Big Idea: God will one day establish his eternal kingdom and receive praise for condemning his enemies and rewarding his servants.

Understanding the Text

Following the interlude of 10:1–11:13, we encounter the “third woe” in 11:14–19 (cf. 8:13; 9:12), a continuation of the seven trumpets (8:7–9:21). Surprisingly, instead of focusing on another series of plagues, this “woe” features a heavenly celebration that includes God “rewarding,” “judging,” and “destroying” (11:18). We have already been told in 10:7 that when the seventh angel sounds his trumpet, “the mystery of God will be accomplished.” The consummated kingdom of God has arrived. We need to remember that Revelation does not unfold in sequential fashion but often revisits the same great realities in different ways as it spirals for…