There’s an interesting little phrase that jumped out at me in Revelation 11. It appears in the passage in which the seventh trumpet has sounded.

If you recall, Revelation presents a series of judgments on the unbelieving and rebellious world. These are described as seven seals, seven trumpets, and seven bowls. There are different ideas about how we should interpret this book. Literally? Chronologically? Historically?

I believe the book describes literal events that will occur in the future. The best explanation of the book’s outline, I believe, is one I found on a website called Revelation Logic, in which the three judgments (seals, trumpets, bowls) are not in simple chronological order but overlap. In other words, the seal judgments include the trumpets and the bowls, and John is given different views and details of the same events.

Back to the little phrase I mentioned. It’s found in Revelation 11:15: “Then the seventh angel sounded; 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 will reign forever and ever.’”

If our “overlapping” method of interpretation holds, this occurs at the end of the Tribulation, just before Jesus’ second coming and the final judgment at the Great White Throne.

How can Scripture say the kingdom of the world has become Christ’s? I thought God already ruled over everything. Isn’t He in total control? What does this mean?

Become is the Greek verb ginomai. It describes something that “comes to be,” a fulfillment, something finished.

God most certainly rules over all mankind. He is all-powerful, sovereign, and able to do whatever His hand desires. But not all people are part of His kingdom—the kingdom that Jesus came to establish through His death and resurrection. Many live outside the kingdom of God.

The Old Testament assures us of God’s sovereignty over all things and speaks of a time when His eternal kingdom will be revealed.

Psalm 22:18 – For the kingdom is the Lord’s, and He rules over the nations.

Psalm 102:18-222 – This will be written for the generation to come, that a people yet to be created may praise the Lord. For He looked down from His holy height; from heaven the Lord gazed upon the earth, to hear the groaning of the prisoner, to set free those who were doomed to death, that men may tell of the name of the Lord in Zion and His praise in Jerusalem, when the peoples are gathered together, and the kingdoms, to serve the Lord.

Psalm 145:11-13 – They shall speak of the glory of Your kingdom and talk of Your power; to make known to the sons of men Your mighty acts and the glory of the majesty of Your kingdom. Your kingdom is an everlasting kingdom, and Your dominion endures throughout all generations.

Jesus prayed, “Your kingdom come. Your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven” (Matthew 6:10). As He began His ministry, He spoke of God’s kingdom: “From that time Jesus began to preach and say, ‘Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand’” (Matthew 4:17). He instructed His disciples, “And as you go, preach, saying, ‘The kingdom of heaven is at hand’” (Matthew 10:7).

There are two kingdoms in existence today: the kingdom of God and the kingdom of the world. The kingdom of the world also has a ruler: Satan. You belong to one or the other. Satan is called “the god of this world” (2 Corinthians 4:4) and the “prince of the power of the air” (Ephesians 2:2). John wrote, “the whole world lies in the power of the evil one” (1 John 5:19).

God is a kind and gracious king, inviting all to enter His kingdom and receive the benefits of His glorious provision, protection, and benevolence. For now, He allows those who do not wish to serve Him as king to exist, believing they are the rulers of their own kingdoms. They do not realize they serve an evil king.

Although followers of Jesus live in Satan’s physical domain (this world), he has no power over those who belong to God’s kingdom. We are protected by the Holy Spirit and marked, sealed, and identified as belonging to Him.

One day, the time of all rebellion against God will end. Mankind will answer for his sin and rebellion and be judged for it. When that happens, “the kingdom of the world” will become “the kingdom of our Lord and of His Christ; and He will reign forever and ever.”

How do you become part of God’s kingdom—now—before the final judgment?

Matthew 7:21 – “Not everyone who says to Me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father who is in heaven will enter.

Jesus opened the way into His kingdom. We must do what He says.

Mark 1:14-15 – Now after John had been taken into custody, Jesus came into Galilee, preaching the gospel of God, and saying, “The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand; repent and believe in the gospel.”