Revelation 11 In this chapter the Lord reveals the ministry of the two witnesses.  They will be given great authority..  "and I will grant authority to my two witnesses and they will prophecy... these have the power to shut up the sky.. power over the waters.. and to smite the earth with every plague, as often as they desire. "

These two will be overcome and killed by the beast, lay dead on the street for 3 days, and be resurrected and taken into heaven.  " And in that hour there was a great earthquake, and a tenth of the city fell; and seven thousand people were killed in the earthquake, and the rest were terrified and gave glory to the God of heaven." ( v13) 

Then.. the seventh trumpet sounds.  An announcement is made.. "the kingdom of the world has become the kingdom of our Lord, and of His Christ; and He will reign forever and ever."  Again, worship breaks out in heaven!  "We give Thee thanks, O Lord God, the Almighty who art and who wast, because Thou hast taken Thy great power and hast begun to reign." 

When the temple of God opens in heaven there are "flashes of lightning and sounds and peals of thunder and an earthquake and a great hailstorm." 

We recently witnessed on the news the power of a tornado. It was devastating.  It gives us a tiny glimpse of the power that God will release when the things mentioned above begin to happen. The reign of our Lord will be ushered in by a display of God's power that we can't even begin to fathom.  The whole earth will know it.  Every nation will be brought to its knees.  It will be then, verse 18 tells us, that "the time  came for the dead to be judged, and the time to give their reward to Thy bondservants the prophets and to the saints and to those who fear Thy name, the small and the great, and to destroy those who destroy the earth." 

Psalm 99:1 says "The Lord reigns, let the people tremble;  He is enthroned above the cherubim, let the earth shake."   We are called to recognize.. to acknowledge the power of our God. To praise His "awesome name"... to exalt Him.. "and worship at His footstool; Holy is He."  Our God hears the prayers of those who call upon Him.  He forgives and redeems those who bow before Him. But in the end He will "execute justice and righteousness.. "  Those who do not repent and put their trust in Jesus Christ who will reign forever and ever.. will be destroyed.. to suffer an eternal hell.  His power will be displayed and we will all know it. 

Father, we pray for those who are lost.. walking in darkness and sin.  Open their eyes Lord, to see the awesome power of Your hand and the loving grace that is extended to them even now.. while they still can call on You to be saved.  Thank You for being the God who saves, who forgives, who redeems, and who sets us free! We are Your people.. the sheep of Your pasture. We come into Your presence with thanksgiving and praise, for You are good and Your lovingkindness is everlasting.  May Your kingdom come and Your will be done we pray. In Jesus' name. amen.