Revelation 11 17

Revelation 11:17 kjv

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.

Revelation 11:17 nkjv

saying: "We give You thanks, O Lord God Almighty, The One who is and who was and who is to come, Because You have taken Your great power and reigned.

Revelation 11:17 niv

saying: "We give thanks to you, Lord God Almighty, the One who is and who was, because you have taken your great power and have begun to reign.

Revelation 11:17 esv

saying, "We give thanks to you, Lord God Almighty, who is and who was, for you have taken your great power and begun to reign.

Revelation 11:17 nlt

And they said, "We give thanks to you, Lord God, the Almighty,
the one who is and who always was,
for now you have assumed your great power
and have begun to reign.

Revelation 11 verses

Revelation 11 17 Meaning

Revelation 11:17 expresses a profound act of worship and thanksgiving by the twenty-four elders to God. Following the declaration that "The kingdom of the world has become the kingdom of our Lord and of his Messiah, and he will reign forever and ever" (Rev 11:15), this verse proclaims the reason for this ultimate praise: God Almighty has taken His immense power and has begun His decisive, manifested reign over all things. It signifies a pivotal moment where divine sovereignty transitions from promise to active, universal dominion, setting the stage for the final judgments and the establishment of the eternal kingdom.

Revelation 11 17 Context

This verse is uttered by the twenty-four elders who sit before God's throne in heaven (Rev 4:4), acting as representatives of the redeemed Church. It follows the sounding of the seventh trumpet, which is announced in Revelation 11:15 as the culmination of prophetic judgments, explicitly declaring that "The kingdom of the world has become the kingdom of our Lord and of his Messiah." This moment marks a dramatic shift in Revelation's narrative, signifying the end of the patience of God with the rebellious world and the immediate and decisive assertion of His long-promised ultimate rule. Historically and culturally, for John's first-century audience suffering under Roman imperial power, the declaration of God "taking great power and beginning to reign" would have served as a powerful counter-narrative and a profound source of hope, directly refuting the deified claims of earthly rulers like the Roman emperor who demanded absolute worship. It is a declaration that true sovereignty belongs to God alone.

Revelation 11 17 Word analysis

• Saying (λέγοντες - legontes): An active participle, indicating an immediate and continuing verbal response from the elders. It highlights their active participation in celestial worship, verbally assenting to the declaration of God's reign.
• We give thanks to you (Εὐχαριστοῦμέν σοι - Eucharistoūmen soi): From the Greek verb eucharisteo, meaning "to be thankful." It is more than just formal politeness; it conveys deep gratitude and praise rooted in divine grace (charis), acknowledging God's goodness and acts. This is a common form of worship throughout Revelation.
• Lord (Κύριε - Kyrios): This title signifies sovereign master and absolute authority. It is the Greek translation used in the Septuagint for the divine name YHWH, affirming God's unique identity as the covenant-making and universally powerful God.
• God (ὁ Θεός - ho Theos): The definite article "the" emphasizes His unique status as the one, true, incomparable God, distinguished from any other divine pretenders.
• Almighty (Παντοκράτωρ - Pantokrator): This powerful title means "all-ruling" or "all-powerful." It is particularly prevalent in Revelation, used specifically to describe God. It stresses His absolute dominion, supreme power, and unchallengeable control over all creation and history, making it exceptionally fitting when He is about to display this power definitively. It functions as a direct polemic against any competing claims of power or sovereignty from earthly empires.
• who is and who was (ὁ ὢν καὶ ὁ ἦν - ho ōn kai ho ēn): This phrase describes God's eternal, unchangeable nature, transcending time. Significantly, it omits the typical third part of the phrase often found in Revelation ("and who is to come," ho erchomenos, as in Rev 1:4, 1:8, 4:8). The omission is crucial: it signifies that the "coming" aspect of His reign—His definitive advent as reigning King—has now been realized or inaugurated. His future arrival has become a present reality.
• because (ὅτι - hoti): This conjunction clearly introduces the reason for the elders' thanksgiving and worship. Their gratitude is directly tied to a specific, monumental divine action.
• you have taken (εἴληφας - eilēphas): This is a perfect active indicative verb from lambanō ("to take"). The perfect tense emphasizes a completed action with continuing, present results. It implies that God has definitively and irrevocably "taken up" His power, asserting it in a way that is now an established reality. It suggests a decisive, sovereign act, not a passive event or gradual process.
• your great power (τὴν δύναμιν σου τὴν μεγάλην - tēn dynamin sou tēn megalēn): Dynamis refers to inherent might, strength, or ability, while megale means "great." This signifies God's own unparalleled, infinite divine power. He is not given power but has reasserted His own innate, immense might in an active and visible way.
• and have begun to reign (καὶ ἐβασίλευσας - kai ebasileusas): This is an aorist active indicative verb from basileuō ("to reign" or "to be king"). While it can be translated simply as "you have reigned," in this climactic context, alongside "you have taken your great power," it strongly implies the inauguration or commencement of a full, decisive, and manifested phase of God's sovereign reign. It points to a definitive historical and eschatological event where His kingship is now fully revealed and asserted, not merely existing in principle.

Revelation 11 17 Bonus section

• The thanksgiving and praise from the twenty-four elders are not merely an emotional outburst but a theological declaration rooted in God's immutable character and His eschatological plan.
• The transition marked by this verse reinforces the "already and not yet" aspect of the kingdom of God: while Christ's spiritual reign was inaugurated at His first advent, Revelation 11:17 signals the definitive, cosmic, and universal manifestation of that reign in a tangible way for all to see.
• This passage functions as a stark contrast to human kingdoms and rulers who grasp for power. Here, God takes His great power as His inherent right, demonstrating absolute authority that no earthly empire can challenge.

Revelation 11 17 Commentary

Revelation 11:17 marks a dramatic high point in the apocalyptic vision, an ultimate anthem of praise responding to the ultimate declaration of God's triumph. The elders, representing redeemed humanity, direct their profound gratitude towards the Lord God Almighty. The core of their thanksgiving rests on the foundational truth that God has now decisively acted, taking His inherently vast power and inaugurating His visible, active, and universal reign. This is not the passive recognition of God's eternal sovereignty (which He always possessed), but the active, manifested display of that reign in history, ushering in the final stage of His redemptive plan.

The omission of "who is to come" from God's description highlights that the 'coming' aspect of His divine identity and kingship has now become a realized truth. His powerful rule, previously anticipated, is now overtly asserted. This commencement of His manifest reign serves as a prelude to the pouring out of the seven bowls of wrath, as judgment is now executed by a King enthroned in full power. For believers facing trials, this verse is a potent reminder that despite apparent chaos and evil in the world, God is not merely on His throne; He is actively, decisively, and justly reigning. His ultimate control is certain, guaranteeing the defeat of all opposing forces and the final establishment of His everlasting kingdom.