Revelation 11:15 - Exposition

And the seventh angel sounded; and there were great voices in heaven, saying . The participle "saying" is masculine, λέγοντες , in A, B the feminine, λέγουσαι , is read in א , C, P. Though the latter would be more correct, grammatically, yet irregular construction in such cases is not uncommon in the Apocalypse. The voices were possibly those of the angels rejoicing in the triumph of the kingdom of God. Or perhaps they proceeded from the four living beings, since the elders are next mentioned ( Revelation 11:17 ) as offering the praises of the redeemed Church which they represent. At the opening of the seventh seal there was silence in heaven; here, at the sound of the seventh angel's trumpet, voices are heard "in heaven," but there is silence as to the fate of the wicked, with whom the trumpet visions have been chiefly concerned. In the revelation of the fate in store for the Church, as well as in that of the doom awarded to the ungodly, the visions stop short of describing circumstances connected with the life after the judgment day. The kingdoms of this world are become the kingdoms of our Lord, and of his Christ; and he shall reign forever and ever. ἐγένετο ἡ βασιλαία , in the singular, is found in א , A, B, C, P, and versions, and is adopted by the Revised Version. ἐγένοντο αἱ βασιλεῖαι , the plural, is read in two cursives. We can understand the first part of this verse by referring to Revelation 12:10 . God's power and authority is established by the final overthrow of Satan. It naturally follows the account, in Revelation 12:12 , Revelation 12:13 , of the vindication of God's witnesses, and of the glory rendered by the rest of mankind. With God the Father is associated Christ, by whose means the overthrow of the devil is effected, and by whom his servants overcome (cf. Revelation 1:6 ; Revelation 5:9 ; Revelation 7:14 ; Revelation 12:11 ). This is the final victory; henceforth "he shall reign forever and ever."