The New Testament Challenge Companion--Day 60!

Thursday, March 25, 2010 Reading for the Day Revelation 9-12 Focus on Revelation 11:15-19

If the book of Revelation ended at the end of Chapter 11, we wouldn’t miss the rest of it.  So proclaimed a professor I had for a course on the book of Revelation back in seminary.  I’ve thought about that statement a lot over the years (the MANY years) since.  He’s right.  Think about it.  As chapter 11 comes to a close John tells us that the twenty-four elders say,   “We give thanks to you, Lord God Almighty, the one who is and who always was, for now you have assumed your great power and have begun to reign.   “We give thanks to you, Lord God Almighty, the one who is and who always was, for now you have assumed your great power and have begun to reign.  Doesn’t that sound like an END?  Earlier in the book God is the one who is and was and IS TO COME.  Now God is the one who is and always was—there’s no more is to come, because the is to come has come!  Also, God had now ASSUMED HIS GREAT POWER AND HAD BEGUN TO REIGN.  This is the consummation of everything!  So why are there still ten more chapters?  The same professor contended that the rest of Revelation is just a repetition of what we’ve already seen:  cycles of judgment and grace with the end being God’s ultimate victory and God’s people celebrating that victory.  Whether you agree with Him or not, his original point is well taken.  If Revelation ended at chapter 11, we wouldn’t miss the rest.  It’s so important for us to remember as we read Revelation that God HAS won.  When Jesus died on the cross two thousand years ago, the victory over sin and death was WON.  Now, it’s just a matter of time—and God has eternity.  It may seem like a long time to us from the moment John penned the words of Revelation, but in the scheme of eternity it’s the blink of an eye.  One day we who trust Jesus as Savior and Lord will live the reality of heaven, the Reality of Revelation 11:15-19 FOREVER.

Heavenly Father, Thank You for REIGNING!  Thank You for being the one, true and living God. Reign in my life today that my thoughts, words and actions will bring you glory and praise.  This I pray in Jesus’ name.  Amen.