SEVEN TRUMPETS The Judgment is Sure |
The First Four Trumpets
Rev. 10 Happenings leading to 7th trumpet
Rev. 11 Happenings leading to 7th trumpet
The seventh Trumpet, the Time of Judgment
|
The trumpets of history sounded to alert people of the final judgments, to call them back into covenant relationship. They were designed to call people to repent but "they repented not of their sins." The Book of Revelation reveals Christ working out the provisions of God’s Covenant in the Last Days. It also reveals Christianity's Response to that Covenant by Ulrike
Daniel 7:13-14 tells us when Christ is brought before the Ancient of days at the investigative judgment, He is given dominion, and glory, and a kingdom, that all people, nations, and languages, should serve him: his dominion is an everlasting dominion, which shall not pass away, and his kingdom that which shall not be destroyed. Through Christ this greatness of the kingdom under the whole heaven, shall be given to the people of the saints of the most High, whose kingdom is an everlasting kingdom. (Dan. 7:27) This is the focus, of the seventh trumpet! Just as the main focus in Daniel 7 was upon the Son of Man receiving the dominion....
Again the prophet sees the conclusion. The twenty four elders, who were present before God's throne at Christ's ascension and witnessed His inauguration, exclaiming "Worthy, worthy is the Lamb that was slain", (5:23) and who have served with their "bowls full of incense, which are the prayers of the saints" (5:8), worship Him who is crowned King of Kings. Their song in chapter 5, was "You have redeemed us to God by Your blood...You have made us unto our God kings and priests, and we shall reign on the earth (5:10) What joy they express that Christ has redeemed them, and bought back the lost inheritance! Their joy is a reflection of the great joy all the redeemed will experience as Christ receives the kingdom which He has won back with His own blood.
11:18 And the nations were angry, and thy wrath is come, and the time of the dead, that they should be judged, and that thou shouldest give reward unto thy servants the prophets, and to the saints, and them that fear thy name, small and great; and shouldest destroy them which destroy the earth.
Both Daniel and Revelation reveal the turmoil of earth's nations as they struggle against each other, seeking to grasp the dominion of the earth; seeking to gain the world at the expense of their souls. Each trying to subjugate the citizens of earth under their control by force.
A kingdom can never truly be called a kingdom without subjects! However, Christ's kingdom will be made up ONLY of willing subjects, no one will be forced to live under Christ's rule who does not want to live in His dominion.
Who are the citizens of Christ's kingdom? The enrollment for the new kingdom is made up by Christ in the presence of the Father, while multitudes of angels watch. (See Dan. 7:9-10) "The books are opened and the court is seated." Christ confessess the names of His people before the Father and before this multitude of angels. It is while people are still living upon the earth that the work of investigative judgment takes place in the courts of heaven. Christ is presenting His subjects before the heavenly court! All are examined according to the record of the books of heaven to see if they are clothed in the garment of Christ's righteousness, their sins confessed and repented, covered by His blood, their lives and hearts yielded to His will.
In Rev. 11:18 the twenty four elders announce that the time has come to judge the dead.
The time (prior to the second coming) to judge the dead is seen in Daniel 7 which takes place soon after the 1260 years, when the heavenly court gathers about the Ancient of Days, the books are opened and the court is in session.
Daniel 7 showed us this court scene takes place in heaven. Revelation 11:19 shows us where in heaven those judgment thrones are set up! The temple of God is opened and we see the ark of the covenant. All kingdoms have laws, and the kingdom of God has the perfect law! That law was etched in stone by the finger of God, and is now in the ark of the covenant, still under the mercy seat where Christ's blood can pardon the repentant transgressor. When on earth, Christ said to His disciples, "I have kept My Father's commandments." John 15:10. By His perfect obedience He has made it possible for every human being to obey God's commandments. When we submit ourselves to Christ, the heart is united with His heart, the will is merged in His will, our minds are filled with heavenly thoughts; we walk with Him in paths of righteousness. This is what it means to be clothed with the garment of His righteousness, accepting His forgiveness, His merits, and walking with Him in paths of righteousness. His subjects will declare, " I delight to do thy will, O my God: yes, thy law is within my heart." (Ps. 40:8)
The time of the seventh trumpet begins with the heavenly judgment, and it extends into eternity, covering the events of the last days. This is the time when the heavenly High Priest who holds the golden censer, "filled it with fire of the altar", just like the earthly priests would do just before they entered the Most Holy Place on the day of atonement. It is also the time when He comes out "and casts [the censor] into the earth: and there were voices, and thunderings, and lightnings, and an earthquake." (Rev. 8:5) When that censor is cast down, mediation ceases, the seven last plagues fall. (See Rev. 16:18) As the thunders and lightnings and earthquake shatter the earth the commandments are again seen -- this time there is no ark of the covenant with a mercy seat. As God formerly revealed His law amid thunder and lightning from Mt. Sinai, He will again proclaim His law from the heavens in terrible majesty. Says the prophet, "The heavens shall declare His righteousness; for God is judge himself." (Ps. 50:6)
The seventh trumpet takes us to the restoration of the earth.
|