Sound The Trumpet : Revelation 11:18 Pt.2

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“Revelation 11:18 Pt.2”
by Art Sadlier
September 12th, 2020

In the earlier chapters of Revelation as God pours out His wrath upon men for their sin and rebellion, we see men hiding in the caves of the earth in fear. When men do not repent of their sins their hearts are hardened. As we now come to the end of the tribulation period hardened hearts become angry and react against God. There is a point of no return for the heart that is hardened, that is why hell is forever. Jesus said, "while ye have the light walk in the light", Repentance is moment of opportunity that must be seized, the heart that is hardened by man will ultimately be hardened by God.

In verse 18, as the nations realize that God is bringing judgment upon them, they react in anger against God. We see this coming to a climax in Revelation 16:11, "And blasphemed the God of heaven because of their pains and their sores, and repented not of their deeds".

"And thy wrath is come, and the time of the dead, that they should be judged", notice it says the "time of the dead". The topic is now the resurrection, the believers in Christ have been resurrected prior to this point, at the beginning of the tribulation period, at the time of the rapture. But the old testmant saints have stll not been resurrected, they are not resurrected until the end of the tribulation. We see that in Daniel 12:13, "But go thy way till the end be: for thou shalt rest, (in the grave-sheol) and stand in thy lot (his inheritance in the land) at the end of the days". What days are refered to here? Verse 11 tells us, the tribulation period (1290 days- the last half of the tribulation period - the period after the abomination of desolation). At that point Daniel and the Old Testament saints will be raised to go into the millenial kingdom. (See Isaiah 26:19-21)

"And the time of the dead, that they should be judged," Rev. 11:18. Daniel teaches in Daniel 12:2 that there will be two resurrections beyond the resurrection of those "in Christ" at the rapture (only church saints are said to be in Christ). From other scriptures we know that the unbelieving dead will be resurrected after the millenium is over, and that they will appear at the great white throne judgment.

In verse 18, we read about that which happens at the end of the tribulation period, at the time of the resurrection of the Old Testament saints. "and that thou shouldest give rewards unto thy servants the prophets, and to the saints, and them that fear thy name, small great." God has a program of judgment for the wicked and unbelieving, and He has a program of rewards for His servants. The rewards for the old testament saints comes prior to the millenial kingdom.

Then we see a temporal judgment, a judgment on men in this world, it is a climactic judgment at the end of the age. "and shouldest destroy them which destroy the earth". Men, at this point have wrought havoc on the earth in the tribulation period, now God brings judgment on the wicked, removing them from the earth altogether. We read about this event in Revelation 19:15, "And out of his mouth goeth a sharp sword, that with it he should smite the nations: and he shall rule them with a rod of iron: and he treadeth the winepress of the fierceness and wrath of Almighty God".

There is a world of dispensational truth in this verse.

Looking for His glorious appearing! Titus 2:13