Revelation 11:18

The elders continue to anticipate the beginning of Messiah’s rule on earth by foreseeing the raging response of unbelieving Gentiles (cf. Revelation 16:14; Revelation 16:16; Revelation 16:19; Revelation 20:8-9; Psalms 2:1; Psalms 2:5; Psalms 2:12) and the outpouring of God’s holy wrath (cf. Matthew 3:7; Luke 3:7; Romans 2:5; Romans 2:8; Romans 5:9; 1 Thessalonians 1:10; 1 Thessalonians 5:9). They also see the judgment of the dead and the rewarding of believers. They not only give thanks that Christ reigns supremely (Revelation 11:17) but that He judges righteously and rewards graciously (Revelation 11:18).

"Although rewards are all of grace (Romans 4:4), they vary according to what each has done (1 Corinthians 3:8)." [Note: Mounce, p. 232.]

"The elders in their song make no attempt to separate the different phases of judgment as they are separated in the closing chapters of Revelation. They simply sing of that future judgment as though it were one event, much on the order of other Scriptures that do not distinguish future judgments from each other (cf. Mark 4:29; John 5:25; John 5:28-29; Acts 17:31; Acts 24:21)." [Note: Thomas, Revelation 8-22, pp. 110-11.]

The elders distinguished two groups of believers: the Old Testament and New Testament prophets, who communicated divine revelation, and the saints, namely, other believers. [Note: See Stanton, Kept from . . ., pp. 65-69.] They further described these saints as even (ascensive use of "and," Gr. kai) those who fear God’s name, both small and great (i.e., all kinds; cf. Revelation 13:16; Revelation 19:5; Revelation 19:18; Revelation 20:12). The elders also anticipated the destruction of the wicked who have been responsible for the divine judgments that have destroyed the earth. John would soon learn of the destruction of some of these destroyers, namely, Babylon, the beast, the false prophet, and Satan.