Revelation

Revelation 11: Christ will reign forever

Begin in prayer

Before we read about the two witnesses and the seventh trumpet, let us bow in prayer. Ask the Lord to teach us that Christ is King, and to keep our family's eyes on Him.

Behold, to Yahweh your God belongs heaven and the heaven of heavens, the earth, with all that is therein.

Deuteronomy 10:14

Father in heaven, please open our eyes as we read Your Word. Show us that Christ is King and will reign forever. Make us more like Jesus. And please bless our family as we worship You together. In Jesus' name, Amen.

See where we're going

John measures God's temple and its worshipers, while the outer court and holy city are given to the nations for forty-two months. Two witnesses receive power to prophesy, and the beast kills them only after they finish their testimony. The earth's inhabitants celebrate their unburied bodies, yet after three and a half days God gives them life and calls them to heaven. An earthquake kills seven thousand, and the terrified survivors give glory to God. The seventh trumpet then brings heaven's proclamation that the world's kingdom has become the Kingdom of the Lord and His Christ forever. The elders worship as the time comes to judge the dead, reward God's servants and destroy the earth's destroyers.

As you read Revelation 11, look for the answers:

Reflect together

Key truth

The kingdom of the world becomes the Kingdom of the Lord and of His Christ, and He will reign forever.

Measuring the sanctuary marks God's claim on His worshipers while the nations tread the city outside. The fixed months and days give persecution a boundary, even when the witnesses seem helpless before the beast. Their olive trees and lamp stands recall Zechariah's picture of testimony supplied by God's Spirit. Their powers recall Moses' plagues and Elijah's drought, yet even these witnesses will be killed. Their Lord's crucifixion in the same city shows that faithful testimony can pass through shame and death. Refusing burial adds to that shame, but God's breath overturns the world's celebration of their defeat. Their ascent before their enemies makes His vindication public. The nations' anger cannot prevent the world's kingdom becoming Christ's everlasting Kingdom. The ark in the opened temple shows His covenant faithfulness as judgment and reward arrive.

How does Revelation 11 show us that the kingdom of the world becomes the Kingdom of the Lord and of His Christ, and that He will reign forever?

God marks His worshipers and gives His witnesses power to testify.

John measures temple, altar and worshipers, while the nations trample the city for forty-two months (verses 1 and 2). The two witnesses prophesy for one thousand two hundred sixty days in sackcloth (verse 3). Their olive trees and lamp stands recall Zechariah's picture of Spirit-supplied witness (Zechariah 4 verses 2 to 6). They can destroy attackers with fire, stop rain, turn water to blood and strike with plagues (verses 5 and 6).

God raises the witnesses after the beast kills them.

The beast makes war, overcomes and kills them when their testimony is finished (verse 7). Their bodies lie unburied for three and a half days while the earth rejoices and exchanges gifts (verses 8 to 10). God's breath gives them life, and their enemies watch them rise to heaven in a cloud (verses 11 and 12). A tenth of the city falls, seven thousand die, and the terrified survivors give God glory (verse 13).

The world's kingdom becomes the Kingdom of the Lord and His Christ.

At the seventh trumpet, heaven announces the Kingdom of the Lord and His Christ (verse 15). Christ means God's Anointed One, the King His prophets promised. His reign lasts forever, answering the nations' resistance with a rule they cannot end. The elders fall on their faces and thank God for taking His great power and reigning (verses 16 and 17).

God judges the dead and rewards His servants as His covenant stands.

The elders declare the time for judging the dead, rewarding God's servants and destroying those who destroy the earth (verse 18). Small and great alike are remembered among those who fear His name. The heavenly temple opens, revealing the ark of His covenant amid lightning, thunder, earthquake and hail (verse 19). The ark recalls God's covenant, assuring His servants that their Judge has kept His promises.

Memorise

The kingdom of the world has become the Kingdom of our Lord, and of his Christ. He will reign forever and ever!

Revelation 11:15

Looking to Jesus in my life

Ask yourself in your heart, will I bow to Christ as King now, and ask Him to forgive my sin?

Great voices in heaven said, “The kingdom of the world has become the Kingdom of our Lord, and of his Christ. He will reign forever and ever!” The elders thanked God that He has taken His great power and reigned. They said His wrath came, and the time for the dead to be judged. God's judgment is just, and no ruler of this world can stand against it.

That King is Jesus. John says the witnesses lay in the city “where also their Lord was crucified.” The King of kings was killed on a cross for His people, and He carried their sin. No one can add to what He did there. Then He rose, and He reigns.

So bow to the King now, while He calls. Turn from your sin and put your trust in Jesus. A sinner who bows to Him is forgiven, and belongs to a Kingdom that has no end.

Parent's note

Tell your children that Jesus is King and will reign forever. Please do not tell them they are saved just because they grew up in a Christian home. Call each child to turn from sin and trust Jesus, and pray that God would give them a new heart. Parents, verses 5 to 13 are hard, so please explain them gently, and do not turn the numbers into dates.

Pray together

Now please close your time together in prayer. Thank God that Christ will reign forever, and bring the heart question to Him. Every child can pray, so let each one say a short prayer if they want to.

saying: “We give you thanks, Lord God, the Almighty, the one who is and who was ; because you have taken your great power, and reigned.

Revelation 11:17

Lord God, thank You that Christ will reign forever. Thank You that Jesus died on the cross and rose again. Please lead each of us to bow to Him and trust Him, and help us to serve Him this week. Amen.