Reviews and Views

Book of Revelation – Chapter 11

What about the future facing the unrepentant? It was the worst of times. Foolishness reigns in the heart of evil men. A terrible season of darkness plagues the sturdiest of souls, but nothing except judgment awaits those deluded (lied to or deceived) by the Beast. But there is a bright side to this very dark picture.

Taking a rod or reed, the apostle John proceeds to measure the temple of God (erected during the Tribulation hour, this is the 3rd temple), the altar, and those that worship therein. It’s a measurement of their spirituality. The Jews’ spirituality falls short. The Gentiles trample the Holy City of Jerusalem under their feet for 42 months or 3.5 years (the last half of the Tribulation period). So, now God sends two witnesses before the people in Jerusalem. Given great power, these two men prophesy, telling them what will happen to them in the future and to repent.

The scene is Jerusalem and the rebuilt Tribulation temple. You will notice that this temple has nothing to do with the Church, which is already in heaven. Somehow the Jews regained possession of the Temple site and the right to do something with it. We can assume that the Masque of Omar is rubble with a beautiful new Temple to God in its place. Israel had entered a seven-year pact with the Beast. With his encouragement and support, defying the Arabs, they rebuilt this temple. We are at the mid-point of the seven-year Tribulation period. Unfortunately for the Jews, they have entered into a covenant with death and an agreement with hell (Isaiah 28:15). The Beast honors his commitments in the beginning of this seven-month contract because that works in his interest. However, “halfway through the period, there will be a change of policy, possibly connected with the downfall of Russia and possibly connected with the emergence of the Beast in his new character as ‘the beast that ascends out of the bottomless pit” of verse 7, John Phillips commentary, page 146.

Two witnesses make their appearance at this time. Their witness lasts for 1,260 days or 3.5 years. Given great power or authority, they proclaimed God’s message of doom upon the unrepentant. Both men wear sackcloth, a coarse, rough fabric woven from flax or hemp, acting both as a token of mourning for Israel and a call to repentance. Their ministry runs through much of the period covered by the trumpet judgments, then they are slain during the second woe of the sixth trumpet.

Who are these two witnesses? Unknown, since John does not mention them specifically by name. Some scholars guess them to be Elijah, Enoch, Moses, or John the Baptist, with many reasons given for each one. It is not important who they are, or John would have written their names down for us to know. What can be said is that these witnesses are human beings, and there are two of them; that is what we know for sure. These two possess supernatural weapons such as the power to shut heaven and bring drought, turn water to blood, and bring disease or plagues, including calling down fire from heaven. Invincible, the world detests and fears them. Untouchable by man, the Beast finally kills them at the end of the 1,260 days. Left in the streets of Jerusalem with no burial or grave for them, a worldwide holiday is declared. People celebrate their death by presenting gifts to each other. With their lights snuffed out, the world is truly in darkness. It is a wonderfully comforting thought that all of God’s people are immortal until God is through with them. And when you have completed your mission, He will remove you from the earth to heaven.

The location of their death is called “spiritually Sodom and Egypt, where our Lord was crucified” from verse 8. Known as Jerusalem, the name Sodom emphasizes vice, and Egypt points out the vanity that has now enthroned itself in the city of violence. So for 3.5 days, the entire world watches their dead bodies left in the dirty streets with celebrations all around, shown on all television networks, internet, smartphones, and computers.

Then, the unthinkable happens! God puts the spirit of life back into their broken bodies, making them whole again. They stand upright on their feet. No wonder fear grips the heart of those watching at the scene and on media. In front of everyone, up goes the two witnesses in a cloud away from their enemies below. With a great voice, God called them home. As this occurred, a great earthquake shook Jerusalem. One-tenth of the city lies in rubble. Seven thousand men died that day, not counting women and children. Those that survived grudgingly acknowledged that there was a living God, but that impression did not last. No salvation, just a bunch of scared folks! With the second woe completed, the third and final woe comes quickly.

Seventh Trumpet – Crowning of the King

Immediately, the seventh trumpet blasts (verse 15). Heaven is the scene, but earth finds out about the crowning of Jesus, enraging the earth’s inhabitants.

NOTE:
Remember that chapters 6 through 11 run concurrently with chapters 12 through 19:15 or side by side during the Tribulation period, explaining why the King returns in chapter 11, verse 15, and chapter 19, verse 16.

As the King returns, praise and worship services begin in heaven as an act of gratitude. Satan’s reign has finally ended because the King has come to earth! Verse 17 is a prayer to Christ. Yet the wicked are upset over the King’s return. They want things to remain as they are, but a lot of things start to happen with His return.

(1) In their anger, the nations gather their armies to make war against Christ, the returning King, and His army of saints. You can guess who wins this conflict. What were they thinking?

(2) God’s wrath comes as the King returns. Christ kills or severely injures the nations gathered, rules over them with a rod of iron, and treads the winepress of God’s wrath.

(3) The wicked are judged at the end of the King’s 1,000-year reign (chapter 20, verses 11 to 15).

(4) The faithful prophets and saints, small and significant, are rewarded at the end of the 1,000-year reign. Do not confuse this with the Judgment Seat of Christ (2 Corinthians 5:10). Rewards presented here are for those faithful during the Kingdom Age for those who did not rebel and follow Satan at his release from the pit. The promise to destroy those who destroyed the earth is a referral to those spirit beings who followed the destroyer, Satan. Their destruction is separate from that of the nations of man. Lastly, amid lightning, voices, thundering, an earthquake, and great hail, God spares His covenant people (Israel).

Next is chapter 12 – the woman clothed with the sun, crowned with stars, and the red dragon.

February 7, 2024 - Posted by Bill Wyler | Bible, Last Days | Bible, Consequences, Future, Responsibility, Russia, war