Scriptural text: Revelation chapter 11
Seventh Angel (Revelation 15a).
The days in the period of time embraced by the sounding of the seventh trumpet. That is, the affairs of this world would not be consummated in that period embraced in the sounding of the sixth trumpet, but in that embraced in the sounding of the seventh and last of the trumpets.
Declaration of Truth (Revelation 11:15): Seventh Angel(15a):
There were great voices in heaven. All the heavenly hosts -angels and redeemed human spirits, joined together to magnify God, that he had utterly discomforted his enemies and rendered his friends glorious. This will be truly the case when the kingdoms of this world become the kingdoms of God and of his Christ. But when shall this be? Some say, that is meant by these words has already taken place in the destruction of the Jewish state, and sending the gospel throughout the Gentile world. Other say that it refers to the millennium, and the summation all things.
The Loud Voice (15b).
John said that there were loud voices in heaven, these can only be the voices of thousands upon thousands of angels surrounding the throne, the four living creatures and twenty-four elders. John records what these loud voices were saying, “The kingdom of the world has become the kingdom of our Lord and of His Christ: and He will reign forever and ever.” (Revelation 11:15b).
Worship of God (Revelation 11:16-18). (Position of Angels, verse 16).
The four and twenty-four elders fell on their faces.
Recognition of Power (verse 17).
God will take this great power and reign. “Almighty” means that God possesses all power and authority. God is sovereign and supreme over the world. Therefore, they offer thanks to God that He is in control, and now He exercises that control.
Message of Judgment (v.18).
“And the nations were angry, and thy wrath is come (v.18a).” A pagan world loyal to the Antichrist in the tribulation now shows its anger to Christ (Psalm 2:1-5). The nations of the world meet the angel of God with their own angel. He will rise rebelling against God’s program. Thhat meets anger with wrath. Man will receive his just desert.
“And the time of the dead, that they should be judged (v.18b).”
This is a time when all who have lived and died throughout history will be resurrected to the judgment
Opening of Temple (Revelation 11:19a).
Another dramatic scene closes the chapter. John looks at the temple in heaven. There he saw the ark of the covenant was in the Holy of Holies. The ark indicates God’s presence. The ark also represents God’s mercy and faithfulness. We cannot enter the presence of God without the blood sacrifice of Christ.
“And there were lightnings, and voices, and thundering, and an earthquake, and great hail.”
V. 19b. The opening of the temple is accompanied by severe phenomena. As with the breaking of the seventh seal, there were lightnings…thundering, and an earthquake. Atmospheric disturbances result from the opening of the Temple in heaven. All this signal judgment that God has no option but to judge man. John will resume the introduction of the seventh seal in chapter 16
References: Grant Richison, John Gill’s Exposition