Revelation 11 states...NOW is the kingdom of this world become our lord's and HIS CHRIST...
HE is beginning to exercise HIS RULE...
The scripture did not use to have numbered chapters and numbered verses. That was added later on. With that in mind, Revelation is not in chronological order. The events in Revelation 18th chapter is giving a detail account of what had happened at the fall of Babylon as declared by the second angel in Revelation 14:8 of the 3 angels that are setting up the hour of temptation that shall try all upon the earth.
Given that knowledge, when I am reading Revelations 11 th chapter< I am seeing events that will happen midway the great tribulation when those two witnesses are called up.
From what I have been able to discern by Him, He is still in Heaven after calling up the 2 witnesses midway in the great tribulation. He has not on earth to establish His milleniel reign as of yet, being how it is about halfway thru the great tribulation.
So when I read on down to verses 14 & 15, I do wonder if there is a shift in the topic or event again within that chapter.
Revelation 11:[SUP]14 [/SUP]The second woe is past; and, behold, the third woe cometh quickly.[SUP] 15 [/SUP]And the seventh angel sounded; and there were great voices in heaven, saying, The kingdoms of this world are become the kingdoms of our Lord, and of his Christ; and he shall reign for ever and ever.
Anyway... per my example of Revelation 18 describing in detail what happened after the first angel spread the everlasting gospel when the second angel announced the fall of Babylon in Revelation 14:8, I would have to say that the events within the chapter of Revelation 11 may have taken another turn between verse 14 & 15 once again as verse 15 is referring to the pre trib rapture event when the last trump; the seventh trump was blown.
Note how everything in reference is in Heaven still... and the reward is giving to those that are His, small & great; the great being in Heaven as vessels unto honor and the small still in the earth..to receive their terrestrial inheritance after the great tribulation.
Revelation 11:[SUP]15 [/SUP]And the seventh angel sounded; and there were great voices in heaven, saying, The kingdoms of this world are become the kingdoms of our Lord, and of his Christ; and he shall reign for ever and ever.[SUP]
16 [/SUP]
And the four and twenty elders, which sat before God on their seats, fell upon their faces, and worshipped God,[SUP] 17 [/SUP]Saying, We give thee thanks, O Lord God Almighty, which art, and wast, and art to come; because thou hast taken to thee thy great power, and hast reigned.
[SUP]18 [/SUP]And the nations were angry, and thy wrath is come, and the time of the dead, that they should be judged, and that thou shouldest give reward unto thy servants the prophets, and to the saints, and them that fear thy name, small and great; and shouldest destroy them which destroy the earth.
[SUP] 19 [/SUP]And the temple of God was opened in heaven, and there was seen in his temple the ark of his testament: and there were lightnings, and voices, and thunderings, and an earthquake, and great hail.
So I do not see how you are applying it when the temple of God was opened in Heaven and the 24 elders were before God worshipping Him... in Heaven. The 24 elders citing His right to rule and judge the world are saying this to Him in Heaven.
Revelation 12 th chapter also touches on the pre trib rapture event when the door to the Marriage Supper is shut, Satan is cast down to earth, so that the accuser of our brethren will not interrupt the celebration in Heaven. So the "inhabitants of Heaven" will rejoice at that time and woe for those left behind for the devil know he has little time left.
Revelation 12:[SUP]9 [/SUP]And the great dragon was cast out, that old serpent, called the Devil, and Satan, which deceiveth the whole world: he was cast out into the earth, and his angels were cast out with him.[SUP]10 [/SUP]And I heard a loud voice saying in heaven, Now is come salvation, and strength, and the kingdom of our God, and the power of his Christ: for the accuser of our brethren is cast down, which accused them before our God day and night.[SUP]11 [/SUP]And they overcame him by the blood of the Lamb, and by the word of their testimony; and they loved not their lives unto the death.[SUP]12 [/SUP]Therefore rejoice, ye heavens, and ye that dwell in them. Woe to the inhabiters of the earth and of the sea! for the devil is come down unto you, having great wrath, because he knoweth that he hath but a short time.
Anyway... as out of order as the Book of Revelation is... it does takes wisdom from the Lord to see the message in how to apply them rightly ....
He cannot be beginning to exercise His rule when He is still in Heaven; it was the 24 elders that said that to Him about His right to reward His servants and to rule the world with His wrath, BUT God is still in Heaven when they said that to Him.