I watched a video yesterday of deaf children getting hearing aids and hearing their parents’ voices for the first time. It made me think of that day when WE will finally perceive that dimension clearly and with understanding, awakened senses we’ve never experienced before when we can hear clearly and directly what our Father is saying. The children in the video would burst into smiles and tears when they heard their parents’ voices for the first time, which were undoubtedly sounds of love they didn’t even know they’d been missing. A new world had opened up for them then. A whole new world will open up for us too one day soon, and I suspect we also will burst into smiles and tears of joy on that day.
A brief point on Revelation 10:11
11 And they *said to me, “You must prophesy again concerning many peoples, nations, languages, and kings.”
‘concerning’, not ‘before’ many peoples, nations, etc.
Some people speculate that this is because John himself will be one of the Two Witnesses. If so, I think he would have said so, just like if he were one of the 24 elders from chapter 4. (You recall that some say the 24 elders are the 12 disciples (with Matthias, not Judas) plus the 12 sons of Jacob).
It’s not a common opinion, but it is out there and you will here it postulated in your studies, so just be aware.
Chapter 11 has two topics: The Temple, and The Two Witnesses
Revelation 11:1-2
11 Then there was given to me a measuring rod like a staff; and someone said, “Get up and measure the temple of God and the altar, and those who worship in it. 2 Leave out the courtyard which is outside the temple and do not measure it, because it has been given to the nations; and they will trample the holy city for forty-two months.
‘Measurements indicate preamble to judgement’ (Missler) (Jeremiah 31:38-39, Zechariah 2) ‘Preamble to destruction’ (Lamentations 2:8, 2 Kings 21:13, Isaiah 34:11, Amos 7:8)
Judgement does always begin at the House of God (1 Peter 4:17)
17 For it is time for judgment to begin with the household of God; and if it begins with us first, what will be the outcome for those who do not obey the gospel of God?
(It begs the question though, if this is really the house of God or not.)
Yet the Millennial Temple is measured in detail in Ezekiel chapters 40 through 46, so surely there is another meaning the measuring.
David Gusik says…
‘Sometimes in the Old Testament, the idea of measuring communicates ownership, protection, and preservation. When Habakkuk prophesied, He stood and measured the earth (Habakkuk 3:6), the idea was that the Lord owned the earth and could do with it as He pleased. When this temple is measured, it shows that God knows its every dimension, and He is in charge.’
Which do you think applies to the Tribulation Temple? Ownership, protection, and preservation, or judgement?
*(Note that 42 months and later in verse 3, the 1260 days are the same span of time – 3 ½ years (using a calendar of 30-day months). (1260 / 30 = 42). This was prophesied in Daniel 7:25 as ‘time, times, and half a time’ = 3 ½ years.
Daniel 7:25
25 He will defy the Most High and oppress the holy people of the Most High. He will try to change their sacred festivals and laws, and they will be placed under his control for a time, times, and half a time. (NLT)
**Note – the illustrations of the temple from the notes did not convey to the website**
I am convinced that the temple described here is NOT symbolic of the church, though Paul described the church as a temple: Now, therefore, you are no longer strangers and foreigners, but fellow citizens with the saints and members of the household of God, having been built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ Himself being the chief cornerstone, in whom the whole building, being joined together, grows into a holy temple in the Lord. (Ephesians 2:19-21)
One thing the measurements said to me was that this is an actual temple, not an allegory.
The outer court will be trampled by the Gentiles for 42 months – this likely refers to the intense wrath of the antichrist directed toward Jerusalem in the second half of the Tribulation (sometimes called the ‘Great Tribulation’). Again, it is my speculation that the Dome of the Rock will be destroyed in the Ezekiel 38-39 war and the Antichrist will allow the rebuilding of the Temple on the site, so when people equate the presence of the Dome of the Rock with this passage, I think they are mistaken.
History of the temple:
* The portable Tabernacle (Exodus 25 – 31)
* David not allowed to build the temple because he’d shed blood (1 Chronicles 22:8), so he gathered all the materials (1 Chronicles 22 and 29) then Solomon built the temple. (2 Chronicles 2 -6 and 1 Kings 5-8)
Interestingly, Solomon made his own palace much larger than God’s temple…
6:2 And the house which King Solomon built for the Lord was sixty cubits in its length, and twenty cubits in its width, and its height was thirty cubits. 3 The porch in front of the main room of the house was twenty cubits in length, corresponding to the width of the house, and its width along the front of the house was ten cubits.
7 Now Solomon built his own house over the course of thirteen years, and he finished all of his house. 2 He built the house of the timber from Lebanon; its length was a hundred cubits, its width fifty cubits, and its height thirty cubits, on four rows of cedar pillars with cedar beams on the pillars.
* Shekinah glory gradually (reluctantly?) departs from the temple (Ezekiel chapters 8-11) and will not return until the Millennium. God commands that His temple be defiled with the corpses of the idolaters in Ezekiel 9:7.
* Nebuchadnezzar destroys Solomon’s temple in 586 BC (2 Kings 25:8-17, Jeremiah 52:12-13)
* Ezra and Nehemiah seek to have the temple rebuilt under Zerubbabel
* Temple is rebuilt in 516 BC but those who had seen Solomon’s Temple wept as it was much smaller (Ezra 3:12)
* ‘King’ Herod (Edomite) makes expansions and improvements on Zerubbabel’s temple to win favor with the Jews (still called the ‘second temple’ by the Jews)
* Herod’s temple destroyed by Titus Vespasian in 70 AD during the first Jewish-Roman War (66-73 AD) as predicted by Jesus in Matthew 24:1-2)
* Third temple alluded to by Paul (2 Thessalonians 2:4) and Daniel (Daniel 9:27) and of course John in Revelation 11:1-2, though Paul was beheaded a few years prior to the destruction of the second temple.
* 132-136 AD – (Simon) Bar Kokhba rebellion (3rd Jewish – Roman War) against the Romans
* Romans completely destroy Jerusalem and plow it under, erecting a temple to Jupiter on the site of the prior temple. Rename Israel ‘Syria Palestina’ and do much more to remove all traces of Jewish history and culture. 19 centuries of the Jewish Diaspora start.
* around 300 AD – Christianity sweeps across the Roman Empire and pagan temples converted for Christian worship
* 637 Muslims take over Jerusalem and start building the Dome of the Rock in 685 on Mt. Moriah (completed in 691) (not a mosque)
* 1967 6 Days’ War – Israel regained partial control of Jerusalem.
* Third temple will be built (Northern, Southern and Traditional Conjectures debate) prior to and /or during the first half of the Tribulation period. (some predict the great earthquakes of the Ezekiel 38 and 39 war, which will likely take place after the Rapture, will destroy the Dome of the Rock, clearing the way for the third temple construction).
* The Temple Institute in Israel right now is excitedly producing the actual items that will be used in the Tribulation Temple and many young men are being trained as ceremonial priests. I understand that they have even been tested genetically to ascertain they come from the tribe of Levi. (Do not think that you are hastening prophecy or doing God a favor by giving money to the Temple Institute. There are numerous groups that will take your money, but this temple is destined for destruction after the antichrist profanes it. God will move things along prophetically whehter or not you give $19 a month to the Temple Institute.)
* Third temple will be defiled (Daniel 9:27, 2 Thessalonians 2:4, Matthew 24:15, all of which presumably correspond with Revelation 13:5-6)
* Third temple presumably destroyed after the Tribulation period at the Second Coming of Christ (Revelation 21:1)
* Millennial temple will be built (Ezekiel chapters 40-46)
* Eternal heaven – no temple (Revelation 21:22)
Luke 21:24b ‘ …and Jerusalem will be trampled down by the Gentiles until the period of the Gentiles comes to an end.’
The ‘Times of the Gentiles’ have lasted since Nebuchadnezzar and did NOT end when Israel won the 6 days war in 1967 when the Israeli’s won back partial control of Jerusalem, as to this day, Muslims control the Temple Mount. The ‘times of the Gentiles’ will last until the Antichrist is deposed at the end of Revelation 19.
‘The Temple has been traditionally assumed to have been located where the Muslim Dome of the Rock is located. Most experts currently doubt this location and suspect that it was either north or south of the traditional location.’ (Missler).
Revelation 11:3-4
3 And I will grant authority to my two witnesses, and they will prophesy for 1,260 days, clothed in sackcloth.” 4 These are the two olive trees and the two lampstands that stand before the Lord of the earth.
Two witnesses – the same number that Joshua sent to spy on Jericho – (one could say they were ‘witnesses’ in that the main thing they accomplished was ‘witnessing’ to the prostitute Rahab who, along with her family, were saved. Rahab, of course, is in the Messianic line (Matthew 1:5)).
Two witnesses are the number required to ascertain something for evidence. (Deuteronomy 17:6
6 On the testimony of two witnesses or three witnesses, the condemned shall be put to death; he shall not be put to death on the testimony of only one witness.)
*Two angel witnesses were present at the tomb at Christ’s resurrection…(Luke 24:1-4
24 But on the first day of the week, at early dawn, they came to the tomb bringing the spices which they had prepared. 2 And they found the stone rolled away from the tomb, 3 but when they entered, they did not find the body of the Lord Jesus. 4 While they were perplexed about this, behold, two men suddenly stood near them in gleaming clothing;)
And John 20:11-13
11 Mary was standing outside the tomb crying, and as she wept, she stooped and looked in. 12 She saw two white-robed angels, one sitting at the head and the other at the foot of the place where the body of Jesus had been lying. 13 “Dear woman, why are you crying?” the angels asked her.
(Not to get us sidetracked but Matthew 28 and Mark 16 record just one angel, but neither says ‘only one angel’)
So the Two Witnesses of Revelation have been prophesying all this time, since the beginning of the Tribulation.
Sackcloth denotes repentance and the Law, rather than Grace. They are communicating repentance. Yet look ahead to chapter 16. In verse 9, it says, ‘They did not repent of their sins and turn to God and give him glory.’ And again in verse 10 it says, ‘But they did not repent of their evil deeds and turn to God.’
By the time the first bowl is poured out, the two witnesses have been killed, resurrected, and ascended to heaven. The people they tried to warn are hard-hearted and did not listen, much like Israel in Ezekiel 3:7 7 yet the house of Israel will not be willing to listen to you, since they are not willing to listen to Me. The entire house of Israel certainly is stubborn and obstinate.
Then in Ezekiel 3:26 This is what the Lord God says:’ The one who hears, let him hear; and the one who refuses, let him refuse; for they are a rebellious house.
**The lesson here for us, the homiletic, is that we need to heed God’s warnings before calamity results.
Where have we heard about two olive trees before?
Zechariah chapter 4 (NLT)
A Lampstand and Two Olive Trees
4 Then the angel who had been talking with me returned and woke me, as though I had been asleep. 2 “What do you see now?” he asked.
I answered, “I see a solid gold lampstand with a bowl of oil on top of it. Around the bowl are seven lamps, each having seven spouts with wicks. 3 And I see two olive trees, one on each side of the bowl.” 4 Then I asked the angel, “What are these, my lord? What do they mean?”
5 “Don’t you know?” the angel asked.
“No, my lord,” I replied.
6 Then he said to me, “This is what the Lord says to Zerubbabel: It is not by force nor by strength, but by my Spirit, says the Lord of Heaven’s Armies. 7 Nothing, not even a mighty mountain, will stand in Zerubbabel’s way; it will become a level plain before him! And when Zerubbabel sets the final stone of the Temple in place, the people will shout: ‘May God bless it! May God bless it!’”
8 Then another message came to me from the Lord: 9 “Zerubbabel is the one who laid the foundation of this Temple, and he will complete it. Then you will know that the Lord of Heaven’s Armies has sent me. 10 Do not despise these small beginnings, for the Lord rejoices to see the work begin, to see the plumb line in Zerubbabel’s hand.”
(The seven lamps represent the eyes of the Lord that search all around the world.)
11 Then I asked the angel, “What are these two olive trees on each side of the lampstand, 12 and what are the two olive branches that pour out golden oil through two gold tubes?”
13 “Don’t you know?” he asked.
“No, my lord,” I replied.
14 Then he said to me, “They represent the two anointed ones who stand in the court of the Lord of all the earth.”
For Zechariah, they were Zerubbabel and Joshua the High Priest, who reestablished Israel. (Zechariah ch 3 and 4)
Identities of the Two Witnesses
Symbolic of OT and NT? But to what purpose? Why would you want to allegorize something that seems plain?
Two mysteries regarding their bodies
Moses
Jude 1:9
9 But Michael the archangel, when he disputed with the devil and argued about the body of Moses, did not dare pronounce against him an abusive judgment, but said, “The Lord rebuke you!”
(cf Deuteronomy 34:5-6
5 So Moses the servant of the Lord died there in the land of Moab, in accordance with the word of the Lord. 6 And He buried him in the valley in the land of Moab, opposite Beth-peor; but no one knows his burial place to this day.
11 And as they were walking along and talking, behold, a chariot of fire appeared with horses of fire, and they separated the two of them. Then Elijah went up by a whirlwind to heaven.
And interestingly, we see these two on the Mount of Transfiguration with Jesus in Matthew 17…
(Representing the Law and the Prophets for which Christ’s upcoming crucifixion was a fulfillment.)
Matthew 17:1-5
17 Six days later, Jesus *took with Him Peter and James, and his brother John, and *led them up on a high mountain by themselves. 2 And He was transfigured before them; and His face shone like the sun, and His garments became as white as light. 3 And behold, Moses and Elijah appeared to them, talking with Him. 4 Peter responded and said to Jesus, “Lord, it is good that we are here. If You want, I will make three tabernacles here: one for You, one for Moses, and one for Elijah.”
Many others make the argument that the two witnesses are Elijah and Enoch, because both were raptured…
Genesis 5:21-24
21 Now Enoch lived sixty-five years, and fathered Methuselah. 22 Then Enoch walked with God three hundred years after he fathered Methuselah, and he fathered other sons and daughters. 23 So all the days of Enoch were 365 years. 24 Enoch walked with God; and he was not, for God took him.
More arguments for Moses and Elijah being the Two Witnesses follow…
Revelation 11:5-6
5 And if anyone wants to harm them, fire flows out of their mouth and devours their enemies; and so if anyone wants to harm them, he must be killed in this way. 6 These have the power to shut up the sky, so that rain will not fall during the days of their prophesying; and they have power over the waters to turn them into blood, and to strike the earth with every plague, as often as they desire.
The powers exercised by the Two Witnesses of course are reminiscent of how God used Moses and Elijah.
God using Moses to turn water into blood (Exodus 7:19-20) and execute other plagues (Exodus chapters 8-12)…
Exodus 7:19-20
19 Then the Lord said to Moses, “Say to Aaron, ‘Take your staff and extend your hand over the waters of Egypt, over their rivers, over their streams, over their pools, and over all their reservoirs of water, so that they may become blood; and there will be blood through all the land of Egypt, both in containers of wood and in containers of stone.’”
20 So Moses and Aaron did just as the Lord had commanded. And he lifted up [b]the staff and struck the water that was in the Nile in the sight of Pharaoh and in the sight of his servants; and all the water that was in the Nile was turned into blood.
Elijah ‘shuts up the sky’…
1 Kings 17:1
17 Now Elijah, who was from Tishbe in Gilead, told King Ahab, “As surely as the Lord, the God of Israel, lives—the God I serve—there will be no dew or rain during the next few years until I give the word!”
Elijah calls fire down from the sky on three occasions (two settings)…
1 Kings 18:37-38
- 37 O Lord, answer me! Answer me so these people will know that you, O Lord, are God and that you have brought them back to yourself.”
38 Immediately the fire of the Lord flashed down from heaven and burned up the young bull, the wood, the stones, and the dust. It even licked up all the water in the trench!
2 Kings 1:9-10
- 9 Then he sent an army captain with fifty soldiers to arrest him. They found him sitting on top of a hill. The captain said to him, “Man of God, the king has commanded you to come down with us.”
10 But Elijah replied to the captain, “If I am a man of God, let fire come down from heaven and destroy you and your fifty men!” Then fire fell from heaven and killed them all.
2 Kings 1:11-12
- 11 So the king sent another captain with fifty men. The captain said to him, “Man of God, the king demands that you come down at once.”
12 Elijah replied, “If I am a man of God, let fire come down from heaven and destroy you and your fifty men!” And again the fire of God fell from heaven and killed them all.
**One argument against one of the witnesses being Elijah is that fire never came out of his mouth. Nor did it come out of Moses’ mouth.
So there is a distinct possibility that the Two Witnesses are people we have never heard of before.
Revelation 11:7
7 When they have finished their testimony, the beast that comes up out of the abyss will make war with them, and overcome them and kill them.
This is looking ahead to chapter 13
Revelation 11:8
8 And their dead bodies will lie on the street of the great city which spiritually is called Sodom and Egypt, where also their Lord was crucified.
This calls to mind when Peter once called Rome ‘Babylon’ to hide his true meaning.
1 Peter 5:13
13 She who is in Babylon, chosen together with you, sends you greetings, and so does my son, Mark.
‘where also their Lord was crucified’ obviously speaks of Jerusalem.
Revelation 11:9-10
9 Those from the peoples, tribes, languages, and nations will look at their dead bodies for three and a half days, and will not allow their dead bodies to be laid in a tomb. 10 And those who live on the earth will rejoice over them and celebrate; and they will send gifts to one another, because these two prophets tormented those who live on the earth.
Remember, the world will likely blame them for being the instruments of God’s wrath for all the seal and trumpet judgements thus far.
Unbelievably, the first part of this last verse has been printed on Christmas cards
Revelation 11:11-14
11 And after the three and a half days, the breath of life from God came into them, and they stood on their feet; and great fear fell upon those who were watching them. 12 And they heard a loud voice from heaven saying to them, “Come up here.” And they went up into heaven in the cloud, and their enemies watched them. 13 And at that time there was a great earthquake, and a tenth of the city fell; seven thousand people were killed in the earthquake, and the rest were terrified and gave glory to the God of heaven.
14 The second woe has passed; behold, the third woe is coming quickly.
‘Watching them’ – CNN again
‘Come up here’ – reminiscent of Revelation 4:1
4 After these things I looked, and behold, a door standing open in heaven, and the first voice which I had heard, like the sound of a trumpet speaking with me, said, “Come up here, and I will show you what must take place after these things.”
Another earthquake – look at your one-page Revelation summary sheet
‘and the rest were terrified and gave glory to the God of heaven.’ This likely enrages Satan.
Remember the eagle in midheaven predicted three woes in Revelation 8:13
13 Then I looked, and I heard an eagle flying in midheaven, saying with a loud voice, “Woe, woe, woe to those who live on the earth, because of the remaining blasts of the trumpet of the three angels who are about to sound!”
Next week – more on chapter 11 then the following week – a review of chapters 1-11. We will be at the halfway mark!
Closing prayer.
The following is ‘bonus content’ – commentary by David Guzik…
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https://www.crosswalk.com/special-coverage/end-times/who-are-the-two-witnesses-in-revelation-11.html
Revelation 11 – The Two Witnesses
- The temple of God.
- (1) John is instructed to measure the temple, the altar and its worshippers.
Then I was given a reed like a measuring rod. And the angel stood, saying, “Rise and measure the temple of God, the altar, and those who worship there.
- A reed like a measuring rod: In Ezekiel 40-43, there is an extended passage where a temple is measured. The temple in Ezekiel is best understood as the temple of the millennial earth and the temple of Revelation 11 seems to be before the temple of Ezekiel. Yet there are similarities; the temple in Ezekiel is also measured extensively, including the outer courts (Ezekiel 40:17-19).
- There are a few other Biblical examples of measuring. In Zechariah chapter 2, a man measured Jerusalem, a scene that evidently showed God’s coming judgment on the city. In Revelation chapter 21, the New Jerusalem is measured.
- Rise and measure the temple of God: Sometimes in the Old Testament, the idea of measuring communicates ownership, protection, and preservation. When Habakkuk prophesied, He stood and measured the earth (Habakkuk 3:6), the idea was that the Lord owned the earth and could do with it as He pleased. When this temple is measured, it shows that God knows its every dimension, and He is in charge.
- God is in charge. This is one of the glorious, mighty themes of the Book of Revelation. Revelation 11:17 again uses the title Almighty for God. The Greek word for Almighty is pantokrater, and it describes “the one who has his hand on everything.” Nine out of the ten times this word is used in the New Testament, it is used in Revelation. This temple will be the scene of great horror and great glory, but God is in charge, working through both the good and bad actions of man.
- The temple of God: The identity of this temple is an important matter of interpretation. Many see this temple as a symbol of the church.
- Paul described the church as a temple: Now, therefore, you are no longer strangers and foreigners, but fellow citizens with the saints and members of the household of God, having been built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ Himself being the chief cornerstone, in whom the whole building, being joined together, grows into a holy temple in the Lord. (Ephesians 2:19-21)
- Peter described the church as a temple: You also, as living stones, are being built up a spiritual house. (1 Peter 2:5)
iii. However, if this temple in Revelation 11 is a symbolic representation of the church, why should it be measured? What is the significance of the courts and the altar – and if the church itself is the temple, who are the worshippers (those who worship there)? There is too much specific detail here for this to match the generalized picture of the church as a temple unto God.
- The temple of God: It is more likely that this is the temple that must be on the earth for the fulfillment of what Daniel, Jesus, and Paul said regarding the abomination of desolation.
- The prophet Daniel told us the Antichrist will break his covenant with the Jewish people, bringing sacrifice and offerings to an end. This Antichrist will defile the temple by setting something abominable there (Daniel 9:27, 11:31, and 12:11).
- Jesus said to look for an abomination standing in the holy place, which would be the pivotal sign that the season of God’s wrath was upon the earth (Matthew 24:15-16 and 24:21).
iii. Paul told us that the Antichrist would sit in the temple as God (2 Thessalonians 2:3-4).
- The concept of the abomination of desolation is often spiritualized with explaining it as idolatrous worship established in the hearts of God’s people (His “temple”). But in what sense can people be called God’s temple if they worship the Antichrist – an emissary of Satan himself? Certainly this isn’t the most plain or straightforward interpretation. The simplest explanation of all these passages is to see a real Jewish temple on the temple mount in Jerusalem, yet to be built – but coming soon.
- The temple of God: In point of fact, today there are Jewish people very interested in rebuilding the temple and resuming sacrifice, and are making preparations to do that exact thing even now.
- Today you can visit the Temple Institute in the Jewish Quarter of the old city in Jerusalem. There, a group of Jews absolutely dedicated to rebuilding the temple attempt to educate the public and raise awareness for a new temple. They are trying to replicate everything they can for a new temple, down to the specific pots and pans used in sacrifice.
- Israel is a nation again, and efforts to rebuild the temple are for real. The main Jewish group leading the charge to rebuild the temple is an organization called Faithful of the Temple Mount, who say they will continue their efforts to re-establish the Jewish temple on the Mount. One leader in the group said, “We shall continue our struggle until the Israeli flag is flying from the Dome of the Rock.” In Israel, there are students being trained for the priesthood, learning how to conduct animal sacrifices in the rebuilt temple.
iii. It is important to understand that most Jews – religious or secular – do not care one bit about building a temple. And if there were one rebuilt, sacrifice would be difficult in a day of aggressive animal rights activists. Yet, there is a small, strong, highly dedicated group who live to see a rebuilt temple – a temple that will fulfill prophecy.
- Rightly, Christians get excited when they see efforts to rebuild the temple. At the same time, we should understand that the basic impulse behind rebuilding the temple is not of God at all – the desire to have a place to sacrifice for sin. Christians believe that all sacrifice for sin was finished at the cross, and any further sacrifice for sin is an offense to God, because it denies the finished work of Jesus on the cross.
- Orthodox Jews consider that the Messiah will rebuild the temple; however, the man they may initially embrace as their Messiah may in fact be the Antichrist: I have come in My Father’s name, and you do not receive Me; if another comes in his own name, him you will receive. (John 5:43)
- (2) The outer court of the temple.
But leave out the court which is outside the temple, and do not measure it, for it has been given to the Gentiles. And they will tread the holy city underfoot for forty-two months.
- But leave out the court which is outside the temple: The outer court need not be measured because it has been given to the Gentiles. Perhaps this is because the outer courts of this rebuilt temple include the Islamic Dome of the Rock shrine, which currently stands on the temple mount and is a point of great contention between Jews and Muslims.
- When the Romans conquered Jerusalem in a.d. 70 they destroyed the city so completely that the foundations of the old temple are not easily found. Most have long assumed that the Dome of the Rock shrine stands on the place of the old temple. But new research gives some evidence that the temple may have stood to the north where the Dome of the Rock shrine is today, and that if the temple were to be rebuilt at its old place, the Dome of the Rock shrine would be in its outer courts. If this is the case (and the research is by no means settled), then it would explain why the angel told John leave out the court which is outside the temple, and do not measure it, for it has been given to the Gentiles.
- And they will tread the holy city underfoot: The holy city (Jerusalem) will be tread underfoot for a period of forty-two months, which equals 1260 days (three and one-half years). This trampling of Jerusalem by Gentiles probably takes place in the last half of the final seven year period described by Daniel 11:26-27 – when the Antichrist pours out his fury on the people of Israel (as described in Revelation 12:13-17 and Matthew 24:15-28).
- And they will tread the holy city underfoot: Greek scholar A.T. Robertson said that to tread underfoot means “to trample with contempt.”
- The two witnesses.
- (3-6) The ministry of the two witnesses.
And I will give power to my two witnesses, and they will prophesy one thousand two hundred and sixty days, clothed in sackcloth.” These are the two olive trees and the two lampstands standing before the God of the earth. And if anyone wants to harm them, fire proceeds from their mouth and devours their enemies. And if anyone wants to harm them, he must be killed in this manner. These have power to shut heaven, so that no rain falls in the days of their prophecy; and they have power over waters to turn them to blood, and to strike the earth with all plagues, as often as they desire.
- My two witnesses: This introduces two of the more interesting characters of Revelation, the two witnesses. The character of their ministry is prophetic (they will prophesy); they preach and demonstrate repentance (clothed in sackcloth), and they have an effective ministry (I will give power).
- The two witnesses indeed served with power. “Such power, in fact, that they are able to witness for 1,260 days in spite of the antagonism of the world.” (Walvoord)
- These are the two olive trees and the two lampstands: The witnesses have an unique, continual empowering from the Holy Spirit, as shown in Zechariah’s olive trees and oil lamps picture (Zechariah 4:2-3 and 4:14).
- The passage from Zechariah had its first application to two men in Zechariah’s day: Joshua and Zerubbabel. “Just as these two witnesses were raised up to be lampstands or witnesses for God and were empowered by olive oil representing the power of the Holy Spirit, so the two witnesses of Revelation 11 will likewise execute their prophetic office.” (Walvoord)
- In the picture from Zechariah, oil lamps were filled directly from olive trees which piped oil right to the lamps. This is a picture of continual, abundant supply. If we will be witnesses, we must first have something to witness – our own personal encounter with Jesus Christ. Then, we must have the power of the Holy Spirit to bring forth the story of what we have witnessed effectively.
iii. “In this book of the Revelation the Holy Ghost borrows all the elegancies and flowers in the story of the Old Testament, thereby to set out the story of the New in succeeding ages.” (Trapp)
- And if anyone wants to harm them, fire proceeds from their mouth and devours their enemies: The two witnesses have special protection from God, similar to Elijah’s in 2 Kings 1.
- These have power to shut heaven… they have power over waters to turn them to blood, and to strike the earth with all plagues, as often as they desire: The two witnesses have the power to bring both drought and plague, similar to the power Elijah (James 5:17-18) and Moses (Exodus 7-12) had.
- They… These… Them: In the ancient Greek grammar, all the nouns used to speak of the two witnesses in this passage are in the masculine gender. The two witnesses are definitely two men.
- (7-10) The death of the two witnesses.
When they finish their testimony, the beast that ascends out of the bottomless pit will make war against them, overcome them, and kill them. And their dead bodies will lie in the street of the great city which spiritually is called Sodom and Egypt, where also our Lord was crucified. Then those from the peoples, tribes, tongues, and nations will see their dead bodies three-and-a-half days, and not allow their dead bodies to be put into graves. And those who dwell on the earth will rejoice over them, make merry, and send gifts to one another, because these two prophets tormented those who dwell on the earth.
- Make war against them, overcome them, and kill them: The two witnesses are killed by the beast that ascends out of the bottomless pit (first introduced in Revelation 9:11, and who is most likely Satan himself) but their ministry is not cut short. They fully accomplish their task (when they finish their testimony).
- God be thanked, we cannot be taken off of this earth until we finish our testimony. The devil does not have power over our lives. We are witnesses of the Lord, and He will protect us until our testimony is finished.
- This passage illustrates the difference between being a witness and giving testimony. Witness is not something we do; it is something we are. Giving testimony is what a witness does.
- And their dead bodies will lie in the street of the great city which spiritually is called Sodom and Egypt, where also our Lord was crucified: The two witnesses are killed in the city of Jerusalem, which is described in three illustrative terms.
- As Sodom, speaking of immorality.
- As Egypt, speaking of oppression and slavery.
- As the great city, a term often applied to Babylon, the headquarters of Antichrist (Revelation 16:19, 17:18, 18:10, 18:16, 18:18, 18:19, 18:21).
- If, during the first three and one-half years, Jerusalem’s leadership is in league with the Antichrist, it is easy to see how these titles apply. Any city in love with the Antichrist, or entering into a covenant with him, could be called Sodom, Egypt, and Babylon.
- Those who dwell on the earth will rejoice over them, make merry, and send gifts to one another: The earth saw and rejoiced over the deaths of the two witnesses. The fact that this is seen by all people, tribes, tongues, and nations is perhaps an oblique prophecy of modern mass media.
- It is amazing – and not far-fetched at all – to think of a live, worldwide broadcast on new channels and over the internet, “Live from Jerusalem,” and seeing the amazing scene described here taking place.
- The idea is also that the world treats these two witnesses in a humiliating manner. “To have his dead body lie in view of all was the worst humiliation a person could suffer from his enemies.” (Johnson)
iii. Make merry, and send gifts to one another: Donald Grey Barnhouse told of a Christmas card with Revelation 11:10 on its cover – a terrible misquoting of the Scriptures!
- Because these two prophets tormented those who dwell on the earth: The preaching of these two witnesses and their call to repentance was a torment for many, because they could not stand to hear the truth while they loved their lie.
- (11-14) The reviving of the two witnesses.
Now after the three-and-a-half days the breath of life from God entered them, and they stood on their feet, and great fear fell on those who saw them. And they heard a loud voice from heaven saying to them, “Come up here.” And they ascended to heaven in a cloud, and their enemies saw them. In the same hour there was a great earthquake, and a tenth of the city fell. In the earthquake seven thousand people were killed, and the rest were afraid and gave glory to the God of heaven. The second woe is past. Behold, the third woe is coming quickly.
- They stood on their feet, and great fear fell on those who saw them: As this happens before the eyes of the watching world, the enemies of these two witnesses are horrified and astonished.
- Come up here: The earth was not worthy of these two witnesses, so God simply calls them home, and they ascended to heaven in a cloud.
- In the same hour there was a great earthquake: An earthquake brings judgment, and moves many to give glory to God. But it remains to be seen if this will become true repentance unto salvation.
- The identity of the two witnesses.
- Many interpreters see the two witnesses as symbolic of the entire church in the tribulation period or as symbols of the law and the prophets. But how can so many specific details in their ministry be reconciled with such a symbolic interpretation?
- The most plain and straightforward interpretation sees them as two real individuals, not symbolic representations.
- Unfortunately, the list is not short of modern nuts who think they are one of the two witnesses. I think that if you added them all together, there would be about 144,000 of them!
- Who they are must not be terribly important, or we would have been told exactly who they are!
- Generally, if the two witnesses are identified with any two individuals from the past, the leading candidates are Elijah, Moses, or Enoch. Or, perhaps these are merely two believers ministering in the spirit and power of these great men, even as John the Baptist went forth in the spirit and power of Elijah (Luke 1:17 and Matthew 7:12-13).
- Some think Enoch is one of the witnesses because he was carried up to heaven by God (Genesis 5:25).
iii. Some think Elijah is one of the witnesses because:
- His ministry seems like one of these two witnesses (2 Kings 1 and James 5:17-18).
- He was carried up to heaven (2 Kings 2:11).
- Enemies of Elijah were destroyed by fire (2 Kings 1).
- It is specifically prophesied that Elijah will return before the end of the age (Malachi 4:5-6).
- Elijah had a unique “conference” with Jesus at the Mount of Transfiguration (Matthew 17:1-6).
- Some think Moses is one of the witnesses because:
- His ministry seems like one of these witnesses (Exodus 7:20-21).
- God seems to have a special purpose for the body of Moses that Satan wanted to defeat (Jude 9).
- The enemies of Moses were destroyed by fire (Numbers 16:35).
- Moses had a unique “conference” with Jesus at the Mount of Transfiguration (Matthew 17:1-6).
- Some believe the two witnesses must be Enoch and Elijah, because neither of them died a natural death and were instead carried to heaven, and Hebrews 9:27 says that it is appointed for men to die once – so Enoch and Elijah must return to die on the earth. This is a misunderstanding of Hebrews 9:27, which is a principle rather than an absolute, immutable law. For example, Lazarus and others were raised from the dead and apparently died twice – yet this does not disprove Hebrews 9:27. The entire church on earth at the time of the rapture will not die, but be carried to heaven. Hebrews 9:27 stands as a principle, and there are a few notable exceptions which ultimately serve to prove the rule, not deny it. There may be good reasons for considering Enoch and Elijah as the two witnesses, but the principle of Hebrews 9:27 is not among those good reasons.
- The seventh trumpet.
- (15) The seventh trumpet finally sounds.
Then the seventh angel sounded: And there were loud voices in heaven, saying, “The kingdoms of this world have become the kingdoms of our Lord and of His Christ, and He shall reign forever and ever!”
- Then the seventh angel sounded: The seventh seal brought forth a profound silence (Revelation 8:1); the seventh trumpet initiates joy at the inevitable resolution. There can’t be a more glorious proclamation than this: The kingdoms of this world have become the kingdoms of our Lord and of His Christ, and He shall reign forever and ever!
- Have become the kingdoms of our Lord: In the ancient Greek grammar, the verb tense of have become indicates an absolute certainty about Jesus’ coming and reign, even before the fact is accomplished.
- He shall reign forever and ever! How can there be such joy, when the King is not reigning completely yet? At the headquarters of a successful political campaign on election night, there is joy, even though it will be a while until their candidate is actually installed into office. The joy anticipates a certain result.
- (16-18) The twenty-four elders worship God.
And the twenty-four elders who sat before God on their thrones fell on their faces and worshiped God, 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.
The nations were angry, and Your wrath has come,
And the time of the dead, that they should be judged,
And that You should reward Your servants the prophets and the saints,
And those who fear Your name, small and great,
And should destroy those who destroy the earth.”
- We give You thanks: This thanksgiving isn’t to thank God that He has already done this; but that the hour has come for it to take place, and that these things are permanently set in motion.
- “In their praise, impending events are set forth, to be more fully described later.” (Morgan) Now comes the fitting time for judgment, reward, and destruction.
- The nations were angry, and Your wrath has come: God’s punishment matches the crime; there is nothing arbitrary about it. The nations are angry with God and He responds with wrath; those that destroy the earth are themselves destroyed.
- The nations were angry: They are angry because God comes to rule. The world wants anything but the reign of God. As it says in a parable of Jesus, We will not have this man to reign over us (Luke 19:14).
- “Religion is decent, but surrender to God is intolerable to the nations of this world.” (Newell)
- (19) The temple in heaven is opened.
Then the temple of God was opened in heaven, and the ark of His covenant was seen in His temple. And there were lightnings, noises, thunderings, an earthquake, and great hail.
- The ark of His covenant was seen in His temple: The ark refers to God’s throne, the place where the previously mentioned resolution will come from.
- The ark of His covenant was seen in His temple: It is called the ark of His covenant – in the Old Testament, this was the earthly representation of God’s throne – to emphasize God’s faithfulness.
- The ark of the covenant is “The symbol of God’s faithfulness in bestowing grace on His people, and inflicting vengeance on His people’s enemies.” (Alford)
- And there were lightnings, noises, thunderings, an earthquake, and great hail: The great and awesome phenomenon at the opening of the temple and the revelation of the ark show that the presence of the Lord is there; it is reminiscent of God’s manifested presence at Mount Sinai (Exodus 19:16-19).
David Guzik, author
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- Movie review: ‘From Babylon to America – the Prophecy Movie’ – SDA (Seventh Day Adventists). At first, it was an okay review of the book of Daniel until he said ‘Every time in prophecy that one day is spoken of equals one year’ – if that were the case, Christ, who prophesied being in the earth for three days (Matthew 12:40), was actually in the tomb for three years. Sunday worship is the mark of the beast, and the beast is without a doubt the Catholic church. (more like the woman who rides the beast).
Colossians 2:16-17
16 Therefore, no one is to act as your judge in regard to food and drink, or in respect to a festival or a new moon, or a Sabbath day— 17 things which are only a shadow of what is to come; but the substance belongs to Christ.
SDA book in mail too
Ellen G White’s ‘prophecies and writings’ are venerated – it’s NOT just worship on ‘Saturn Day’
- Go on raptureready.com and read Daymond Duck’s latest posting
- Readers for Revelation passages: 3 Blessed is the one who reads, and those who hear the words of the prophecy and keep the things which are written in it; for the time is near.
OT and NT passages readers needed.
Identities of the Two Witnesses
My mom liked what JVM had to say. One section of his commentary follows:
‘If the identity of these two was essential for the understanding of this book, I think there would have been some indication given about their persons. It is always in these areas that the sensational preachers concentrate. They can tell you what the seven thunders said (John was told not to write it down and didn’t), and they can tell you the names of these two witnesses.’
He goes on to say, ‘I would like to make a suggestion about which I will not be dogmatic, nor will I argue. My suggestion is that John the Baptist is the second witness. He was the forerunner of Christ at His first coming. He was similar to Elijah in manner and message. I am sure that those two fellows would get along with each other. Both knew what it was to oppose the forces of darkness and to stand alone for God against impossible odds. They surely have had good training in the past. John the Baptist would be the witness of the New Testament and Elijah would be the witness of the Old Testament. John the Baptist was actually not part of the church, the bride of Christ. He very candidly said he was a friend of the Bridegroom*. He wasn’t a bride; he was a friend of the bridegroom. It seems unlikely that Enoch would be one of the witnesses as he was a Gentile.’
*John 3:28-30
28 You yourselves are my witnesses that I said, ‘I am not the Christ,’ but, ‘I have been sent ahead of Him.’ 29 He who has the bride is the groom; but the friend of the groom, who stands and listens to him, rejoices greatly because of the groom’s voice. So this joy of mine has been made full. 30 He must increase, but I must decrease.
If it is Moses and Elijah, there are Two mysteries regarding their bodies
Moses
Jude 1:9
9 But Michael the archangel, when he disputed with the devil and argued about the body of Moses, did not dare pronounce against him an abusive judgment, but said, “The Lord rebuke you!”
(cf Deuteronomy 34:5-6
5 So Moses the servant of the Lord died there in the land of Moab, in accordance with the word of the Lord. 6 And He buried him in the valley in the land of Moab, opposite Beth-peor; but no one knows his burial place to this day.
11 And as they were walking along and talking, behold, a chariot of fire appeared with horses of fire, and they separated the two of them. Then Elijah went up by a whirlwind to heaven.
**And interestingly, we see these two on the Mount of Transfiguration with Jesus in Matthew 17…
(Representing the Law and the Prophets for which Christ’s upcoming crucifixion was a fulfillment.)
Matthew 17:1-5
17 Six days later, Jesus *took with Him Peter and James, and his brother John, and *led them up on a high mountain by themselves. 2 And He was transfigured before them; and His face shone like the sun, and His garments became as white as light. 3 And behold, Moses and Elijah appeared to them, talking with Him. 4 Peter responded and said to Jesus, “Lord, it is good that we are here. If You want, I will make three tabernacles here: one for You, one for Moses, and one for Elijah.”
Many others make the argument that the two witnesses are Elijah and Enoch, because both were raptured…
Genesis 5:21-24
21 Now Enoch lived sixty-five years, and fathered Methuselah. 22 Then Enoch walked with God three hundred years after he fathered Methuselah, and he fathered other sons and daughters. 23 So all the days of Enoch were 365 years. 24 Enoch walked with God; and he was not, for God took him.
More arguments for Moses and Elijah being the Two Witnesses follow…
Malachi 4:5
5 “Behold, I am going to send you Elijah the prophet before the coming of the great and terrible day of the Lord.
Matthew 17:9-13
9 When they were coming down from the mountain, Jesus commanded them, saying, “Tell the vision to no one until the Son of Man has risen from the dead.” 10 And His disciples asked Him, “Why then do the scribes say that Elijah must come first?” 11 And He answered and said, “Elijah is coming and will restore all things; 12 but I say to you that Elijah already came, and they did not recognize him, but did to him whatever they wanted. So also the Son of Man is going to suffer at their hands.” 13 Then the disciples understood that He had spoken to them about John the Baptist.
(JTB had already been executed on Herod’s orders prior to Matthew 14…
10 He sent word and had John beheaded in the prison. 11 And his head was brought on a platter and given to the girl, and she brought it to her mother. 12 John’s disciples came and took away the body and buried it; and they went and reported to Jesus.)
Revelation 11:5-6
5 And if anyone wants to harm them, fire flows out of their mouth and devours their enemies; and so if anyone wants to harm them, he must be killed in this way. 6 These have the power to shut up the sky, so that rain will not fall during the days of their prophesying; and they have power over the waters to turn them into blood, and to strike the earth with every plague, as often as they desire.
The powers exercised by the Two Witnesses of course are reminiscent of how God used Moses and Elijah.
God using Moses to turn water into blood (Exodus 7:19-20) and execute other plagues (Exodus chapters 8-12)…
Exodus 7:19-20
19 Then the Lord said to Moses, “Say to Aaron, ‘Take your staff and extend your hand over the waters of Egypt, over their rivers, over their streams, over their pools, and over all their reservoirs of water, so that they may become blood; and there will be blood through all the land of Egypt, both in containers of wood and in containers of stone.’”
20 So Moses and Aaron did just as the Lord had commanded. And he lifted up the staff and struck the water that was in the Nile in the sight of Pharaoh and in the sight of his servants; and all the water that was in the Nile was turned into blood.
Elijah ‘shuts up the sky’…
1 Kings 17:1
17 Now Elijah, who was from Tishbe in Gilead, told King Ahab, “As surely as the Lord, the God of Israel, lives—the God I serve—there will be no dew or rain during the next few years until I give the word!”
Elijah calls fire down from the sky on three occasions (two settings) …
1 Kings 18:37-38
- 37 O Lord, answer me! Answer me so these people will know that you, O Lord, are God and that you have brought them back to yourself.”
38 Immediately the fire of the Lord flashed down from heaven and burned up the young bull, the wood, the stones, and the dust. It even licked up all the water in the trench!
2 Kings 1:9-10
- 9 Then he sent an army captain with fifty soldiers to arrest him. They found him sitting on top of a hill. The captain said to him, “Man of God, the king has commanded you to come down with us.”
10 But Elijah replied to the captain, “If I am a man of God, let fire come down from heaven and destroy you and your fifty men!” Then fire fell from heaven and killed them all.
2 Kings 1:11-12
- 11 So the king sent another captain with fifty men. The captain said to him, “Man of God, the king demands that you come down at once.”
12 Elijah replied, “If I am a man of God, let fire come down from heaven and destroy you and your fifty men!” And again the fire of God fell from heaven and killed them all.
**One argument against one of the witnesses being Elijah is that fire never came out of his mouth. Nor did it come out of Moses’ mouth.
So there is a distinct possibility that the Two Witnesses are people we have never heard of before.
**Now I want to share something beautiful with you.
Any mention of Elijah calling down fire from heaven would be remiss without the telling of the time when John himself wanted to do the same…
Luke 9:51-56
51 When the days were approaching for His ascension, He was determined to go to Jerusalem; 52 and He sent messengers on ahead of Him, and they went and entered a village of the Samaritans to make arrangements for Him. 53 And they did not receive Him, because He was traveling toward Jerusalem. 54 When His disciples James and John saw this, they said, “Lord, do You want us to command fire to come down from heaven and consume them?” 55 But He turned and rebuked them. 56 And they went on to another village. (NASB)
‘An eye for a tooth’ as New Yawkers say, but this is worse.
Jesus said to pray for those who persecute you. This was not the kind of prayer He had in mind.
Now Jesus knew the future. What if He had allowed fire to be called down on these Samaritans? If James and John had gotten their wish in their anger, then the following would never have occurred…
Acts 8:4-25
4 Therefore, those who had been scattered went through places preaching the word. 5 Philip went down to the city of Samaria and began proclaiming the Christ to them. 6 The crowds were paying attention with one mind to what was being said by Philip, as they heard and saw the signs which he was performing. 7 For in the case of many who had unclean spirits, they were coming out of them shouting with a loud voice; and many who had been paralyzed or limped on crutches were healed. 8 So there was much rejoicing in that city.
9 Now a man named Simon had previously been practicing magic in the city and astonishing the people of Samaria, claiming to be someone great; 10 and all the people, from small to great, were paying attention to him, saying, “This man is the Power of God that is called Great.” 11 And they were paying attention to him because for a long time he had astounded them with his magic arts. 12 But when they believed Philip as he was preaching the good news about the kingdom of God and the name of Jesus Christ, both men and women were being baptized. 13 Now even Simon himself believed; and after being baptized, he continued on with Philip, and as he observed signs and great miracles taking place, he was repeatedly amazed.
14 Now when the apostles in Jerusalem heard that Samaria had received the word of God, they sent them Peter and John, 15 who came down and prayed for them that they would receive the Holy Spirit. 16 (For He had not yet fallen upon any of them; they had simply been baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus.) 17 Then they began laying their hands on them, and they were receiving the Holy Spirit.
(for the sake of time, skip to verse 25)
[[18 Now when Simon saw that the Spirit was given through the laying on of the apostles’ hands, he offered them money, 19 saying, “Give this authority to me as well, so that everyone on whom I lay my hands may receive the Holy Spirit.” 20 But Peter said to him, “May your silver perish with you, because you thought you could acquire the gift of God with money! 21 You have no part or share in this matter, for your heart is not right before God. 22 Therefore, repent of this wickedness of yours, and pray to the Lord that, if possible, the intention of your heart will be forgiven you. 23 For I see that you are in the gall of bitterness and in the bondage of unrighteousness.” 24 But Simon answered and said, “Pray to the Lord for me yourselves, so that nothing of what you have said may come upon me.”]]
25 So, when they had solemnly testified and spoken the word of the Lord, they started back to Jerusalem, and were preaching the gospel to many villages of the Samaritans.
*What do you think John thought when he heard he was being sent back to the very people that he and his brother had once wanted to destroy? And was he humbled when he got there and saw what the Holy Spirit was doing?
Have any of you once had an enemy that later became your ally? We often want our enemies destroyed. But sometimes our worst enemies become indispensable allies. National enemies such as Japan (Pearl Harbor, Hiroshima, Nagasaki) now a great ally against North Korea and during the Korean War, many of our wounded were sent to hospitals in Tokyo). England was our enemy in the Revolutionary War and the War of 1812 but now they are an ally.
The same can sometimes be said for God and God’s enemies, as we see in this case.
Saul, who became Paul, was once a bitter enemy of God, when he thought he was acting righteously FOR God. Just like many Messianic Jews and former Muslims today. Nabeel Qureshi, Abu Atallah
History is replete with people who flipped 180 degrees from a position against God to being FOR God. Saul and many other Jews, C.S. Lewis, Josh McDowell, Lee Strobel are some modern examples.
So be merciful to those you think you hate. One day, they may be greater in the kingdom of God than you.
Revelation 11:7
7 When they have finished their testimony, the beast that comes up out of the abyss will make war with them, and overcome them and kill them.
This is looking ahead to chapter 13 and we will spend plenty of time on it then.
Revelation 11:8
8 And their dead bodies will lie on the street of the great city which spiritually is called Sodom and Egypt, where also their Lord was crucified.
The great city is Jerusalem as later it explains ‘where also their Lord was crucified’. This calls to mind when Peter once called Rome ‘Babylon’ to hide his true meaning.
1 Peter 5:13
13 She who is in Babylon, chosen together with you, sends you greetings, and so does my son, Mark.
This begs the question what ‘Babylon’ in chapter 17 and 18 is referring to exactly and we’ll explore that then.
Again, ‘where also their Lord was crucified’ obviously speaks of Jerusalem.
Revelation 11:9-10
9 Those from the peoples, tribes, languages, and nations will look at their dead bodies for three and a half days, and will not allow their dead bodies to be laid in a tomb. 10 And those who live on the earth will rejoice over them and celebrate; and they will send gifts to one another, because these two prophets tormented those who live on the earth.
Remember, the world will likely blame them for being the instruments of God’s wrath for all the seal and trumpet judgements thus far.
Verse 9 – how do you think it is possible that ‘those from peoples, tribes, languages, and nations will look at their dead bodies for three and a half days’?
CNN, MSNBC, etc.
Bear in mind that some interpret the 3 ½ days here to really mean 3 ½ years, as in the second half of the Tribulation period.
I don’t think so. There are events after the ‘second woe’ that must take place in ‘real time’ prior to Christ’s return, and making this event congruent with Christ’s return just doesn’t add up.
*Unbelievably, the first part of verse 10 has been printed on Christmas cards! Talk about eisegesis and misapplied scripture!
(THIS IS AS FAR AS WE GOT YESTERDAY)
Revelation 11:11-14
11 And after the three and a half days, the breath of life from God came into them, and they stood on their feet; and great fear fell upon those who were watching them. 12 And they heard a loud voice from heaven saying to them, “Come up here.” And they went up into heaven in the cloud, and their enemies watched them. 13 And at that time there was a great earthquake, and a tenth of the city fell; seven thousand people were killed in the earthquake, and the rest were terrified and gave glory to the God of heaven.
14 The second woe has passed; behold, the third woe is coming quickly.
11:11 ‘Watching them’ – CNN again
11:12 ‘Come up here’ – reminiscent of Revelation 4:1
4 After these things I looked, and behold, a door standing open in heaven, and the first voice which I had heard, like the sound of a trumpet speaking with me, said, “Come up here, and I will show you what must take place after these things.”
11:13 Another earthquake – look at your one-page Revelation summary sheet. This is earthquake #3 of Revelation. #4 will occur at the seventh trumpet very shortly.
‘and the rest were terrified and gave glory to the God of heaven.’ This likely enrages Satan.
11:14 Remember the eagle in midheaven predicted three woes in Revelation 8:13…
13 Then I looked, and I heard an eagle flying in midheaven, saying with a loud voice, “Woe, woe, woe to those who live on the earth, because of the remaining blasts of the of the three angels who are about to sound!”
Revelation 11:15-19
(the parenthesis has ended)
The Seventh Trumpet: Christ’s Reign Foreseen
15 Then the seventh angel sounded; and there were loud voices in heaven, saying,
“The kingdom of the world has become the kingdom of our Lord and of His Christ; and He will reign forever and ever.” 16 And the twenty-four elders, who sit on their thrones before God, fell on their faces and worshiped God, 17 saying,
“We give You thanks, Lord God, the Almighty, the One who is and who was, because You have taken Your great power and have begun to reign. 18 And the nations were enraged, and Your wrath came, and the time came for the dead to be judged, and the time to reward Your bond-servants the prophets and the saints and those who fear Your name, the small and the great, and to destroy those who destroy the earth.”
19 And the temple of God which is in heaven was opened; and the ark of His covenant appeared in His temple, and there were flashes of lightning and sounds and peals of thunder, and an earthquake, and a great hailstorm.
11:15 – these are forward looking statements which are common in Hebraic writing. Genesis 1:26-30 for instance gives the big picture of the creation of humans, then Genesis chapter two gives a more detailed description of that passage. We will see this literary device again in Revelation 14:15-16
15 Then another angel came from the Temple and shouted to the one sitting on the cloud, “Swing the sickle, for the time of harvest has come; the crop on earth is ripe.” 16 So the one sitting on the cloud swung his sickle over the earth, and the whole earth was harvested.
The way this is worded, it would seem that during these verses all humans are gathered from the earth. How then are more killed in the subsequent chapters? Because, I believe, this is yet another example of the Hebraic style of giving the big picture, followed by a more detailed picture later.
11:17 – this declaration by the church in heaven is a fulfillment of the Davidic Covenant
In 2 Chronicles 13:5;
5 Do you not know that the Lord God of Israel gave the rule over Israel forever to David and his sons by a covenant of salt?
AND
12 “When your days are complete and you lie down with your fathers, I will raise up your descendant after you, who will come forth from you, and I will establish his kingdom. 13 He shall build a house for My name, and I will establish the throne of his kingdom forever. 14 I will be a father to him and he will be a son to Me; when he commits iniquity, I will correct him with the rod of men and the strokes of the sons of men, 15 but My lovingkindness shall not depart from him, as I took it away from Saul, whom I removed from before you. 16 Your house and your kingdom shall endure before Me forever; your throne shall be established forever.”
23:5
5 “Truly is not my house so with God?
For He has made an everlasting covenant with me,
Ordered in all things, and secured;
For all my salvation and all my desire,
Will He not indeed make it grow?
And this covenant was again proclaimed to Mary in Luke 1:30-33
30 The angel said to her, “Do not be afraid, Mary; for you have found favor with God. 31 And behold, you will conceive in your womb and bear a son, and you shall name Him Jesus. 32 He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High; and the Lord God will give Him the throne of His father David; 33 and He will reign over the house of Jacob forever, and His kingdom will have no end.”
Isaiah 24:23
23 Then the moon will be abashed and the sun ashamed,
For the Lord of hosts will reign on Mount Zion and in Jerusalem,
And His glory will be before His elders.
which again, was also preached to Mary in Luke 1:30 –33 above,
And echoed in Revelation 12:5
5 And she gave birth to a Son, a male, who is going to rule all the nations with a rod of iron; and her Child was caught up to God and to His throne.
11:18 – ‘the nations were enraged’ – does that ring a bell?
Psalm 2:1-3
2 Why are the nations restless
And the peoples plotting in vain?
2 The kings of the earth take their stand
And the rulers conspire together
Against the Lord and against His Anointed, saying,
“Let’s tear their shackles apart
And throw their ropes away from us!”
If you read the whole short chapter of Psalm 2, you may realize that you are actually witnessing a conversation among the Trinity.
*We will reference Psalm 2 again in Revelation chapter 16 when we look at the battle of Har Meggido.
11:18 cont’d ‘…and Thy wrath came…’
cf Luke 4:18-21 and Isaiah 62:2b
18 “The Spirit of the Lord is upon Me,
Because He anointed Me to preach the gospel to the poor.
He has sent Me to proclaim release to the captives,
And recovery of sight to the blind,
To set free those who are oppressed,
19 To proclaim the favorable year of the Lord.”
20 And He closed the book, gave it back to the attendant and sat down; and the eyes of all in the synagogue were fixed on Him. 21 And He began to say to them, “Today this Scripture has been fulfilled in your hearing.”
Note where Jesus stopped reading. He stopped at a comma then shut the book. But what did He leave out?
Let’s read the passage in Isaiah 61:1-2 to see…
The Spirit of the Lord God is upon me,
Because the Lord has anointed me
To bring good news to the afflicted;
He has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted,
To proclaim liberty to captives
And freedom to prisoners;
2 To proclaim the favorable year of the Lord
And the day of vengeance of our God;
You see, His mission then was to do fulfill the first part. His mission later will be to fulfill the second part…
‘And the day of vengeance of our God’.
He came like a Lamb the first time, but is coming like a Lion the next time.
The entirety of the tribulation is focused on Israel’s repentance.
11:18 cont’d…and the time came for the dead to be judged, and the time to reward Your bond-servants the prophets and the saints and those who fear Your name, the small and the great, and to destroy those who destroy the earth.
Though technically this is still in the future, again, the literary device is in use. Because the dead will not be judged until after the Millennium at the GWT judgment (Revelation 20:11-15) but it is ‘in stone’ now that they will be judged, it is such a certainty, that it can be stated as being imminent.
*Just like with our salvation – Satan was defeated at the cross and it is such a certainty that one day his defeat will be manifest that we can speak of it as if it has already happened.
11:19 – ‘the temple of God which is in heaven’ (see also 15:5) – wait a minute, didn’t we just last week quote Revelation 21:22?
Revelation 21:22 I saw no temple in it, for the Lord God the Almighty and the Lamb are its temple.
Revelation 15:5-6
5 Then I looked and saw that the Temple in heaven, God’s Tabernacle, was thrown wide open. 6 The seven angels who were holding the seven plagues came out of the Temple. They were clothed in spotless white linen with gold sashes across their chests.
*The earthly tabernacle and temple were patterned after the heavenly temple (Exodus 25:40, Hebrews 8:5).
Exodus 25:9 and 40 (concerning all the furniture and implements described earlier in chapter 25 including the Ark of the Covenant)…
9 According to all that I am going to show you as the pattern of the tabernacle and the pattern of all its furniture, so you shall construct it.
40 See that you make them by the pattern for them, which was shown to you on the mountain.
Hebrews 8:5
5 who serve a copy and shadow of the heavenly things, just as Moses was warned by God when he was about to erect the tabernacle; for, “See,” He says, “that you make all things by the pattern which was shown to you on the mountain.”
This dilemma is solved by the following verses…
Revelation 21:1-5
21 Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth; for the first heaven and the first earth passed away, and there is no longer any sea. 2 And I saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband. 3 And I heard a loud voice from the throne, saying, “Behold, the tabernacle of God is among the people, and He will dwell among them, and they shall be His people, and God Himself will be among them, 4 and He will wipe away every tear from their eyes; and there will no longer be any death; there will no longer be any mourning, or crying, or pain; the first things have passed away.”
5 And He who sits on the throne said, “Behold, I am making all things new.” And He *said, “Write, for these words are faithful and true.”
This city of the New Jerusalem, comes down ‘out of heaven’ (Revelation 21:10) and so is not ‘in’ heaven proper. (And by the way, the first heaven has passed away) (I wonder if this is in part because Satan used to visit there at times (Job 1:6-7, Revelation 12:10), and thus there was a residue of unholiness? I don’t know).
(Job 1:6-7
6 Now there was a day when the sons of God came to present themselves before the Lord, and Satan also came among them. 7 The Lord said to Satan, “From where do you come?” Satan answered the Lord and said, “From roaming about on the earth and walking around on it.”
“Now the salvation, and the power, and the kingdom of our God and the authority of His Christ have come, for the accuser of our brothers and sisters has been thrown down, the one who accuses them before our God day and night.)
The point is that perhaps God caused even the first heaven to pass away, because Satan had set foot in it after his rebellion?
This destruction of heaven and earth is explained in 2 Peter 3:7 and 10…
7 But by His word the present heavens and earth are being reserved for fire, kept for the day of judgment and destruction of ungodly people.
10 But the day of the Lord will come like a thief, in which the heavens will pass away with a roar and the elements will be destroyed with intense heat, and the earth and its works will be discovered.
The New Jerusalem is the dwelling place of the Bride of Christ and is never described as touching the ground, so it is between heaven and earth. I have never been given a supernatural vision of heaven myself, so I am limited to the same information you are.
*THIS ENDS CHAPTER 11.*
I recommend you read ‘Heaven’ by Randy Alcorn to help give fuel for your thoughts and our future discussion. I am not saying Randy Alcorn is right on everything, but it does give much fuel for thoughts.
But for the rest of our time today, let’s quickly summarize the last half of Revelation. The summary can be found on your ‘one page summary of Revelation’ I gave out at the beginning of the fall and a more detailed summary can be found in the ‘big notes’ between pages 34-37.
- Israel gives birth, red dragon, remnant flees to Bozrah, Michael wars with dragon
- Two Beasts and 666 – *many saints killed* (2.5 BILLION LEFT?)
- 3 Angel proclaimers, Reapers
- Trib saints sing, seven bowls come forth
- First Bowl – sores
Second Bowl – all in sea dies
Third Bowl – all freshwater to blood
Fourth Bowl – sun scorches
Fifth Bowl – darkness, gnaw tongues from pain
Sixth Bowl – Euphrates dried up for kings of the east
Seventh Bowl – 100-pound hailstones Earthquake #5, Jerusalem split into 1/3’s.
- Doom of spiritual Babylon / Great Harlot
- Doom of commercial Babylon
- Armageddon finalized. Second coming of Christ with his Bride. Doom of Beasts.
- Satan bound, Millennium, freed, 2nd Gog/Magog, Satan lake of fire, GWT judgement
- New heaven and earth
- River and Tree of Life, final message
Resurrections: ‘First’ of saved: Rapture of church (1 Cor 15:51-54, 1Thess 4:16-17), Trib saints (Rev. 20:4), OT saints (Ezekiel 37:12-14), Millennial saved (Rev.20:5), ‘Second’ of unsaved – (Rev 20:11-15)(Daniel 12:2)
Judgements: Bema (1 Cor 3:10-15), Sheep and Goat judgements (Matthew 25:31-46), The Judgement of the OT Jewish saints, (Ezekiel 20:34-38) Great White Throne (Rev. 20:11-15)
SEVEN KEY FIGURES of Revelation 12:1 to 13:18
- Woman – Israel (NOT the church, as she is pregnant and the church is a virgin!)
(Revelation 12:1-2, 6, 13-17)
- Dragon – Satan – Third Woe (Rev. 12:3-4, 7-9, 13)
- Male Child – Christ (Rev. 12:4-5)
- Michael the Archangel casts Satan out of Heaven – –(Rev. 12:7-9) Satan no longer has privilege of standing before God (Job 1:6, Revelation 12:8) to accuse us (Zechariah 3:1, Revelation 12:10)
Dragon pursues ‘the woman’ (Israel) (Rev. 12:13-17)
MIDPOINT OF TRIBULATION – ABOMINATION OF DESOLATION (Matthew 24:15, Daniel 12:11, Revelation 11:1-6)(Burning of weapons from Ezekiel 38 and 39 ends as one part of Jews flee to safety and the rest get heavily persecuted by Antichrist)
- Remnant of Israel saved – flees to wilderness (Bozrah) (Rev. 12:14)
Enraged that he cannot attack the Jewish remnant, Satan turns his anger on ‘the rest of her children’ (other Jewish believers in Christ)(the Church has been raptured years prior)(Israel, the woman, is the mother of Christ)(2/3 of the Jews will be killed – Zechariah 13:8)
- Antichrist wounded and seemingly resurrected – Beast of the Sea (Revelation 13:1-10)
- False Prophet – Beast of the Earth (Revelation 13:11-18)
INTERVAL – The 144,000 standing with Jesus on Mt. Zion (Rev. 14:1-5), They have not been killed, but apparently have been gathered to Him much like the Church was gathered at the Rapture.
THREE ANGEL MESSENGERS (Revelation 14:6-20)
Victorious saints holding harps of God and singing the song of Moses (Revelation 15)
*Commencement of the GREAT TRIBULATION (3.5 years) (Matthew 24:21)
SEVEN BOWL JUDGEMENTS
- Boils (Rev. 16:2)
- Sea to Blood – every living thing in sea dies (Rev. 16:3)
- Rivers to Blood (Rev. 16:4-7)
- Great Heat (Rev. 16:8-9)
- Great Darkness and gnawing tongues in pain (Rev. 16:10-11)
- Euphrates Dried Up to make a path to Jerusalem for the Kings of the East (Rev. 16:12)
INTERVAL – 3 unclean spirits like frogs from mouths of dragon, beast, and false prophet.
(THE GREAT HARLOT/THE WOMAN WHO RIDES THE BEAST described) (Revelation 17:1-18) (likely started during the gap period, during the post-rapture chaos)
THE SEVEN DOOMS OF MYSTERY BABYLON/ JUDGEMENT OF THE GREAT HARLOT – one, Babylon will be devoid of human life; two, it will be burned with fire; three, it will be destroyed in one hour; four, people will be afraid to enter; five, its riches will be brought to nothing; six, it will be violently overthrown; seven, all activity in it will cease. (Rev. 18:8-23)
Gathering of world forces at ‘Armageddon’ – (from ‘Har Megiddo’) (Har is Hebrew for ‘mountain’) – the plain of Megiddo is just the staging area for antichrist’s armies, like England was the staging area for the Normandy invasion. (Zechariah 14:2)(page 63 in ‘Charting’) 8 phases to Armageddon.
Phase one – (above) – the Antichrist’s Allies assemble for war (Rev. 16:14,16)
Phase two – Commercial Babylon (Antichrist’s headquarters) is destroyed (Revelation 18:21) by a military coalition from the north (Jeremiah 50) – expanded below (this occurs concurrently with the assembling of armies at Armageddon.)
Phase three – Jerusalem falls and is Ravaged (Zechariah 12:1-3, 14:2)
Phase four – Antichrist moves south against the Remnant hiding in Bozrah
Phase five – The remnant endangered and regenerated (Hosea 6:1-3, Joel 2:28-29, Zechariah 12:8) Israel cries out for the Messiah (Hosea 5:15)
Phase six – Jesus Christ returns in Glory (Revelation 1:7, Matthew 24:30) first to Bozrah (Isaiah 34:1-7, 63:1-6, Habakkuk 3:3, Micah 2:12-13), then to the Mount of Olives
Phase seven – The Final Battle Erupts (Revelation 19:11-16, Habakkuk 3:13, 2 Thess. 2:8) Antichrist’s forces destroyed from Bozrah to Jerusalem (Joel 3:12-13, Zechariah 14:12-15, Revelation 14:19-20). (distance is 361.2 km which equals 224.43 miles
Phase eight – Christ Victoriously Ascends the Mount of Olives (Zechariah 14:3-4)
Christ’s victory at Armageddon is summarized in Rev. 14:20
20 And the wine press was trodden outside the city, and blood came out from the wine press, up to the horses’ bridles, for a distance of two hundred miles.
361.2 km = 224.4393 miles – distance from Bozrah, Jordan to Jerusalem, Israel
Then the final bowl judgement is poured out…
- Hundred-pound hailstones, great earthquake, city split into three parts, islands flee, mountains disappear (Rev. 16:17-21)(Joel 3:14-16, Matthew 24:29)
Second Coming of Christ (blood on his garments – his enemies’ blood from Petra (Bozrah), not HIS blood (Zechariah 14:3, Isaiah 63:1-6)
Jesus stands on Mt. of Olives, splitting it in two (Zechariah 14:4-5) (Jews possibly escape into the resulting crevice)
Antichrist and False Prophet sent to lake of fire – (Revelation 19:20)
75-day period between Armageddon and the Millennium – calculated in ‘Charting the End Times’ pages 66-69 and page 177 in ETICO (Daniel 12:12 ‘1335 days’ minus the 1260 days of last half of Tribulation) in which the following take place…
Sheep and Goat judgements (Matthew 25:31-46 and likely Ezekiel 20:34-38, the judgement of the Jews)
(And likely we get our work assignments for the Millennial Kingdom)
Old Testament saints resurrected (Ezekiel 37:12-14, Daniel 12:1-20) to rule with the other saints during the Millennium (Daniel 7:27 and Revelation 20:4,6)
The Marriage Supper of the Lamb – on earth. The bridal party (not the Church!) must keep their lamps full of oil (Matthew 25:1-12)
Millennium itself (Revelation 20:4-6) during which…
Satan is bound for 1000 years (Rev. 20:1-3)
The Wedding Feast for Israel’s remarriage to the Ancient of Days (God the Father) (Isaiah 25:6)
The Mountain of God is raised up (Isaiah 2:1-4)
The Via Maris is rebuilt connecting Egypt, Israel and Syria (Isaiah 19:23) which was closed in 1948 when Israel became a nation again
Satan is released (Rev. 20:7)
Gog and Magog war #2 (Rev. 20:8-9)
Satan sent to lake of fire (Rev. 20:10)
Great White Throne judgement (Rev. 20:11-15)
Earth destroyed by fire (2 Peter 3:7, 10)
New Jerusalem comes down (Rev. 21:2-27)
Eternal Heaven (on earth) (Rev. chapters 21 and 22) read Randy Alcorn’s book, “Heaven”