REVELATION 11:15
By Mike Kurtz
Read Revelation 11:15.
Satan’s work in this world has many under his control. Paul makes note of this in his letter to the Ephesians where he writes,
“As for you, you were dead in your transgressions and sins, in which you used to live when you followed the ways of this world and of the ruler of the kingdom of the air, the spirit who is now at work in those who are disobedient.”
The world today is not the kingdom of God where God reigns over every heart. But according to our passage there will come a day when this world will become God’s kingdom and Christ’s where He will reign forever. And when that day comes, the passage says there will be loud voices in heaven proclaiming that wonderful event. As I ponder that picture of the voices of heaven, I imagine not voices in unison, but voices that have waited a very long time for this day, and perhaps the voices of those who suffered terribly on earth during Satan’s powerful influence; and people are shouting out among the gathering of masses who cannot contain themselves on this incredible day of transfer.
Have you ever waited a long time for a very special day? Maybe as a child you couldn’t wait for Christmas day (I know my sister couldn’t because she would carefully unwrap her presents when no one was around and then rewrap them to hide her impatience!); maybe as a teenager you couldn’t wait for that first car that was yours; or as an adult the wedding day or moving into your first home or a special vacation planned for many years. When the day arrives, there is that a feeling of “wow, it’s finally here!” That is, I think, only a hint of the joy we will experience when the Day of Christ comes. As great as those feelings are (and they are indeed great), the Day of our Lord will be so much more.
You see it is one thing to feel the joy of a waiting child at Christmas or a waiting adult for a beautiful vacation, but an entirely other thing to be waiting for Christ’s reign when we see the work of evil in this world. The injustices, the pain, the emptiness of worldly pursuits, the loneliness of broken hearts, the tragedy of poor decisions, broken marriages, broken families… why will people be shouting on the Day of the Lord? It will be in part because at long last, there will be relief.
If you are going through a hard time in your life, or when you do, this passage is a good reminder that our situations are temporary. God’s kingdom will reign one day, and unlike our temporary condition, God’s kingdom will reign… forever and ever. That is a very long time compared to our time in this world. Yes, it may be difficult now, but when relief comes (and it will remain forever, praise God), there will be such praise that the Apostle John will record it. Imagine that… you might be a part of those voices that John has recorded in this Revelation. So hang in there, and never lose sight of the wonderful day that is coming because when it arrives, you will find eternal relief like never before.
