Revelation Chapter 11
The Seventh Trumpet
As it is explained in the New Albany Notes on Revelation
Note: The seventh trumpet is likewise the third woe, even as the sixth trumpet was the second woe (Rev 11:14), and the fifth trumpet the first woe (Rev 9:3). Just as there were ten plagues which befell Egypt, Egypt being a type representative of Christendom, Babylon, so too there are ten final plagues to befall the Christian world save in this instance the Lord refers to the first three as “woes”.
“For God may speak in one way, or in another, yet man does not perceive it.” (Job 33:14)
VERSE 15 “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!”
“The Laodicea Church message has in common with the seventh Trumpet message the proclamation of the Lord’s second advent. It is possible in Rev 3:20 that “my voice” is the message given by Pastor Russell which announces the Parousia (presence) and the reign. Many, of course, joined the Pastor in the proclamation with much enthusiasm; hence, we have LOUD VOICES (plural) in heaven making the announcement (the heaven here referred to is of course in reference to those sitting in the heavenly or spiritual conditions, those begotten of the spirit here on earth, Eph 1:3;2:6):
THE KINGDOM (the sovereignty) of the world has become that of our LORD (Yahweh —compare Psa. 2:2) and of His Christ (Jesus & his faithful); and He (Yahweh) will reign forever and ever (NAS). Jesus, of course, only reigns for the first thousand years (1 Cor. 15:24-28).
This Trumpet is also the “last trumpet” of 1 Cor. 15:52, the “trump of God” of 1 Thess. 4:16, the Jubilee trumpet of Lev. 25 with its implied attachment to Acts 3:19-21.
VERSE 16 and 17 “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.”
The 24 elders, the 24 prophecies of the Jewish Bible (see How to study the book of Revelation, Part 28) who SIT (control) on their THRONES (positions of judgment —their words are extensions of God’s own statement of His law) FALL ON THEIR FACES AND WORSHIP GOD (an act of displaying homage which the prophecies are seen to do as they are seen to be fulfilled.) They “SAY” (by being fulfilled), we are thankful for this time which all of the Old Testament writings have proclaimed.
The fact that the terms WHO IS AND WHO WAS are used here may be significant. He, in terms of the prophecies, WAS because in the PAST He made these predictions. But now He IS, in that WHAT HE FORETOLD is currently happening. There can, of course, be no question about the eternal nature of God. What this tribute says is that God is now MAKING MANIFEST that eternal nature —the continuity from the past into the present. He is doing so BY BEGINNING THE PROMISED REIGN, the forepart of which belongs to His Christ.
Continued with next post.
