Revelation 11
Notes
Transcript
A Summary of Chapter 11
The Revelation of John, Volume 2 The Vision of Things to Come (Revelation 11)
(1) Verses 1–2. Here is the picture of the measuring of the Temple. As we shall see, the measuring is closely parallel to the sealing and is for the purpose of protection when the demonic terrors descend upon the world.
(2) Verses 3–6. Here is the preaching of the two witnesses who are heralds of the end.
(3) Verses 7–10. Here is the first emergence of the anti-christ in the form of the beast from the abyss, and the temporary triumph of the antichrist which results in the deaths of the two witnesses.
(4) Verses 11–13. Here follows the restoration to life of the witnesses and the consequent repentance and conversion of the Jews.
(5) Verses 14–19. Finally, here is the first sketch of the final triumph of Christ, the 1,000 years of his initial reign, the rising of the nations, the defeat of the nations and the judgment of the dead, and the establishment of the kingdom of God and of his Anointed One.
1 Then I was given a measuring rod like a staff, and I was told, “Rise and measure the temple of God and the altar and those who worship there, 2 but do not measure the court outside the temple; leave that out, for it is given over to the nations, and they will trample the holy city for forty-two months. 3 And I will grant authority to my two witnesses, and they will prophesy for 1,260 days, clothed in sackcloth.”
4 These are the two olive trees and the two lampstands that stand before the Lord of the earth. 5 And if anyone would harm them, fire pours from their mouth and consumes their foes. If anyone would harm them, this is how he is doomed to be killed. 6 They have the power to shut the sky, that no rain may fall during the days of their prophesying, and they have power over the waters to turn them into blood and to strike the earth with every kind of plague, as often as they desire.
John’s next prophetic words after eating the small book
A Measuring Rod
Revelation 11:1–2 “1 Then I was given a measuring rod like a staff, and I was told, “Rise and measure the temple of God and the altar and those who worship there, 2 but do not measure the court outside the temple; leave that out, for it is given over to the nations, and they will trample the holy city for forty-two months.”
What temple, alter & people?
What is symbolized by the instruction to measure?
What is symbolized by the instruction of what is and is not to be measured?
Luke 21:23–24 “23 .... For there will be great distress upon the earth and wrath against this people. 24 They will fall by the edge of the sword and be led captive among all nations, and Jerusalem will be trampled underfoot by the Gentiles, until the times of the Gentiles are fulfilled.”
The Two Witnesses
Revelation 11:3 “3 And I will grant authority to my two witnesses, and they will prophesy for 1,260 days, clothed in sackcloth.””
Why 1260 days?
1260 days = 42 months = 3.5 years
Daniel 7:25 “25 He shall speak words against the Most High, and shall wear out the saints of the Most High, and shall think to change the times and the law; and they shall be given into his hand for a time, times, and half a time.”
James 5:17 “17 Elijah was a man with a nature like ours, and he prayed fervently that it might not rain, and for three years and six months it did not rain on the earth.”
Luke 13:7 “7 And he said to the vinedresser, ‘Look, for three years now I have come seeking fruit on this fig tree, and I find none. Cut it down. Why should it use up the ground?’”
This parable is an illusion to the ministry of Jesus which was 3.5 years
The 2 witnesses will declare God’s truth for 3.5 years - the first half of Daniel’s 70th week
Why two?
Numbers 35:30 “30 “If anyone kills a person, the murderer shall be put to death on the evidence of witnesses. But no person shall be put to death on the testimony of one witness.”
Genesis 19:1 “1 The two angels came to Sodom in the evening, and Lot was sitting in the gate of Sodom. When Lot saw them, he rose to meet them and bowed himself with his face to the earth”
Joshua 2:1 “1 And Joshua the son of Nun sent two men secretly from Shittim as spies, saying, “Go, view the land, especially Jericho.” And they went and came into the house of a prostitute whose name was Rahab and lodged there.”
Who are the 2 witnesses?
Revelation 11:4–6 “4 These are the two olive trees and the two lampstands that stand before the Lord of the earth. 5 And if anyone would harm them, fire pours from their mouth and consumes their foes. If anyone would harm them, this is how he is doomed to be killed. 6 They have the power to shut the sky, that no rain may fall during the days of their prophesying, and they have power over the waters to turn them into blood and to strike the earth with every kind of plague, as often as they desire.”
Their title reveals their assignment:
Zechariah 4:12–14 “12 And a second time I answered and said to him, “What are these two branches of the olive trees, which are beside the two golden pipes from which the golden oil is poured out?” 13 He said to me, “Do you not know what these are?” I said, “No, my lord.” 14 Then he said, “These are the two anointed ones who stand by the Lord of the whole earth.””
These anointed ones Zerubbabel (King) & Joshua (Priest) were tasked with reestablishing the Nation of Israel and rebuilding the temple after returning from exile. The leaders of the Nation.
Their power reveals their identity
Called down fire: Closed the heavens
2 Kings 1:10 “10 But Elijah answered the captain of fifty, “If I am a man of God, let fire come down from heaven and consume you and your fifty.” Then fire came down from heaven and consumed him and his fifty.”
James 5:17 “17 Elijah was a man with a nature like ours, and he prayed fervently that it might not rain, and for three years and six months it did not rain on the earth.”
Turn water into blood; Call down plagues
Exodus 7:20 “20 Moses and Aaron did as the Lord commanded. In the sight of Pharaoh and in the sight of his servants he lifted up the staff and struck the water in the Nile, and all the water in the Nile turned into blood.”
Only Moses and Elijah held these specific powers in scripture - The law and the prophets
Matthew 17:2–3 “2 And he was transfigured before them, and his face shone like the sun, and his clothes became white as light. 3 And behold, there appeared to them Moses and Elijah, talking with him.”
Jude 9 “9 But when the archangel Michael, contending with the devil, was disputing about the body of Moses, he did not presume to pronounce a blasphemous judgment, but said, “The Lord rebuke you.””
7 And when they have finished their testimony, the beast that rises from the bottomless pit will make war on them and conquer them and kill them, 8 and their dead bodies will lie in the street of the great city that symbolically is called Sodom and Egypt, where their Lord was crucified. 9 For three and a half days some from the peoples and tribes and languages and nations will gaze at their dead bodies and refuse to let them be placed in a tomb, 10 and those who dwell on the earth will rejoice over them and make merry and exchange presents, because these two prophets had been a torment to those who dwell on the earth. 11 But after the three and a half days a breath of life from God entered them, and they stood up on their feet, and great fear fell on those who saw them. 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.
The Antichrist Emerges
Revelation 11:7–10 “7 And when they have finished their testimony, the beast that rises from the bottomless pit will make war on them and conquer them and kill them, 8 and their dead bodies will lie in the street of the great city that symbolically is called Sodom and Egypt, where their Lord was crucified. 9 For three and a half days some from the peoples and tribes and languages and nations will gaze at their dead bodies and refuse to let them be placed in a tomb, 10 and those who dwell on the earth will rejoice over them and make merry and exchange presents, because these two prophets had been a torment to those who dwell on the earth.”
Why are they killed?
Remember they have been declaring the word of the Lord for 3.5 years and with the help of the antichrist they have reestablished the Nation of Israel
At the midpoint of Daniel’s 70th week the covenant made by the rider on the white horse (1st seal Rev 6:2; Dan 9:27) is broken and he makes his power play to establish his 3.5 yer ministry.
Notice the parallel to the time of the gospels:
The world rejected Jesus Luke 23:18 “18 But they all cried out together, “Away with this man, and release to us Barabbas”—” Son of the father
John 5:43 “43 I have come in my Father’s name, and you do not receive me. If another comes in his own name, you will receive him.”
Satan desires to and will establish his own two witnesses
The Son of Satan, antichrist, desires to be elevated in the most holy place
Jesus died to save, the antichrist lives to kill
Notice the joy and celebration in these verses similar to the trail of Jesus when Barabbas was released
Notice the reference to Sodom & Egypt - symbolic of immorality and oppression
Resurrection & Rapture
Revelation 11:11–12 “11 But after the three and a half days a breath of life from God entered them, and they stood up on their feet, and great fear fell on those who saw them. 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.”
Three and a half is referenced again - Eerily similar to Jesus
Luke 9:30 “30 And behold, two men were talking with him, Moses and Elijah,”
Luke 24:1–6 “1 But on the first day of the week, at early dawn, they went to the tomb, taking the spices they had prepared. 2 And they found the stone rolled away from the tomb, 3 but when they went in they did not find the body of the Lord Jesus. 4 While they were perplexed about this, behold, two men stood by them in dazzling apparel. 5 And as they were frightened and bowed their faces to the ground, the men said to them, “Why do you seek the living among the dead? 6 He is not here, but has risen.”
The Devoted Things
Revelation 11:13 “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.”
The 10th of the City could be symbolic of the tithe with represents God’s ownership and is connected to Moses and the law.
The 7000 people could be symbolic of the 7000 priests (remnant) hidden by God in the time if Elijah who were devoted to God
This appears to signify a line of demarkation
Who will reject or accept God’s ownership?
The response noted here indicated repentance and salvation
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Revelation 11:14–19 (ESV)
14 The second woe has passed; behold, the third woe is soon to come.
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.