Jesus’ kingdom is coming, backed by all the authority of heaven, and power over this world will pass into His hands.
The political and ideological swings we experience from one administration to the next in our country are nothing compared to the total overhaul of the world power structure that will occur when Jesus returns. We are not talking about a revolution, for in revolutions the people rise up against a government to overthrow it. The government of the world will not have an uprising, but, rather, its doom will descend from above. It’s destruction is decreed from on high. Heaven’s government itself is set against the government of earth and the Lord Himself will bring the powers of this world to a stunning ruin (Daniel 2:44-45; Revelation 18). The sum of Satan’s malignant energy and the successful arrangement of the nations against the Christ of God will not offer the slightest modicum of resistance to the avalanche of wrath God will pour down on them.
We pray “Father, your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven.” (Matthew 6:10). We sing: Crown Him with many crowns, the Lamb upon His throne. Hark how the heavenly anthem drowns all music but its own. Awake my soul and sing, of Him who died for thee, and hail Him as thy matchless king, through all eternity!”
Jesus’ kingdom is coming, backed by all the authority of heaven, and power over this world will pass into His hands. When it happens Isaiah 9:6 will be realized, “For unto us a child is born, a son is given, and the government will rest on His shoulders.” It will be the day of Philippians 2:10-11, which says: “that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.” It will be the day of which the Lord spoke in Psalm 2, “I have installed my King on Zion, my holy Hill.” It is the day of which is announced in Revelation 11:15-18 when the 7th Trumpet of the Tribulation is sounded.
The 7th trumpet does two things. First, it announces the establishment of Jesus Christ’s kingdom on the earth. Second, it sets in motion the 7 bowl judgments.
#1: This New Kingdom is Pronounced by Heavenly Voices (v15).
First notice that this new kingdom of Jesus is announced by heavenly voices, verse 15, “The seventh angel sounded his trumpet, and there were loud voices in heaven…”
When Jesus arrived to this earth it was announced by heavenly voices to shepherds in a field. Preceding His public ministry was the heaven-sent voice of John the Baptist announcing the imminency of Israel’s Messiah. At the empty tomb was the angelic declaration that Jesus was not there, He is alive. When the day comes when His kingdom will be setup on earth it will be preceded by the royal pronouncement from heavenly voices when the 7th trumpet is sounded.
Who are these voices? We don’t know. It could be the 4 living creatures around the throne (4:6-9), the multitude from every tribe tongue and nation (7:9), the whole host of heavenly angels, the 7 thunders or even the voice from altar before the throne.
We don’t know, and, that’s okay, because I see something else that’s more important about this heavenly announcement: what happens on earth is determined in heaven. What is decreed in heaven cannot be thwarted by anyone or anything on earth. Satan, his demons, kings, nations, armies, nothing can stop God. Jesus’ kingdom is going to happen and nothing can halt it. His kingdom will be by the authority of heaven. His Father will give it to Him. You’ll remember that Satan offered Jesus the kingdoms of the world but Jesus refused. Jesus will be king by His Father’s authority not by Satan’s. His kingdom will be established by the will of heaven, not the will of hell.
That is what these voices make me think of: God is in control of everything. The course of history will turn out exactly as God has planned. Ephesians 1:10 says the mystery of God’s will in Christ will be “put into effect when the times will have reached their fulfillment – to bring all things in heaven and on earth to gether under one head, even Christ.” In other words God is directing all of history towards Jesus Christ and it will all lead to Him. At the end of the age Jesus will stand as King over the earth and we will then see the beginning of His reign in the coming age. Zechariah 14:9 says, “The LORD will be king over the whole earth. On that day there will be one LORD, and His name the only name.”
#2: This Kingdom has Jesus as it’s Potentate (v15).
Second, this Kingdom has Jesus as its Potentate. Notice verse 15 with me, “….”
This verse is reflected Lo He Comes with Clouds Descending, number 241, “Yea Amen! Let all adore thee, High on thine eternal throne; Savior, take the power and glory, claim the kingdom for thine own”
This verse expresses as top-tier theme in Scripture: the coming Kingdom of the Messiah. God has His Anointed One and He will have His kingdom on this earth. It is one in a long list of verses describing the future worldwide reign of the Lord’s Christ. Turn with me to some passages:
Psalm 2:6-9
Daniel 2:35, 44-45;
Daniel 7:13-14, 25-27
Hebrews 1:8
Revelation 11:15
When Jesus comes, His kingdom will take over this world kingdom. Notice it says the kingdom of the world, not kingdoms of the world. One kingdom, not many. Why? Because the human kingdoms of this world collectively are under one kingdom right now: the kingdom of darkness. Satan is the prince of this world, the ruler of the air, the god of this world. His kingdom encompasses the human kingdoms of this world. That’s why he could offer them to Jesus when tempting Him. He gained power over this world when he successfully led Adam into sin, legally taking dominion over the earth from him. God made Adam and gave him dominion over the earth but Adam lost it when he sinned.
One main purpose in Jesus becoming a man was to enter into humanity and redeem humanity for sure, but, also, He became a man to take back the earth from the power of Satan. The first Adam lost this world to Satan, but, Jesus, whom the Bible calls “the Last Adam”, gets it back from Satan. The Son of God is the rightful king over the earth. He will return and He will crush His enemies under His feet and establish His kingdom upon the earth.
This event is so certain that the passage speaks about it as though it already is happening. Notice that verse 15 says “the kingdom of the world HAS BECOME the kingdom of our Lord…” How can it be the kingdom of our Lord already if the Tribulation isn’t over? The world government of the antichrist is still operating. There are 7 bowl judgments left. It isn’t until the end of the Tribulation that Jesus is supposed to come back and set His kingdom up. What’s going on here?
This is what is called a “proleptic” verse. Proleptic simply means to talk about a future event that is going to take place as though it has already taken place now. Talking like something has happened even though it hasn’t happened yet. That’s proleptic. ILLUSTRATION
Scripture does this and it conveys the sovereignty of God when it does. What God says is going to happen is as good as done. There is nothing God says that will not be.
#3: This Kingdom is Perpetual (v15).
Thirdly, the Lord’s Kingdom will be perpetual. Notice verse 15 and 16 again, “….”
When the Lord begins His reign over the earth it will never end. He will not be voted out by referendum. He will not be usurped. He won’t die. He won’t give it away. He will rule forever. Daniel 2:44 says, “In the time of those kings, the God of heaven will set up a kingdom that will never be destroyed, nor will it be left to another people. It will crush all those kingdoms and bring them to an end, but it will itself endure forever.” Then Daniel 7:14 says, He was given authority, glory and soveriegn power; all peoples, nations and men of every language worshiped him. His dominion is an everlasting dominion that will not pass away, and his kingdom is one that will never be destroyed.” We actually celebrate this at Christmas when we read about Gabriel’s announcement to Mary that she was pregnant with Jesus. In Luke 1:32-33, “He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High. The Lord God will give him the throne of His father David, and He will reign over the house of Jacob forever; his kingdom will never end.”
Now, there is a passage later on in Revelation that says Jesus will reign for 1,000 years on the earth, Revelation 20:1-6. That 1,000 years will be the first 1,000 years of Jesus reigning over the earth. It will be a special era with some unique features. It will be the final age of this earth in its present form. After this 1,000 years a new heavens and new earth will appear, but, not a new king. John MacArthur makes a good comment here (pg 311).
CONCLUSION:
Let me conclude with these take aways for you:
First, as Christians we should not lose heart because of politics. The future is not up for grabs. Ultimately the politics of this world are set in stone, and they are going to based on the Rock of Jesus Christ. His kingdom is coming and so we have joy.
Second, God is in control. He is in control of the world and He is in control of us.
Third, we need to submit to Jesus. Jesus is the One who has all authority in heaven and on earth. He is the One whose kingdom will rule over the whole world. He is the One we will all stand before for judgment.
Fourth, Jesus is going to come and be King someday, but, today He wants to be your Savior. God has chosen the day that Jesus will come back and be King over the earth, but, right now you choose if He will be King of your heart. He came the first time to go to the cross, to pay the price for your sins. Today He offers you forgiveness. Come to Him today. Someday then He will come for you.