We now get the seventh trumpet blast and, as is the pattern in Revelation, this leads into another series of events.
This starts with another declaration of the greatness of the Lord. The kingdom of the world has become the kingdom of our Lord and His Messiah. We need to always remind ourselves that the it is God's kingdom that is eternal, that expands forever. What is happening in the world? The the kingdom of the world is being handed over to the Lord. In Col 3:1-4 Paul tells us to focus on things above. When you look at the news today know that the kingdom of the world is being handed over to Christ. Now we should also be fully aware of the terrible things that are happening, as Revelation clearly is aware. We cannot fully understand how God's plans work out, but we can be certain that they will work out, but they also include going through dark times.
The elders then fell down and worshipped God. God has taken His power and has begun to reign on the earth.
Those who attack God, who persecute His people, will be punished. All men will be judged, and His servants the prophets will be rewarded.
Then God's temple in heaven was opened and the ark could be seen. Needless to say, there is speculation over precisely what the ark of the covenant here is. Moses had the ark of the covenant, and it represented the presence of God. That ark was probably destroyed during the time of Nebuchadnezzar. Again, I think it is best to take it symbolically. It represents God's covenant with His people. God will fulfil the covenant. All the promises will be fulfilled.
Note that the physical ark of the covenant was (probably) destroyed, The physical temple was certainly destroyed (as was the second temple). The sacrifices have gone. As Hebrews teaches us, all the symbols in the Old Testament were a shadow of the real thing. They were pointing to the new covenant sealed by the blood of Jesus.
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