Lesson 4 Revelation 10, 11 &12, The Time is at Hand

The Angel and the Book/Scroll 10:1- 7

English Standard Version (Chapter 10)

10 Then I saw another mighty angel coming down from heaven, wrapped in a cloud, with a rainbow over his head, and his face was like the sun, and his legs like pillars of fire. 2 He had a little scroll open in his hand. And he set his right foot on the sea, and his left foot on the land,

3 and called out with a loud voice, like a lion roaring. When he called out, the seven thunders sounded. 4 And when the seven thunders had sounded, I was about to write, but I heard a voice from heaven saying, “Seal up what the seven thunders have said, and do not write it down.”

5 And the angel whom I saw standing on the sea and on the land raised his right hand to heaven 6 and swore by him who lives forever and ever, who created heaven and what is in it, the earth and what is in it, and the sea and what is in it, that there would be no more delay,

7 but that in the days of the trumpet call to be sounded by the seventh angel, the mystery of God would be fulfilled, just as he announced to his servants the prophets. Revelation 10:1-7

A. Like the Angel of Chapter 8:3-5, this one could easily pass for Jesus Christ because of the description:

1. Clothed with a cloud. V.1

2. Rainbow on his head. V.1

3. Face as the sun.v.1

4. Feet as a pillar of fire. V.1

5. Little book in his hand. V.2

6. Gigantic proportions. V.2 (foot on the sea, another on Earth.)

7. Loud voice that started 7 thunders. V.3 “Like a lion as it roars.”

B. This angel is described as “another mighty angel.” V.1 This is part of the proof. Plus, Jesus is still in heaven at this point.

It is not Jesus.

1. He lifted up his Hand toward heaven and swore by Him who lives forever and ever. Jesus would not pledge to himself. He could say, “I am alive and the One who lives forever and ever.” The angel is praising the Creator. V.6

2. This is an earthly scene. V.1 – Jesus does not return to Earth until after the Tribulation.

3. John refers to him more than once as the angel who stands, the angel who comes down, or another angel. Angels have been doing the announcements of judgment up to this point. It is natural for them to continue.

4. Other Bible characters have had divine expressions and countenances having seen God. Think: Moses or Stephen.

5. The Phrase: There shall be time no longer, speaks to the end of any more delays in the plan.

C. Now it is time to “seal up and write not.”

Up to now, the angels have commanded John to come and see, and also to go and tell.

D. We are now prepared for the 7th trumpet. 10:7

Its effect will be to allow man to see that God’s plan is being fulfilled.

E. John takes the book on command from heaven (10:8) and eats it. (10:9)

Chapter 10:8- 11

King James Version (Chapter 10)

8 And the voice which I heard from heaven spake unto me again, and said, Go and take the little book which is open in the hand of the angel which standeth upon the sea and upon the earth. 9 And I went unto the angel, and said unto him, Give me the little book. And he said unto me, Take it, and eat it up; and it shall make thy belly bitter, but it shall be in thy mouth sweet as honey.

10 And I took the little book out of the angel’s hand, and ate it up; and it was in my mouth sweet as honey: and as soon as I had eaten it, my belly was bitter. 11 And he said unto me, Thou must prophesy again before many peoples, and nations, and tongues, and kings.

1. We can compare Scripture with Scripture to find out what the book is. We believe it to be the completed Word of God. God’s word is sweet to the taste, but some of the judgments are bitter to take when we try to walk out his Word in our lives. This book is the capstone of John’s writings from the Revelation of Jesus Christ to you and me.

2. Following the swallowing (poetic no?), John will have the message deep down inside. He will be able to write it and he will be able to deliver it. 10:11. John’s job was not over, he was going to go and prophesy before many people, nations, tongues, and kings. And the message lives on and is stirring hearts today.

Revelation 11:1–2 (KJV 1900)

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. 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.

I. John’s Instructions 11:1,2

A. Rise and measure the Temple of God. V.1 (Where did the temple come from?)

1. The location is Jerusalem v.2

2. The Gentiles control the city for 3 ½ years. V.2

3. This Temple will be destroyed during the tribulation period

B. Measure the altar. V.1

C. Measure the worshippers. V.2 (their number.)

D. Do Not measure the Gentile outer court.

II. The Two Witnesses. 11:3-12 (Deut. 17:6, Matt. 18:16.)- The establishment of God’s Word.

King James Version (Chapter 11)

3 And I will give power unto my two witnesses, and they shall prophesy ia thousand two hundred and threescore days, clothed in sackcloth. 4 These are the two olive trees, and the two candlesticks standing before the God of the earth.

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. 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.

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. 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.

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. 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.

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. 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

This does not happen very often. This is pretty radical for even the most jaded soul. Ascension of God’s servants after rising up from the dead. Let’s try to identify the two witnesses:

One is probably Elijah: Malachi 4:5, Matt. 17:11. The other is probably Enoch, who prophesied before the Genesis Flood. See Jude 14-16. Some say the second one could also be Moses because no one knows where either one is. Enoch was translated so that he should not see death and so was Elijah. Moses died, but his grave is hid. Their identity is not crucial to understanding the passage. Their ministry is limited to 3 ½ years (vs.3). Their clothing is even described- sackcloth. V.3. They are likened to the two olive trees and two candlesticks standing before God. This verse (4) corresponds to Zechariah 4. It is a very clear explanation. It is talking about two real individuals. In Zechariah it refers to Joshua the priest and Zerubbabel. They were supernaturally enabled to stand against satan. So shall these two witnesses. They will be indestructible until the 3 ½ years are up for them. Then they will be killed.V.7. Until that happens, their ministry will be much different than ours today. Check them out:

A. They will devour their enemies with fire and kill them.

B. They will stop the rain if need be.

C. They have power to turn water into blood.

D. They have power to smite Earth with plagues.

E. They have these mighty powers at the control of their own will.

Their deaths will be very heinous to behold, but the desensitizing to death has already begun. In the killing of these two witnesses, mankind will feel they have prevailed against God and have won. Their deaths will come from war with the beast. V.7 the war either takes place in Jerusalem or their bodies are transported there for display.V.8. The world shall view their bodies and in man’s hatred for holiness, the witnesses will not even be buried. Before our generation had partaken of so much technology, many generations before us could not understand how the whole world could view their bodies. But now it is very clear and plain because of cell phones and satellite technology. The gruesome celebration turns into a satanic Christmas. Vs.10. The two witnesses are resurrected by God in front of the presence of the world and the celebration is about to end. This resurrection from the dead will no doubt be terrifying for a lost and dying world.

III. The Terrible earthquake 11:12- 14

English Standard Version (Chapter 11)

12 Then they heard a loud voice from heaven saying to them, “Come up here!” And they went up to heaven in a cloud, and their enemies watched them. 13 And at that hour 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 soon to come.

This ends the second woe. The earthquake not only wipes out a great part of the city, but 7,000 people are killed, the rest put in fear, and God is glorified.

IV. The 7th Trumpet is sounded. 11:15-19

English Standard Version (Chapter 11)

15 Then the seventh angel blew his trumpet, 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 shall 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 thanks to you, Lord God Almighty,who is and who was,for you have taken your great power and begun to reign.18 The nations raged,but your wrath came,and the time for the dead to be judged,and for rewarding your servants, the prophets and saints,and those who fear your name,both small and great,and for destroying the destroyers of the earth.”

19 Then God’s temple in heaven was opened, and the ark of his covenant was seen within his temple. There were flashes of lightning, rumblings, peals of thunder, an earthquake, and heavy hail.

Before any more trouble begins, heaven responds gloriously to praise Jesus Christ.

The reason for this lavish display of praise is because of God’s justice. V.18 It is also for reward to God’s servants, the prophets, the saints, them that fear His name, and because God has destroyed them that destroy the Earth. The Heavenly vision is accompanied by a vision of the temple and it is there, the Ark of the Covenant is revealed. People are looking all over the earth for the Ark. It is in heaven. The scene continues in Chapter 12, and we are prepared for what follows. The lightning, voices, thunders, earthquake and great hail all signal a tumult to come.

Revelation 12

Five Main Characters and the Seventh Trumpet Continued. 12:1- 17.

The trumpet sounded in 11:15 with praise to our Lord Jesus Christ. This chapter gives a historical synopsis of the past and pictures what is yet to come in the last part of the tribulation period.

English Standard Version (Chapter 12)

12 And a great sign appeared in heaven: a woman clothed with the sun, with the moon under her feet, and on her head a crown of twelve stars. 2 She was pregnant and was crying out in birth pains and the agony of giving birth.

3 And another sign appeared in heaven: behold, a great red dragon, with seven heads and ten horns, and on his heads seven diadems. 4 His tail swept down a third of the stars of heaven and cast them to the earth. And the dragon stood before the woman who was about to give birth, so that when she bore her child he might devour it.

5 She gave birth to a male child, one who is to rule all the nations with a rod of iron, but her child was caught up to God and to his throne, 6 and the woman fled into the wilderness, where she has a place prepared by God, in which she is to be nourished for 1,260 days.

A. Character One : The Woman, Israel 12:1,2

This sign in heaven is the woman clothed with the Sun, the moon under her feet, and having a crown of 12 stars. And, she is prepared to give birth to a child. This is Israel. This corresponds with Joseph’s dream of Genesis 37:9.10. Of course Jesus was a Jew. He is the lion of the tribe of Judah (see also John 4:9.) The genealogy of Matthew and Luke confirms his Jewish birth and part of the nation of Israel. His mother Mary is also of that lineage, but the sign is not about her.

B. Character Two: The Dragon, satan. 12:3,4

This is probably where people get the idea he wears a red suit and has a pointy tail. Compare him with the beast of chapter 13, v.1-2. The dragon, the beast, and the anti-Christ are the unholy trinity of the tribulation. It is here we find the extent of the number of angels that fell with satan- a third of the angels in heaven. It gives us an idea of the opposition to the birth of Jesus Christ. The manager scene is usually missing a dragon waiting to devour the child.

C. Character Three: The Man Child, Jesus Christ. 12:5,6

We see 3 aspects of his life in verse 5: His incarnation, His rule (Psalm 2:9), and His ascension into heaven. The wilderness or desert of verse 6 describes the place that Israel will go into hiding during the last 3 ½ years. It is here they will be divinely protected and cared for just as Joseph and Mary were after the birth of Christ. See also 12:13, 14.

D. Character Four: The Arch-angel, Michael. 12:7-12

English Standard Version (Chapter 12)

7 Now war arose in heaven, Michael and his angels fighting against the dragon. And the dragon and his angels fought back, 8 but he was defeated, and there was no longer any place for them in heaven. 9 And the great dragon was thrown down, that ancient serpent, who is called the devil and Satan, the deceiver of the whole world—he was thrown down to the earth, and his angels were thrown down with him. 10 And I heard a loud voice in heaven, saying, “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 has been thrown down, who accuses them day and night before our God. 11 And they have conquered him by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony, for they loved not their lives even unto death. 12 Therefore, rejoice, O heavens and you who dwell in them! But woe to you, O earth and sea, for the devil has come down to you in great wrath, because he knows that his time is short!”

This is the two-thirds against the one third. This is also when satan’s freedom is about to go south. Satan and his crew are cast out of heaven and given a stinging defeat at the hands of Michael and the other innocent angels. Satan’s headquarters are not only now on Earth but also he stays here for the duration of the Tribulation. Needless to say satanic oppression and activity will be over whelming. Though he has been given a setback, it does not stop him. According to verse 11, The Christians still alive during these last 3 ½ years will still have victory in Jesus and his blood and many will show it through their martyrdom

E. Character Five; Israel’s Persecution. 12;13-17

English Standard Version (Chapter 12)

13 And when the dragon saw that he had been thrown down to the earth, he pursued the woman who had given birth to the male child. 14 But the woman was given the two wings of the great eagle so that she might fly from the serpent into the wilderness, to the place where she is to be nourished for a time, and times, and half a time.

15 The serpent poured water like a river out of his mouth after the woman, to sweep her away with a flood. 16 But the earth came to the help of the woman, and the earth opened its mouth and swallowed the river that the dragon had poured from his mouth.

17 Then the dragon became furious with the woman and went off to make war on the rest of her offspring, on those who keep the commandments of God and hold to the testimony of Jesus. And he stood on the sand of the sea.

Satan has always been in the business of trying to destroy God’s people. Now this activity intensifies. The remnant flees to their hiding place for 3 ½ years. Even though satan goes to great lengths to destroy them (vs.15,16), it is to no avail.

Now satan’s only recourse is to make war against the remnant. In this case it is a saved or redeemed remnant. Satan’s biggest problem: to make war against God’s people is to make war against God.