seekeroftruth
Well-Known Member
Revelation 11:16 And the twenty-four elders, who were seated on their thrones before God, fell on their faces and worshiped God, 17 saying:
“We give thanks to you, Lord God Almighty,
the One who is and who was,
because you have taken your great power
and have begun to reign.
18 The nations were angry,
and your wrath has come.
The time has come for judging the dead,
and for rewarding your servants the prophets
and your people who revere your name,
both great and small—
and for destroying those who destroy the earth.”
“We give thanks to you, Lord God Almighty,
the One who is and who was,
because you have taken your great power
and have begun to reign.
18 The nations were angry,
and your wrath has come.
The time has come for judging the dead,
and for rewarding your servants the prophets
and your people who revere your name,
both great and small—
and for destroying those who destroy the earth.”
There's a lot of scripture that goes with the elders and their praise, according to this commentary.
These you remember, represented all of the believers. They have something to praise about, seeing that they were spared the wrath of God. It was the time to fall on their faces in total adoration to God.
God is worshiped by the elders because what He promised is now accomplished. Their gratitude is for the establishment of the millennial kingdom (1 Cor. 15:24). The Gentile nations will be subjugated (Ps 2:1, 2). The wrath of God will take vengeance on His enemies (Ps 2:5; 2 Thess. 1:7,8). The dead of all ages will be judged at the future Great White Throne Judgement (Rev. 20:11-15). Old Testament and Tribulation saints who have died will be raised and rewarded (Is. 26:19, 20; Dan 12:2; Matt. 25). Those who have tried to destroy the earth will themselves be destroyed by God (Rev. 19:20,21). The ark of his testament is a symbol of the presence of God and of His faithfulness in fulfilling His covenant promises.
God meant this earth to be a rich source of blessing to mankind, but Satan, the Antichrist, and thousands of their false prophets have led mankind to rebel against God, causing this earth to be a place of great suffering. The elders in heaven rejoice because the time of God's judgment and rectification of all things is only three and one-half years away.
We see here that Jesus took power. The establishing of His kingdom brings final victory to the Christian. The thanks really go to Jesus here; the believers have not established the kingdom, Jesus did. All we can do is to praise him for establishing the Kingdom. It was not done through our power and might, but by His. You see from this, He is all of it. His power is beyond reproach. His reign is forever and ever. He has no beginning and no end. He alone is worthy of our praise.
God is worshiped by the elders because what He promised is now accomplished. Their gratitude is for the establishment of the millennial kingdom (1 Cor. 15:24). The Gentile nations will be subjugated (Ps 2:1, 2). The wrath of God will take vengeance on His enemies (Ps 2:5; 2 Thess. 1:7,8). The dead of all ages will be judged at the future Great White Throne Judgement (Rev. 20:11-15). Old Testament and Tribulation saints who have died will be raised and rewarded (Is. 26:19, 20; Dan 12:2; Matt. 25). Those who have tried to destroy the earth will themselves be destroyed by God (Rev. 19:20,21). The ark of his testament is a symbol of the presence of God and of His faithfulness in fulfilling His covenant promises.
God meant this earth to be a rich source of blessing to mankind, but Satan, the Antichrist, and thousands of their false prophets have led mankind to rebel against God, causing this earth to be a place of great suffering. The elders in heaven rejoice because the time of God's judgment and rectification of all things is only three and one-half years away.
We see here that Jesus took power. The establishing of His kingdom brings final victory to the Christian. The thanks really go to Jesus here; the believers have not established the kingdom, Jesus did. All we can do is to praise him for establishing the Kingdom. It was not done through our power and might, but by His. You see from this, He is all of it. His power is beyond reproach. His reign is forever and ever. He has no beginning and no end. He alone is worthy of our praise.
Remember all those people crying out from under the alter? Well..... now they get the answer to "How Long?" and the Elders are speaking out for them...
The easy English commentary says this...
The voices declared that the Lord is king. The elders fell down in worship.
They sang a song of thanks to God. God was before all things. He made all things. He will always be. He had no beginning and he will have no end. All power belongs to him.
By his great power, God will begin his rule of the earth. The Lord must still fight the final battles. But the result is sure. God will overcome all who oppose him. The kingdom of earth will belong to God the king.
The nations and their rulers had been angry against God. They had refused to accept him as Lord. They fought against him and they killed his servants.
The time had come for God to deal with them. God’s fierce anger would frighten them. He would punish all who opposed him.
The time had come for God to punish or to reward all who have died. He will reward his servants. These are the prophets and his people.
They sang a song of thanks to God. God was before all things. He made all things. He will always be. He had no beginning and he will have no end. All power belongs to him.
By his great power, God will begin his rule of the earth. The Lord must still fight the final battles. But the result is sure. God will overcome all who oppose him. The kingdom of earth will belong to God the king.
The nations and their rulers had been angry against God. They had refused to accept him as Lord. They fought against him and they killed his servants.
The time had come for God to deal with them. God’s fierce anger would frighten them. He would punish all who opposed him.
The time had come for God to punish or to reward all who have died. He will reward his servants. These are the prophets and his people.
