REVELATION 11:16-17
By Mike Kurtz
Read Revelation 11:16-17.
At the sound of the seventh and final trumpet, the full transformation of the world into God’s kingdom is proceeding full ahead. The elders are overcome by the event and worship God on their faces. What unworthiness man is before our awesome God who is bringing about all things under the reign of Christ! What praise comes from His people when they begin to see Him reign.
I realize this passage refers to a coming day of judgment and the end of time as we know it, but consider the reason for their praise. They praise Him because they are beginning to see Him reign. And isn’t it true that as we begin to see Christ reign in areas of our own life that we are given cause to praise and thank Him? When we see the power of God working to gain control in areas where we once struggled, when we see Him take over our attitudes and influence our decisions, does that not give us reason to praise?
Perhaps there are areas in your life that are not fully under the reign of Christ. That is no doubt true of everyone. We all have areas that are not fully given over to Christ. Sometimes in our stubbornness we simply refuse to give it over. In other cases, we just can’t seem to get a grip on the struggle; we feel defeated. For those in this latter area, have you ever considered falling on your face before God whenever there has been even a small victory in your area of struggle? Let me suggest that you do as the twenty-four elders do when they see the beginnings of Christ’s reign over the world – fall on your face in praise and thanksgiving. Sometimes I think we continue the struggle because when we see only a little progress, we are inclined to think that it is not enough, and we kick ourselves for not doing better. Do yourself a favor and stop berating yourself, and turn to the One who is beginning to reign in your life. Give Him some serious praise and thanks whenever you see His great power at work in you. Even as we see in the book of Revelation, the full transformation of this present kingdom of darkness will not happen all at once. And if it takes time to transform a kingdom, I imagine it will take time to transform us, too.
