As we can see, God's judgment on the Church precedes the day of universal Judgment, which comes immediately after it. This is not...
As we can see, God's judgment on the Church precedes the day of universal Judgment, which comes immediately after it. This is not surprising: according to God's design, Judgment must become not only punishment for those who oppose the Kingdom, but first of all the beginning of the transformation of the world, so that, once transformed, it can become part of the Kingdom. Judgment presupposes above all precisely an evaluation of everything and everyone from the standpoint of fitness for the Kingdom. It would seem that in the world created by God there can be nothing unfit for the Kingdom; but unfortunately the world has been thoroughly damaged by those who oppose God, and now, through the efforts of God's opponents, much has appeared in it that is incompatible with the Kingdom. And if God evaluates a person above all from the standpoint of readiness for repentance and for cleansing from everything that prevents participation in the life of the Kingdom, then He considers the works and fruits of human hands in the context of their future inclusion in the life of the Kingdom in the state they have on the day of Judgment: what can be taken into the Kingdom, even after the transformation that awaits the whole world, is taken, and everything else is left behind and shares the fate of that part of creation which remains outside the Kingdom, in the Gospel phrase, in the "outer darkness."
Strictly speaking, the trumpet of the seventh angel announces first of all not Judgment, but the reign of Christ, which is so awaited both in heaven and on earth (vv. 15-16). Judgment, as we can see, turns out to be only a consequence, a kind of side effect of this reign (v. 18). It would not have existed at all if the world had not been damaged by the fall. Judging by the testimony of the Book of Revelation, the world was conceived from the beginning precisely as the kingdom of God, where authority was to belong to the One who created it, and directly so (Rev 4:9-11). And the One who created the world also, as we can see, intended from the beginning to give it into the governance of His Son, who has been revealed to us as the Messiah, sanctifying and transforming what the Father created and bringing His creation to the fullness worthy of becoming the dwelling place of its Creator (Rev 5:11-12).
Judgment became a sad necessity after forces opposing God interfered with this design, and their activity unfortunately left its mark on the world God created, even despite their defeat. In such conditions Judgment becomes in God's hands the tool needed to correct what can be corrected, so that the Kingdom may include everything and everyone possible.
The only obstacle here can be the free will of those whom God created free, whether angels or human beings: both can not only reject for themselves the opportunity offered to them, but can also make the fruits of their activity unfit for the Kingdom. And here even God is powerless: He cannot force the Kingdom on anyone. One can enter it only by choosing it freely; otherwise the Kingdom would cease to be the Kingdom and turn into its opposite. That is why God gives everyone the right of free choice, placing the full measure of responsibility for the decision on the one who chooses.
11 In this chapter is shown how it will fare with "the holy city," till the mystery of God is fulfilled; in the twelfth, what will befal the woman, who is delivered of the man - child; in the thirteenth, how it will be with the kingdom of Christ, while the "two beasts" are in the height of their power. And there was given me - By Christ, as appears from the third verse. And he said, Arise - Probably he was sitting to write. And measure the temple of God - At Jerusalem, where he was placed in the vision.Of this we have a large description by Ezekiel, Eze 40:1-48:35; concerning which we may observe,
11:15 And the seventh angel sounded - This trumpet contains the most important and joyful events, and renders all the former trumpets matter of joy to all the inhabitants of heaven. The allusion therefore in this and all the trumpets is to those used in festal solemnities. All these seven trumpets were heard in heaven: perhaps the seventh shall once be heard on earth also, Th1 4:16.And there were great voices - From the several citizens of heaven.At the opening of the seventh seal "there was silence in heaven;" at the sounding of the seventh trumpet, great voices. This alone is sufficient to show that the seven seals and seven trumpets do not run parallel to each other. As soon as the seventh angel sounds, the kingdom falls to God and his Christ. This immediately appears in heaven, and is there celebrated with joyful praise. But on earth several dreadful occurrences are to appear first. This trumpet comprises all that follows from these voices to Rev 22:5.The kingdom of the world - That is, the royal government over the whole world, and all its kingdoms, Zec 14:9.Is become the kingdom of the Lord - This province has been in the enemy's hands: it now returns to its rightful Master. In the Old Testament, from Moses to Samuel, God himself was the King of his own people. And the same will be in the New Testament: he will himself reign over the Israel of God. And of his Christ - This appellation is now first given him, since the introduction of the book, on the mention of the kingdom devolving upon him, under the seventh trumpet. Prophets and priests were anointed, but more especially kings: whence that term, the anointed, is applied only to a king. Accordingly, whenever the Messiah is mentioned in scripture, his kingdom is implied. Is become - In reality, all things (and so the kingdom of the world) are God's in all ages: yet Satan and the present world, with its kings and lords, are risen against the Lord and against his Anointed. God now puts an end to this monstrous rebellion, and maintains his right to all things. And this appears in an entirely new manner, as soon as the seventh angel sounds.
11:16 And the four and twenty elders - These shall reign over the earth, Rev 5:10.Who sit before God on their thrones - which we do not read of any angel.
11:17 The Almighty - He who hath all things in his power as the only Governor of them. Who is, and who was - God is frequently styled, "He who is, and who was, and who is to come." but now he is actually come, the words, "who is to come," are, as it were, swallowed up. When it is said, We thank thee that thou hast taken thy great power, it is all one as, "We thank thee that thou art come." This whole thanksgiving is partly an enlargement on the two great points mentioned in the fifteenth verse; Rev 11:15 partly a summary of what is hereafter more distinctly related. Here it is mentioned, how the kingdom isthe Lord's; afterwards, how it is the kingdom of his Christ.Thou hast taken thy great power - This is the beginning of what is done under the trumpet of the seventh angel. God has never ceased to use his power; but he has suffered his enemies to oppose it, which he will now suffer no more.