Revelation 11

The Explanation

A man named John was seeing something. Not a dream. God was showing him.

Someone gave John a stick. A long, thin measuring stick.

"Stand up," the voice said. "Measure my house."

So John measured. He measured God's house. He measured the table where people bring gifts to God. And he counted the people praying there.

God knows His house. God counts His people. He knows every one.

Then John saw two men. They wore rough, scratchy clothes. Itchy clothes, like a sack.

These two men had a job. They walked through the city and talked. All day they talked. And the next day too.

They said: listen! God is here! Turn around and come to God!

The people in the city put their hands over their ears. They did not want to hear it. They got angry.

But the two men kept talking. Day after day after day. God was standing right beside them.

What Does This Mean?

Then something sad happened. Something very sad.

The people in the city hurt the two men. And the two men died.

They lay in the street. Nobody helped them. Nobody carried them away.

The people in the city were happy. They gave each other presents. "Now those two are quiet," they said. "Now nobody tells us about God anymore."

One day went by. Two days. Three days.

And then…

Then God breathed. God blew His own breath into the two men.

And they moved. Their fingers moved. Their eyes opened.

And they stood up! They stood right up on their feet!

Now the people in the city were not happy anymore. Now they were still. Very still.

A big voice came from heaven. "Come up here!"

And the two men went up. Up into a cloud. Up to God.

Everyone saw it. Everyone.

The Common Thread

Do you know where those two men were lying? In the same city where Jesus died.

Jesus died too. And people thought: now it is over.

But it was not over. God made Jesus alive again. Jesus stood up.

God is stronger than dying. Much, much stronger.

Then John heard a trumpet. A big, loud trumpet.

And in heaven everybody started singing. Loud, happy singing.

"God is King! Jesus is King! Forever and ever!"

Old, wise men sat on chairs in front of God's throne. They slid off their chairs. They lay down flat on the floor.

"Thank You, God," they said. "You are strong. You are King."

Then God's house in heaven opened wide. John saw it. There was lightning. There was thunder. Rumble, rumble, boom.

But John was not afraid. Because inside, God was King.

For You

Sometimes something sad happens. A pet dies. Or Grandpa. And you think: now it is all over.

But God is stronger than sad. God can make things new.

You may say it out loud today: "God is King!" Say it once more, a little louder.

Talk About It

What happened when God breathed on the two men?

Who is King, forever and ever?

Praying Together

Dear God, You are King. You are strong. Thank You that You are stronger than sad things. Thank You that You know my name. Amen.