REVELATION 11:15-19 – “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.” And the twenty-four elders who sit on their thrones before God fell on their faces and worshiped God, saying, “We give thanks to you, Lord God Almighty, who is and who was, for you have taken your great power and begun to reign. 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.” Then God’s temple in heaven was opened, and the ark of his covenant was seen within his temple. There were flashes of lightning, rumblings, peals of thunder, an earthquake, and heavy hail.”
THEME OF THE DAY: THE REIGN OF THE LORD JESUS. The last book of the bible is the Revelation. It is not Revelations of some day, though it does contain revelations given to the Apostle John. The book is rightly titled The Revelation of Jesus Christ Given to John. This immediately gives us an eye-opening insight on the subject matter of the entire book – the Lord Jesus. And a good way to see the supremacy of the Lord Jesus is to look at how the book starts and ends. We might call these “majestic and encouraging bookends.”
The opening of the book is a graphic description of the glorious Jesus given to the Apostle John. Take a few minutes and prayerfully meditate on such a glorious Lord we get to know, experience, and someday literally see.
“Then I turned to see the voice that was speaking to me, and on turning I saw seven golden lampstands, and in the midst of the lampstands one like a son of man, clothed with a long robe and with a golden sash around his chest. The hairs of his head were white, like white wool, like snow. His eyes were like a flame of fire, his feet were like burnished bronze, refined in a furnace, and his voice was like the roar of many waters. In his right hand he held seven stars, from his mouth came a sharp two-edged sword, and his face was like the sun shining in full strength. When I saw him, I fell at his feet as though dead. But he laid his right hand on me, saying, “Fear not, I am the first and the last, and the living one. I died, and behold I am alive forevermore, and I have the keys of Death and Hades” (Revelation 1:12-18).
What about the ending? It is very exciting and should be a daily thought in the believer’s life: the return of this glorious Jesus.
““Behold, I am coming soon, bringing my recompense with me, to repay each one for what he has done. I am the Alpha and the Omega, the first and the last, the beginning and the end.” He who testifies to these things says, “Surely I am coming soon.” Amen. Come, Lord Jesus! The grace of the Lord Jesus be with all. Amen” (Revelation 22:12-13; 20-21).
So, with such a beginning and ending, how should we be living now, in the middle of these two indescribable truths and realities? Today’s scripture. The underlying theme within it is the glorious reign of Jesus. He rules. He is sovereign and that truth is what anchors our souls and allows us to live with joy and power regardless of our circumstances.
Keep in mind that the book of Revelation is the Revelation of Jesus. Spend time in its pages and be in awe of Who is revealed to us!
PRAYER: Father, may the Kingship of Your Son, not only be my future hope, but actual reality in my life now.
REFLECTION: Jesus will reign over all things for all times and He is to do so in all things in all His people now.