Pictured here is Rachel. She was adopted from China with a failing heart. Without a heart transplant, she would die.  Once adopted and brought to the United States by our friends the McCary’s, it took several years before Rachel could get to the top of the list and the right heart was finally available. Pictured here also is her surgeon who performed a successful heart surgery several years ago. This pic was taken after Rachel danced and performed in the Nutcracker in December 2017. Her surgeon drove several hours to watch her perform. WOW!

Revelation 11:15-19

Give me the context

Revelation is not simple, progressive chronology. The chronology we are generally following is the seven seals which unleash the seven trumpets leading to the seven bowls. While the chronology of this escalating wrath throughout the 7-year tribulation takes place, there are interludes of context and “fillers” to give insight to all that is happening. Some scenes reveal what is happening in heaven and some on earth. Understanding this has helped me a lot.  By understanding this reality, I avoid the lack of perfect sequential chronology messing up my understanding.

Taking back the earth

Revelation 11:15 ushers in the 7th trumpet but the text doesn’t immediately take us to the wrath of the 7 bowls but rather opens a scene in heaven. In heaven, even though the world is in total turmoil, all things are right. This is a scene in heaven that portrays what is coming at the end of the tribulation. “The Kingdom of the world has become the kingdom of our Lord and His Christ; and He will reign forever and ever,” v15. Satan has a temporary reign over the earth. Satan’s reign is not an absolute reign with absolute power but it is nevertheless a reign. His power is only what God allows but he is the prince of the earth. Christ’s coming to earth after the tribulation will mark Jesus’ reclaiming of the earth and establish His earthly reign. His “role” in His first coming was a suffering servant. His “role” at the second coming is ruler and King. He is always Lord; He is always sovereign; He is always in control. But His role on earth is different from His first visit to His second. This short section in Revelation 11 provides a scene in heaven that portrays what will take place shortly on earth. Jesus will ascend on earth to reclaim the world and every knee will bow and every tongue will confess that He is Lord. Thy Kingdom come, thy will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. Come Lord Jesus, Come!