Revelation 11
15. And the seventh angel played his trumpet, and there were great voices in heaven, saying “the Kingdom of this world is become of our Lord, and of His Christ, and he shall reign forever and ever.
16. and the twenty four elders, the ones before their God who is sitting on the throne, fell on their faces, and worshiped God
17. saying
“we thank you, Lord God Almighty, the One who is, and was, and is to come, because you have taken your great power and begun to reign. 18. and the nations were angry, and your wrath has come and the time for the dead to be judged, and you gave the reward to your servants, the prophets, and to the saints, and to those fearing your name, the small and the large, and to destroy those who are destroying the earth.”
19. and the temple of God was opened in heaven, and the ark of the His covenant was seen in His temple, and there were flashes of lightning, and voices, and thunders, and an earthquake and large hail.
v 15 See Dan 2; 7:14-15; Zech 14:9-16; Is 9:2-8; Matt 6:10. Jesus is the Son of Man who receives from the Ancient of Days the everlasting Kingdom of God.
v 16 See chapter 4 about the 24 elders.
v 17 Heb 13:15
v 18 God has used His power to reward His servants, and to destroy those who destroy the earth. This is the heavenly perspective. This may be one of the most powerful ecological commentaries in the Bible. God holds us accountable for how we care for His planet.
v 19 15:5; 21:22- We see all these signs at the giving of the Law and deliverance of Israel from Egypt.
The Small and the Large
Ever feel small, inconsequential, insignificant, like a child whose feet don’t quite reach the floor when sitting on a chair built for an adult, waving your feet foreword and back, biding time, or like you’re in one of those forced-perspective scenes in a movie, where you’re one of the little ones-a Lilliputian, a Munchkin, a grasshopper amidst the giants of life? All of this is comparative, isn’t it? Think about the children of Israel and the twelve spies. Ten brought back a report “there are giants in the land and we were like grasshoppers among them”. But Joshua and Caleb said “the Lord is with us, we will be victorious”. In this life we can look at ourselves and compare ourselves to others and be terribly disappointed. I often am when I’m trying to stay fit and see these ridiculously fit guys in superhero movies or fitness YouTube channels. But God didn’t call me to be like them. He called me to be me. And if I look to Him, and compare myself to Him, I’m encouraged, not because I compare well, but because NO ONE compares well to our Savior. So, in that sense, we are all midgets and grasshoppers in comparison to the One with whom we have to do, and that’s not only OK, it’s wondrous, because He has chosen us and is with us. It’s like having a giant big Brother who is always there walking next to you.
A friend of mine, Ben, was telling the story of his son who was being bullied at his school. Every day he would come home and cry or complain because he was tormented. One morning Ben said, “When we get to school you show me who it is that’s bullying you”. So, his son went across the play yard, found his bully, and pointed him out to his dad, and pointed his dad out to the bully. He then gave a swift kick to the shin of the bully. With his dad there, he was not afraid.
Servants, Prophets, Saints, Those who Fear His Name
In this world, servants, prophets and saints don’t have much status. We are ridiculed and belittled. Yet God has chosen the small to defeat the great, and the foolish ones of this world to confound the wise. We can all look forward to an extraordinary reward for the small things we do in service to Him. As Theresa of Calcutta famously quipped “there are no great works, only small works done with great love”. God has called us to be the small people who do small things beautifully. These are the people He will reward. The rest deserve His judgment.
Prayer for Today
Father,
Teach me to humble myself so you can exalt me in Your time.
In the name of Jesus, who humbled Himself even to death, and, therefore, you have exalted.
Amen.
