The Seventh Trumpet

Then the seventh angel blew his trumpet, and there were loud voices in heaven, saying, “The kingdom of the world has become the kingdom of our Lord and of his Christ, and he shall reign forever and ever.” And the twenty-four elders who sit on their thrones before God fell on their faces and worshiped God, saying,

“We give thanks to you, Lord God Almighty, who is and who was,
for you have taken your great power and begun to reign.
The nations raged, but your wrath came, and the time for the dead to be judged,
and for rewarding your servants, the prophets and saints,
and those who fear your name, both small and great,
and for destroying the destroyers of the earth.”

Then God's temple in heaven was opened, and the ark of his covenant was seen within his temple. There were flashes of lightning, rumblings, peals of thunder, an earthquake, and heavy hail.
Revelation 11:15-19

The seventh trumpet announces the time of the end. Jesus has declared His ownership of the earth. He has purchased back the title by His own spiritual death on the cross (blood of Christ) to pay the penalty for all the sins of mankind. Adam was given dominion over the earth in the Garden of Eden, but his willful sin forfeited that title to Satan. The whole history of the human race has been a battle between Jesus Christ and the forces of evil, who recognize Satan as their king. Jesus has paid the price and reclaimed what is rightfully His, and is now preparing to take it by force.

First, He delivered His Own from the tribulation that was to come, then He prepared His Jewish evangelists for the gospel blitz that will be proclaimed by the 144,000 in the few years they will have to reach all that are willing to believe. Those of the tribulational believers who are not yet martyred will also evangelize, and we’ve just seen the two witnesses returned from their eternal abode to preach in the streets of Jerusalem for 3½ years. Grace, grace and more grace, showered on the besieged earth at the most tumultuous time in history, which also is the most religious time in history. This world religion will not be true Christianity, but a Satanic counterfeit which says “never mind that blood of Christ stuff, we will just love one another and everyone can bring whatever practices they prefer into the church. That way, no one is offended, and we can all learn from each other’s beliefs and culture. After all, we worship the same God and we are all God’s children.”  That, brethren, is the devil’s own lie. And a great many people today are buying it. We hear it from professing christains. The god of the various world religions is not the Sovereign God of the universe who came in the flesh as Jesus Christ. He is something else, entirely. Every human born into time is not a child of God. We become children of God one way: by faith in Christ Jesus, Galatians 4:6.

The elders in the throne room acknowledge Jesus’ authority to reign as they worship Him. His judgment is about to begin. In the process of reclaiming His Own, some people and angelic beings must be purged and some must be punished for their constant rebellion. Jesus has been allowing the earth and her people time to repent as we believers have come to faith in Christ in our lifetimes and then gone to Him in our deaths. The time of waiting and patient endurance of humanity’s wickedness is over. Now, the gentle Savior becomes Righteous Judge.

Indiana Jones will never find the Ark of the Covenant on the earth, because it has been in heaven all this time. There is a heavenly temple, which is the model for the earthly temple. The Ark of the Covenant is the golden box which contains the symbols of man’s sin and God’s grace. It is adorned by two covering angels, who represent the righteousness and justice of God.

Inside the Ark: 1-the tables of the law, which sin has violated. 2- a pot of manna, God’s provision which man as rejected. 3-Aaron’s rod that budded, representing God’s authority, against which man has revolted.

This is what the controversy has been about. Mankind's sin against God's standards, mankind's rejection of God's perfect provision, and mankind's revolt against God's absolute authority.

Atop the Ark: 1st cherub representing the perfect righteousness of God, which looks down and condemns. 2^nd cherub representing the perfect justice of God, which looks down and places a penalty. The lid of this Ark is the mercy seat, whereon the high priest poured the blood of the perfect lamb on the day of atonement; once for himself, once for the people. This is God's solution. His Son is that lamb.

Righteousness and Justice look on that perfect blood and are satisfied that the penalty is paid.

And the thunder rolls.