Then the seventh angel blew his trumpet, and there were loud voices in heaven, saying, "The kingdom of the world has become the kingdom of our Lord and of his Christ, and he shall reign forever and ever."
Revelation 11:15
Again, the uninterrupted worship service in heaven keeps moving forward as events on the earth become more and more dramatically difficult. God is being worshiped even as humanity is rebelling against His judgments. At this point the worship has reached a climactic crescendo. It affirms God’s sovereign rule over the world of humanity.
As heaven worships, the text in Revelation 11:17-18 goes on to point out four aspects of God’s sovereign rule that are worth reflecting upon.
1) The nations of the earth rage sinfully, but God still displays a righteous wrath that is meant to be corrective and reflective.
2) The time for the dead to be judged is coming. No one will escape this scrutiny.
3) God’s servants from the ages will be rewarded. Final vindication is coming.
4) Those who have been complicit in the destruction of lives on earth through selfish disobedience will themselves by destroyed. God will “destroy the destroyers”.
Of course those are not idyllic reflections. They aren’t inspirational in the “pretty picture” sense of the world. But they are true and they are just as much a part of our future as heaven and eternal joy are a part of our future. God is worthy to be worshiped in judgment just as He is in grace and mercy BECAUSE His judgments are always fair, holy, and right.
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