Eternal Thanksgiving for Dominion Restored

“¹³ And the same hour was there a great earthquake, and the tenth part of the city fell, and in the earthquake were slain of men seven thousand: and the remnant were affrighted, and gave glory to the God of heaven. ¹⁴ The second woe is past; and, behold, the third woe cometh quickly. ¹⁵ And the seventh angel sounded; and there were great voices in heaven, saying, The kingdoms of this world are become the kingdoms of our Lord, and of his Christ; and he shall reign for ever and ever. ¹⁶ And the four and twenty elders, which sat before God on their seats, fell upon their faces, and worshipped God, ¹⁷ Saying, We give thee thanks, O Lord God Almighty, which art, and wast, and art to come; because thou hast taken to thee thy great power, and hast reigned. 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. ¹⁹ And the temple of God was opened in heaven, and there was seen in his temple the ark of his testament: and there were lightnings, and voices, and thunderings, and an earthquake, and great hail” (Revelation 11:13-19).

The original plan of God was that mankind was to have dominion over the earth.

“And God said, Let us make man in our image, after our likeness: and let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over the cattle, and over all the earth, and over every creeping thing that creepeth upon the earth” (Genesis 1:26).

When Adam willfully sinned, he lost that dominion to Satan. Adam chose to sin because he loved Eve more then he loved God.

“And Adam was not deceived, but the woman being deceived was in the transgression” (I Timothy 2:14).

Once Adam sinned, Satan became the “god of this world.”

“In whom the god of this world hath blinded the minds of them which believe not, lest the light of the glorious gospel of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine unto them” (II Corinthians 4:4).

“Wherein in time past ye walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that now worketh in the children of disobedience” (Ephesians 2:2).

Prophecy spoke of a time when Messiah would restore the dominion of the earth to mankind by His incarnation. The Son of God would become the Son of man in order to do so.

“And I will put enmity between thee and the woman, and between thy seed and her seed; it shall bruise thy head, and thou shalt bruise his heel” (Genesis 3:15).

“He will swallow up death in victory; and the Lord GOD will wipe away tears from off all faces; and the rebuke of his people shall he take away from off all the earth: for the LORD hath spoken it” (Isaiah 25:8).

“⁵⁴ So when this corruptible shall have put on incorruption, and this mortal shall have put on immortality, then shall be brought to pass the saying that is written, Death is swallowed up in victory. ⁵⁵ O death, where is thy sting? O grave, where is thy victory? ⁵⁶ The sting of death is sin; and the strength of sin is the law. ⁵⁷ But thanks be to God, which giveth us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ” (I Corinthians 15:54-57).

“That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth” (Philippians 2:10).

In Revelation 11:15 we finally have the transfer of that dominion back to mankind in Jesus Christ, Who then will transpose that dominion to the Church in the Kingdom Age.

“²⁶ And he that overcometh, and keepeth my works unto the end, to him will I give power over the nations: ²⁷ And he shall rule them with a rod of iron; as the vessels of a potter shall they be broken to shivers: even as I received of my Father” (Revelation 2:26-27).

Once the seventh Trumpet is sounded, Revelation 11:15 relates the rapidity that the seven bowl judgments will take place in that this is viewed almost synchronously with the second coming of Christ at Armageddon. The second coming will take place immediately after the seven Vial (Bowl) judgments.

“¹¹ And I saw heaven opened, and behold a white horse; and he that sat upon him was called Faithful and True, and in righteousness he doth judge and make war. ¹² His eyes were as a flame of fire, and on his head were many crowns; and he had a name written, that no man knew, but he himself. ¹³ And he was clothed with a vesture dipped in blood: and his name is called The Word of God. ¹⁴ And the armies which were in heaven followed him upon white horses, clothed in fine linen, white and clean. ¹⁵ And out of his mouth goeth a sharp sword, that with it he should smite the nations: and he shall rule them with a rod of iron: and he treadeth the winepress of the fierceness and wrath of Almighty God. ¹⁶ And he hath on his vesture and on his thigh a name written, KING OF KINGS, AND LORD OF LORDS” (Revelation 19:11-16).

The fact that this will finally take place was the statement of faith of the saints throughout the ages to the praise of His glory.

“To the only wise God our Saviour, be glory and majesty, dominion and power, both now and ever. Amen” (Jude 1:25).

When this historical moment finally rises upon the horizon of time, the 24 elders (representing the saints of all ages) fall down in praise, worship, adoration, and thanksgiving before the throne of God and before God.

“¹⁶ And the four and twenty elders, which sat before God on their seats, fell upon their faces, and worshipped God, ¹⁷ Saying, We give thee thanks, O Lord God Almighty, which art, and wast, and art to come; because thou hast taken to thee thy great power, and hast reigned {lit., hast begun to reign}” (Revelation 11:16-17).

At Revelation 11:13 we are chronologically very near the end of the Tribulation period. It is less then one hour after the ascension of the two witnesses as the whole world watched as they are raised from the dead. Within that hour, a great earthquake will destroy one tenth of the city of Jerusalem and kill 7,000 people. Great fear will come on those remaining alive (the “remnant”) and they will recognize this is all from the hand of God (“give glory“).

One of the reasons these people will recognize a greater power than the “beast” is revealed to us by a little word in verse 12. The words “a cloud” should be “the cloud.” This refers to the Shekinah glory cloud that will descend out of heaven and take the two witnesses up. This is similar to what happened to the Lord Jesus Christ.

“⁸ But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth. ⁹ And when he had spoken these things, while they beheld, he was taken up; and a cloud received him out of their sight” (Acts 1:8-9).

The “remnant” of those in Jerusalem will recognize this to be the glory of God. Some of this remnant may repent and be saved. Others will recognize the source of all these things as supernatural, but continue without repentance. This will end the sixth Trumpet judgment (second woe) of the seven Seal judgments. The third “woe” will be the seven Vial judgments from the seventh Trumpet judgment.

In Revelation 11:15-19 it is evident from the way this is written that there is very little time left before the return of Christ (the second advent). There are four major historical paradigms in the history of the world.

1. The creation and fall of man

2. The incarnation, death, burial, and resurrection of the Son of God

3. The second coming of Jesus Christ to establish His Kingdom and dominion over His creation

4. The final consummation and creation of a new Heaven/Earth where God will dwell with His redeemed forever.

In Revelation 11:15-19 the excitement centers on the fact that the world stands on the threshold of the third great event in history. The seventh angel sounding refers to the seventh Trumpet judgment which results in the seven Vial judgments at the very end of the Tribulation just prior to the second coming of Christ. In these five verses, it is as if John’s vision jumps rapidly back and forth from earth to heaven and from heaven to earth in anticipation. It is that close!

Yet we will not see what happens in these seven Vial judgments (the seventh Trumpet) until chapters 15 and 16. However, it is just moments (perhaps weeks, days or hours) away. As soon as the seventh Trumpet sounds “great voices” make proclamation. “Great” refers to volume. All of heaven will hear this proclamation. Heaven breaks loose in celebration, praise and worship.

“The kingdoms of this world {KOSMOS; Satan’s stolen dominion} are become the kingdoms of our Lord, and of his Christ {Messiah}; and he {the Messiah} shall reign for ever and ever” (Revelation 11:15).

When Jesus taught His disciples how to pray, central to their prayer life was to be their desire for the Kingdom of Christ to come. Every trur Christian should not just be waiting for the Kingdom of Christ to come. We should be waiting in eager anticipation. We should be looking for the Kingdom of Christ to come with great enthusiasm and preoccupied with the possibility of its any moment occurrence.

“Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven” (Matthew 6:10).

At the end of the Tribulation the only thing between the second coming of Christ and the establishment of His Kingdom is these last seven Vial judgments of the seventh Trumpet. These verses record that Trumpet is now being blown. Nothing can hold it back. Nothing can stop it. The final dam holding back God’s wrath will be released in these seven Vial judgments.

This is so overwhelming that the twenty-four elders (Rev. 11:16) come out of their thrones before God and fall prostrate on their faces in worship, adoration and thanksgiving. These elders represent all the redeemed of all ages. They address God in His full Name; ADONAI ELOHIM SHADDAI (Rev. 11:17), LORD GOD ALMIGHTY.

Adonai refers to His relationship as Master (Lord) and Leader. Elohim refers to His character of strength and faithfulness. Shaddai is the Hebrew word for a women’s breast and refers to God as the Nurturer and strength giver. He is the Satisfier of man’s need. He is their source of nourishment and strength.

The redeemed give thanks, recognizing each aspect of Who God is to them. They do so “because” dominion is restored to mankind through Jesus Christ. Yes, the victory was won 2,000 years ago on the Cross of Calvary. That victory was sealed by the resurrection of Jesus Christ, but the spoils of the victory were never claimed . . . until now! At the sounding of the seventh Trumpet, only moments await the second coming of Christ to reclaim dominion over creation for all mankind (the redeemed).

The word “power” of Revelation 11:17 refers to dominion or authority. The first Adam’s lost dominion is about to be “taken” back by the “last Adam.” . “Hast reigned” is better translated hast begun to reign. It is a new beginning that will last forever.

In Revelation 11:18 the scene comes back to earth. “And the nations were angry.”

Of course they were. This reveals the continuing hatred of fallen mankind for God’s control over their lives. Satan has deceived mankind into hating God’s control over their lives. Humanism has made man to be his own god.

“¹ Why do the heathen rage, and the people imagine a vain thing? 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 break their bands asunder, and cast away their cords from us. ⁴ He that sitteth in the heavens shall laugh: the Lord shall have them in derision. ⁵ Then shall he speak unto them in his wrath, and vex them in his sore displeasure. ⁶ Yet have I set my king upon my holy hill of Zion. ⁷ I will declare the decree: the LORD hath said unto me, Thou art my Son; this day have I begotten thee. ⁸ Ask of me, and I shall give thee the heathen for thine inheritance, and the uttermost parts of the earth for thy possession. ⁹ Thou shalt break them with a rod of iron; thou shalt dash them in pieces like a potter’s vessel. ¹⁰ Be wise now therefore, O ye kings: be instructed, ye judges of the earth. ¹¹ Serve the LORD with fear, and rejoice with trembling. ¹² Kiss the Son, lest he be angry, and ye perish from the way, when his wrath is kindled but a little. Blessed are all they that put their trust in him” (Psalms 2:1-12).

After all these years of political subterfuge, those led by the evil one thought they had won control over this world for themselves. They thought they could establish their own standards of right and wrong without the interference of the Biblical absolutists. In this case, the game isn’t over until the last trumpet sounds. With the seventh Trumpet, the last Trump has just sounded!

The lost man (and the carnal Christian) resents God’s interference in his pursuit of pleasure and power through unbridled desires. Lost men do not want God sticking His nose in their business. When Jesus steps out of glory this time, He is coming claiming His dominion and demanding obedience. For the rebels of this world it will be like slapping a mad dog.

When we read Revelation 11:18 it relates wrath and rewards. For the remaining lost upon the earth “thy wrath is come.” As horrible and devastating as these last seven Vial judgments will be, they will seem insignificant to the horrors for the lost in the second coming of Christ.

“⁹ And the LORD shall be king over all the earth: in that day shall there be one LORD, and his name one. ¹⁰ All the land shall be turned as a plain from Geba to Rimmon south of Jerusalem: and it shall be lifted up, and inhabited in her place, from Benjamin’s gate unto the place of the first gate, unto the corner gate, and from the tower of Hananeel unto the king’s winepresses. ¹¹ And men shall dwell in it, and there shall be no more utter destruction; but Jerusalem shall be safely inhabited. ¹² And this shall be the plague wherewith the LORD will smite all the people that have fought against Jerusalem; Their flesh shall consume away while they stand upon their feet, and their eyes shall consume away in their holes, and their tongue shall consume away in their mouth” (Zechariah 14:9-12).

It would appear that not one lost soul would remain alive on the earth. The next time you hear someone pray the Lord’s Prayer (so called) in vain repetition, ask him if he really understand what will happen just before His Kingdom comes.

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