Revelation 11:15-19: In the end, Jesus wins!

15 The seventh angel sounded his trumpet, and there were loud voices in heaven, which said:‘The kingdom of the world has become the kingdom of our Lord and of his Messiah  and he will reign for ever and ever.’16 And the twenty-four elders, who were seated on their thrones before God, fell on their faces and worshipped 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.’

19 Then God’s temple in heaven was opened, and within his temple was seen the ark of his covenant. And there came flashes of lightning, rumblings, peals of thunder, an earthquake and a severe hailstorm. NIV

You may remember the story of the caretaker who said he understood the message of ‘Revelation’ and that it was all rather simple to understand: ‘In the end, Jesus wins!’ he said.  Over the high altar of Westminster Abbey, there is an inscription of verse 15 taken from the King James translation of the Bible. It reads; ‘’The kingdoms of this world are become the kingdoms of our Lord, and of his Christ.’’ Not only is this above the altar, but also the Cosmati pavement where, for thousands of years, kings and queens have been crowned. It is there to remind all monarchs that their crowns are temporary and borrowed. That, of course is Biblically correct. But in the Greek translation the word ‘’Kingdom’’ is singular not plural, and is only used once. Tom Wright translates it: ‘’Now the kingdom of the world has passed to our Lord and his Messiah…’’

 In the end, Jesus is going to claim back this world as His rightful property; in the end, He wins!