NOTE: This Bible study on the end times comes from the perspective of a pre-tribulation Rapture.
Now that we’ve finished covering the 21 plagues, such as the Seven Seals, the Seven Trumpets, and the Seven Bowls, we can go back and begin looking at some of the narrative sections of Revelation. These sections provide us with some details about The Tribulation Period; including the work of the Antichrist, the role of Israel and the remaining Christians of this time period.
Tonight, we will cover Revelation chapters eleven and twelve, in which we will encounter the Third Temple, the Two Witnesses, a Woman, a Child, and a Great Dragon; and as we go along, please be filling out the provided handout.
(Refer to Handout: “The Symbolism of Chapters 11 and 12”)
The Third Temple
Turn with me in your Bibles, and let’s read Revelation 11:1-2:
1 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. 2 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.”
• Why do you think John was commanded to measure the temple of God, the altar, and those who worship there?
He was commanded to do so in preparation, because another temple was about to be built; a third Jewish temple.
The first temple was built in 950 B.C. by King Solomon, and then it was destroyed by Babylon and King Nebuchadnezzar in 586 B.C. The second temple was built in 515 B.C. by Zerubbabel after the Israelites returned from the Babylonian Captivity, and then it was destroyed by the Romans in A.D. 70.
“It has been nearly two thousand years since there has been a Jewish temple on Mt. Moriah. Since A.D. 691 the Muslim shrine, the Dome of the Rock, has stood on the site of the ancient Jewish temple. Ever since the Jewish people began returning to the Promised Land, there has been talk of building a third temple. There is presently a Temple Institute in Jerusalem that is dedicated to reconstructing the instruments of worship for the new temple” (Hindson).
“Several passages of Scripture refer to the Temple of the end time. In Matthew 24:15, the Lord Jesus referred to the ‘abomination that causes desolation, spoken of through the prophet Daniel,’ indicating that at the end time, in the middle of the Tribulation period as Daniel predicated, a temple will be desecrated by the Antichrist. In order for this to be fulfilled, it must first be rebuilt. Likewise, in 2 Thessalonians 2:1-13, the Apostle Paul predicted that the Antichrist, in the middle of the Tribulation, would defy God by sitting in the Temple of God and presenting himself to the world as God. In order for him to do this, that temple has to be rebuilt” (LaHaye).
As long as the Dome of the Rock stands on Mt. Moriah, the new temple will not be built. Edward Hindson tells us that the only way the Dome of the Rock could be removed from its present location is if it were “destroyed by warfare, terrorism, or a natural disaster, like an earthquake.” In an MSNBC NEWS article, it has been stated that there is the potential for a large earthquake to occur in Jerusalem. I am going to read for you the first three paragraphs of that article:
A geological survey says the heart of biblical narrative, Jerusalem’s walled Old City, would be among the worst hit parts of the city in the event of another earthquake because it rests on layers of debris, not solid rock. A natural disaster in the Old City could also bring devastating political aftershocks because it is the fiery heart of the conflict between Israelis and Palestinians.
“The three-year study, conducted by the Geological Survey of Israel and released this week, found that the Old City is more at risk than modern neighborhoods because of its ancient construction and the underground layers of shifting debris left behind by ransacking armies,” said Amos Bein, the center’s director.
“The layer below is not made of solid rock, but rather a kind of rubble,” Bein said. Those weak foundations could magnify an earthquake’s seismic wave . . . Most at risk, the report says, is the Old City and the eleven-acre elevated plaza housing two major mosques, including the gold-capped Dome of the Rock.
So, the potential exists for a massive earthquake that could destroy the Dome of the Rock and make way for a third Jewish temple to be built. LaHaye says the Temple will be rebuilt at the beginning of the Tribulation, for in the middle of that period, the Antichrist will set up his idol in the Temple. So, if you ever hear a news announcement that the construction of the new Temple will soon commence, then get ready for the rapture!
On your provided handout, please fill in “The Third Temple.”
The Two Witnesses
Turn with me in your Bibles, and let’s read Revelation 11:3-14:
3 “And I will give power to my two witnesses, and they will prophesy one thousand two hundred and sixty days, clothed in sackcloth.” 4 These are the two olive trees and the two lampstands standing before the God of the earth. 5 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. 6 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.
7 When they finish their testimony, the beast that ascends out of the bottomless pit will make war against them, overcome them, and kill them. 8 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. 9 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. 10 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.
11 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. 12 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. 13 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. 14 The second woe is past. Behold, the third woe is coming quickly.
• When we look at verse 3, what do we find to be the purpose of the Two Witnesses?
We read here that “they will prophecy.” Edward Hindson tells us that they will preach the gospel of Jesus Christ to the Jews in Jerusalem.
• Also, according to verse 3, how long are we told that the Two Witnesses will preach the gospel to the Jews?
The answer is 1,260 days, which is 3 ½ years. It is believed that this will be the last 3 ½ years of the Tribulation, because in verse 12, the Two Witnesses are seen ascending into heaven to be with the Lord, and then in verse 15 the final trumpet sounds for the Second Coming of Christ.
• Who do you think these Two Witnesses might be?
Some people suggest that they are Moses and Elijah. The Bible says that Moses died on Mount Nebo (Deuteronomy 34:5-6), but there is a Jewish tradition that says Moses was taken directly into heaven to be with God. The first century historian Philo stated that Moses did not die a natural death, but was taken straight into heaven. According to 2 Kings 2:11, Elijah was taken directly to heaven by a whirlwind on a chariot of fire; and Malachi 4:5-6 predicted that Elijah would come before “that great and dreadful day of the Lord comes.” Others suggest that the Two Witnesses are Enoch and Elijah, as Enoch was another person who was taken directly into heaven, rather than facing death. The Scripture tells us that “God took him” (Genesis 5:24).
Verse 6 says, “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.” Based on what we read in verse 6, Harold Hunter says that one opinion on the Two Witnesses is “that Elijah is one of the witnesses because of his ability ‘to shut up heaven that it not rain,’ and that Moses is the other witness because of his ‘power over waters to turn them to blood’.” In the end, however, we do not really know who the Two Witnesses will be.
On your provided handout, please fill in “Moses and Elijah or Enoch and Elijah.”
• In verses 7-10, we read that the Antichrist will make war against the Two Witnesses and overcome them and kill them, and that their bodies will lie on the street for three days, and that all “peoples, tribes, tongues, and nations will see their bodies.” Considering recent technology, how might the entire world be able to see their bodies?
This will likely occur through satellite television broadcasts and the Internet. We now live in what is called a global community. We are linked together by technological advances in communication; and whatever is broadcast on the airwaves is received around the world, effecting billions of people.
• When looking at verse 13, would you say the Two Witnesses were successful in their preaching ministry?
Yes, for we read that after the great earthquake, “the rest were afraid and gave glory to the God of heaven.” This verse provides further proof that people will be saved during the Tribulation period. Most people remaining on the earth will hate God; but a few will fear Him and submit to the Lordship of Jesus Christ. It might not be a lot of people who are saved, but even a few is a huge success!
It should be noted that “this is the first and only reference in the Apocalypse to people repenting as a result of a natural disaster. This time no one shakes his fist in the face of God. They have seen too much to deny the hand of God” (Hindson).
Verse 14 mentions the second and third woe. The three woes were introduced back in Revelation 8:13 as “woe, woe, woe.” The three woes are the fifth trumpet (Revelation 9:1-12), the sixth trumpet (Revelation 9:13-11:14), and the seventh trumpet (Revelation 11:15-19).
Let us now skip ahead to Revelation chapter twelve as we seek to identify the Woman, the Child, and the Dragon.
The Woman
Turn with me in your Bibles, and let’s read Revelation 12:1:
1 Now a great sign appeared in heaven: a woman clothed with the sun, with the moon under her feet, and on her head a garland of twelve stars.
• The Woman in verse 1 is symbolic. What might she represent?
It has been suggested that the woman is the nation of Israel.
• What do the twelve stars on the Woman’s head represent?
The twelve stars represent each of the twelve tribes of Israel.
In Genesis 37:9, Joseph had a dream concerning his eleven brothers, and we read this: “Then he dreamed still another dream and told it to his brothers, and said, ‘Look, I have dreamed another dream. And this time, the sun, the moon, and the eleven stars bowed down to me’.” When we look at the following verse, Genesis 37:10, we also learn that the sun and the moon represent Jacob and his wife. Therefore, the Woman is the nation of Israel.
On your provided handout, please fill in “Israel.”
The Child
Turn with me in your Bibles, and let’s read Revelation 12:2 and 5:
2 Then being with child, she cried out in labor and in pain to give birth . . . 5 She bore a male Child who was to rule all nations with a rod of iron. And her Child was caught up to God and His throne.
• In looking at verses 2 and 5, who might this Child be?
He is thought to be the Messiah, Jesus Christ.
Verse 5 states that “she [or Israel] bore a male Child who was to rule all nations with a rod of Iron.” In a prophecy of the Messiah found in Psalm 2:7-9, we read, “You are my son, today I have begotten You. Ask of Me, and I will give You the nations for Your inheritance, and the ends of the earth for Your possession. You shall break them with a rod of iron.”
On your provided handout, please fill in “The Messiah.”
The Dragon
Turn with me in your Bibles, and let’s read Revelation 12:3-4:
3 And another sign appeared in heaven: behold, a great, fiery red dragon having seven heads and ten horns, and seven diadems on his heads. 4 His tail drew a third of the stars of heaven and threw them to the earth. And the dragon stood before the woman who was ready to give birth, to devour her Child as soon as it was born.
• In looking at verses 3-4, who might the Dragon be?
The answer is Satan. If we move on ahead to verse 9, he is identified. We read this: “So the great dragon was cast out, that serpent of old, called the Devil and Satan, who deceives the whole world.”
On your provided handout, please fill in “Satan.”
A Battle between Good and Evil
So, now that we have identified the Woman as Israel, the Child as Jesus, and the Dragon as Satan, what’s going on here? What is being presented in chapter 12 is a narrative describing the battle between good and evil, or God and Satan; the battle that has been raging since the beginning of time. If we continue looking, we can see the general summary of this great battle.
Turn with me in your Bibles, and let’s read Revelation 12:6-12:
6 Then the woman fled into the wilderness, where she has a place prepared by God, that they should feed her there one thousand two hundred and sixty days. 7 And war broke out in heaven: Michael and his angels fought with the dragon; and the dragon and his angels fought, 8 but they did not prevail, nor was a place found for them in heaven any longer. 9 So the great dragon was cast out, that serpent of old, called the Devil and Satan, who deceives the whole world; he was cast to the earth, and his angels were cast out with him.
10 Then I heard a loud voice saying in heaven, “Now salvation, and strength, and the kingdom of our God, and the power of His Christ have come, for the accuser of our brethren, who accused them before our God day and night, has been cast down. 11 And they overcame him by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony, and they did not love their lives to the death. 12 Therefore rejoice, O heavens, and you who dwell in them! Woe to the inhabitants of the earth and the sea! For the devil has come down to you, having great wrath, because he knows that he has a short time.”
In verses 7-9, we read about a war in heaven between God and His angels, and the Devil and his angels. We find another description of this event in Isaiah 14:12-15. These verses declare, “How you are fallen from heaven, O Lucifer, son of the morning! How you are cut down to the ground, you who weakened the nations! For you have said in your heart: ‘I will ascend into heaven, I will exalt my throne above the stars of God; I will also sit on the mount of the congregation on the farthest sides of the north; I will ascend above the heights of the clouds, I will be like the Most High.’ Yet you shall be brought down to [Hell], to the lowest depths of the Pit.” This war forms the backdrop to the persecution that Israel and the Christ Child find themselves facing.
We know the devil is not victorious, and for this reason he is extremely angry. In verse 12, we read, “The devil has come down to you, having great wrath, because he knows that he has a short time.” Satan is angry because he will be the one who is ultimately defeated, not Jesus, and it won’t be very long until this happens.
Allow me to refer you back to verses 4 and 6 for just a moment. In verse 4, we read that Satan was waiting to devour Jesus as soon as He was born, but the woman fled into Egypt for safety. Matthew 2:13 tells us that as soon a Jesus was born, “an angel of the Lord appeared to Joseph in a dream, saying, ‘Arise, take the young Child and His mother, flee to Egypt, and stay there until I bring you word; for Herod will seek the young Child to destroy Him’.” Matthew 2:16 tells us that afterwards, “Herod . . . sent forth and put to death all the male children who were in Bethlehem and in all its districts, from two years old and under.” Jesus’ mother hid Him in Egypt and He was protected from the devil.
I am sure the devil thought he was victorious when Christ died on the cross. However, Jesus arose from the grave and ascended into heaven to be with His Father, and to await the time when judgment should come upon the earth and in which He gathers together His elect.
The War against Jews and Christians
Turn with me in your Bibles, and let’s read Revelation 12:13-17:
13 Now when the dragon saw that he had been cast to the earth, he persecuted the woman who gave birth to the male Child. 14 But the woman was given two wings of a great eagle, that she might fly into the wilderness to her place, where she is nourished for a time and times and half a time, from the presence of the serpent. 15 So the serpent spewed water out of his mouth like a flood after the woman, that he might cause her to be carried away by the flood. 16 But the earth helped the woman, and the earth opened its mouth and swallowed up the flood which the dragon had spewed out of his mouth. 17 And the dragon was enraged with the woman, and he went to make war with the rest of her offspring, who keep the commandments of God and have the testimony of Jesus Christ.
The narrative describing the battle between God and Satan that has been raging since the beginning of time, is now being narrowed down and honing in on the last half of the Tribulation period. In other words, the battle is culminating in this final moment of time. It is wrapping up.
In verse 14, we see the statement “time and times and half a time.” “Time” equals one year. “Times” (plural) is one year plus one year; or rather, two years. “Half a time” is half a year. So, one year, plus two years, plus a half a year is equal to three and one-half years; which is how long the last half of the Tribulation will last. Back in verse 6, this timeframe is mentioned as 1,260 days.
• We also see in verse 14 that during the last half of the Tribulation, the woman (Israel) will flee and be nourished. What do you think the wilderness and the eagle’s wings represent?
This is probably just a metaphor for God’s protection from the Dragon; but allow me to provide you with three suggestions:
1.) Tim LaHaye believes that this wilderness is a literal place. He says, “Daniel 11:40-45 speaks of a world war during the middle of the Tribulation, which will affect all the countries of the world except Edom, Moab, and Ammon. These ancient countries, which now constitute Jordan, may well be the place God has prepared for the nation of Israel to hide.” I have heard it said that the ancient archaeological site of Petra, in Jordan, could be the place that God’s people will hide out.
2.) Kendell Easley, in the Holman New Testament Commentary says, “This is not a literal desert in a literal place. The reference to ‘the two wings of a great eagle’ suggests swift and powerful protection.” He gives an example from Exodus 19:4, in which God says, “You have seen what I did to the Egyptians, and how I bore you on eagles’ wings and brought you to Myself.”
3.) Irvin Baxter of “Endtime Ministries” says that the eagle might represent America; and if this is the case, it could mean that Israel will somehow receive protection from the United States. However, most Bible scholars note that America is not depicted in any endtime prophecies, suggesting that it has lost its influence as a world superpower by this time.
In verse 15, we see that the devil “spewed water out of his mouth like a flood after the woman.” This too is metaphorical, representing the total effort of Satan to exterminate the nation of Israel (Walvoord).
So, we have seen that there has been a war raging since the beginning of time, and Satan knows that his destruction is drawing near; therefore, in the few brief years before his demise – the Tribulation period – he will begin to intensely persecute Israel because of his extreme rage.
• According to verse 17, who else will Satan make war against besides the Jews?
The answer is the Christians who remain upon the earth; or rather, those who have been converted during the Tribulation.
Verse 17 says that Satan made war with the rest of Israel’s offspring. The apostle Paul said that Christians are also the offspring of Israel, for in Galatians 3:29, he stated, “And if you are Christ’s, then you are Abraham’s seed, and heirs according to the promise.” However, we do not need the words of Paul to realize that this is a reference to Christians, for verse 17 specifically says that they are those “who keep the commandments of God and have the testimony of Jesus Christ.” You must know Jesus Christ as Savior and Lord, in order to be a Christian.
