Revelation
The Lamb of God: On His Throne and Among His People
The Kingdom of Our Lord and of His Christ
Revelation 11:15-19

• Read or quote the verse of the month together:

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.”

• Read Revelation 11:15-19 (okay, start at verse 14) and spend time discussing the beauty and terror of these verses. Dwell on the positives from this text.

• Do you think of this world as God’s kingdom? How is it that the world will become the kingdom of our Lord and of his Christ?

• I will not insult your intelligence by asking for evidence that the kingdom of the world is not as it will be when Christ reigns on the throne. What do you most look forward to when Jesus rules on earth?

• Read Ephesians 6:10-20 and discuss the reality of spiritual warfare.
  • Why is it futile to put your hope in politics?
  • How might you consciously put on the whole armor of God?
  • What difference would it make in our lives if we prayed as Paul prayed in this text?

•  Which of the application points hits you were you are? As you go through these points, what convicts/encourages you the most?
  • When heaven declares Jesus’ Second Coming, it will be too late to make changes – commit yourself to Jesus now
  • Believe that God is stronger than anyone or anything that opposes you – make it your practice to trust Jesus in all circumstances
  • Ask God for an eternal perspective – worship Jesus with all your heart

• Pray for your missionary!

Extra Notes

Quotes and Thoughts

Notice in Revelation 11:17 that the Lord is described as the one who is and who was. Previously, in Revelation, God the Father and Jesus have been described as the one who is, who was, and who is to come (1:4 and 8; 4:8 – in differing orders), but now the Lord is only described as the one who is and who was. Why? Probably because he has come and there is no reason to say he is the one who is to come.

Jesus’ fulfillment of the Law in every point is known as his active obedience. His submission to the Father’s will in going to the cross for our sins is known as his passive obedience.

Louis Brighton: The fact that the pagan nations were “destroying the earth” (Revelation 11:18) is a descriptive way of saying that they were participating with the devil and all evil forces in their attempt to usurp the power of God and take over his reign. In the OT the destroying or defiling of the earth and especially the sacred land of Israel was often stated to be the result of the sinful depravity of the people, a spiritual corruption which even physically cursed the land (Amos 4:7-9).

Michael Talley While there is no question that we have a responsibility to care for God’s creation, those who favor the environment over people should know that the redemption of the earth is tied to Jesus’ Second Coming and the redemption of God’s people.

If you are waiting to enjoy a little more of life before you surrender to Jesus, just know, as I am sure you already do, that time, like luck, runs out sooner than you think it will; sooner than you expect. If you think the Lord is speaking to you, call out to him in your heart right now! Ask him to forgive you for your sins and ask Jesus into your heart. You do not technically need to ask Jesus into your heart, but it is a statement of your belief that you cannot save yourself and that you need Jesus to save you.

It is wrong to think that God will never give you anything that is too big for you to handle. He absolutely will give you something that is too big for you to handle, but it is not too difficult for him.

Ask God to help you look beyond your current circumstances and to recognize that what is occurring in your life right now is not simply God’s will for your life, but it is part of his grand design that will continue to unfold in eternity.

1. Jesus is coming again
2. We hope it is soon
3. We better be ready

Scripture from the Sermon

Compare Revelation 11:15-19 with Exodus 15:13-18

Exodus 15:13-18 “You have led in your steadfast love the people whom you have redeemed;

    you have guided them by your strength to your holy abode.

14 The peoples have heard; they tremble;

    pangs have seized the inhabitants of Philistia.

15 Now are the chiefs of Edom dismayed;

    trembling seizes the leaders of Moab;

    all the inhabitants of Canaan have melted away.

16 Terror and dread fall upon them;

    because of the greatness of your arm, they are still as a stone,

till your people, O Lord, pass by,

    till the people pass by whom you have purchased.

17 You will bring them in and plant them on your own mountain,

    the place, O Lord, which you have made for your abode,

    the sanctuary, O Lord, which your hands have established.

18 The Lord will reign forever and ever.”

1 Corinthians 15:22 For as in Adam all die, so also in Christ shall all be made alive. 23 But each in his own order: Christ the firstfruits, then at his coming those who belong to Christ. 24 Then comes the end, when he delivers the kingdom to God the Father after destroying every rule and every authority and power. 25 For he must reign until he has put all his enemies under his feet. 26 The last enemy to be destroyed is death. 27 For “God has put all things in subjection under his feet.” But when it says, “all things are put in subjection,” it is plain that he is excepted who put all things in subjection under him. 28 When all things are subjected to him, then the Son himself will also be subjected to him who put all things in subjection under him, that God may be all in all.

2 Corinthians 4:3 And even if our gospel is veiled, it is veiled to those who are perishing. 4 In their case the god of this world has blinded the minds of the unbelievers, to keep them from seeing the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God.

Ephesians 2:2 And you were dead in the trespasses and sins 2 in which you once walked, following the course of this world, following the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that is now at work in the sons of disobedience.

Luke 4:5 And the devil took him up and showed him all the kingdoms of the world in a moment of time, 6 and said to him, “To you I will give all this authority and their glory, for it has been delivered to me, and I give it to whom I will. 7 If you, then, will worship me, it will all be yours.” 8 And Jesus answered him, “It is written,

“‘You shall worship the Lord your God,

    and him only shall you serve.’”

Hebrews 4:14 Since then we have a great high priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus, the Son of God, let us hold fast our confession. 15 For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but one who in every respect has been tempted as we are, yet without sin. 16 Let us then with confidence draw near to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need.

Psalm 2:1 Why do the nations rage

    and the peoples plot in vain?

2 The kings of the earth set themselves,

    and the rulers take counsel together,

    against the Lord and against his Anointed, saying,

3 “Let us burst their bonds apart

    and cast away their cords from us.”

4 He who sits in the heavens laughs;

    the Lord holds them in derision.

5 Then he will speak to them in his wrath,

    and terrify them in his fury, saying,

6 “As for me, I have set my King

    on Zion, my holy hill.”

7 I will tell of the decree:

The Lord said to me, “You are my Son;

    today I have begotten you.

8 Ask of me, and I will make the nations your heritage,

    and the ends of the earth your possession.

9 You shall break them with a rod of iron

    and dash them in pieces like a potter's vessel.”

10 Now therefore, O kings, be wise;

    be warned, O rulers of the earth.

11 Serve the Lord with fear,

    and rejoice with trembling.

12 Kiss the Son,

    lest he be angry, and you perish in the way,

    for his wrath is quickly kindled.

Blessed are all who take refuge in him.

Amos 4:7 “I also withheld the rain from you

    when there were yet three months to the harvest;

I would send rain on one city,

    and send no rain on another city;

one field would have rain,

    and the field on which it did not rain would wither;

8 so two or three cities would wander to another city

    to drink water, and would not be satisfied;

yet you did not return to me,”

declares the Lord.

9 “I struck you with blight and mildew;

    your many gardens and your vineyards,

    your fig trees and your olive trees the locust devoured;

yet you did not return to me,”

declares the Lord.

Jeremiah 3:16 And when you have multiplied and been fruitful in the land, in those days, declares the Lord, they shall no more say, “The ark of the covenant of the Lord.” It shall not come to mind or be remembered or missed; it shall not be made again.

Hebrews 8:5 They (the priests) serve a copy and shadow of the heavenly things. For when Moses was about to erect the tent, he was instructed by God, saying, “See that you make everything according to the pattern that was shown you on the mountain.”

Mark 15:37 And Jesus uttered a loud cry and breathed his last. 38 And the curtain of the temple was torn in two, from top to bottom.

Ephesians 6:10 Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the strength of his might. 11 Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the schemes of the devil. 12 For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places. 13 Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand firm. 14 Stand therefore, having fastened on the belt of truth, and having put on the breastplate of righteousness, 15 and, as shoes for your feet, having put on the readiness given by the gospel of peace. 16 In all circumstances take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming darts of the evil one; 17 and take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God, 18 praying at all times in the Spirit, with all prayer and supplication. To that end, keep alert with all perseverance, making supplication for all the saints, 19 and also for me, that words may be given to me in opening my mouth boldly to proclaim the mystery of the gospel, 20 for which I am an ambassador in chains, that I may declare it boldly, as I ought to speak.