Revelation 11:18

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.

And {G2532} the nations {G1484} were angry {G3710}, and {G2532} thy {G4675} wrath {G3709} is come {G2064}, and {G2532} the time {G2540} of the dead {G3498}, that they should be judged {G2919}, and {G2532} that thou shouldest give {G1325} reward {G3408} unto thy {G4675} servants {G1401} the prophets {G4396}, and {G2532} to the saints {G40}, and {G2532} them that fear {G5399} thy {G4675} name {G3686}, small {G3398} and {G2532} great {G3173}; and {G2532} shouldest destroy {G1311} them which destroy {G1311} the earth {G1093}.

“The Goyim raged.
But now your rage has come,
the time for the dead to be judged,
the time for rewarding your servants the prophets
and your holy people,
those who stand in awe of your name,
both small and great.
It is also the time for destroying
those who destroy the earth.”

The nations were enraged, and Your wrath has come. The time has come to judge the dead and to reward Your servants the prophets, as well as the saints and those who fear Your name, both small and great— and to destroy those who destroy the earth.”

And the nations were wroth, and thy wrath came, and the time of the dead to be judged, and the time to give their reward to thy servants the prophets, and to the saints, and to them that fear thy name, the small and the great; and to destroy them that destroy the earth.

Revelation 11:18 is a pivotal verse within the book of Revelation, marking a significant transition from the unfolding judgments to the ultimate triumph of God's kingdom. It encapsulates the divine response to humanity's rebellion and outlines the final acts of God's justice and righteousness at the culmination of history.

Context

This verse immediately follows the sounding of the seventh trumpet, which declares, "The kingdoms of this world are become the kingdoms of our Lord, and of his Christ; and he shall reign for ever and ever." The verse thus describes the immediate consequences and characteristics of this new, eternal reign. The "nations were angry" highlights humanity's persistent rebellion and hostility towards God's sovereignty, even as His wrath is unleashed. This anger sets the stage for the dramatic events of judgment and reward that follow, signifying the world's resistance to divine rule.

Key Themes

  • Divine Wrath and Judgment: The phrase "thy wrath is come, and the time of the dead, that they should be judged" signifies the long-awaited moment of God's righteous indignation against sin and ungodliness. This is the period when all humanity, living and dead, will face divine accountability. This final judgment is a recurring theme in prophetic literature, emphasizing God's ultimate authority over all creation. For a broader view of this judgment, see Revelation 20:12.
  • Divine Justice and Reward: God's justice is not only punitive but also redemptive and rewarding. He promises to "give reward unto thy servants the prophets, and to the saints, and them that fear thy name, small and great." This assures believers that their faithfulness, suffering, and service will not go unnoticed or unrewarded. It encompasses all who genuinely revere God, regardless of their societal standing. This promise offers immense hope and encouragement to those enduring persecution or hardship for their faith, reminding them of Christ's promise to reward according to works.
  • Retribution Against Evil: The concluding phrase, "and shouldest destroy them which destroy the earth," speaks to God's ultimate retribution against those who have corrupted, ruined, or defiled His creation, both physically and morally. This is a powerful statement about God's protective nature over His world and His intolerance for those who actively work against His divine order and goodness.

Linguistic Insights

The KJV phrase "destroy them which destroy the earth" uses the Greek word διαφθείρω (diaphtheirō) for "destroy." This word carries a broader meaning than just physical demolition. It can imply to corrupt, ruin, spoil, or bring to decay, affecting both the physical environment and the moral fabric of society. Thus, "destroying the earth" refers not only to literal environmental degradation but also to the spiritual and moral corruption that defiles humanity and God's creation, leading to ultimate ruin for the perpetrators. This highlights God's holistic concern for His creation and its inhabitants.

Practical Application

Revelation 11:18 offers profound implications for believers today:

  • Assurance of Justice: It provides comfort that God is sovereign and will ultimately bring justice to a world filled with injustice. No sin or act of rebellion will escape His final judgment, and no act of faithfulness will go unrewarded.
  • Motivation for Service: The promise of reward for "prophets, and saints, and them that fear thy name" serves as a powerful motivation for continued faithful service and steadfastness in the face of adversity. It reminds us that our labor in the Lord is not in vain, aligning with principles found in 1 Corinthians 15:58.
  • Call to Stewardship: The judgment against "them which destroy the earth" can be interpreted as a call to responsible stewardship of God's creation. While primarily referring to moral and spiritual corruption, it also underscores the importance of caring for the physical world God has entrusted to us, reflecting the groanings of creation mentioned in Romans 8:22.
  • Urgency of the Gospel: The impending judgment highlights the urgency for all people to turn to God through Christ before the "time of wrath" fully comes, emphasizing the need for repentance and faith.
Note: Commentary was generated by an advanced AI, utilizing a prompt that emphasized Biblical fidelity over bias. We've found these insights to be consistently reliable, yet we always encourage prayerful discernment through the Holy Spirit. The Scripture text and cross-references are from verified, non-AI sources.

  • Revelation 19:5

    ¶ And a voice came out of the throne, saying, Praise our God, all ye his servants, and ye that fear him, both small and great.

  • Revelation 20:12

    And I saw the dead, small and great, stand before God; and the books were opened: and another book was opened, which is [the book] of life: and the dead were judged out of those things which were written in the books, according to their works.

  • Revelation 6:10

    And they cried with a loud voice, saying, How long, O Lord, holy and true, dost thou not judge and avenge our blood on them that dwell on the earth?

  • Revelation 6:11

    And white robes were given unto every one of them; and it was said unto them, that they should rest yet for a little season, until their fellowservants also and their brethren, that should be killed as they [were], should be fulfilled.

  • Revelation 13:10

    He that leadeth into captivity shall go into captivity: he that killeth with the sword must be killed with the sword. Here is the patience and the faith of the saints.

  • Revelation 20:4

    And I saw thrones, and they sat upon them, and judgment was given unto them: and [I saw] the souls of them that were beheaded for the witness of Jesus, and for the word of God, and which had not worshipped the beast, neither his image, neither had received [his] mark upon their foreheads, or in their hands; and they lived and reigned with Christ a thousand years.

  • Revelation 20:5

    But the rest of the dead lived not again until the thousand years were finished. This [is] the first resurrection.
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