Note: I used many sources to study this book, one of my favorites is Revelation: God’s Word for the Biblically-Inept by Daymond Duck and some out of different study bibles.
Title:
Theme:
Text: Revelation 11
What was the last thing John was told to do in Revelation in 10? To prophesy to all the nations, tongues. This is what he will do.
Now we see there is no longer a delay but the wrath of God will begin to come. We know of a few things from the OT that will happen to Israel.
1) They will be a place of persecution and war with all nations and God will win. Zech 12:1-3,14:1-3, Jer 51:19-23
2) They will rebuild their temple. Dan 9:27-28
1 And there was given me a reed like unto a rod: and the angel stood, saying, Rise, and measure the temple of God, and the altar, and them that worship therein.
rod-rod of correction and rod of comfort Ps 23:4
This is more than likely referring to Israel.
And they shall fall by the edge of the sword, and shall be led away captive into all nations: and Jerusalem shall be trodden down of the Gentiles, until the times of the Gentiles be fulfilled. (Luke 21:24 AV)
It is the only nation that would be considered here. But where is the temple today?
We know that the temple will be rebuilt in Israel. It seems that a great political leader will rise up around the time of the rapture and Israel will make a covenant with them for protection. During this time they will rebuild the temple. This is the temple that was first given to Moses for the pattern Ex25. We know it was enlarged and built by Solomon 1 Kings 7-8. This temple was destroyed in 586 BC by Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon. After a good many years under Zerubbel it was rebuilt under the guidance of the prophets Haggi an Zechariah close to the end of the sixth century BC. We also know that during the reign of Herod under the Romans the Temple was renovated. But it was destroyed in 70 BC.
So what does the Jews worship in now? They worship in synagogues.
Where are the worshipers? What should they be worshiping?
2 But the court which is without the temple leave out, and measure it not; for it is given unto the Gentiles: and the holy city shall they tread under foot forty and two months.
Here we see that God is measuring the temple. He is showing his ownership.
God is going to deal with the Israelite nation. We see this also in Jer 31 and Zech 2.
temple-Holy place and holy of Holies
altar-golden altar of prayer
the worshipers are measured-they are judged, disciplined and comforted
Why do you think he said to leave the outer court alone? What was it used for? It was the court of the gentiles and we will see their plight as they deceive the Jews and then take over.
How long is forty two months? Three and one half years of the great tribulation
Jesus speaks of this in Matthew 24,25 in the Olivet discourse. But the temple will be defiled as shown in 2 Thes 2:4
3 And I will give power unto my two witnesses, and they shall prophesy a thousand two hundred and threescore days, clothed in sackcloth.
So for 1260 days the two witnesses will come. They will be a threat to the antichrist who we will see in chapter 13 he has great power. Speaking of the antichrist in ch 13 it reads
Why two witnesses? To validate matters pertaining to Jewish religion Dt 17:6,19:15
Some ask who are these witnesses? Again we are not told who they are. Many have speculated. Some say they are Enoch and Elijah because they never have experienced death.
2) Others say Moses and Elijah (which seems to be the majority opinion)
Remember ye the law of Moses my servant, which I commanded unto him in Horeb for all Israel, with the statutes and judgments. Behold, I will send you Elijah the prophet before the coming of the great and dreadful day of the LORD: (Malachi 4:4-5 AV)
Elijah Mal 4:5, Mt 17:11
3) Some even say it is just a representation of more but two is just needed to be a witness. this is very questionable
Maybe John the Baptist and Elijah
And he doeth great wonders, so that he maketh fire come down from heaven on the earth in the sight of men, And deceiveth them that dwell on the earth by the means of those miracles which he had power to do in the sight of the beast; saying to them that dwell on the earth, that they should make an image to the beast, which had the wound by a sword, and did live. (Revelation 13:13-14 AV)
4 These are the two olive trees, and the two candlesticks standing before the God of the earth.
We know from Zechariah chapter 4 that the two candlesticks speak of the Holy Spirit. So we can assume here that this means that the two witnesses will be powered and filled with the Holy Spirit in order to reveal the light and truth of God.
. . . Not by might, nor by power, but by my spirit, saith the LORD of hosts. (Zechariah 4:6 AV)
Zech 4:11-14 we see lampstands that represent light. They are here full of the Holy Spirit to give light to a darkened world.
5 And if any man will hurt them, fire proceedeth out of their mouth, and devoureth their enemies: and if any man will hurt them, he must in this manner be killed.
Wherefore thus saith the LORD God of hosts, Because ye speak this word, behold, I will make my words in thy mouth fire, and this people wood, and it shall devour them. (Jeremiah 5:14 AV)
They will be protected by the almighty God.
6 These have power to shut heaven, that it rain not in the days of their prophecy: and have power over waters to turn them to blood, and to smite the earth with all plagues, as often as they will.
It seems that Israel will be under some sort of bondage as they were in Egypt. They also seem to be in a state of apostasy.
Notice how the plague has to do with water? The thirst. God is hoping that in their thirst for water they will thirst for him.
7 And when they shall have finished their testimony, the beast that ascendeth out of the bottomless pit shall make war against them, and shall overcome them, and kill them.
When was the beast allowed to bother them? "when they shall have finished their testimony"
We see that this beast is from the pits of hell. This may be a person used of Satan. Directly influenced by him. He will be so angry that he will kill these witnesses.
The funny part is that others will try to kill them but can’t. But the right time they will be killed by the beast. It will look like he has more power but only for a time.
8 And their dead bodies shall lie in the street of the great city, which spiritually is called Sodom and Egypt, where also our Lord was crucified.
We see the condition of those around them. There is no remorse or even repentance. The bodies are not buried which is even worse.
Sodom-immorality
Egypt-enslavement to the world
the place as we see is Jerusalem, Is 1:1-10 “Sodom and Gomorrah”, Ez 16:1-62 City of Idolatry
9 And they of the people and kindreds and tongues and nations shall see their dead bodies three days and an half, and shall not suffer their dead bodies to be put in graves.
This is almost sacrilegious. But it shows the evilness of the world
10 And they that dwell upon the earth shall rejoice over them, and make merry, and shall send gifts one to another; because these two prophets tormented them that dwelt on the earth.
Why would people act this way at death? What did these witnesses represent that would make these people celebrate and not allow for a correct burial? Strangely enough the criminals get better treatment that this. Have you ever thought about it? It even happened to Christ. A thief a murder who came and took life got better treatment than the one who gave life.
Why? “because these two prophets tormented them that dwelt on the earth” How? By the conviction of the Holy Spirit, that they could not stop.
11 And after three days and an half the Spirit of life from God entered into them, and they stood upon their feet; and great fear fell upon them which saw them.
Here we see that the two witnesses are vindicated. The people do know who they are. The voice of God calls them up. The people see this and they fear. Just as the solider at the cross says "Truly this was the Son of God". People will know. This is also our vindication. Our vengeance is not the death or the judgement or the suffering. The vengeance for the Christian is that the people will finally know that we were right. Praise the Lord! one day every knee will bow and every tongue will confess that Jesus Christ is Lord.
12 And they heard a great voice from heaven saying unto them, Come up hither. And they ascended up to heaven in a cloud; and their enemies beheld them.
Before all will these be brought up to heaven. There will be no doubt now. No questions, no doubts but all will see.
I bet you that the media will regret the fact that they let the people see this. They will not be able to put their spin as they do today and deceive many.
13 And the same hour was there a great earthquake, and the tenth part of the city fell, and in the earthquake were slain of men seven thousand: and the remnant were affrighted, and gave glory to the God of heaven.
Not only will they know by the raising of the dead but they will know because nature will be affected. A great earthquake will happen and will wipe out 7,000 people. God again as he did with Christ and has down since our beginning show his power over the spiritual and the natural world. As I said people will know.
We see that there is a remnant. Why? because of what they saw. Because of what they witnessed. But is this the true test? No it will come soon as we will see in ch 13 then we will see the true remnant.
So far we have seen a fourth of the population slain. Then a third of that population slain which as we know it is one half. 16 minus 25 % is what? 12 Okay. 12 minus 33 % is 8. and eight is half of 16.. Plus now we see 7000 dead
But praise God some will finally learn and there will be a Jewish revival.
14 The second woe is past; and, behold, the third woe cometh quickly.
The announcing of the Seventh trumpet and as usual with the last judgements there is woes associated with them.
15 And the seventh angel sounded; and there were great voices in heaven, saying, The kingdoms of this world are become the kingdoms of our Lord, and of his Christ; and he shall reign for ever and ever.
Then cometh the end, when he (Jesus) shall have delivered up the kingdom to God, even the Father; when he shall have put down all rule and all authority and power. (1 Corinthians 15:24 AV)
Here we see the seventh trumpet. It announces that the kingdom has become that of Christ’s. Now he will reign forever. It involves events extending to Christ's return, including therefore the judgements of the seven bowls (ch 16). The sound of the seventh trumpet is followed by a parenthetical passage that reveals some events related to the great tribulation period (12:1-15:4)
There will be a 1000 year millennial reign soon to come and then all will be changed.
16 And the four and twenty elders, which sat before God on their seats, fell upon their faces, and worshipped God,
Here we see the mentioning of the four and twenty elders. We will see a prophesy of what is to come.
It will be so overwhelming and so exciting that there will be a great praise and worship service.
17 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.
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.
5 things that are significant that have been fulfilled at this time
1) the rage of the nations are shown (16:13-16;19:19;Ps 2)
2) The wrath of God. The hour of vengeance has arrived (Ps 2:5; II Thes 1:7-8)
3) the judgment of the dead. Probably a reference to the Great White Throne judgment (Rev 20)
4) the rewarding of the godly. It will occur for the church at the Rapture; for other saints it will take place at the resurrection of the righteous in the first resurrection (ch 20)
5) The destruction of the destroyers of the earth
And the beast was taken, and with him the false prophet that wrought miracles before him, with which he deceived them that had received the mark of the beast, and them that worshipped his image. These both were cast alive into a lake of fire burning with brimstone. And the remnant were slain with the sword of him that sat upon the horse, which sword proceeded out of his mouth: and all the fowls were filled with their flesh. (Revelation 19:20-21 AV)
19 And the temple of God was opened in heaven, and there was seen in his temple the ark of his testament: and there were lightnings, and voices, and thunderings, and an earthquake, and great hail. (Revelation 11:1-19 AV)
God resumes His relationship with Israel but there is still judgment ahead as we see by the thunderings and lightnings.
The ark of the convanent was a very important instrument in the worship of God. It represented the presence of God. On top was the mercy seat of God. A place where the blood was sprinkled as a symbol of sacrifice. Thank God his presence is back again.
Some say that the reason that the temple curtain was rent between the Holy of Holies and the Most Holy place was to show that God’s shekinah glory was not in the temple. But it will be restored and it will get better if you are a believer.
