Interlude: A View of Heaven When Hell’s on Earth

John’s revelation continues to unfold future events on earth as God reveals them to him in his vision. The scene John saw next was in heaven.

In the middle of all the woes and judgments of the Tribulation, God inserts now an encouragement for the Christians left on the earth. Most of those who have turned to Jesus Christ for salvation have been martyred, and those who are sealed must continue on earth through these intense days. God now gives them a glimpse of glory so they’ll know His promised rescue is coming.

“Then the seventh angel sounded [the trumpet] …” (v. 15). This event is so important to understanding the rest of the book, that it deserves a pause. In God’s program, this chapter brings us chronologically to the breathtaking entrance of eternity where the mystery of God finally is revealed. The Holy Spirit now summarizes events that lead us as far as Revelation 21 where eternity begins. This broad outline ushers us to the door of eternity.

At the opening of the seventh seal, there is silence in heaven. Then, immediately after the seventh trumpet sounds, “loud voices in heaven” begin to sing. The host of heaven sees the end of evil at hand. Satan’s kingdom will crumble and be delivered to the Lord Jesus Christ to rule. Revelation 19 will unpack the details of this upset when the Lord Jesus puts down rebellion.

This revelation of God’s Kingdom come causes the 24 elders sitting before God on their thrones to fall on their faces in worship. They praise God that finally, He will take His rightful place. Their adoration prompts the church in heaven to worship and celebrate the coming of Christ to the earth.

But even as worship fills the halls of heaven, rebellion still sweeps the earth. The nations are filled with rage at God’s judgment, revealing how man’s stubborn rebellion will continue to the very end. They’ve believed the lie that God doesn’t judge sin and think we only get better every day—while, actually, we just get worse.

As part of this summary, we learn that the dead then will be judged for their sin at the Great White Throne judgment (see Revelation 20:11-15). God will judge sin righteously and reward the faithful graciously. The Old Testament saints and Tribulation saints will stand before Him and be rewarded for their faith as the kingdom begins. The church has already stood before the Lord at the Bema Seat and received the crowns they wear on their heads (we’ve seen them on the 24 elders).

And then in summary, we read how God will “destroy those who destroy the earth” (v. 18), specifically: Babylon, the Beast, the false prophet, and Satan.

The next scene we see ushers us to the glad gate of eternity. The doors of God’s temple in heaven fly open, and the Ark of His Covenant is clearly seen surrounded by flashes of lightning and thunder, an earthquake, and a fierce hailstorm.

Revelation 11 opens with the measuring of the temple on earth and closes with the opening of the temple in heaven. It summarizes for us what will be revealed in detail in Revelation 16—19.

Next: Meet the seven cast members in the final conflict of the age-old drama between good and evil.