat before God on their thrones fell on their faces and worshiped God, saying: “We give You thanks, O Lord God Almighty, The One who is and who was and who is to come, Because You have taken Your great power and reigned.

You will reward Your servants

The nations were angry, and Your wrath has come, And the time of the dead, that they should be judged. That You should reward Your servants the prophets and the saints, And those who fear Your name, small and great, And should destroy those who destroy the earth.” Then the temple of God was opened in heaven, and the ark of His covenant was seen in His temple. And there were lightnings, noises, thunderings, an earthquake, and great hail.

Henry says – Here is the sounding of the seventh and last trumpet, which is ushered in by the warning: The second woe is past, and, behold, the third woe cometh quickly. Then the seventh angel sounded.

His reign shall never end

Here were loud and joyful acclamations of the saints and angels in heaven. They rose from their seats, and fell upon their faces, and worshipped God; with reverence and humility. They thankfully recognise the right of our God and Saviour to rule and reign over all the world. The kingdoms of this world have become the Kingdoms of our Lord and of His Christ, Rev. 11:15. With thankfulness observe His actual possession of them, and reign over them. They give Him thanks because He had asserted His rights and power, and so turned title into possession.

His reign shall never end: He shall reign for ever and ever. Till all enemies be put under His feet and none shall ever wrestle the scepter out of His hand. There were angry resentments in the world at these actings of the power of God (Rev. 11:18). The nations were angry; they had been and were still. It was a time when God was taking revenge upon the enemies of His people.

Blessings plentifully descending

It was a time in which He was beginning to reward the faithful services and sufferings of His people. Yet their enemies could not bear it, they fretted against God, and so increased their guilt and hastened their destruction.

The temple of God in heaven was opened. This may mean there is now more free communication between heaven and earth. Prayer and praises more freely and frequently ascending and graces and blessings plentifully descending.

Now it is opened again

It is also an allusion to the various circumstances at the time of the first temple. Under idolatrous and wicked kings, it was shut up and neglected. Under Godly leaders it was opened and frequented. So, during the power of antichrist, the temple of God seems to be shut up, but now it was opened again.

The ark of God’s testament was in the holy of holies. In this ark the tablets of the law were kept. As in Josiah’s time the law of God had been lost, but was then found. So in the reign of antichrist God’s law is laid aside, and made void. The scriptures were locked up from the people. Now they are opened and brought into the view of all. This was an unspeakable and invaluable privilege.

God will answer our prayers

The ark of the testament, was a token of the presence of God returned to His people. Lightnings, voices, thunderings, an earthquake, and great hail were heard. This great blessing was accompanied with dramatic provisions. God would answer those prayers that were presented in His holy temple. All the great occurrences of the world are concerted in heaven, and are the answers of the prayers of the saints.

Adapted from the Matthew Henry Commentary

Prayer for the Day

Prayer: Father, I come to You. Thank You for the assurance that Your reign shall never end, that You shall reign for ever and ever. Thank you that there will come a day when the faithful services and sufferings of God’s people will be rewarded. May we be a praying people knowing that all the great occurrences of the world are concerted in heaven. Thank You that You hear our prayers and answer them in Your way and in Your time. In Jesus name. Amen.