The Seventh Trumpet

Well, the book of Revelation when learning deals with is wonderful subject magnificent subject of the coming of the kingdom of God emasculated beginning. Will you be part of that kingdom usage here this morning. Do you have the assurance that your part of the kingdom of God. All of us are going to live forever, either in the wonder and glory of the kingdom of God or in the unending gloom of hell itself. This morning went to learn of the kingdom of our Lord, our Lord Jesus is coming soon. They may come at any moment and all of us who love Christ should be ready and eagerly anticipating his coming. We should be praying. As John says.

Even so, Lord Jesus, that we learned that after the rapture of the church of Jesus Christ. Many events will take place on here is an overview of them. You've seen that slide before the next event in God's prophetic calendar is the rapture of the church to heaven as described in first Thessalonians 4 John 14 first Corinthians 15 and then there is this. On earth, called the tribulation.

Much of the book of Revelation is to do with that period of the tribulation at the end of that Jesus Christ will come to pass after we read the great Scripture from Revelation 19 as Jesus Christ comes to earth with the saints coming to rule coming as a king of kings and Lord of lords, and will be thinking of that this morning and that will be followed by the millennial kingdom appealing to the thousand years, while our Savior will real from Jerusalem the center of the world. And then there will be ushered in the eternal state last Sunday as we looked at the first 14 verses of Revelation 11, we learned that the temple is going to be rebuilt in Jerusalem and during the tribulation. That Temple will be desecrated by the Antichrist who wants people to worship him. During the time of the tribulation at least part of the time. There will be these two witnesses that we learned of last week, the voice of God will be hurt. There will be 144,000 Jewish believers witnesses described in Revelation 7 and then will be these two outstanding prophets that we thought of last week. Can we read in Revelation 11. As I invite you to open your Bibles. There we finished in verse 14 where when we read last week.

The second wall has passed.

There are seven trumpets. The fifth trumpet is the first wall of the second wall is the six trumpets, and behold, the third wall is soon to come. That is the seventh trumpet and were looking this morning at verses 15 through 19 of Revelation 11 some of your thinking. Why are we spending so much time in this book. Why don't you deal with more practical things. Well, I can't think of anything more practical than the return of Jesus Christ.

I can really think of any more practical than the coming kingdom of God. And John writes can I remind you, in Revelation 1 verse three Blessed is the one who reads aloud the words of this prophecy, and blessed are those who hear and keep what is written for the time is near.

So let's look at Revelation 11 verses 15 through 19th. First of all, the overall context is a reminder that there during the tribulation, the judgment of God is poured out on the yard and the judgment is contained in the seven seals, seven trumpets and seven bowls.

The seven trumpets are contained in the seventh seal and the seven bowls are contained in the seventh trumpet and it is the seventh trumpet that we think of this morning when that seventh trumpet blows. It's the culmination of God's judgment on the all of the seven bowls of judgment are going to be poured out as were going to read in chapter 16 and the verses that were reading this morning of a very helpful summary of the events that the return of our Lord Jesus Christ, the chapters between 11 and 16 don't advance the chronology of the sequence of the tribulation, but rather they explain some of the events and some of the characters of the tribulation.

Now this trumpet is the seventh trumpet. It is the last of the it is the last of the seven the last trumpet yet that expression for there's a last trumpet which is different from the seventh trumpet. There is a last trumpet that will be sounded at the rapture of the church. Paul says in first Corinthians 15 that when our Lord Jesus Christ comes for his saints to rapture us to heaven. The last trumpet will sound by the seventh trumpet of Revelation 11 is not that last trumpet the last trumpet of the rapture is a trumpet of grace calling on gathering God's people are to be forever with the Lord of the dead will be raise first and we were alive will be I will meet them in the air will be caught up and so we love ever be with the Lord. But this trumpet, the seventh trumpet is a trumpet of judgment to distinct trumpets. Now let's think of the kingdom of God.

Verse 15 of Revelation 11 then the seventh angel blew his trumpet, and there were loud voices in heaven, saying, listen to this. The kingdom of the world has become the kingdom of our Lord and of his Christ, and he shall reign forever and ever. What a spectacular announcement from heaven itself. When that seventh angel blows his trumpet there will be loud voices in heaven, declaring verse 15 the kingdom of the world has become the kingdom of our Lord and of his Christ, and he shall reign for ever and ever. What I suspect ocular announcement a few minutes ago. We stood there and we read what's called a large prayer what's in the large prayer will there is this expression, your kingdom come, your will be done on earth as it is in heaven is God's will done in heaven, absolutely. And now the coming of the kingdom of God.

Just as God's will is done in heaven, so it will be done on the narrow, the kingdom of God is coming in his fullness in the splendor in this magnificent glory.

Today it may seem that God is not in charge of the world looking at our world today.

We might come to the conclusion that the devil and not God is in control, that he is the ruler, but Scripture is full of the prophecies of the coming king and of an eternal kingdom. If you can find it.

Turn with me to Isaiah chapter 9 verses that we read at Christmas but go beyond that the message of Christmas. Isaiah 9 verse six for to us a child is born, to us a son is given. Sound familiar, and the government shall be upon his shoulders and his name shall be called wonderful Counselor, mighty God, everlasting father, Prince of peace, and others are seven of the increase of his government and of peace there will be no end on the throne of David and over his kingdom. He will establish it and uphold the scares me on the throne of David and over his kingdom, to establish it and to uphold it with justice and with righteousness from this time forth and forevermore. The zeal of the Lord of hosts will do this. Isaiah 9 verses six and seven and then over a few books to the book of Daniel, Ezekiel, Daniel. Daniel is much to say on this coming kingdom of a few years ago I preached through the book of Daniel we have these CDs in the word room if you're interested at Daniel to verse 44. Some of you remember Nebuchadnezzar's dream with the various kingdoms. Daniel 244 in the days of these kings the God of heaven will set up a kingdom that shall never be destroyed, nor shall the kingdom be left to another, it shall break in pieces.

All these kingdoms and bring them to an end and it shall stand forever. Yes, there's all these kingdoms of the world kingdoms rise and fall, Daniel describes some of them in Bible amino prayer prayers in Rome and Greece and all of these empires but all of them without exception will available come to an end, but that is coming. Daniel says there's going to, kingdom which will never ever and chapter 7 of Daniel chapter 7 verse 14 in this magnificent vision that Daniel has of the Son of Man coming in power Scripture that our Lord is going to quote in the Gospels. Daniel seven verse 14 and to him that to the Son of Man that is the Messiah that the Lord Jesus Christ.

To him was given dominion and glory and a kingdom that all peoples, nations and languages shall serve him.

His dominion is an everlasting dominion, which shall not pass away, and his kingdom, one that shall not be destroyed. This coming kingdom. The kingdom of our Lord and of his Christ is a kingdom that shall never be destroyed.

The second last book of the Old Testament, the book of Zechariah last book of Malachi, just before that Zechariah, some you got Bibles for Christmas were putting them to good use of the Bible go to the word room by one. Preferably, the English standard version that were using here in Calgary. Zechariah chapter 14 verse nine, which was time to go right through this wonderful chapter, but just one verse Zechariah 14 verse nine and the Lord listen to this is wonderful thing of the world today. All the chaos only evil and the Lord will be king over all the earth on that day the Lord will be one.

And his name one prophecies of the coming kingdom, a kingdom coming with might empower a kingdom which will totally crush all evil and all rebellion prophesied in the Old Testament, and when our Lord Jesus Christ at the beginning of his public ministry is regarded in Mark chapter 1 she begins his public ministry.

What does he say the time is fulfilled and the kingdom of God is at hand. Therefore repent and believe in the gospel are no comes into time and space our Lord Jesus Christ the King.

He announces nonsense of the kingdom of God is near the kingdom of God is at hand.

Therefore, what are we to do repents, repent of our sins. Get ready for the raising of this magnificent king repents and believe in the gospel that is with the coming of Jesus Christ and Jesus. The kingdom of God is drawing near. Member of the prophet. They word of the angel to Mary in Luke chapter 1 regarding her son that he will be given the throne of his father David and he will reign over the house of Jacob forever, and of his kingdom there will be part no point I greatly respect my Queen Queen Elizabeth II has arraignments. I think for 63 years is a long time to be a monarch of and she's done very well.

She's been a good Good Queen. I believe, but one day her rainbow come to an end think she's 91 but this king and this kingdom.

The kingdom of our Lord and of his Christ will never ever come to an end and then the Gospels as you read Matthew Mark Luke and John, what do we see we see something of the power and glory of the kingdom invading the power of darkness of demons of disease and of death itself yet as we read the Gospels, it is clear that at the first coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, the fullness of his power, and the fullness of his glory of this magnificent kingdom is not generally openly dismayed many people and rang the majority of people as they look at Jesus do not realize that he is King of Kings and Lord of lords. He doesn't establish his earthly kingdom, much to the dismay of some of his followers but doesn't the nation of Israel come as he calms and presents himself to Israel as their king.

What do they do they reject him as king reject him as Messiah. John says he came to his own and his own people didn't receive them. He's rejected and despised fulfilling the prophecy of Isaiah 53, his respect he's rejected he's despised is crucified on the cross.

Even his own disciples don't recognize that there's going to be a period of time between the first coming and the second coming as they read the Old Testament of this coming kingdom and they expected that this kingdom was going to be set up there and then but no. But Jesus spoke of the future when he would come. Matthew 24. For example, when you would come on the clouds with power and glory prophesied that the return of King Jesus the Christ will be the most dramatic in the most visible events in all of human history as described in Revelation 11. He is glorious he is sovereign. He is as they say in Revelation 11 verse 17 he is the Lord God Almighty and these loud voices in heaven.

In Revelation 1115 are now saying that the king has come, and his coming is not a shortcoming. His coming is coming to reign for ever and ever.

Did you notice the tense of the verb loud voices in heaven, saying, the kingdom of the world has become the tense of the verb is such that this future events coming kingdom of our Lord Jesus Christ is seen as certainly occurring. This will happen.

In fact, it is as good as done. John is writing almost 2000 years ago, and he's saying that he hears these voices the kingdom of the world has become the kingdom of our Lord and of his Christ. Remember when good and I lived in Canada we bought a piece of ground in Halifax Nova Scotia. There's plenty of rock so I remember the Scripture build your house on the rock nonsense so there is a huge amount of rock on the site and of course we were deciding the plans of the house is very exciting time planning a house and remember being there with the builder and with my dear wife who had a very wonderful ideas. Of course I agreed with him all about the design of the house. All I really asked for which I didn't think was too much.

I really wanted a nice study is that too much as work in a house that I be paying for the house would come from my study was done in the basement with a little window. I thought no, I don't want that. I want to study the very front of the house. Huge window of the splendor there and plenty of room for all of my books are only some of them will take some in the church by one. Most of my books around me in the study and so we're there. And as we were meeting with the builder was very good, very experienced plans I have in my mind, study, don't be no plan to assert yourself John and the circumstances real teddy bear in the circumstances.

As you can imagine an sake of your member study that I had in my mind and so I said to the builder and remember about my study. This is very important. He's had a hit. It's it's okay and were talking and I said what about my study.

He said it's built.

I thought no one can get rock isn't built in goodness that John the study is built because I learned the builder and my wife were able to see in a way that was difficult for me that the house was as good as built in the builder's mind. He had done many times before my wife was able to visualize what this would look like.

But the staircase would look look like salmon with the kitchen would look like, and when I mentioned again my study.

The man said to me somewhat impatiently lesson is built.

Why don't you go to church and just leave the building to me. I said, you're absolutely right. I'm in a go to church and and study a message to them. It was as good as done at the point of this, the kingdom of the world has become the kingdom of our Lord and of his Christ, let me ask, as you see here today do believe that do you really believe that the kingdom of our Lord and of his Christ is going to come in fact NSN site has come because God has promised it and what God promises he will do and all of the forces of hell itself and of the demons cannot stop the coming kingdom of our Lord Jesus Christ is not wonderful to live and his kingdom is actually going to demolish the kingdom of the world was the kingdom of the world. The kingdom of Satan. When Jesus comes as King of Kings and Lord of lords. He will set up a 1000 year reign on our described in Revelation 20 that is the millennial kingdom will follow the coming the second coming of Christ and will merge into the eternal state. Because this kingdom will never, ever, and and he will destroy the armies of the antichrist Satan the antichrist are going to be thrown into the eternal Lake of fire, and Christ will reign as Messiah not only over Israel. But over the whole that we read from Zechariah 14 verse nine and the Lord will be king over all the bracket success reverted to the millennial kingdom of the earth will be filled with the knowledge of the glory of God as the waters cover the sea.

Christ will reign supremely and magnificently as King of Kings and Lord of lords. This is the climax of history on the earth.

The kingdom of this world.

The kingdom of darkness is now becoming the kingdom of our Lord and of his Christ, the kingdom of this world is an earthly kingdom. Millennial kingdom will be an earthly kingdom and following Christ's return there will be the millennial kingdom we could call it an intermediate kingdom when Christ will rule when Christ will defeat all of his enemies and then he will surrender that kingdom to his father is a really John just really listen to Paul in the chapter on the resurrection of first Corinthians 15 branch of never thought of this. First Corinthians 1523 but each in his own order Christ, the firstfruits, then that is coming with those who belong to Christ. Then comes the end, when he our Savior delivers the kingdom to God the father after destroying every rule and every authority and every power that is after destroying the kingdom of the world for he must reign until he has put all of his enemies under his feet so everything of the kingdom of God the future kingdom of God. There are two phases to it.

There's the millennial kingdom an earthly kingdom version 2 reign of Christ, which will merge into the great eternal state.

Because this kingdom will not pass away. This kingdom will not be destroyed. This kingdom will continue for all of eternity. It is an everlasting kingdom notice for these loud voices say, and he shall reign for how long 63 years thousand years, he shall reign forever and ever and we think of this in the grace of God that we who are followers of Jesus amazing to think of is that we are going to be with her Savior forever and you want to be on the winning side. This is the winning side that we are with Christ forever and ever. We stand and will you read with me verse 15 and I want you to read it with loud voices not shouting. Pastor Hathaway tells the choir to sing loudly, but not to shout when you shouting, but I want you reading if you believe it loudly and enthusiastically which reads verse 15 then the seventh angel blew his trumpet, and there were loud voices in heaven say the kingdom of the world has become the kingdom of our Lord and of his Christ, and he shall reign forever and ever. Amen. Please be seated. That was the reaction in heaven.

And there's well that is worshiped in heaven, but there's rage on earth, and the 24 elders, verse 16, who sit on their thrones before God fell on their faces and worshiped God, saying, we give thanks to you, Lord God Almighty, who is a new laws for you have taken your great power and begun to rain the nations rage, but your wrath came and the time for the dad to be judge and for rewarding your servants the prophets and saints and those who fear your name, both small and great, and for destroying the destroyers of the earth. What's the reaction that is worship in heaven.

The 24 elders worship God. -24 elders but we've heard of them before the revelation, for they represented the church of Jesus Christ rapture imagine we're in heaven. We realize what's going on when a loud voice will be announcing as we worship God, and know that the kingdom of our Lord and of his Christ has not come.

Can you imagine that worship don't know about you, I was moved with her worship this morning.

We sang these hymns as I listen to her students that praise will ever be on his lips that our salvation is in Christ alone.

But think of this worship.

Notice what they say thanks to you, Lord God Almighty, who is and who was injured your pain closely as we were singing the Revelation song that we sung.

We sign who is and who was and who is to come, but there's no who is to come here member what John says in Revelation 1 verse eight I am the Alpha and the Omega, says the Lord God who is and who was and who is to come, the Almighty, but there is no mention of who is to come here why not because Christ has come derived the kingdom has come in these 24 elders worship God because of his great power. He is Almighty God. Her powerful is, Revelation 19 tells us that what our Savior comes as King of Kings and Lord of lords. He's got a sharp sword in his mouth with which to strike down the nations, and he will rule them with a rod of iron. The power of Almighty God will then be openly displayed as it was not in his first coming as it is not know presently everyone will know that he is the Almighty, all-powerful, great God, who totally defeats his enemy and who sets up this kingdom which destroys all other kingdoms as your Savior is not only the creator he is.

He's not only the Redeemer is. He is the Almighty conqueror who reigns forever and ever.

Is that your picture of Jesus from beacon mild Jesus think of him as a powerful warrior king destroying his enemies as he sets up this eternal kingdom was worship in heaven with the boys on earth.

Verse 18 the nations rage casts the nations rage that remind you of any Psalm Sam to listen to it while there is worship in heaven. That is rage on our Psalm two why do the nations rage and the people plot in vain. The kings of the earth set themselves, and the rulers take counsel against the Lord and against his anointed. Can you imagine the kingdoms of this world setting up against this king, let us burst their bonds apart and cast away their cords from us. Verse four he who sits in the heavens laughs, the Lord holds them in derision, then he will speak to them in his wrath and terrify them in his fury, saying as for me, I have set my king on Zion, my holy hill is not being fulfilled in Revelation 11 you shall break them. Verse nine with a rod of iron � them in pieces like a potter's vessel. Now, therefore, all kings be wise we warned all rulers of the earth. The judgment of God is coming and all of the fury and angered by the nations against the Lord will not prevent his return. She comes to rule with a rod of iron and we also see here in verses in verse 18 rewards and judgments you when Jesus Christ returns his servants will be rewarded last punishing's astonishing that God in his grace forgives our sins's astonishing that God in his grace grants us eternal life. Not only does he do that in his grace he rewards faithful servants is verse 18 and for rewarding your servants the prophets and saints and those who fear your name, both small and great, those who have faithfully served King Jesus will be rewarded on the note this is not working your way into heaven message today isn't that you go out and the do something in order to make sure that you're going to get into heaven. Know your letter salvation is all of grace. For by grace you have been saved through faith that not of yourselves, the gift of God not a result of works, that anyone should boast.

No salvation is accomplished through the death, burial and resurrection of our Lord Jesus Christ he's done all of the work we rest on his work we receive Christ as our Savior. But now, those of us who have been saved by his grace are called to live a different life.

New Testament teaches that to walk worthy of the gospel and the Lord in his grace gives us opportunity to serve him, and though there is going to be a time of reward for the people of God not to decide who gets into heaven or not, but rewards Paul says in first Corinthians 3 by the quality of our service. It could be would pay and stubble. They could impress someone on the other hand, as well as God's concerned is totally worthless.

Like the man who built his house on the sand structure.

Very impressive. Built to impress his neighbors. The storm comes, and it is gone. On the other hand, there is a wise man who built his house on the rock. The time of judgment. There is gold, silver, precious stones.

Paul says in first Corinthians 3 and second Corinthians 5, he reminds us that we who follow Jesus will all the appeared before the judgment seat of Christ, so that each of us may receive what is due for what we've done with her good or evil's rescue this past week. Jesus looks at your week this past week was easy given faithful in your service think the Lord would say well done good and faithful servant always on the nothing spectacular know this is not something spectacular that is small and great verse 18. This is what every one of us faithful in the responsibilities that God has given you a faithful usher faithful Sunday school teacher, a faithful witness for Christ in the workplace faithfully discharge and the responsibility that God has given you so that we will reign with Christ and in the millennial kingdom will have the privilege of some responsibility under the supreme rating of the King of Kings. But when Christ returns.

Not only will God servants be rewarded. Unbelievers will be judged not as the end of verse 18, and for destroying the destroyers of the earth. You believe in eternal judgment. In other churches that don't believe it.

There pastors who never preach it because it's not user-friendly, but the whole concept of the judgment of God. While people may ignore its marginalized in our lab, provided it is very very biblical that God's judgment comes on evil. It's a recurring theme in Revelation is a recurring theme in the Bible that God is not marked what we so we reap you and you know that don't you. Do you really think that you can live as you like and there's no day of accounting.

When Jesus returns.

Not only will his servants be rewarded. Unbelievers will be judged.

Jesus thought of the separation of the sheep and the goats. You can be divided in Matthew chapter 25 sheep on the right hand. The goats on the left hand there are those who will go into eternal life, and there are those the goats who will go into eternal judgment. That is the teaching of Jesus knowledge on the know not of Calvary church of of Christ himself. In the Gospels and here again in the book of Revelation and inspired word of God is he ever actions that a denial of the truth that we prevent professed these our heart attitude will be exposed. You've all think will take an exam some way and some of us have sat through a class at school, University or some other course in one particularly interested in it that we didn't take many notes and we thought we do all right. And then the exam came and as we look for to our dismay, we realize that we been found out because we can't answer the questions the day of accountability comes here is the day of accountability. John is going to say in Revelation 20. Those names who are not those who were not written in the Lamb's book of life will be thrown into the lake of fire, but we sang today were saying.

The coming of the kingdom of our Lord and of his Christ is our great hope. It fills the heart of the follower of Christ with great joy and expectation that we will be forever with the Lord this week at Calvary church. There have been tears was being devastation pain � night life is hard. We mourn loved ones. We have health problems with difficulties at work. Difficulties in relationships, disappointments in ministry. Life is hard to think of it tonight, that all of us suffer. But here is a coming kingdom with is going to be no night. No pain, no disease, no cancer, no separation, no � and we shall reign forever with Christ and then the grace of God we have access into the throne room of God. Verse 19 then God's temple in heaven was opened, and the ark of the covenant was seen within his temple.

There were flashes of lightning, rumblings, peals of thunder and the earthquake and heavy rain.

The ark of the covenant in the temple was modeled after the ark of the covenant in heaven itself, the place of atonement, the place of mercy, the place of the offering of Christ on the cross as our sacrifice.

We are we can come to God through Christ for forgiveness for strength and for help in heaven is open to all who come through Jesus Christ is the way the truth and the life. Judgment is coming for those who don't believe. But here is the promise of eternal life. For those who simply trust in Christ as your trust in Christ Jesus. Truly, truly, I say to you, unless someone is born again he cannot see he can enter the kingdom of God. You must be born again. You must receive Christ, then you will enter the kingdom of God. Martin Luther said in the fire be not in the kingdom of Christ. It is certain that they belong us to the kingdom of Satan which is this evil world, only two kingdoms kingdom of Christ, the kingdom of this world. What kingdom are you and there will be the time of separation between the sheep and the goats between the saved and the unsaved between those who are written in the Lamb's book of life, and those who are not. This kingdom will never end the follower of Christ submit to his room.

Are you not surrendering your life to Christ while you thinking that you can do it alone. Why you getting despairing because things haven't worked out the way you thought.

You know that God is in control by kingdom come, thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven.

Jesus said seek first seek first what the kingdom of God and all these things will be added to you. This kingdom this kingdom of God. This kingdom is the only one which will never be destroyed the kingdom of the world has become the kingdom of our Lord and of his Christ, and we shall reign how long forever and ever and all God's people said hallelujah hallelujah hallelujah father, we thank you. We thank you for your grace.

We thank you for the promise of this magnificent kingdom.

We can hardly take it in were so excited as we read and meditate on the Scriptures, but think of the reality of the splendor and glory and might of the Lord God Almighty when all evil shall be vanquished when the devil will be defeated and we will be with Christ help us father.

Meantime to submit to the rule of King Jesus April and we are to do our own thing. Help us, we pray for those here who don't know Christ made a call like to Christ. They will call upon his name coming from their sins and so be saved. Help us, we do pray to look for you in this world to shine as lights in Christ name