Tag: worshiped God

7.k. The nations raged, but your wrath came

Revelation 11:15   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.” 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.” 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.

We see the 7th trumpet is blown.  This is at the time just following the death and resurrection of the two witnesses.  People had no more been celebrating the death of these two when the seventh trumpet is sounded.  People were foolishly thinking that by killing the two witnesses they could destroy God’s Word against their sin.  They think they could escape punishment by killing those who tell them of the coming judgment/punishment.

We are shown what is taking place in heaven when the 7th trumpet is blown.  It is as if those in heaven before the throne are aware of the significance of this 7th trumpet.  They seem to know that the kingdom of God on earth is imminent. “for you have taken your great power and begun to reign” – “the nations raged but your wrath came” – “time for the dead to be judged” – “for rewarding your servants, the prophets and saints, and those who fear you name” – “for destroying the destroyers of the earth”.  This is or seems to be, a summary of what is to come with the sounding of this 7th trumpet.  There is the worship of God knowing the final stages of the tribulation period has been put into motion.  There are many things and judgments to take place in these last three and one-half years of the tribulation period before the end actually comes.  God’s plans and purposes are so certain that the hosts of heaven are essentially saying “it is here”.  Christ will reign forever and ever.

We will see in the coming chapters that man will still reject and fight Christ.  All they have seen of His great power being displayed both by wonders and signs and judgment will be rejected and they will harden their hearts more if that is possible.  Harden hearts and rejection of Christ and salvation are signs of and the manifestation of sin in mankind.  Denying the need for forgiveness and rejecting the great sacrifice Jesus Christ paid on the cross will be at an all-time high.  Right now, in our time, it is a passive rejection, where people know of the need and but deny the need for themselves.  How tragic it will be for their soul.  Just because we live in a time of prosperity and presence of the Holy Spirit on earth does not for one second deny the need for salvation.  Far too many miss this personal need in their life.  Far too many passively go about their lives rejecting the Son of God, Jesus Christ, and think because there is still time in the future to “get right” with God, or that they are good enough.  They deny their whole heart, mind, and soul commitment and surrender to Jesus Christ.  So, what we see is that during the time of great blessing through the presence of the Holy Spirit, at time of grace, mercy, and love, and during the time of great judgment, wrath, and anger, people reject salvation, forgiveness, redemption, and will suffer the full wrath of God for this rejection.  When you look deep into your heart is it filled with a desire to humbly serve, honor, worship, follow, trust, and obey Jesus Christ, if not, make an intentional choice to surrender to Him.

6.z. “Salvation belongs to our God who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb!”

Revelation 7:9   After this I looked, and behold, a great multitude that no one could number, from every nation, from all tribes and peoples and languages, standing before the throne and before the Lamb, clothed in white robes, with palm branches in their hands, and crying out with a loud voice, “Salvation belongs to our God who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb!” And all the angels were standing around the throne and around the elders and the four living creatures, and they fell on their faces before the throne and worshiped God, saying, “Amen! Blessing and glory and wisdom and thanksgiving and honor and power and might be to our God forever and ever! Amen.”

Then one of the elders addressed me, saying, “Who are these, clothed in white robes, and from where have they come?” I said to him, “Sir, you know.” And he said to me, “These are the ones coming out of the great tribulation. They have washed their robes and made them white in the blood of the Lamb.

“Therefore they are before the throne of God, and serve him day and night in his temple; and he who sits on the throne will shelter them with his presence. They shall hunger no more, neither thirst anymore; the sun shall not strike them, nor any scorching heat. For the Lamb in the midst of the throne will be their shepherd, and he will guide them to springs of living water, and God will wipe away every tear from their eyes.”

During the Tribulation period when the church is gone and the seals are open and the anger and wrath of God are upon the earth, we see God in grace and mercy reaching out.  He seals the 144,000 who are His witnesses and these who are clothed in white robes are those who have believed and been saved and died because of and during the tribulation period.  “They have washed their robes and made them white in the blood of the Lamb.”  I still have to wonder how many have died during this time without believing, and in so doing, sealed their eternal destiny in hell.  Isn’t it the same today?  Rejection of Christ and finding their pleasure, satisfaction, and hope in things of this world instead of the Creator of it.  Today, the Holy Spirit of God is still present.  God’s Holy Spirit, to guide, direct, encourage open ears, open eyes, soften hearts and proclaim truth to our hearts is present.  And even though His Spirit is present we still resist and close our eyes and ears, harden our hearts, and stiffen our necks.  We resist His active presence in our lives and intentionally choose to follow what seems right in our own eyes.  We neglect His Word and desire things of this world more than humbly serving, honoring, following, obeying, and trusting in Him.  Notice how those who come through the tribulations and worship Him day and night.  They serve Him.  We do well to grow in His Word, and desire and seek to live, act, think and speak in ways that honor and glorify Him every moment of every day.