"THE BOOK OF REVELATION"
Chapter Eleven
As the interlude between the sixth and seventh trumpets continues, two
more visions are seen. The first involves John himself as he is given
a reed and told to measure the temple of God, the altar, and those
worshipping there. He is instructed, however, not to measure the court
outside the temple, for it has been given to the Gentiles who will tread
underfoot the holy city for forty-two months (1-2). This vision may
illustrate that while the city of Jerusalem will undergo great
persecution during the Jewish War, which lasted about 3 1/2 years (42
months), the true temple of God will not be destroyed (the church, cf.
1Co 3:16; Ep 2:19-22).
Then there is the vision of the two witnesses, which falls into three
sections. With power they prophesy 1,260 days (42 months), clothed in
sackcloth. Identified as the two olive trees and the two lampstands
standing before the throne of God, they have the power to devour with
fire from their mouths those who wish to harm them. They also have
power to stop the rain during the days of their prophesying, to turn
water to blood, and to strike the earth with plagues (3-6). But when
their testimony is completed, the beast from the bottomless pit makes
war with them and kills them. For three and half days their bodies
lies in the street of the great city that is spiritually called Sodom
and Egypt (where Jesus was crucified, i.e., Jerusalem). Those who had
been tormented by the two prophets rejoice, make merry and exchange gifts
(7-10). However, after three and a half days they are raised to life and
ascend into heaven, bringing great fear on those who saw them. In the
same hour a great earthquake occurs in which a tenth of the city fell and
7000 men were killed. The rest were afraid and gave glory to God (11-13).
The two witnesses are reminiscent of Moses and Elijah, also Joshua and
Zerubbabel (cf. Zec 3-4) perhaps even John the Baptist and Jesus, but I
do not believe they portend two literal persons. Rather, they represent
the witness of the church, with the number two signifying the strength of
their witness (e.g., "two or more witnesses"). When their testimony is
completed, there will be a time of persecution by "the beast" (later
identified as Rome, Re 17:7-17) and those of "the great city" (already
identified as Jerusalem, Re 11:8). However, the witnesses (i.e., the
church) will be victorious, symbolized by their resurrection and
ascension to heaven.
The interlude ended, it is time for the third woe and final trumpet. As
the seventh angel sounded, loud voices in heaven proclaimed "The kingdoms
of this world have become the kingdoms of our Lord and of His Christ, and
He shall reign forever and ever!" The twenty-four elders then fell on
their faces and worshiped God, giving thanks to Him for having taken His
great power and reigned. While the nations were angry, His wrath has
come. So also has the time come for the dead to be judged (which may
refer to the martyrs, who were now vindicated, cf. Re 6:9-11), His
servants the prophets and the saints to be rewarded, and for the
destruction of those who destroy the earth. Then the temple of God was
opened in heaven, with the ark of the covenant in the temple, accompanied
by lightnings, noises, thunderings, an earthquake and hail (15-19).
The physical temple in Jerusalem, which along with the ark (that had
disappeared long before) was once the focal point of God's worship and
reign, is no more. Now the temple and the ark are seen in heaven,
perhaps symbolizing that the worship and reign of God has become
universal rather than localized in a physical city and nation (cf. Jn
4:20-24).
We have reached the climax of the first half of the Revelation, in which
we have been shown judgment against unbelieving Israel, especially the
city of Jerusalem. Through the visions of the seven seals and seven
trumpets we learn of the arsenal at God's disposal: conquest, war,
famine, pestilence, natural calamities, moral decay, external invasion.
Just as God used such instruments in His dealings with the nations in the
Old Testament, so His Son would use His power to reign over the nations
with a rod of iron (cf. Re 1:5; 2:27; 3:21). Truly, "The kingdoms of this
world have become the kingdoms of our Lord and of His Christ, and He
shall reign forever and ever!" (Re 11:15). The destruction of Jerusalem
in A.D. 70, as foretold by Jesus in Matthew 24, Mark 13, and Luke 21,
exemplified the power of His reign over the nations. His victory over
Rome described later in Revelation will confirm His power and dominion as
King of kings and Lord of lords (cf. Re 17:14).
We have also seen visions designed to comfort the saints being
oppressed by their enemies, especially martyrs. God has taken notice
of their suffering, and while persecution may temporarily be their lot,
victory will ultimately be theirs! Those who suffer death at the hands
of their enemies are promised salvation and the blessing of being in
the presence and care of the Lord. Nothing can totally stop their
witness, and nothing can keep God from remaining true to His covenant
with them!
POINTS TO PONDER
* The remaining visions in the interlude between the sounding of the
sixth and seventh trumpets, and what happens when the seven trumpet
sounds
* The significance of these visions, and possible explanations of what
they mean as we summarize what we have seen in the first half of the
book of Revelation
OUTLINE
I. MEASURING THE TEMPLE OF GOD (1-2)
A. THE COMMAND TO MEASURE THE TEMPLE AND ITS OCCUPANTS (1)
1. John is given a reed like a measuring rod
2. Told to measure the temple of God, the altar, and those who
worship there
B. THE COMMAND NOT TO MEASURE THE OUTER COURT (2)
1. Told not to measure the court outside the temple
2. For it has been given to the Gentiles, who will tread the holy
city under foot forty-two months
II. THE TWO WITNESSES (3-14)
A. PROPHESYING FOR 1260 DAYS (3-6)
1. Two witnesses given power to prophesy, clothed in sackcloth
2. Identified as the two olive trees and two lampstands standing
before God
3. Those trying to harm them are devoured by fire from their mouths
4. Having power:
a. To shut heaven so no rain falls during their prophesying
b. To turn water to blood
c. To strike the earth with plagues as they desire
B. KILLED AND DEAD FOR THREE AND A HALF DAYS (7-10)
1. Their testimony finished, the beast will kill them
a. The beast that ascends from the bottomless pit
b. Who will make war against them and overcome them
2. Their dead bodies will lie in the street of the great city
a. Spiritually called Sodom and Egypt
b. Where our Lord was crucified
3. The peoples, tribes, tongues, and nation who dwell on the earth
a. Will see their bodies three and a half days
b. Will not allow them to be put into graves
c. Will rejoice over them, make merry, and exchange gifts,
because the two prophets had tormented those who dwell on the
earth
C. RAISED AND ASCENDED TO HEAVEN (11-14)
1. After three and a half days, the breath of life from God entered
them
2. They stood, and great fear fell on those who saw them
3. A loud voice from heaven tells them to "Come up here"
4. They ascend to heaven in a cloud as their enemies saw them
5. In that same hour there was an earthquake
a. A tenth of the city fell
b. Seven thousand men were killed
c. The rest were afraid and gave glory to the God of heaven
6. The second woe is past; the third woe is coming quickly
III. THE SEVENTH TRUMPET: THE KINGDOM PROCLAIMED (15-19)
A. VICTORY PROCLAIMED (15)
1. The seventh angel sounded his trumpet and there were loud voices
in heaven
2. Saying, "The kingdoms of this world have become the kingdoms of
our Lord and of His Christ, and He shall reign forever and
ever!"
B. THE TWENTY-FOUR ELDERS WORSHIP GOD (16-18)
1. The elders fell on their faces and worshiped God
2. Giving thanks to the Lord God Almighty, the One who is and who
was and who is to come
3. Because He has taken His great power and reigned
4. The nations were angry, and His wrath has come
5. The time has come
a. That the dead should be judged
b. That His servants the prophets, the saints, and those who
fear His name, should be rewarded
c. That He should destroy those who destroy the earth
C. THE TEMPLE OF GOD OPENED IN HEAVEN (19)
1. The temple of God was opened in heaven, and the ark of His
covenant was seen in His temple
2. There were lightnings, noises, thunderings, an earthquake, and
great hail
REVIEW QUESTIONS
1) What are the main points of this chapter?
- Measuring the temple of God (1-2)
- The two witnesses (3-14)
- The seventh trumpet: the kingdom proclaimed (15-19)
2) What was John given and told to measure? (1)
- A reed like a measuring rod; the temple of God, the altar, and
those who worship there
3) What was he told to leave out? Why? (2)
- The court outside the temple
- It has been given to the Gentiles who will tread the holy city
underfoot for forty-two months
4) What were the two witnesses to do? (3)
- Prophesy for 1,260 days, clothed in sackcloth
5) How are they identified? (4)
- As the two olive trees and two lampstands standing before God
6) What happens to those who try to harm them during this time of
prophesying? (5)
- They are devoured by fire from their mouth
7) What power do these two witnesses have? (6)
- To shut heaven, so that no rain falls in the days of their prophecy
- To turn water to blood
- To strike the earth with plagues, as often as they desire
8) What will happen when they finish their testimony? (7)
- The beast that ascends out of the bottomless pit will make war with
them and kill them
9) Where will their dead bodies lie? (8)
- In the street of the great city spiritually called Sodom and Egypt,
where Jesus was crucified
10) How long will people see their dead bodies? (9)
- Three and a half days
11) How will those on the earth react to their deaths? Why? (10)
- They will rejoice, make merry, exchange gifts
- Because the two prophets had tormented them
12) What happened to the two witnesses after three and a half days?
(11-12)
- The breath of life from God entered them, and they stood on their
feet
- A loud voice from heaven called them to come up and they ascended
to heaven in a cloud
13) What happened in that same hour? (13)
- A great earthquake, in which 1/10 of the city fell and seven
thousand men were killed
- The rest were afraid and gave glory to God
14) What was heard when the seventh angel sounded his trumpet? (15)
- 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!"
15) What did the twenty-four elders do? (16)
- Fell on their faces and worshiped God
16) For what did they give thanks? (17)
- The Lord God Almighty took His great power and reigned
17) As expressed in their praise, what had come? (18)
- His wrath
- The time of the dead, that they should be judged
- That He should reward His servants the prophets and the saints
- That He should destroy those who destroy the earth
18) What was then opened in heaven, and what was seen in it? (19)
- The temple of God; the ark of the covenant
19) What then followed? (19)
- Lightnings, noises, thunderings, an earthquake, and great hail
Executable Outlines, Copyright © Mark A. Copeland, 2012