Sermons on Revelation 11:15

Revelation 11:15 Interpretation:

Being Witnesses: Embracing God's Kingdom in Tension (Discovery Christian Church) offers a unique interpretation of Revelation 11:15 by focusing on the concept of "witness" as the primary posture of believers in the in-between time, where the kingdom of the world is becoming the kingdom of Christ. The sermon draws a compelling analogy from the Nike "We Are All Witnesses" campaign for LeBron James, using it to illustrate that Christians are not the main actors but those who point to the greatness of Jesus, not themselves. The preacher also highlights the reversal of biblical arithmetic in Revelation 11, where, unlike Old Testament precedents where a remnant is saved and the majority lost, here the majority is saved and a minority lost, symbolizing the transformative power of Christ's kingdom. The sermon further interprets the two witnesses in Revelation 11 as representing the church, emphasizing the symbolic rather than literal reading of numbers and events in the passage, and stresses that the church's role is to bear witness to Jesus, who is "on trial" before the world.

Embracing the Kingdom: The Bible's Transformative Message (Dr. Patrick Briney) interprets Revelation 11:15 as the climactic moment when the kingdom of Satan ends and the eternal kingdom of Christ is established. The sermon frames the verse as the ultimate hope for believers, marking the end of pain, sorrow, and death, and the beginning of a new, perfect normal under Christ's reign. The preacher uses the language of "translation"—that God moves believers from the kingdom of darkness to the kingdom of light—and emphasizes the contrast between the kingdom of self-will (Satan's kingdom) and the kingdom of God's will, urging listeners to repent and embrace God's kingdom as the central message of the Bible.

Embracing Our Identity in the Kingdom of God (Light on the Corner Church) interprets Revelation 11:15 as the literal and future fulfillment of Jesus' reign on earth, when the kingdoms of this world become the kingdom of Christ at his return. The sermon uses a "walk through the kingdom" metaphor, likening the process to a stroll through a park, and presents the passage as the inauguration of a new world order where Jesus rules, justice prevails, and peace is established. The preacher emphasizes the overt, political, and global nature of Christ's coming kingdom, contrasting it with the covert, spiritual reality of the present age.

Worship: A Powerful Act of Spiritual Warfare (SermonIndex.net) offers a unique interpretation of Revelation 11:15 by focusing on the phrase “the kingdoms of this world have become the kingdoms of our Lord and of his Christ” as a climactic moment in which God’s sovereignty is finally, visibly asserted over all earthly and spiritual realms. The preacher draws a distinction between God’s ultimate sovereignty and the temporary, delegated authority of Satan, referencing the Greek phrase “Bene ha Elohim” (sons of God) and the narrative in Job to suggest that, until this point, the kingdoms of the world were under Satan’s influence, but Revelation 11:15 marks the definitive transfer of all authority to Christ. This is further illustrated by the analogy of Jesus’ temptation, where Satan offers Jesus the kingdoms of the world, implying that Satan had some real, though limited, authority. The sermon also uses the metaphor of worship as “warfare,” suggesting that the act of worship is a spiritual battle that aligns believers with the victorious reign of Christ described in Revelation 11:15. The preacher emphasizes that worship is not merely a lifestyle or a passive act, but an active, dynamic engagement in the spiritual conflict that underlies the visible world, and that the worship described in Revelation 11:15 is both a response to and a participation in Christ’s victory.

The Unshakable Kingdom: God's Sovereignty and Our Calling (Ligonier Ministries) interprets Revelation 11:15 as the ultimate declaration of God’s unassailable rule over all human history and kingdoms. The preacher uses a sweeping historical analogy, tracing the rise and fall of empires (Babylon, Egypt, Persia, Greece, Rome, Britain, America) to illustrate that all earthly kingdoms are transient and ultimately subject to God’s sovereign will. The sermon uniquely highlights the irony that the first to truly understand the kingdom of God were not Jesus’ disciples, but the thief on the cross and the Roman centurion, using this as a metaphor for the unexpected and all-encompassing reach of God’s kingdom. The preacher also draws on the original Greek to emphasize the permanence of Christ’s reign (“he will reign for ever and ever”), contrasting it with the fleeting nature of human power. The analogy of the “unshakable kingdom” is used to encourage believers to see themselves as citizens of a kingdom that cannot be overthrown, regardless of the chaos of world events.

Worship: A Powerful Act of Spiritual Warfare (SermonIndex.net) further distinguishes itself by exploring the linguistic nuance of the Greek in Revelation 11:15, noting that the word for “kingdoms” is plural, suggesting a comprehensive victory over all realms—political, spiritual, and personal. The preacher also references the Hebrew background of the phrase “sons of God” (Bene ha Elohim) to discuss the cosmic scope of Christ’s victory, and uses the analogy of worship as both a weapon and a shield in the ongoing spiritual battle, making the act of worship itself a participation in the fulfillment of Revelation 11:15.

Revelation 11:15 Theological Themes:

Being Witnesses: Embracing God's Kingdom in Tension (Discovery Christian Church) introduces the distinct theological theme of the "arithmetic reversal" in Revelation 11, where the usual biblical pattern of a small remnant being saved is flipped so that the majority is saved and a minority lost, symbolizing the radical, upside-down nature of Christ's kingdom. The sermon also presents the idea that the church's primary calling is to bear witness to Jesus, who is "on trial" before the world, rather than to justify itself, and that the victory of the kingdom comes through apparent defeat, paralleling Jesus' own death and resurrection.

Embracing the Kingdom: The Bible's Transformative Message (Dr. Patrick Briney) adds the theme of "translation"—that salvation is not just a change of behavior but a supernatural transfer from one kingdom to another, from darkness to light. The sermon also stresses the twofold announcement of the seventh trumpet: the end of Satan's kingdom and the beginning of Christ's eternal reign, highlighting the cosmic and eschatological dimensions of the passage.

Embracing Our Identity in the Kingdom of God (Light on the Corner Church) brings a fresh angle by detailing the future, tangible realities of Christ's kingdom—such as world peace, transformed nature, and new relationships between nations and creation—grounding the hope of Revelation 11:15 in concrete, prophetic promises rather than abstract spiritualization.

Worship: A Powerful Act of Spiritual Warfare (SermonIndex.net) introduces the distinct theological theme that worship is not only a response to God’s victory but an active means of spiritual warfare that enacts and anticipates the reality of Revelation 11:15. The preacher argues that worship is the transformation of rebels into worshippers, and that this transformation is itself a sign of the kingdom’s advance. The sermon also presents the idea that true worship is both an act of thanksgiving and a weapon against spiritual oppression, linking the worship of the 24 elders in Revelation 11:15 to the believer’s own struggle against demonic influence and personal strongholds. This theme is developed with the assertion that worship, prayer, and obedience are the means by which believers “pull down strongholds,” making the eschatological victory of Christ present in the daily life of the church.

The Unshakable Kingdom: God's Sovereignty and Our Calling (Ligonier Ministries) adds a unique facet by emphasizing the predestined, grace-based nature of citizenship in God’s kingdom, drawing on Reformation theology (sola gratia, sola fide, solus Christus, soli Deo gloria) to argue that entry into the unshakable kingdom is entirely the work of God, not human merit. The preacher also introduces the idea that the kingdom of God is built on “the blood of Jesus and the tears of the saints,” a metaphor that combines the objective work of Christ with the subjective experience of repentance, making the kingdom both a divine accomplishment and a human response. The sermon further develops the theme that the kingdom is not national or ethnic but universal, belonging to all who are called and repent, and that the true understanding of the kingdom often comes from unexpected or marginalized individuals.

Revelation 11:15 Historical and Contextual Insights:

Being Witnesses: Embracing God's Kingdom in Tension (Discovery Christian Church) provides historical context by noting that the physical temple in Jerusalem had been destroyed 25 years before Revelation was written, creating a crisis of presence for the Jewish and early Christian communities. The sermon explains that the New Testament writers, including John in Revelation, reframe the temple as the people of God rather than a physical building, which shapes the interpretation of measuring the temple in Revelation 11 as an assessment of the faithful community rather than a literal structure.

The Unshakable Kingdom: God's Sovereignty and Our Calling (Ligonier Ministries) provides extensive historical context by tracing the succession of world empires (Mesopotamia, Egypt, Babylon, Persia, Greece, Rome, Britain, America) and interpreting their rise and fall as evidence of God’s sovereign intervention in history. The preacher references specific historical events (e.g., the Magna Carta, the Opium Wars, the decline of Britain, the rise of the United States) to illustrate the principle that nations are blessed or judged based on their alignment with God’s will. The sermon also discusses the cultural and political influence of Christian theology (Augustine, Calvin) on Western nations, and the decline that follows when nations depart from God’s principles. The preacher uniquely highlights the historical irony that the first to recognize Jesus’ kingship were a thief and a Roman centurion, not the religious elite, situating the kingdom of God as a radical, countercultural reality that transcends human expectations and boundaries.

Revelation 11:15 Cross-References in the Bible:

Being Witnesses: Embracing God's Kingdom in Tension (Discovery Christian Church) references several Old Testament passages to illuminate Revelation 11:15: Isaiah 6:13 and Amos 5, which both describe a remnant being saved (10%) and the majority lost (90%), and 1 Kings 19, where 7,000 are spared. The sermon notes that Revelation 11 reverses this pattern, with 7,000 killed and the rest spared, highlighting the gospel's transformative reversal. The preacher also references Matthew 18 to explain the significance of two witnesses in Jewish law, and Ezekiel's vision of dry bones to illustrate resurrection and new life for God's people.

Embracing the Kingdom: The Bible's Transformative Message (Dr. Patrick Briney) cross-references a wide array of biblical texts to support the theme of God's kingdom: Matthew 4:17, Luke 10:9, John 20:29, Daniel 7:13-14, Isaiah 9:6-7, Psalm 103:19, 1 Chronicles 29:11-12, Zechariah 14:9, Psalm 145:13, Psalm 47:7-8, Isaiah 37:16, Mark 1:15, 2 Corinthians 5:21, Colossians 1:13, Acts 1:3, Acts 28:31, Psalm 11:4, and John 14:6. Each reference is used to build a comprehensive biblical theology of the kingdom, showing its continuity from Genesis to Revelation and its fulfillment in Christ.

Embracing Our Identity in the Kingdom of God (Light on the Corner Church) uses numerous cross-references to flesh out the reality of Christ's coming kingdom: Zechariah (Jesus' feet on the Mount of Olives), Matthew 25 (the sheep and goats judgment), Psalm 110 (Messiah as priest and king), Isaiah 2 (world peace and worship in Jerusalem), Isaiah 9 and 11 (the character of the Messiah's rule), Isaiah 65 (new heavens and new earth), and Zechariah 2 (Jew and Gentile worshiping together). Each passage is used to paint a detailed picture of the future kingdom described in Revelation 11:15.

Worship: A Powerful Act of Spiritual Warfare (SermonIndex.net) references several biblical passages to expand on Revelation 11:15. The preacher cites the Book of Job (where Satan appears before God with the “sons of God”) to illustrate the ongoing spiritual conflict and the temporary authority of Satan. The temptation of Jesus (where Satan offers Jesus the kingdoms of the world) is used to show that, prior to Revelation 11:15, the kingdoms were under Satan’s sway. Ephesians 6:12 is quoted to emphasize the nature of spiritual warfare (“we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities and powers…”), and the preacher connects this to the act of worship as a means of engaging in that battle. The sermon also references 2 Corinthians 12 (Paul’s thorn in the flesh, described as a “messenger of Satan”) to illustrate the reality of spiritual oppression and the sufficiency of God’s grace in the midst of ongoing struggle. The preacher further alludes to the Gospels (the worship of the man delivered from demons, the centurion’s confession at the cross) to show that worship is the natural response to Christ’s victory and deliverance.

The Unshakable Kingdom: God's Sovereignty and Our Calling (Ligonier Ministries) references multiple biblical narratives to support its interpretation of Revelation 11:15. The preacher cites the stories of Abraham, Moses, Daniel, and Paul to illustrate the pattern of God raising up and bringing down kingdoms in accordance with His will. The sermon also references the crucifixion narrative (the thief on the cross and the centurion’s confession) to highlight the unexpected recognition of Jesus’ kingship. The preacher draws on the language of Revelation (“he will reign for ever and ever”) and connects it to the broader biblical theme of God’s eternal kingdom, as well as to the Reformation solas to ground the theological application.

Revelation 11:15 Christian References outside the Bible:

Embracing Our Identity in the Kingdom of God (Light on the Corner Church) explicitly references Bible scholars Craig Blazing and Daryl Bach, quoting their summary that Jesus affirmed Old Testament prophecy and proclaimed a coming worldwide political kingdom in which he, as Messiah, would rule Israel and all nations, and that he prepared his disciples for administrative roles in that kingdom. This citation is used to support the sermon’s interpretation of Revelation 11:15 as a literal, future, global reign of Christ.

The Unshakable Kingdom: God's Sovereignty and Our Calling (Ligonier Ministries) explicitly references several non-biblical Christian sources in its discussion of Revelation 11:15. The preacher mentions Martin Luther’s definition of faith as “the acceptance of acceptance,” using this to illustrate the grace-based nature of entry into God’s kingdom. The sermon also references Augustine and Calvin as influential figures whose theology shaped the political and cultural development of Western nations, particularly the United States and Britain. The preacher discusses the impact of the Reformation and the solas (sola gratia, sola fide, sola Scriptura, solus Christus, soli Deo gloria) as foundational to understanding the nature of the unshakable kingdom. The sermon also references George Frideric Handel’s “Messiah” and the historical context of its performance in England, using it as an example of Christ being glorified in the greatest kingdom of the day.

Revelation 11:15 Illustrations from Secular Sources:

Being Witnesses: Embracing God's Kingdom in Tension (Discovery Christian Church) uses the Nike "We Are All Witnesses" ad campaign for LeBron James as a detailed analogy for the Christian's role as a witness. The preacher explains that just as fans are witnesses to LeBron's greatness, Christians are witnesses to the greatness of Jesus, not their own achievements. The analogy is extended to emphasize that the focus is not on the witness but on the one to whom they point, and that the church's role is to testify to Jesus' kingship in the world, especially in the "in-between" time before the full realization of his kingdom. The preacher also humorously references failed end-times predictions (the book "88 Reasons Why Jesus is Coming Back in 1988" and Harold Camping's 2011 campaign) to illustrate the dangers of treating Revelation's numbers as literal codes rather than symbols, reinforcing the sermon's interpretive approach.

Worship: A Powerful Act of Spiritual Warfare (SermonIndex.net) uses several detailed secular analogies to illustrate the meaning of Revelation 11:15. The preacher references the experience of Mike Tyson, the heavyweight boxer, who would cry before fights because he was about to “turn into someone I don’t like,” using this as a metaphor for the transformation that occurs when one gives in to demonic rage or oppression, and contrasting it with the transformation of rebels into worshippers in Christ’s kingdom. The sermon also references the experience of “helicopter parents” as an analogy for the kind of control and anxiety that can become a spiritual stronghold, leading to depression and oppression, and illustrates how surrendering control through worship can bring deliverance. The preacher further uses the example of a hypothetical visit from Elon Musk, promising everyone a million dollars, to illustrate the expected emotional response to good news, and contrasts this with the lack of emotional engagement in worship, challenging the congregation to consider whether their hearts have truly been transformed by the reality of Christ’s reign. The sermon also references popular music and entertainment (Taylor Swift concerts, Little Nas X videos) as examples of false worship and the dangers of giving adoration to anything other than God, warning against the subtle influence of secular culture on the believer’s heart and worship.