Revelation 11:15-19

The sixth trumpet and second woe have passed. Now, for the rest of Revelation, we see the results of the final trumpet and the last woe. This phase deals not only with the unbelieving people of the world but, most importantly, with death and hate and the devil and his angels, all eternally judged and cast away.¶

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 (ESV)¶

At the sound of the seventh and final trumpet, there is a breakout of spontaneous worship in heaven — a heavenly anticipation for the consummation of all things.¶

What Revelation is about¶

Something interesting: the word "sin" (or transgression, or trespass) does not show up in Revelation at all. It took me a while to figure out why — but I believe it's because sin has already been dealt with, once and for all. The first coming of Christ was to completely deal with sin (Hebrews 7:27; Hebrews 9:12; 1 John 2:1-2). Yes, sin is still in the world, but the price for it has been paid. Some, like Catholics, believe remaining sin must still be dealt with before heaven — which is where purgatory comes in — but this is antithetical to the gospel of Jesus and his work on the cross. Christ has paid the debt and purchased forgiveness for the sin of the whole world; but only those who believe receive the benefit of that gift (John 3:16-18).¶

God is dealing justly with those who have not believed — "whoever does not believe is condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the only Son of God." Before Christ we were already condemned because of our sin; after Christ we remain condemned unless we believe in him. God is now dealing with those who have blasphemed the Holy Spirit (Matthew 12:31-32). The reason this sin is unlike all others is that it specifically keeps a person from believing — the only thing required to be saved. The ministry of the Holy Spirit is to convict the world "concerning sin, because they do not believe in me" (John 16:7-11). When we disbelieve, we are speaking against the Spirit — "I am not that bad; I am not a sinner; I don't need God; there is no God." This is blasphemy.¶

So Revelation is not about dealing with all sin — that was finished on the cross 2,000 years ago, a complete and perfect work. Revelation is about something else:¶

The nations raged, but your wrath came, and the time for the dead to be judged, 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.

Revelation 11:18 (ESV)¶

Wrath, judgment, rewarding, and destroying. Revelation is about all things finally being put under Jesus — his triumphant retaking of a kingdom that was ransacked while the King was away, now reclaiming what is rightfully his and dealing righteously with those who have not surrendered. We do not yet see everything in subjection to him (Hebrews 2:8) — yet. But that day is coming, and soon.¶