A Panorama of God's Victory
Revelation 11:15-19
Message #23
We have a small section of scripture today, but a very big subject. It’s a panorama of God’s victory. And the only question we’ll ask today is, “Where will you BE in this panorama of God’s victory?” Because a victory, by definition, means there is also a defeat, and in the end, each of us will be on one side or the other of God’s guaranteed eternal victory.
Last week, we talked about God’s faithfulness to fully accomplish the covenants he made with Israel, and then we watched the Two Witnesses “preach the truth” in Jerusalem of the coming Kingdom of God, and the world hated them for it. And when God’s Two Witnesses completed their work, God allowed Satan to kill them and leave their bodies lying in the street. And for three days, it looked like God’s enemies were winning.
But then, while the world watched, God raised the Witnesses from the dead – in true victory, and took them into Heaven in a cloud. And then, just to make his victory clear, God sent an earthquake to Jerusalem, destroying a tenth of the city, and Revelation 11:13 says the survivors were terrified, and they gave glory to God – not because they were saved, but because they HAD to acknowledge THIS was truly God’s power and God’s victory. We are quickly coming to the point in Revelation where the entire world is going to ultimately acknowledge that this is truly God’s power and truly God’s victory.
And so, today, to announce the final events of the second half of the Tribulation, God has John switch his focus back to Heaven where he gives us A Panorama of God’s Ultimate Victory.
We are headed to the big events of Revelation.
The Woman and the Dragon
The Child
The War in Heaven
The Antichrist
The False Prophet
The Mark of the Beast
The Harlot, Babylon, and the War of Armageddon
And then, finally – the Second Coming and ultimate victory of Jesus Christ on this earth.
Revelation has been big, and it is about to get even bigger. But my prayer today is that we would stay focused on the even bigger picture. That bigger picture is this: Where will you and I be personally when the Panorama of God’s Victory is complete?
All the intriguing stuff that we’re about to see in Revelation about who all the players in Revelation “could be” and what all that symbolism “could mean” is nowhere near as important as knowing where you (personally) will be when the Lord’s victory is complete and final.
Revelation is not about “the symbolism or the speculation.” Revelation is the singular Revelation of WHO Jesus Christ is. Revelation is about where you and I (personally) will end up for eternity.
Our verses today actually announce the completion of God’s victory that occurs from Revelation 12 to Revelation 21. And these verses draw a very clear line today (a line in the sand) so we can choose which side of this victory we want to be on.
Revelation 11:15 (NLT)
15 Then the seventh angel blew his trumpet, and there were loud voices shouting in heaven: “The world has now become the Kingdom of our Lord and of his Christ, and he will reign forever and ever.”
The blowing of the Seventh Trumpet opens up the final Bowl Judgments, and Heaven knows this will bring the final victory of Christ. This is the beginning of the events that will crown Jesus Christ as victor of Heaven and earth. And Heaven knows this victory is already finished. And Heaven is rejoicing.
In our last message, we saw the world rejoice when God’s Witnesses were killed until God raised them from the dead and raptured them. And now, Heaven rejoices knowing God’s ultimate and final victory is here.
This line becomes more clear all the time, doesn’t it? The Kingdom of the World versus the Kingdom of our Lord, and we have got to pick a side.
The line in the sand becomes more and more clear all the time, doesn’t it? Even with the state-run, censored media that some of us still think is real news (first of all, stop watching that), if you are watching it, even with their desire to control you, you can see the line in the sand being drawn, can’t you? Look around, and you can see the Kingdom of the World versus the Kingdom of God. Can you see that in our country?
I may be old, but I am not that old. I remember clearly, like it was yesterday, when this was a Christian country where we honored God. We honored the flag. We honored our military. We honored our veterans. Mostly, we honored God. There was a time when this country honored God! Kids prayed in school. Webster, who started the public school system, made sure that the very first book in public school was the Bible. Your kid won’t even carry a Bible to school. If your child carries a Bible to school today, it takes some serious courage.
We’ve got to pick a side. Isn’t it getting more clear that we have to pick a side? Are we going to be part of the world that is turning more and more against God, or are we going to choose God’s side?
We have to choose carefully because, as Revelation 11:15 says: “The world has now become the Kingdom of our Lord and of his Christ, and he will reign forever and ever.”
And then the Believers in Heaven represented by the Twenty-Four Elders (if that doesn’t make sense to you as we talk right now, go back and get the messages from Chapter 4, and you’ll see the connection that we make there) know exactly what they are supposed to do right now, which is exactly what we should be doing now. Remember, every time we see the Twenty-Four Elders, we see them as representing the Church that was raptured in Chapter 4 of Revelation.
Revelation 11:16 (NLT)
16 The twenty-four elders (representing the Believing Church) sitting on their thrones before God fell with their faces to the ground and worshiped him.
So, so far, here’s what we’ve got. The voices in Heaven say that victory is done, the world has become the Kingdom of our Lord, that he’ll reign forever and ever. And the Twenty-Four Elders, which represent us – the Church, they fall on their faces and worship him.
In Revelation Chapter 4, when we first met the Twenty-Four Elders (who represent the Church), they were worshiping. In Revelation Chapter 5, when Jesus began the judgments of the Tribulation, they were worshiping. In Revelation Chapter 7, when the saved multitude from the Tribulation were brought into Heaven, they were worshiping. And now, in Revelation 11, at the Panorama of God’s Victory, the Twenty-Four Elders are worshiping again.
We see the Twenty-Four elders as representing the Church in Heaven. We explained that in Chapter 4.
So, what is the role of the church during this time?
In Chapter 4, they’re worshiping.
In Chapter 5, they’re worshiping.
In Chapter 7, they’re worshiping.
In Chapter 11, they’re worshiping.
During THIS time in Heaven, our primary role will be worshiping the Lord. Doesn’t it make sense THAT should be our primary role NOW on earth?
Here at Calvary Chapel Nuevo, we have a very simple three-fold purpose statement.
WORSHIP Jesus Christ
PROCLAIM His Name
DISCIPLE His Followers
And when we get to Heaven, we won’t need to proclaim his name or disciple his followers. But we will still get to worship Jesus as Lord!!!! So, why not go ahead and get started now??
(And worship doesn’t just mean singing, by the way. Worship comes from the Old English word WORTH-SHIP. You’re showing God how much he’s WORTH in your life. It’s WORTH SHIP.)
Alright, back to our main point. We’re looking at a Panorama of God’s Victory, and as we continue in verses 17 and 18, there is a set of four proclamations. And they all announce God’s ultimate victory, and they all draw very clear lines in the sand for us. And I think it is so cool that these proclamations are written as a quote from the Twenty-Four Elders (who represent us in Heaven).
Here are the four proclamations that proclaim the Panorama of God’s Victory.
Revelation 11:17 (NLT)
17 And they (the 24 elders) said, “We give thanks to you, Lord God, the Almighty, the one who is and who always was, for now you have assumed your great power and have begun to reign.
Now, don’t get this confused with the Word of Faith movement, like “speak it into existence.” That’s not what’s happening here. What the Twenty-Four Elders (we) are saying is, “This is DONE!”
Like we said in verse 15, Heaven knows this is IT. Jesus Christ has assumed his great power, and he has begun his final and eternal reign. There are still more events that must transpire in Revelation. But Heaven knows the Seventh Trumpet has been blown, and as it brings in the final Seven Judgments – it is finished. Jesus Christ has assumed his power and begun to reign.
The Panorama of God’s Victory is set.
And then, verse 18 begins to make the contrast (the line in the sand) clear.
Revelation 11:18(a) (NLT)
18(a) The nations were filled with wrath, but now the time of your wrath has come . . .
We see two wraths there, right? The wrath of the nations versus the wrath of God. And I love what John Walvoord says about this verse. The contrast is clear; the wrath of humanity is impotent.
That makes me really glad to be on God’s side!!
Ultimately, all the nations of the world will be so filled with wrath that the Antichrist will easily lead them into a final great battle in the Jezreel Valley against Jesus Christ himself. At that point, God will once and for all, clearly show the difference between the world’s impotent wrath and God’s omnipotent wrath, and each of us get to choose which side of that wrath line we are going to be standing on.
And this line in the sand just keeps getting clearer and clearer.
Revelation 11:18(b) (NLT)
. . . It is time to judge the dead and reward your servants the prophets, as well as your holy people, and all who fear your name, from the least to the greatest. . . .
Again, a simple and clear line judge the dead – reward the faithful. And today, we can choose to be either judged with the dead or rewarded with the faithful.
The very first time I heard the Gospel message, I was nineteen years old, and I immediately chose to be on God’s side of this clear line and here is how it happened.
John 1:12 (ESV)
12 But to all who did receive him (into their lives), who believed in his name (put their trust & faith in WHO Jesus is), he gave the right to become children of God,
April 29, 1979 was the day I crossed this line FROM allegiance to the world TO allegiance to the Lord Jesus. And there is a day coming when God is going to judge the dead and reward the faithful, and you want to be really clear about which side of that line you end up on because there’s no “line jumping” once you get there.
No matter who you are or where you are at today, if you will truly put your faith in Jesus Christ, trusting and believing in WHO he says HE IS, you are going to be on the right side of this line. And you can rejoice and be glad about that today.
Finally, the fourth proclamation seems to deal specifically with God’s victory over the spiritual enemy.
Revelation 11:18(c) (NLT)
. . . It is time to destroy all who have caused destruction on the earth.”
There’s a play on the Greek words here. This is literally It is time to destroy the Destroyers. And so the final event in the Panorama of God’s Victory is God Destroying the Destroyers.
Lucifer is called The Destroyer, and the angels he took with him are his destroyers. The nations of the earth and all those who stand against Christ have already been judged, and so here (almost certainly) we have the final judgment of God’s spiritual enemy. God’s victory is completely set – and the panorama of his victory is all-encompassing.
And then this section closes with a huge exclamation point.
Revelation 11:19 (NLT)
19 Then, in heaven, the Temple of God was opened and the Ark of his covenant could be seen inside the Temple. Lightning flashed, thunder crashed and roared, and there was an earthquake and a terrible hailstorm.
There is only one other time that the Temple of God is mentioned in the Bible and that is in Hebrews.
This is huge – this is really huge – and it is especially huge for Israel. Here, for the first time, the Temple of God in Heaven is opened. And John sees the Ark of the Covenant. And to a Jewish person, there could be no greater vision than this. The Temple in Heaven that the earthly Jewish Temple is a picture of, is opened for John to see, and the Ark of the Covenant, which is the holiest article in the Jewish religion, is seen.
This Temple in Heaven is a reality of what the earthly Temple was a picture of.
The Ark of the Covenant
Represents God’s constant presence with Israel
Represents God’s covenant promise TO Israel
And it is covered with the mercy seat
Which represent the forgiveness of sins through the blood of the Sinless Lamb of God – the Messiah.
Here, God is speaking especially to the House of Israel. And he is saying the Temple in Heaven is real, and all that the Ark of the Covenant represents is real, and most importantly, God’s victory is real.
God’s victory is real
It is REAL over the evil of this world and
It is REAL over the evil forces in the Spiritual realm
IT IS REAL AND IT IS FINISHED!!
And when Jesus Christ cried out those same words on the cross, he made a way for you to receive this same victory today.
A finished, complete, guaranteed eternal victory IN Jesus Christ.
Jesus said in John 5, verse 24:
John 5:24 (NLT)
24 “I tell you the truth, those who listen to my message and believe in God who sent me have (this is a word of present possession) eternal life. They will never be condemned for their sins, but they have already passed (past tense) from death into life.
Jesus Christ has already won the victory over the forces of evil in this world and over sin, death, and the grave. And just as sure as his victory is, you can have that same assurance of victory in him.
You can HAVE eternal life today.
You can PASS from death to life today
By putting your full and complete faith in Jesus as your personal Savior and Lord.
We’ve seen a panorama of God’s victory today, and I am so grateful for the free gift of Salvation through faith in Jesus Christ that enables us to take part in that victory for eternity. I didn’t earn it, I didn’t deserve it, I simply received it.
And you can be on the right side of the line in the sand, on God’s side of victory. And through your faith in Jesus Christ, it enables you to take part in that victory for eternity.
Last week, we talked about God’s faithfulness to fully accomplish the covenants he made with Israel, and then we watched the Two Witnesses “preach the truth” in Jerusalem of the coming Kingdom of God, and the world hated them for it. And when God’s Two Witnesses completed their work, God allowed Satan to kill them and leave their bodies lying in the street. And for three days, it looked like God’s enemies were winning.
But then, while the world watched, God raised the Witnesses from the dead – in true victory, and took them into Heaven in a cloud. And then, just to make his victory clear, God sent an earthquake to Jerusalem, destroying a tenth of the city, and Revelation 11:13 says the survivors were terrified, and they gave glory to God – not because they were saved, but because they HAD to acknowledge THIS was truly God’s power and God’s victory. We are quickly coming to the point in Revelation where the entire world is going to ultimately acknowledge that this is truly God’s power and truly God’s victory.
And so, today, to announce the final events of the second half of the Tribulation, God has John switch his focus back to Heaven where he gives us A Panorama of God’s Ultimate Victory.
We are headed to the big events of Revelation.
The Woman and the Dragon
The Child
The War in Heaven
The Antichrist
The False Prophet
The Mark of the Beast
The Harlot, Babylon, and the War of Armageddon
And then, finally – the Second Coming and ultimate victory of Jesus Christ on this earth.
Revelation has been big, and it is about to get even bigger. But my prayer today is that we would stay focused on the even bigger picture. That bigger picture is this: Where will you and I be personally when the Panorama of God’s Victory is complete?
All the intriguing stuff that we’re about to see in Revelation about who all the players in Revelation “could be” and what all that symbolism “could mean” is nowhere near as important as knowing where you (personally) will be when the Lord’s victory is complete and final.
Revelation is not about “the symbolism or the speculation.” Revelation is the singular Revelation of WHO Jesus Christ is. Revelation is about where you and I (personally) will end up for eternity.
Our verses today actually announce the completion of God’s victory that occurs from Revelation 12 to Revelation 21. And these verses draw a very clear line today (a line in the sand) so we can choose which side of this victory we want to be on.
Revelation 11:15 (NLT)
15 Then the seventh angel blew his trumpet, and there were loud voices shouting in heaven: “The world has now become the Kingdom of our Lord and of his Christ, and he will reign forever and ever.”
The blowing of the Seventh Trumpet opens up the final Bowl Judgments, and Heaven knows this will bring the final victory of Christ. This is the beginning of the events that will crown Jesus Christ as victor of Heaven and earth. And Heaven knows this victory is already finished. And Heaven is rejoicing.
In our last message, we saw the world rejoice when God’s Witnesses were killed until God raised them from the dead and raptured them. And now, Heaven rejoices knowing God’s ultimate and final victory is here.
This line becomes more clear all the time, doesn’t it? The Kingdom of the World versus the Kingdom of our Lord, and we have got to pick a side.
The line in the sand becomes more and more clear all the time, doesn’t it? Even with the state-run, censored media that some of us still think is real news (first of all, stop watching that), if you are watching it, even with their desire to control you, you can see the line in the sand being drawn, can’t you? Look around, and you can see the Kingdom of the World versus the Kingdom of God. Can you see that in our country?
I may be old, but I am not that old. I remember clearly, like it was yesterday, when this was a Christian country where we honored God. We honored the flag. We honored our military. We honored our veterans. Mostly, we honored God. There was a time when this country honored God! Kids prayed in school. Webster, who started the public school system, made sure that the very first book in public school was the Bible. Your kid won’t even carry a Bible to school. If your child carries a Bible to school today, it takes some serious courage.
We’ve got to pick a side. Isn’t it getting more clear that we have to pick a side? Are we going to be part of the world that is turning more and more against God, or are we going to choose God’s side?
We have to choose carefully because, as Revelation 11:15 says: “The world has now become the Kingdom of our Lord and of his Christ, and he will reign forever and ever.”
And then the Believers in Heaven represented by the Twenty-Four Elders (if that doesn’t make sense to you as we talk right now, go back and get the messages from Chapter 4, and you’ll see the connection that we make there) know exactly what they are supposed to do right now, which is exactly what we should be doing now. Remember, every time we see the Twenty-Four Elders, we see them as representing the Church that was raptured in Chapter 4 of Revelation.
Revelation 11:16 (NLT)
16 The twenty-four elders (representing the Believing Church) sitting on their thrones before God fell with their faces to the ground and worshiped him.
So, so far, here’s what we’ve got. The voices in Heaven say that victory is done, the world has become the Kingdom of our Lord, that he’ll reign forever and ever. And the Twenty-Four Elders, which represent us – the Church, they fall on their faces and worship him.
In Revelation Chapter 4, when we first met the Twenty-Four Elders (who represent the Church), they were worshiping. In Revelation Chapter 5, when Jesus began the judgments of the Tribulation, they were worshiping. In Revelation Chapter 7, when the saved multitude from the Tribulation were brought into Heaven, they were worshiping. And now, in Revelation 11, at the Panorama of God’s Victory, the Twenty-Four Elders are worshiping again.
We see the Twenty-Four elders as representing the Church in Heaven. We explained that in Chapter 4.
So, what is the role of the church during this time?
In Chapter 4, they’re worshiping.
In Chapter 5, they’re worshiping.
In Chapter 7, they’re worshiping.
In Chapter 11, they’re worshiping.
During THIS time in Heaven, our primary role will be worshiping the Lord. Doesn’t it make sense THAT should be our primary role NOW on earth?
Here at Calvary Chapel Nuevo, we have a very simple three-fold purpose statement.
WORSHIP Jesus Christ
PROCLAIM His Name
DISCIPLE His Followers
And when we get to Heaven, we won’t need to proclaim his name or disciple his followers. But we will still get to worship Jesus as Lord!!!! So, why not go ahead and get started now??
(And worship doesn’t just mean singing, by the way. Worship comes from the Old English word WORTH-SHIP. You’re showing God how much he’s WORTH in your life. It’s WORTH SHIP.)
Alright, back to our main point. We’re looking at a Panorama of God’s Victory, and as we continue in verses 17 and 18, there is a set of four proclamations. And they all announce God’s ultimate victory, and they all draw very clear lines in the sand for us. And I think it is so cool that these proclamations are written as a quote from the Twenty-Four Elders (who represent us in Heaven).
Here are the four proclamations that proclaim the Panorama of God’s Victory.
Revelation 11:17 (NLT)
17 And they (the 24 elders) said, “We give thanks to you, Lord God, the Almighty, the one who is and who always was, for now you have assumed your great power and have begun to reign.
Now, don’t get this confused with the Word of Faith movement, like “speak it into existence.” That’s not what’s happening here. What the Twenty-Four Elders (we) are saying is, “This is DONE!”
Like we said in verse 15, Heaven knows this is IT. Jesus Christ has assumed his great power, and he has begun his final and eternal reign. There are still more events that must transpire in Revelation. But Heaven knows the Seventh Trumpet has been blown, and as it brings in the final Seven Judgments – it is finished. Jesus Christ has assumed his power and begun to reign.
The Panorama of God’s Victory is set.
And then, verse 18 begins to make the contrast (the line in the sand) clear.
Revelation 11:18(a) (NLT)
18(a) The nations were filled with wrath, but now the time of your wrath has come . . .
We see two wraths there, right? The wrath of the nations versus the wrath of God. And I love what John Walvoord says about this verse. The contrast is clear; the wrath of humanity is impotent.
That makes me really glad to be on God’s side!!
Ultimately, all the nations of the world will be so filled with wrath that the Antichrist will easily lead them into a final great battle in the Jezreel Valley against Jesus Christ himself. At that point, God will once and for all, clearly show the difference between the world’s impotent wrath and God’s omnipotent wrath, and each of us get to choose which side of that wrath line we are going to be standing on.
And this line in the sand just keeps getting clearer and clearer.
Revelation 11:18(b) (NLT)
. . . It is time to judge the dead and reward your servants the prophets, as well as your holy people, and all who fear your name, from the least to the greatest. . . .
Again, a simple and clear line judge the dead – reward the faithful. And today, we can choose to be either judged with the dead or rewarded with the faithful.
The very first time I heard the Gospel message, I was nineteen years old, and I immediately chose to be on God’s side of this clear line and here is how it happened.
John 1:12 (ESV)
12 But to all who did receive him (into their lives), who believed in his name (put their trust & faith in WHO Jesus is), he gave the right to become children of God,
April 29, 1979 was the day I crossed this line FROM allegiance to the world TO allegiance to the Lord Jesus. And there is a day coming when God is going to judge the dead and reward the faithful, and you want to be really clear about which side of that line you end up on because there’s no “line jumping” once you get there.
No matter who you are or where you are at today, if you will truly put your faith in Jesus Christ, trusting and believing in WHO he says HE IS, you are going to be on the right side of this line. And you can rejoice and be glad about that today.
Finally, the fourth proclamation seems to deal specifically with God’s victory over the spiritual enemy.
Revelation 11:18(c) (NLT)
. . . It is time to destroy all who have caused destruction on the earth.”
There’s a play on the Greek words here. This is literally It is time to destroy the Destroyers. And so the final event in the Panorama of God’s Victory is God Destroying the Destroyers.
Lucifer is called The Destroyer, and the angels he took with him are his destroyers. The nations of the earth and all those who stand against Christ have already been judged, and so here (almost certainly) we have the final judgment of God’s spiritual enemy. God’s victory is completely set – and the panorama of his victory is all-encompassing.
And then this section closes with a huge exclamation point.
Revelation 11:19 (NLT)
19 Then, in heaven, the Temple of God was opened and the Ark of his covenant could be seen inside the Temple. Lightning flashed, thunder crashed and roared, and there was an earthquake and a terrible hailstorm.
There is only one other time that the Temple of God is mentioned in the Bible and that is in Hebrews.
This is huge – this is really huge – and it is especially huge for Israel. Here, for the first time, the Temple of God in Heaven is opened. And John sees the Ark of the Covenant. And to a Jewish person, there could be no greater vision than this. The Temple in Heaven that the earthly Jewish Temple is a picture of, is opened for John to see, and the Ark of the Covenant, which is the holiest article in the Jewish religion, is seen.
This Temple in Heaven is a reality of what the earthly Temple was a picture of.
The Ark of the Covenant
Represents God’s constant presence with Israel
Represents God’s covenant promise TO Israel
And it is covered with the mercy seat
Which represent the forgiveness of sins through the blood of the Sinless Lamb of God – the Messiah.
Here, God is speaking especially to the House of Israel. And he is saying the Temple in Heaven is real, and all that the Ark of the Covenant represents is real, and most importantly, God’s victory is real.
God’s victory is real
It is REAL over the evil of this world and
It is REAL over the evil forces in the Spiritual realm
IT IS REAL AND IT IS FINISHED!!
And when Jesus Christ cried out those same words on the cross, he made a way for you to receive this same victory today.
A finished, complete, guaranteed eternal victory IN Jesus Christ.
Jesus said in John 5, verse 24:
John 5:24 (NLT)
24 “I tell you the truth, those who listen to my message and believe in God who sent me have (this is a word of present possession) eternal life. They will never be condemned for their sins, but they have already passed (past tense) from death into life.
Jesus Christ has already won the victory over the forces of evil in this world and over sin, death, and the grave. And just as sure as his victory is, you can have that same assurance of victory in him.
You can HAVE eternal life today.
You can PASS from death to life today
By putting your full and complete faith in Jesus as your personal Savior and Lord.
We’ve seen a panorama of God’s victory today, and I am so grateful for the free gift of Salvation through faith in Jesus Christ that enables us to take part in that victory for eternity. I didn’t earn it, I didn’t deserve it, I simply received it.
And you can be on the right side of the line in the sand, on God’s side of victory. And through your faith in Jesus Christ, it enables you to take part in that victory for eternity.