August 24: VICTORY ASSURED!

Then the seventh angel sounded: And there were loud voices in heaven, saying, “The kingdoms of this world have become the kingdoms of our Lord and of His Christ, and He shall reign forever and ever!” Revelation 11:15

Seven is the number of completion. John earlier referred to the seventh trumpet (10:7), saying but in the days of the sounding of the seventh angel, when he is about to sound, the mystery of God would be finished, as He declared to His servants the prophets.

As in many visions from God revealing future events, the prophet John speaks as though this has already happened. This is because the saving work of our Lord is a guaranteed victory for all who love the Lord more than the things of this world. This is His highest desire for the objects of His great love and affection. It is the ultimate result of the gospel message that rode out into the world conquering and to conquer (6:2).

Think of all the overly-ambitious “conquerors” throughout history who have aggressively chased the dream of world domination. Certain of these attempted land-grabs were chronicled in advance by Biblical prophecy; specifically, those who had direct interaction with the people of God. The fourth kingdom in Nebuchadnezzar’s dream (Daniel 2:40) will, in one form or another, remain active upon the earth until Jesus comes. The current attempt to reunite the divided Roman Empire (modern Europe) will not succeed, according to verses 41-43 (see also Psalm 2:1). Later, Daniel also saw that the leader of the Roman church (called the little horn in 7:8 that speaks pompous words) will still be active at the end of this age.*

The phrase the kingdoms of our Lord and of His Christ is very similarly worded in the Psalms, as Christ means Anointed: Why do the nations rage, And the people plot a vain thing? The kings of the earth set themselves, And the rulers take counsel together, Against the LORD and His Anointed… (Psalm 2:1-2)

*I watched till thrones were put in place, And the Ancient of Days was seated . . . I watched then because of the sound of the pompous words which the [little] horn was speaking . . . And behold, One like the Son of Man . . . to Him was given dominion and glory and a kingdom, That all peoples, nations, and languages should serve Him. His dominion is an everlasting dominion, Which shall not pass away, And His kingdom the one Which shall not be destroyed. Daniel 7:9a, 11a, 14